Our Lord Rescued Us From The Present Evil Age

I. EXORDIUM:

Have you been rescued? Who's your hero?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that our hero and rescuer is GOD the FATHER.

IV. TEXT:

Galatians 1:3-5 (Amplified Bible)

Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and [soul] peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah),

Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us], in order to rescue and deliver us from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—

To Him [be ascribed all] the glory through all the ages of the ages and the eternities of the eternities! Amen (so be it).

V. THESIS:

Our hero and rescuer is GOD the FATHER.

VI. TITLE:

Our LORD rescued us from the present evil age

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 55 A.D. to 60 A.D.

C. Purpose: To defend doctrine of justification by faith, warn against reversion to Judaism, and vindicate Paul's own apostolic authority

D. To whom written: Galatia church

E. Main theme: Magna charta of the church

F. Keywords: faith, grace, liberty, the cross

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Grace and Peace from GOD, the FATHER

"Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and [soul] peace from God the Father"

Grace is freely given to all of us, and as a gift, we don't deserve it at all.

Acts 11:23 (Amplified Bible)

When he arrived and saw what grace (favor) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart.

This same grace empowers men for service.

1 Corinthians 15:10 (Amplified Bible)

But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me.

This same grace enables men to live simple lives.

2 Corinthians 1:12 (Amplified Bible)

It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [generally] and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (the unmerited favor and merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, and keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian virtues).

GOD's Peace, Genuine peace of CHRIST not anyone else's peace. Peace that passes all understanding.

Romans 8:6 (Amplified Bible)

Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

John 14:27 (Amplified Bible)

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

John 16:33 (Amplified Bible)

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Philippians 4:7 (Amplified Bible)

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

B. The LORD JESUS CHRIST gave Himself for our sins

"and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us]"

The LORD JESUS CHRIST removed sin, and He knew this might stop us from having an eternal life (live the fullest life to the full) with Him, so He did what He can do, the impossible things for GOD, and possible things for us, is to serve Him with a clean heart knowing that our hearts are cleansed because of Him.

1 Peter 2:24 (Amplified Bible)