THE CRUCIFIED WORLD GAL 6: 11-18
INTRO
CONFORMITY – (what do you think of when I say the word)
SCHOOL, PEER PRESSURE
INCREDIBLE PRESSURE TO CONFORM
LOOK A CERTAIN WAY
ACT A CERTAIN WAY
BE IN CERTAIN GROUPS
SHUN CERTAIN PEOPLE (CRUEL)
KID ON BASEBALL TEAM IN SHERWOOD, COACH PUNISHED HIM FOR WEARING "WRONG" SHIRT (FROM OTHER SCHOOL), TEAM MATES LINED UP TO PUNCH HIS ARM. (SIMILAR TO MILITARY)
DIFICULTY IN GOING AGAINST THE PRESSURE OF THE CROWD
EXPERIMENT WITH LINE LENGTH: 10 teens asked to identify longest of 3 lines. 9 of the 10 were “in on it” and purposely identified the 2nd longest line as the longest. 10 person, the true test subject, chose last, and 3 out of 4 times also identified the 2nd longest line as the longest.
EXTREME EXAMPLE
STALIN RALLY
NEW PARTY SECRETARY (FORMERE ARRESTED
APPLAUSE AT END, NO ONE WANTED TO BE FIRST TO STOP CLAPPING, WENT ON, EVERYONE FAKING CHEER UNTIL PEOPLE BEGAN COLLAPSING. FINALLY NEWS MGR STOPPED THEN ALL, NEXT DAY NEWS MGR ARRESTED, "NEVER BE THE FIRST ONE TO STOP CLAPPING"
TEXT:
Gal 6: 11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. 17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. PRAY
LETTER SUMMARY
LARGE LETTERS - EMPHASIS
IMPORTANT - MAIN POINTS PAULS WANTS REMEMBERED
I. GOOD IMPRESSIONS
A: WAY OF THE WORLD
OUTWARD APPEARANCE v12
CIRCUMCISION ONLY AN INDICATOR
WANTED GENTILES TO BE "ONE OF US", JOIN THE CLUB
OBSESSED WITH EVERYONE LOOKING SAME ON OUTSIDE HOPEWELL - EXPECTATIONS COUNTRY CHURCH, BAPTIST
DENOMINATION
OURS BEST, BUT NOT SALVATION
MODE OF BAPTISM
BIBLICAL, BUT NOT SALVATION
APPEARANCE - DRESS
CLEAN CUT, RESPECTFUL, NOT SALV.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
MANNERS /= SALVATION
LEVEL OF GIVING
MATURITY LEVEL, NOT SALVATION
B: WAY OF CROSS
A NEW CREATION
WORLDLY APPROACH IGNORES WHAT MATTERS
EXTERNAL APPEARANCE MEANINGLESS, WHAT MATTERS IS IN THE HEART V15
TRANSFORMATION - INSIDE OUT
THE HEART
Mt 15: 18-20 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from
the heart, and these make a man ’unclean.’ 19 For out of the heart come
evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony,
slander. 20 These are what make a man ’unclean’;
2COR 5:12-17
IN THE FAMILY OF GOD
HOW YOU DRESS DOESN’T MATTER TO JESUS
WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE DOESN’T MATTER
HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE DOESN’T MATTER
WHERE YOU LIVE, WHO YOUR RELATIVES ARE,
THERE IS NO JEW OR GREEK, SERVANT OR FREE, NO MALE OR FEMALE
A NEW CREATION IS WHAT COUNTS, FAITH
II. PERSECUTED FOR THE CROSS
A: WAY OF THE WORLD
FALSE BROTHERS AVOIDING PERSECUTION V12B
CIRC. - WASN’T EVEN ABOUT THE GALTATIAN GENTILES (ALT MOTIVE)
THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THEMSELVES - SELF CENTERED
WRAPPED UP IN THEIR OBSESSION WITH THE EXTERNAL
DIDN’T MATURE INSIDE TO - TAKES MATURITY TO ACCECPT PERS.
B: WAY OF CROSS
PAUL: I BEAR THE MARKS OF JESUS V17
Acts 9: 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." (NIV)
2COR11: 23-27
Mt 5: 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of
evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward
in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NIV)
SEE HOW FAR A WORLDY PERSPECTIVE WILL TAKE YOU FROM GOD’S TRUTH
MISLED GALTATIAN BROTHERS TO AVOID A BLESSING
III. PRIDE IN IDENTITY
A: WAY OF THE WORLD
BOASTING IN THE FLESH V13
HYPOCRITES
THEY CANT KEEP WHOLE LAW
BUT THEY ARE CRITICIZING GENTILES
PRIDE
SATAN LOVES TO ATTACK IN THIS AREA
TAKING CREDIT FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE
PUTTING OURSELF ON THE THRONE
Pr 16:5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. 18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
NATURAL COMPANION TO WORLDLY PERSPECTIVE
SELF CENTEREDNESS, SELF WORSHIP
B: WAY OF CROSS
BOAST ONLY IN CROSS V14
Ja 4:6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
BOASTING ONLY IN CROSS PUTS JESUS WHERE HE BELONGS, HIGH ABOVE US
HE IS THE SOURCE OF EVERYTHING GOOD IN THIS LIFE
BOAST IN CROSS BECAUSE
CROSS KEY TO OUR SALVATION
WORK OF CHRIST ON CROSS
JESUS DIED FOR YOU
THROUGH CROSS, WORLD CRUCIFIED
WORLDLY PERSPECTIVE, HYPOCRICY, FOCUS ON OUTWARD APPEARANCE, SELF CENTEREDNESS, FEAR OF SUFFERING AND PERSECUTION, PRIDE AND IDOLOTRY
Col 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature
I AM CRUCIFIED TO THE WORLD
A NEW CREATION
NOT FOCUSED ON ME
NO FEAR OF SUFFERING BRINGS GOD GLORY IT IS A BLESSING
CONCLUSION
CROSS IS KEY NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE
IF YOU ARE NOT TO THIS POINT A FOLLOWER OF JESUS A LOT OF THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO YOU, PEACE, MERCY AND GRACE? IN THIS LIFE? SUFFERING AS A BLESSING? IN THIS LIFE?
CROSS IS THE KEY
YOU CAN BE RECONCILED TO GOD
BY BLOOD OF JESUS SHED ON CROSS
YOUR SIN KEEPS YOU FROM BEING CLOSE TO GOD
JESUS PAID PRICE FOR YOUR SINS ON CROSS
TRUST HIM AS YOUR SAVOIR, HE WILL SET YOU FREE
FREE FROM POWER OF SIN IN YOUR LIFE
FREE TO BE REMADE, REBORN, A NEW CREATION
AS BELIEVER
YOU CAN BE CRUCIFIED TO THE WORLD
DEAD TO YOUR OLD WAYS OF SIN
DEAD TO THE HYPOCRICY OF A WORLDLY PERSPECTIVE
DEAD TO A FOCUS ON OUTWARD EXTERNAL THINGS THAT NEVER SATISFY
DEAD TO PRIDE, SELF WORSHIP, FEAR, DEAD TO SIN
THE WORLD CRUCIFIED TO YOU , AND YOU TO THE WORLD
CHECK ON PERSPECTIVE AND FOCUS
WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS, WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE DAY TO DAY
CROSS IS KEY, DO YOU HAVE THE CROSS IN VIEW WHEN MAKING PLANS, DECICIONS, LIVING YOUR LIFE.
