Introduction
We live in troubling times...
Sin is ever-present with immorality seemingly on the rise.
There are many religions seeking to address the problem, but their solutions are amiss.
Christians in the first century A.D. found themselves facing similar circumstances...
Immorality was rampant, moral virtue was scarce.
Religions were many, yet ineffective in saving and sanctifying souls.
In his letter to the churches of Galatia = (gal-at-ee’-ah) Paul addressed such concerns...
His letter to the Galatians was dealing with false gospels and false hopes.
Providing guidance for salvation and godly living Paul’s epistle to the Galatians remains a powerful and relevant guide for Christians today.
Paul’s greeting to the churches of Galatia (verse 3) contains words of grace and peace... From God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ
1. The Evil of this Present Age
A. Evil in Paul’s Day…
Paul described the sins of those in his day we can see that record in Romans 1:18-32.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:18-32
Unrepented sins will keep one out of the kingdom of heaven.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Paul and the early Christians found themselves living in an evil time.
B. Evil in Our Day
Today, many think lightly of such things as: fornication, adultery, divorce.
One is considered enlightened when they support abortion, homosexuality, and same-sex marriage.
More and more our culture is accepting: lasciviousness, pornography, drug abuse.
All of which reflect a worldview impacted by: humanism, evolution, selfishness and today we find ourselves living in a very evil time.
These things are not much different today than they were in Paul’s day.
Yet Jesus gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil age (verse 4).
Consider therefore...
2. The Deliverance the Lord Provides
A. Deliverance from the Guilt of Sin…
Sin is a transgression of God’s law - 1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4
All have sinned, for which the punishment is death - Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Jesus’ blood frees us from the guilt of sin - Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Ephesians 1:7
We receive remission of sins when we are baptized - Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16
Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16
In Jesus, there is no condemnation for sin - Romans 8:1; Romans 3:24
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1
being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:24
B. Deliverance from the Power of Sin…
Sin enslaves, but Jesus provides freedom from the dominion of sin. - John 8:31-32
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32
This He does by giving us the Spirit.
We receive the Spirit when we are saved - Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, Abba, Father!" Galatians 4:6
In Jesus, we are set free from the law of sin and death - Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2
C. Deliverance from the temptation of sin….
We continue to be tempted by fleshly desires - James 1:14
But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. James 1:14
Jesus teaches us to watch and pray that we might avoid temptation - Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41
God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear - 1 Corinthians 10:13a
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, 1 Corinthians 10:13a
In every temptation, He will provide a way of escape - 1 Corinthians 10:13b
but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Corinthians 10:13b
In Jesus, the godly can find deliverance out of temptations - 2 Peter 2:9
then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 2 Peter 2:9
D. Deliverance from the Moral Darkness of our World.
Those enslaved to sin are darkened in their understanding - Ephesians 4:17-18; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; Ephesians 4:17-18
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
This explains their lewdness and greediness - Ephesians 4:19
who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Ephesians 4:19
But, Jesus reveals moral truth, and how we are to be renewed in true righteousness and holiness - Ephesians 4:20-24
In Jesus, light shines in the moral morass that plagues our world - John 8:12; John 12:46
E. Deliverance from the Word that is Passing Away…
This present age with its lusts is passing away - 1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17
The day is coming when this world and its works will be burned up - 2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
Even if we live out our lives, they are as momentary vapor - James 4:14
whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14
Our deliverance may come in the form of our own death - Isaiah 57:1-2
The righteous perishes, And no man takes it to heart; Merciful men are taken away, While no one considers That the righteous is taken away from evil. 2He shall enter into peace; They shall rest in their beds, Each one walking in his uprightness. Isaiah 57:1-2
It will eventually come at the return of Christ - 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
In Jesus, we have the promise of deliverance from every evil work - 2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and reserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! 2 Timothy 4:18
Conclusion
Living in a morally confused and spiritual dark world, in Jesus we find...
• Deliverance from the guilt of sin
• Deliverance from the power of sin
• Deliverance from the temptation of sin
• Deliverance from the moral darkness of our world
• Deliverance from the world that is passing away
We note that such deliverance is according to the will of our God and Father... – verse 4c
It was His plan from the very beginning - Ephesians 1:3-6
It was His love that offered His Son for our sins - 1 John 4:9-10
How shall we respond to such deliverance...?
It was designed to be to the praise of the glory of His grace - Ephesians 1:6
to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:6
Thus, Paul writes concerning God: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen – verse 5
Shall we not glorify God by accepting His graceful deliverance from this evil age that He makes possible through His Son Jesus Christ? We do so through obedience to the gospel... - Mark 16:15-16
