For Those unfamiliar with an Anglican Service. There are four readings prior to the Sermon. Today's readings were 1 Kings 17: 8-24; Psalm 146; Galatians 1: 11-24; and Luke 7: 11-17
A family from a remote area .... was making their very first visit ... to the big city.
They checked into the grand hotel and stood in amazement .... at the impressive sight.
As Dad signed in at the reception desk, .... Mom and daughter came near the elevator entrance.
They had never seen an elevator before, ....and they just stared at it, ... unable to figure out what it was there for.
An old man hobbled towards the elevator and went inside. The door closed.
About a minute later, the door opened ... and out came a stunningly good-looking young man.
Mom could not stop staring.
Without turning her head, she patted her daughter's arm and said, "Honey, ...... Go get your dad." (Pause)
Well.... Unlike the elevator ... the Gospel of Jesus Christ.... The Gospel of the Cross ... truly does make a difference.
In the passage we considered last week, ... the apostle Paul made some strong arguments ... against what he called a ... "Different Gospel.
Which Paul went on to say .... really was NOT a Gospel ... at all.
Any message ... other than the Gospel of Christ ... the Gospel of the Cross .... was truly not .... Good News.
In today's passage .... from the letter to the Churches in Galatia, .... we take a deeper look ... at the other side of the coin.
Today we look not at a ... different gospel, ... but the one true Gospel.
And we shall see that it is a gospel .... that unlike the elevator or the counterfeit gospels .... makes a real difference... (Pause)
So ....... what is the difference between the gospel of Christ ... and those that are perverted or counterfeit?
It seems to me .... that there are three truths .... three life changing differences .... between the Gospel of Christ ... and that of the Counterfeit.
First I would like to consider the difference in the Source of the true Gospel.
For.... The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is "Transcendent".
It transcends culture.
It is not of human origin.
It was revealed through Jesus Christ and is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Hear Paul's Words: BIBLE "I want you to know, brothers and sisters, .... that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; ?for I did not receive it from a human source, .... nor was I taught it, .... but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." END (Galatians 1:11-12)
The true good news is this: ... that salvation from sin ... can only be found in the sacrificial death of Christ.
This is no man made message.
It is so simple .... yet so magnificent ....and yet for many ... so difficult to comprehend.
It is a transcendent message, .... a message from the heart of God.
In opening sentence of Paul's Galatian letter.... Paul makes it clear that he is ... an apostle, .... a representative.... sent not by man, .... but by God.
And here in our text today ... Paul makes the same point ... concerning the Gospel Message.
This Message ... the Good News ... was also sent by God.
For Paul the two are inseparable, ...... God is the source of his authority .... And God is also the source ...... of this God sent ... Gospel Message.
These False teachers did not deny Paul's teachings outright ...... but wanted the Galatians to improve on "the gospel" .... by adding to it.
Adding ...... new requirements, new ceremonies ...... new standards.
What is at least implied ...... is that the faith that these Galatian believers have ......is not sufficient, ...... some-thing more is needed.
Paul needed to respond .... And respond immediately. (Pause)
For Paul was preaching the Gospel that he received by revelation .... from Christ Himself."
The significance of this ... is that we ... we who call ourselves followers of the Christ.
Cannot must not alter parts of it ... according to our pleasure ...... or to make it more acceptable to ourselves ... and to our society.
Yes ......... (Slow) we need to communicate the message with relevance .... to make it understood.
But we cannot change the Gospel.... We cannot altar the Gospel.
The Gospel message is the same yesterday ... today .... and forever.
Once for all, in every time.... in every place.
Christ died for sinners.
Those who submit to his authority and reach out in faith ...... Accept Him as Savior and Lord.... are saved by His sacrifice.
It does not matter what type of Society you live in ... even a society like ours.... that is uncomfortable with the concept of sin.
Why? .... For if you do not know that you are a sinner ...... how can you be saved?
The message of salvation, the good news, is not a message from man.
Beloved.... It is Transcendent......It is a gift... it is a Gospel from the heart of God.
A transcendent faith makes life more compelling, .... more unique, deeper ....and yes, at times Culture will encourage believers ....and the Church.... to become more like them.
To be more like the Culture.
What this normally means is dropping ... or at least minimizing ... the transcendent nature of the faith.
And if we do, ... If we do... we proclaim a different faith ... a different Gospel, ... then proclaimed by our Lord and Savior.
(1 Finger) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Transcendent ... (2 Fingers) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is... Truth.
Hear Paul's Words: BIBLE "I assure you before God that what I am writing you .... is no lie." END (Galatians 1:20)
For Paul the question of what the gospel is .... is not merely a matter of academics?
It is a matter of truth.
It is not a question of which Gospel works better for you, ...... which one meshes with your lifestyle, ...... the ultimate question is ...... what is truth.
It does not matter what I think .... or what I want, .... what matters is ...... the truth. (Pause)
In this sense Paul Is saying, ...... "I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie...... It is the truth" (Galatians 1:20)
We live in a world that is becoming increasingly distant from the notion of the truth......that is of transcendent truth, ...... absolute truth.
Postmodernism has proclaimed the lie .... (Slow) that there is no ... absolute truth.
To the Post Modern world ...... truth is a social concept, .... filtered through cultural lenses, .... and what is true for you .... may not be true for me.
In the case of religious belief, ...... we are told, it is arrogant .... to claim that you know the truth.
Jesus said I am the way, and the truth and the life.
And they nailed that truth ... to a cross ... on Calvary.
But Praise God.... He was raised from the dead .... Raised ....and showed himself to literally hundreds of persons.
The message of Jesus is Good News ...... because it is ...Truth, .... It is the way, the truth and the life.
A friend... who no longer attends a church asked me about my faith.
I shared my story and how the Gospel changed my life.
He said well that is what you believe.
I replied no my friend ... that is what I know.
I know my savior lives.
Beloved.... He is the Way and the Truth and the Life.
And by nature (Slow) truth is intolerant.
If something is the truth ...then what is in opposition to the Truth must be in error. (Pause)
Jesus is the truth.
And If You Know Him.
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
And you will be free in deed.
(1 Finger) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is transcendent -- It is the same yesterday... today and forever.
(2 Fingers) The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Truth "I am The Way and The Truth and the Life."
(3 Fingers) The Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to transform.
Paul concludes today's reading with these words: BIBLE "I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ; they only heard it said, "The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy." END (Galatians 1:22-24)
The apostle Paul was violently persecuting the Church until God literally .... knocked him .... out of the saddle.
The Son was revealed to him ... so that he might proclaim Jesus .... Proclaim the Good News.
From that moment ... he was transformed into a mighty faith warrior, .... desperate to share the Good News.... to tell the world ... that they too.... could be changed.
The gospel message .... is a message ...of New life!
A new life to be lived out now!
To be lived out ... on this side of eternity.
Beloved ....... Jesus never leaves you the way he found you.
You are a new creation in Christ Jesus.
He sends the Holy Spirit to live within you, ...... empowering you ...... to live a life ... filled to overflowing.
Filled to overflowing with his Peace ... and with his Joy.
A life that will be continually transform you .... into the image .... of Jesus his son.
(Slow) Beloved.... Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed.
Be filled with joy and allow the passion .... The passion of God's love .... to flow within you .... And to flow ... from you. (Long Pause)
Suppose you wanted to learn to dance.
Being the rational, ... cerebral person you are, .... you go to a bookstore .... and you buy a book on dancing.
You take the book home ... and you start reading.
Finally, you think you've got it, ...... and you invite your wife to come in and watch.
You hold the book open and follow the instructions .... step by step.
You even "read" the words aloud ...... so she will know ... that you have done your homework.
"Lean with your right shoulder," ... so you lean.
"Now step with your right foot," ... so you take a step.
"Turn slowly to the left," and so you turn.
You continue to read, then dance, ...... read, then dance, ...... until the dance is completed.
You plop exhausted on the couch, look at your wife, and proclaim, (Slow) "I executed it perfectly."
"You executed it, all right," ... she sighs.
"You killed it."
"You forgot the most important part. (Pause)
Where is the music?"
You never thought about music.
You remembered the book.
You learned the rules.
You laid out the pattern.
But you forgot the music.
"Do it again," she says, putting in a CD.
"This time don't worry about the steps; ... just follow the music."
She extends her hand and the music begins.
The next thing you know, .... you are dancing....and you don't even have the book. (Pause)
We as Christians are prone to follow the book ... while ignoring the music.
We master the doctrine, .... outline the chapters, memorize the scriptures, .... debate the rules, ... and stiffly step down to the dance floor of life .... with no music ... in our hearts.
We measure each step, ... calibrate each turn, ... and flop into bed each night exhausted from another day .... of dancing ... by the book.
Passion for the Gospel.... Passion and Joy is our Music.
Beloved ... "Let God have you, let God transform you.... let God love you!
And do not be surprised ... if your heart begins to hear music ... you may have never heard ...and your feet learn to dance .... as never before."
(Fingers) .... The message of the Gospel is Transcendent, ....it is a message of Truth .... and a message that Transforms.
Transforms with Joy and with Passion.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Message .... that makes a Difference.
Beloved .... Keep your eyes on Jesus Christ and you will hear the music of the Holy Spirit ...... and dance a life of .... grace and passion,
And if you do...you will dance ... like you have never danced ... before.
Amen and Amen!
I received much information and in-sight from a Sermon by Guy Caley titled "What A Difference" and I commend it to you.
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