Galatians 3:1-14
But I gave it My Best Effort!
Introduction
A. As many of you know I play Racquetball with Jon usually on Tuesdays and Thursday morning.
B. I have a goal. My goal is quite simple. My Goal is to beet Jon
C. I do not accomplish my Goal often. In fact if I win one out of four games it is amazing
D. But my goal is to beet Jon every games
E. It does not happen
F. Now you think you I could take some satisfaction in the fact that “I Gave it my best effort” Right
G. No! My goal is to beet Jon, anything less doesn’t matter, I want to beet Jon
H. In our spiritual lives we often think if we give it our best effort, put the best foot forward, give it that old heave ho. That is good enough, right?
I. Today we are going to see what we need to do to accomplish our Goal
J. Specifically
a. Our best Shot
b. Outside or Inside
c. Outcomes
I. (1-5) Our Best Shot
A. Explanation
1. Now for Paul to call someone foolish you know that he had to be really mad, this is not just a little tiff, he is full blown about to blow
a) Granted we do not use the world bewitched that often and if you have a New Living Translation you read “What magician has cast a spell on you” that makes a lot more sense to me
2. Now in verse 2, Paul ask us a rhetorical questions, obviously they received the Sprit by believing what they heard
a) WE have said at least 234234 times that the law cannot save you, that only faith in What Christ did on the Cross will produce salvation
3. In verse three we have the word “Goal” or in the NLT we have “become perfect” in both cases what we are talking about is Eternal life with Christ, That would make us perfect and that is our Goal
4. Now understand that the Galatians did not enjoy the same spiritual freedom that we have here in America. They could not go to any church without conflict without being persecuted like we can. So they suffered through all that torture to learn about and accept this Gospel by faith and faith alone and now they just want to abandon it. If they are going to abandoned it why did they put up with the torture in the first place?
5. Paul asks another Rhetorical question. Paul is trying to key them in on everything that the Gospel Gives. The Miracles, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, all of that is not because of what they have done but because of the what they have believed
B. Application
1. What can we apply to our lives?
2. We can try all we want
3. We can put forth all the effort that we have
4. We can do everything that we can possibly do
5. And still never reach our Goal
6. The Goal of Eternal life with Christ
7. We will never be able to do it
C. Illustration
1. As I have told you many times I used to run Cross Country. Obviously like every athlete in the world I wanted to be the best. I tried, I tried, and I tried. I pushed my body to limit and beyond. I wanted to be first in every race, I wanted to be the state champion, I wanted to set records that would never be broken. That was my Goal. I gave it my best effort. Every practice, every race, I gave it all. You know what? I never finished a race better then 5th best on our team, and that was because a couple of people were not running that day.
2. Our best effort will never reach the Goal
3. Our best effort will never enable us to reach Salvation
4. Imagine if you will you are standing in front of God on the day of Judgment and you are standing right next to a guy that killed 30 people, robbed countless number of banks, got drunk most every night, was a drug addict, the whole 9 yards
5. And you lived a good life, never got arrest, never even got a speeding ticket, you helped the little old lady cross the street
6. You figured you have a good chance against that scum bag right? Well if you have not accepted the accepted God’s plan for Salvation, you both are going to be guilty
7. Now if this “scum bag” just before he died accepted God’s plan for Salvation and you didn’t, guess who accomplished the Goal? The scumbag!
8. Your best effort will never get you the goal
9. The Goal is only obtained by faith in what Christ did on the Cross
II. (6-9) Outside or Inside
A. Explanation
1. Understand that Abraham was viewed and still is viewed as the Father of the Jews. And Abraham became the most talked about person in Jewish Circles
2. Now Abraham was considered righteous or as we just talked about accomplished the Goal.
3. The question that surround the whole deal why was Abraham considered Righteous
4. Was it because of the circumcision, his lifestyle, the cloths that he wore, the music he listened to, and the food he ate?
5. It was and always will because he believed in God
6. So then to be children of Abraham it was not about outward appearance it was not about being circumcised, it was not about the lifestyle, the clothes, the must the food, it was about believing in God
7. Therefore for a Gentile to become a child of Abraham to complete the Goal if you will all that required was faith
8. Not outward appearances
9. Paul uses one of his favorite techniques and quotes scripture, that the Jews would not, that the Gentiles would have heard
10. Plain and simple, those who put their faith in God, will become real Children of God
B. Application
1. What does that mean to us?
2. If I were to ask you how a Christian looks what would you say?
3. Clean cut, clean shaven, wears good clean clothes
4. Doesn’t smoke, doesn’t chew, doesn’t date Girls that do
5. Does that sound like a good description of a Christian?
6. It shouldn’t!
7. We can not judge on outward appearances
8. You will never be declared righteous, accomplished your goal, based on what you wear, eat, and how you look
9. You will only be judged on basis of your faith
10. Not blind faith, but faith in Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on the Cross
C. Illustration
1. One of my Favorite fruits in an UGLI Fruit. Have you ever had one? Let me tell you about them. They are very appropriately named, UGLY! They look disgusting. They are big round and bumpy. Not exactly appealing to look at. But then you take the skin off and get to eat it. They are so good, they are juicy, a little sweet and little sour, just a nice blend
2. Now if we were to judge on outside appearances we would think that it tasted disgusting, but once we get to the inside, we realize that it is good!
3. If we were judged on the basis of our outside appearance, we would all fail
4. Thank You Lord for looking at the Inside
III. (10-14) Outcomes
A. Explanation
1. So why don’t we just try and do our best like we have been talking about surely that will lead to salvation if we don’t screw up right?
2. Actually if you were to make it through this life without screwing up and you followed ever letter of the law you could accomplished the goal
3. Guess what, no one ever had and no one ever will
4. It is impossible
5. And when you break even just one little point of the law, your done, no 2nd chances
6. Paul then quotes more Scripture to back up his point
7. Telling us that the righteous will live by faith, not by works, not based on outward appearances but based on faith
8. Those who insist on following the law will be cursed
9. Now Christ came to this earth and became the curse for us
10. He did this so that we might receive that Holy Spirit that was promised through faith
B. Application
1. Let’s apply this to our lives
2. Live by the law, die by the law
3. It is a hopeless case
4. If you do not follow every letter of the law, mess up just once your are done
5. On top of that guess what you do not have?
6. The Holy Spirit
7. Now you might not be aware of what the Holy Spirit Does for you in your life
8. But let me give you a list:
C. Illustration
He Was Active in Creation Gen 1:2, Job 33:4, Psalm 104:20
He Inspired Bible Writers 2 Peter 1:21
He empowered the conception of Christ Luke 1:35
He Convicts sin John 16:8, cf. Gen 6:3
He Regenerates John 3:5-6
He Counsels John 14:16-17, 16:7, 12-14
He brings assurance of Salvation Rom 8:15
He teaches or enlightens John 16:12-14, 1 Cor. 2:13
He aids in prayer by intercession Romans 8:26-27
He resurrected Christ Romans 8:11, 1 Peter 3:18
He calls to service Acts 14:4
He seals the elect’s salvation Romans 8:23, 2 Cor. 1:21-22, Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30
He indwells the Believer Romans 8:9, 1 Cor 3:16-17, 6:19
He works in the Church 1 Cor 12:7-11
1. Now you have a Choice, you can have that Person get you through this world, or do it yourself what is it going to be?
Conclusion
A. There comes a point in all of our lives when we realize that we just can not do it all
B. That was just cant do it ourselves
C. Derek Redmond found that out about 14 years ago
D. Derek was a world-class 400-meter runner.
E. He was in great shape, had great speed, and the experts were predicting that he would either get the gold or the silver
F. The race began, and Derek got off to a great start, he was relaxed poised, running with perfect form, breathing when he was suppose to breath
G. Everything was going good, he rounded the first bend was in first place
H. Then he felt a sharp pain, Derek immediately fell to the ground clenching his torn hamstring
I. The medical attendant started to head over, he waived them off, got up and was determined to make it to the finish line
J. He kept limping in agony, trying, giving it his best effort trying and trying to just make it to the end
K. He had made it to the final stretch, by this time, you looked at him and you thought, how will this man ever make it, it was not looking like he could
L. Then a rather large man in a t-shirt, khaki pants, and a ball cap emerged from the crowded grandstands. This man pushed the security guards away went out to the track put his arm around his son and the two of them limped across the finished line and completed the goal
M. Many of us are out there running around with a torn hamstring, barely hanging on
N. Just wanting to quit, want to give up. But yet at the same time wanting to accomplish the goal.
O. Just like Derek, we have a Father waiting there to put His arm around us and help us get to the goal
P. Your best effort will not get you there
Q. Let the father carry you, he will get you to the goal
R. Let’s pray
