I did not blog for sessions 5 and 6 due to my broken wrist while playing football. I might be out of commission for a while. This ought to be real fun. Going to get a cast this week. I am working on a website for the messages to be downloaded for free. Give me some time. I will announce when the website is ready.
Great Conference...thank you Tom, Fred, and Mark W. for refocusing our hearts on Christ!
Showing posts with label Laurelville Family Conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laurelville Family Conference. Show all posts
Monday, August 17, 2009
Laurelville- Session #4
Laurelville Family Conference
Fred Zaspel
Session #4: Selected Scriptures, “Eternal Life”
Began by reading John 17:1-3 and followed this by prayer. Salvation is an important term in our Christian vocabulary, but it is used little in the vocabulary of our Lord. The word Jesus used more than others to describe salvation is the expression “eternal life”.
Few statistics… 1) never uses it Mt. or Mk., 2) once in Lk., 3) once in John, 4) “save” is used a dozen times in the Synoptics. 1) eternal life used 53 times in Jn. (noun and verb), 2) 17 times in Revelation (total 97 times).
John 3:16 uses “eternal life”. At the end of John’s book (20:31), he tells us his purpose- that you may have eternal life. In John 17 Jesus says, “that I may give eternal life to those you have given me”.
This is not to say that “salvation” is a bad term- we have been rescued from sin. But Christ preferred to use “eternal life”, therefore Jesus communicating that our salvation is more than just rescue. Jesus is stressing the blessedness of salvation beyond “rescue”.
I. What is the significance of “eternal life”?
1) It’s a little too soon to be talking about it (eternal life). “Eternal life” is used to describe the age of the resurrection- the eschaton, the age to come (Dan. 12:2; Mt. 25:46; Mk. 10:17; Jn. 12:25, 5:28-29,10:10). In the day of resurrection we will experience the blessedness of heaven. That is our hope. Thus, it’s a little too soon to talk about this. Jesus also speaks about “eternal life” being now (Jn. 5:24-25)- that day has come, “crossed over from death to life”. The day “has now come”. So, there exists an “already/not yet tension. The blessedness of the eschaton becomes a present possession for us- “the future is brought to the present”. This is not abstract theology. We feel being pulled in two directions- “we’ve tasted glory and we are there, and, on the other hand, we are not there”. “We have entered into the glory of the age to come and begun to taste it already.”
2) This has implications to do with the security of the believer. We are secure being brought into eternal life ahead of time. That is why Paul can say that we are citizens of heaven.
II. What is it about the age to come (eternal life) that makes it such a blessed experience?
To know God in fellowship (Jn. 17:3). We are created with a capacity to know God and we find this in Adam until the separation of fellowship because of sin. Our whole problem because of sin is “that we don’t know God” (cf. Acts 17). Eternal life brings us into fellowship of God. Every man searches for this void to be filled naturally. Sin keeps us from experiencing the blessedness for which we were created. Thus, very early on God communicates His goal to restore this fellowship with man. Christ has come to fill the void- give eternal life…”that they may know God Himself through His Son Jesus Christ”.
Our life really began when we came to know Christ. People recognize us not, believing that we come from another planet. And that is true. We belong to the future. There is a joy unaffected by circumstances- this is eternal life. The first question of Westminster Catechism…”chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”…puts it well. This is what we are created for.
Fred closed his message with a plea to come to Christ- “you don’t have a clue and you don’t know what you are missing” by not coming to Christ.
Fred Zaspel
Session #4: Selected Scriptures, “Eternal Life”
Began by reading John 17:1-3 and followed this by prayer. Salvation is an important term in our Christian vocabulary, but it is used little in the vocabulary of our Lord. The word Jesus used more than others to describe salvation is the expression “eternal life”.
Few statistics… 1) never uses it Mt. or Mk., 2) once in Lk., 3) once in John, 4) “save” is used a dozen times in the Synoptics. 1) eternal life used 53 times in Jn. (noun and verb), 2) 17 times in Revelation (total 97 times).
John 3:16 uses “eternal life”. At the end of John’s book (20:31), he tells us his purpose- that you may have eternal life. In John 17 Jesus says, “that I may give eternal life to those you have given me”.
This is not to say that “salvation” is a bad term- we have been rescued from sin. But Christ preferred to use “eternal life”, therefore Jesus communicating that our salvation is more than just rescue. Jesus is stressing the blessedness of salvation beyond “rescue”.
I. What is the significance of “eternal life”?
1) It’s a little too soon to be talking about it (eternal life). “Eternal life” is used to describe the age of the resurrection- the eschaton, the age to come (Dan. 12:2; Mt. 25:46; Mk. 10:17; Jn. 12:25, 5:28-29,10:10). In the day of resurrection we will experience the blessedness of heaven. That is our hope. Thus, it’s a little too soon to talk about this. Jesus also speaks about “eternal life” being now (Jn. 5:24-25)- that day has come, “crossed over from death to life”. The day “has now come”. So, there exists an “already/not yet tension. The blessedness of the eschaton becomes a present possession for us- “the future is brought to the present”. This is not abstract theology. We feel being pulled in two directions- “we’ve tasted glory and we are there, and, on the other hand, we are not there”. “We have entered into the glory of the age to come and begun to taste it already.”
2) This has implications to do with the security of the believer. We are secure being brought into eternal life ahead of time. That is why Paul can say that we are citizens of heaven.
II. What is it about the age to come (eternal life) that makes it such a blessed experience?
To know God in fellowship (Jn. 17:3). We are created with a capacity to know God and we find this in Adam until the separation of fellowship because of sin. Our whole problem because of sin is “that we don’t know God” (cf. Acts 17). Eternal life brings us into fellowship of God. Every man searches for this void to be filled naturally. Sin keeps us from experiencing the blessedness for which we were created. Thus, very early on God communicates His goal to restore this fellowship with man. Christ has come to fill the void- give eternal life…”that they may know God Himself through His Son Jesus Christ”.
Our life really began when we came to know Christ. People recognize us not, believing that we come from another planet. And that is true. We belong to the future. There is a joy unaffected by circumstances- this is eternal life. The first question of Westminster Catechism…”chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”…puts it well. This is what we are created for.
Fred closed his message with a plea to come to Christ- “you don’t have a clue and you don’t know what you are missing” by not coming to Christ.
Laurelville- Session #3
Laurelville Family Conference
Mark Webb
Grace Bible Church, Olive Branch Mississippi
Session #3: Mark Webb
“Paul the Theologian”, Galatians 4:21-31
Mark opened his sermon by reading his text. The expression “beating a dead horse” is often common in our culture. And the Apostle Paul proves to the Galatians that nobody will ever be justified by the works of the law over and over again. This is the Apostolic testimony of the true Gospel.
In Romans 4 Paul gives history of Abraham- he was justified before he was circumcised. In Galatians 3:10 Paul quotes Deuteronomy to express the impossibility of keeping the law. Then, he explained that in 4:21-31 Paul is giving and allegory. An allegory is usually a fictional story that has real meaning. But here Paul uses real history for this allegory. God sovereignly uses real people in history to reveal spiritual meaning for us today.
The allegory can only make sense unless we understand the history of Abraham (Genesis 11-21). Abraham was seventy-five years old when God began to deal with Abraham giving him a promise of a nation, a land, and to make him a blessing to all of the families of the earth. His name was Abram, which meant “high father” or the Mississippi version “big daddy”. Abraham was a nomad as he trusted in God’s promise and met different types of people in his journey across a foreign land. Abraham would have been asked, “What does your name mean?” “How many kids do you have?” Abraham would answer, “None”. This brought about Sara to influence Abraham to sleep with Hagar to bear a child. Sara did this because she was barren. Ishmael was born to Hagar. Usually, a child of a slave was a slave. But now “big daddy” has one son. At age ninety-nine God appears to him in Genesis 17 and 18 and promises him a son. God told him that Ishmael was not the promised son, but that he would bear a son from Sara’s womb. Abraham was impotent and Sara was barren. God said the child’s name would be Isaac. God then commanded Abraham and all the males in his household to be circumcised. This sign means you have no confidence in the flesh- that you have given up on fleshly means; God must bring about the promise. At this point, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham meaning “father of multitudes”. He was no longer “big daddy”, but “mega daddy”!
Sara sees Ishmael “picking on” Isaac, and she told Abraham to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael. God told Abraham to listen to Sara. So Abraham obeyed after giving money to Hagar. Sara did not want the “slave boy” (Ishmael) to split the inheritance with the “true heir” (Isaac).
This is the history, then, of the allegory Paul gives in Galatians 4:21-31. Paul says these two women represent two covenants- Mt. Sinai (Mosaic covenant of law) is represented by Hagar. The children of this covenant are “slaves”. On the other hand, Sara represents the covenant of promise- Jerusalem from above. Mosaic covenant was bilateral. The covenant of promise was unilateral. In other words, God’s covenant with Abraham is unilateral. The covenant of promise is realized in the new covenant.
There are two covenants, two mountains, and two different types of cities (both called Jerusalem). And each represents two methods of child bearing. Sara represents a supernatural child birth, and Hagar represents a fleshly, natural child. Ishmael is produced by the will of the flesh. Sara is produced by God.
Paul is giving this allegory to show us that Abraham’s family tree splits at the beginning with two lines of children coming from Abraham. Abraham is a father to two kinds of descendants. In essence, Paul is calling his fellow Jews “a bunch of Ishmaelite”. In verse 26 Paul says that the Galatians are from the Jerusalem of above. Those in Christ are in the line of Isaac. Paul is warning the ethnic Jews that Ishmael was kicked out not to be an heir.
Practical application: we are sons by God’s doing only! “There is nothing normal about salvation- it is nothing less than a miracle.”
End……………………………………………………………………………………………………
I did not take notes for the last 15-20 minutes. It was too good to try and type through. Sorry. Also, Mark’s lapel mica turned off at this point. I am not sure that the last 15-20 was recorded. There was nothing for me to do. Maybe it picked up a “little”. We shall see….sorry. (I hate the demons of microphones!)
Mark Webb
Grace Bible Church, Olive Branch Mississippi
Session #3: Mark Webb
“Paul the Theologian”, Galatians 4:21-31
Mark opened his sermon by reading his text. The expression “beating a dead horse” is often common in our culture. And the Apostle Paul proves to the Galatians that nobody will ever be justified by the works of the law over and over again. This is the Apostolic testimony of the true Gospel.
In Romans 4 Paul gives history of Abraham- he was justified before he was circumcised. In Galatians 3:10 Paul quotes Deuteronomy to express the impossibility of keeping the law. Then, he explained that in 4:21-31 Paul is giving and allegory. An allegory is usually a fictional story that has real meaning. But here Paul uses real history for this allegory. God sovereignly uses real people in history to reveal spiritual meaning for us today.
The allegory can only make sense unless we understand the history of Abraham (Genesis 11-21). Abraham was seventy-five years old when God began to deal with Abraham giving him a promise of a nation, a land, and to make him a blessing to all of the families of the earth. His name was Abram, which meant “high father” or the Mississippi version “big daddy”. Abraham was a nomad as he trusted in God’s promise and met different types of people in his journey across a foreign land. Abraham would have been asked, “What does your name mean?” “How many kids do you have?” Abraham would answer, “None”. This brought about Sara to influence Abraham to sleep with Hagar to bear a child. Sara did this because she was barren. Ishmael was born to Hagar. Usually, a child of a slave was a slave. But now “big daddy” has one son. At age ninety-nine God appears to him in Genesis 17 and 18 and promises him a son. God told him that Ishmael was not the promised son, but that he would bear a son from Sara’s womb. Abraham was impotent and Sara was barren. God said the child’s name would be Isaac. God then commanded Abraham and all the males in his household to be circumcised. This sign means you have no confidence in the flesh- that you have given up on fleshly means; God must bring about the promise. At this point, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham meaning “father of multitudes”. He was no longer “big daddy”, but “mega daddy”!
Sara sees Ishmael “picking on” Isaac, and she told Abraham to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael. God told Abraham to listen to Sara. So Abraham obeyed after giving money to Hagar. Sara did not want the “slave boy” (Ishmael) to split the inheritance with the “true heir” (Isaac).
This is the history, then, of the allegory Paul gives in Galatians 4:21-31. Paul says these two women represent two covenants- Mt. Sinai (Mosaic covenant of law) is represented by Hagar. The children of this covenant are “slaves”. On the other hand, Sara represents the covenant of promise- Jerusalem from above. Mosaic covenant was bilateral. The covenant of promise was unilateral. In other words, God’s covenant with Abraham is unilateral. The covenant of promise is realized in the new covenant.
There are two covenants, two mountains, and two different types of cities (both called Jerusalem). And each represents two methods of child bearing. Sara represents a supernatural child birth, and Hagar represents a fleshly, natural child. Ishmael is produced by the will of the flesh. Sara is produced by God.
Paul is giving this allegory to show us that Abraham’s family tree splits at the beginning with two lines of children coming from Abraham. Abraham is a father to two kinds of descendants. In essence, Paul is calling his fellow Jews “a bunch of Ishmaelite”. In verse 26 Paul says that the Galatians are from the Jerusalem of above. Those in Christ are in the line of Isaac. Paul is warning the ethnic Jews that Ishmael was kicked out not to be an heir.
Practical application: we are sons by God’s doing only! “There is nothing normal about salvation- it is nothing less than a miracle.”
End……………………………………………………………………………………………………
I did not take notes for the last 15-20 minutes. It was too good to try and type through. Sorry. Also, Mark’s lapel mica turned off at this point. I am not sure that the last 15-20 was recorded. There was nothing for me to do. Maybe it picked up a “little”. We shall see….sorry. (I hate the demons of microphones!)
Friday, August 14, 2009
Session #2- Fred Zaspel
Laurelville Family Conference
Fred Zaspel
Session #2: 2 Corinthians 4-5, “ Paul’s Motivations in Ministry”
Fred began by expressing thanks for being invited back to the conference to speak. He then gave an update regarding his family (particularly his daughter Gina who has Lime Disease). He expresses his thanks for our prayers, and added his father to the list who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He also gave an update regarding his school in Texas that he is teaching at.
Fred read chapters four and five from 2 Corinthians 4, and then prayed.
Fred says that one of the great themes of Scripture is the free offer of the Gospel by grace. Paul stresses that salvation is a work of God done through Christ to reconcile the world to Himself. And then comes this unfettered offer- be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
On one level we must say that salvation costs us absolutely nothing. On the other hand, salvation costs you everything (Luke 14:33). You put your hand to the plow and you don’t look back. We are saved to serve. That is part of His reason for bringing us to Him. We are willing bondslaves of Christ. This is to define us.
Paul tells us what His service to Christ is like, and what it costs him on many occasions in his epistles (I Corinthians 4)- and then he says “be imitators of me”. He is communicating that his level of commitment to Christ is a model for us in our following of Christ. Paul was able to say “follow me” in the way I have followed Christ. Service to Christ is not exceptional. We are to model Paul’s service to Christ- its not reserved for special saints.
2 Corinthians 4 is another example. Notice the contrasts in these verses (“struck down, but not destroyed”, etc.) In broad description is what Paul has done in his service for the Lord Jesus. Verse 17 describes this as “light and momentary afflictions”. “Paul had weighed and measured his difficulties and then said, ‘It is just a little thing’”.
The question becomes, “How can Paul say that?” In these two chapters Paul answers this question.
4:8 -10, Supernaturally the Spirit of God gives Paul the energy to continue in the Gospel ministry. Through all of this there is a “mysterious renewal” that keeps Paul from wearing out.
4:13-18, Paul’s thoughts are a matter of perspective as he looks to things that are not seen (eternal). A perspective from this life to another. Why? Verse 14- we will be raised from the dead. Verse 17- our momentary afflictions do not compare to what glory awaits us in the future. “Death will not have the final word, we will be raised.”
Paul’s first perspective is “this life is not all there is”. Paul views the sacrifices he has made for Christ as “a kind of investment for heaven” (vs. 17). These afflictions achieve something for us. He is not saying that he can achieve his salvation. He is speaking about “reward theology”. Paul is not saying this is his only motivation for ministry, but it is a motivation. Jesus did the same thing through parables and speaking about rewards. Whatever these rewards are, we will not be disappointed with them. Afflictions achieve an “eternal glory”. “Paul says, ‘I am simply doing the math’.” “You get more back in return than you ever put into it.” It is a sort of spiritual investments. “Every time I endure one of those cainings and slandering, I put a penny in the bank.”
Our faithfulness is not what it should be, it was our duty to be faithful, and it was because of God’s grace- yet Scripture teaches that God views it as a matter of justice to repay us.
We will stand before God’s judgement seat to “receive praise from God” (5:9-10). This was Paul’s perspective “that drives him”. We fix our eyes on what is unseen (4:18). “Striving for eternity” is a true Christian slogan. Every abuse, slander, and cup of cold water given to one of His little ones for the sake of Christ achieves a weighty glory for us to come”.
Christians throughout history have had this perspective- “kissing the stake that they would be burned on”. We must be reminded of this lesson over and over again. “We are so earthly minded….that we think this life is all there is”.
It is this thinking that brought Jim Elliot to write, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
4:15 speaks of a coming glory (not just for us), but of Christ specifically- “a cumulative, climactic type of praise service at the end of history”. This collective praise will give glory to Christ. It is not simply one’s own glory, “but a greater consideration of Christ’s glory” to sing His praises. This consideration drives us even greater- “climactic, cumulative, corporate glory to Christ”.
This is the kind of perspective that must shape our perspective in our service for Christ. This is what Christ prays in John 17- that His people will be with Him in glory.
A second motivation….5:14- the love of Christ compels us. Christ’s love for us is in view here. “Not some vague notion of good will. Paul means the cross. He says that (5:14-15). At the cross a “great exchange” occurred at the cross between our sin and Christ’s righteousness. God, through Christ, has done all for us. This also compels us in our service to Christ.
Several affects of Christ’s love for us:
5:14-17, A Great Change. Those for whom Christ died for also died, and these now live for Him. We have been brought into the new creation.
5:18 ff., Reconciliation. Our relation to God Himself has been changed-“every obstacle removed because of Christ”.
Fred concludes with a practical exhortation-The man or woman who has truly been gripped by Christ’s love does not need to be cajoled to serve Him- “it is reflective”. We do not get people to serve Christ by “beating them over the head with the law. We show them the Gospel!”
This is why we have a retreat like this- to re-focus our hearts to the Gospel.
Fred Zaspel
Session #2: 2 Corinthians 4-5, “ Paul’s Motivations in Ministry”
Fred began by expressing thanks for being invited back to the conference to speak. He then gave an update regarding his family (particularly his daughter Gina who has Lime Disease). He expresses his thanks for our prayers, and added his father to the list who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He also gave an update regarding his school in Texas that he is teaching at.
Fred read chapters four and five from 2 Corinthians 4, and then prayed.
Fred says that one of the great themes of Scripture is the free offer of the Gospel by grace. Paul stresses that salvation is a work of God done through Christ to reconcile the world to Himself. And then comes this unfettered offer- be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).
On one level we must say that salvation costs us absolutely nothing. On the other hand, salvation costs you everything (Luke 14:33). You put your hand to the plow and you don’t look back. We are saved to serve. That is part of His reason for bringing us to Him. We are willing bondslaves of Christ. This is to define us.
Paul tells us what His service to Christ is like, and what it costs him on many occasions in his epistles (I Corinthians 4)- and then he says “be imitators of me”. He is communicating that his level of commitment to Christ is a model for us in our following of Christ. Paul was able to say “follow me” in the way I have followed Christ. Service to Christ is not exceptional. We are to model Paul’s service to Christ- its not reserved for special saints.
2 Corinthians 4 is another example. Notice the contrasts in these verses (“struck down, but not destroyed”, etc.) In broad description is what Paul has done in his service for the Lord Jesus. Verse 17 describes this as “light and momentary afflictions”. “Paul had weighed and measured his difficulties and then said, ‘It is just a little thing’”.
The question becomes, “How can Paul say that?” In these two chapters Paul answers this question.
4:8 -10, Supernaturally the Spirit of God gives Paul the energy to continue in the Gospel ministry. Through all of this there is a “mysterious renewal” that keeps Paul from wearing out.
4:13-18, Paul’s thoughts are a matter of perspective as he looks to things that are not seen (eternal). A perspective from this life to another. Why? Verse 14- we will be raised from the dead. Verse 17- our momentary afflictions do not compare to what glory awaits us in the future. “Death will not have the final word, we will be raised.”
Paul’s first perspective is “this life is not all there is”. Paul views the sacrifices he has made for Christ as “a kind of investment for heaven” (vs. 17). These afflictions achieve something for us. He is not saying that he can achieve his salvation. He is speaking about “reward theology”. Paul is not saying this is his only motivation for ministry, but it is a motivation. Jesus did the same thing through parables and speaking about rewards. Whatever these rewards are, we will not be disappointed with them. Afflictions achieve an “eternal glory”. “Paul says, ‘I am simply doing the math’.” “You get more back in return than you ever put into it.” It is a sort of spiritual investments. “Every time I endure one of those cainings and slandering, I put a penny in the bank.”
Our faithfulness is not what it should be, it was our duty to be faithful, and it was because of God’s grace- yet Scripture teaches that God views it as a matter of justice to repay us.
We will stand before God’s judgement seat to “receive praise from God” (5:9-10). This was Paul’s perspective “that drives him”. We fix our eyes on what is unseen (4:18). “Striving for eternity” is a true Christian slogan. Every abuse, slander, and cup of cold water given to one of His little ones for the sake of Christ achieves a weighty glory for us to come”.
Christians throughout history have had this perspective- “kissing the stake that they would be burned on”. We must be reminded of this lesson over and over again. “We are so earthly minded….that we think this life is all there is”.
It is this thinking that brought Jim Elliot to write, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
4:15 speaks of a coming glory (not just for us), but of Christ specifically- “a cumulative, climactic type of praise service at the end of history”. This collective praise will give glory to Christ. It is not simply one’s own glory, “but a greater consideration of Christ’s glory” to sing His praises. This consideration drives us even greater- “climactic, cumulative, corporate glory to Christ”.
This is the kind of perspective that must shape our perspective in our service for Christ. This is what Christ prays in John 17- that His people will be with Him in glory.
A second motivation….5:14- the love of Christ compels us. Christ’s love for us is in view here. “Not some vague notion of good will. Paul means the cross. He says that (5:14-15). At the cross a “great exchange” occurred at the cross between our sin and Christ’s righteousness. God, through Christ, has done all for us. This also compels us in our service to Christ.
Several affects of Christ’s love for us:
5:14-17, A Great Change. Those for whom Christ died for also died, and these now live for Him. We have been brought into the new creation.
5:18 ff., Reconciliation. Our relation to God Himself has been changed-“every obstacle removed because of Christ”.
Fred concludes with a practical exhortation-The man or woman who has truly been gripped by Christ’s love does not need to be cajoled to serve Him- “it is reflective”. We do not get people to serve Christ by “beating them over the head with the law. We show them the Gospel!”
This is why we have a retreat like this- to re-focus our hearts to the Gospel.
Laurelville Sermon Session #1- Mark Webb
Laurelville Family Conference
Mark Webb
Grace Bible Church, Olive Branch Mississippi
Session #1: “Paul the Apostle”, Galatians 1-2
Mark began by giving church and family background and the joy of learning how to make “Pepsi bombs” from Mike.
Mark announces what his plan is for three separate sermons. He will give to us three “looks” at the Apostle Paul:
I. Paul the Apostle (chapters 1 and 2)
II. Paul the Theologian
III. Paul the Pastor
Tonight we looked at “Paul the Apostle”. Mark spoke about the importance of the letter to the Galatians in the Protestant Reformation and especially Martin Luther. The book of Galatians tells us what the Gospel is not. The book of Romans tells us what the Gospel is. Romans and Galatians are the “ham and eggs” of Scripture. He gave some background information regarding who Paul’s recipients were. Paul wrote to the churches in the region of Galatia (Asia Minor). Mark poses the question, “Did Paul write to the churches in Northern Galatia or Southern Galatia?” Theologians are in disagreement as to which section Paul wrote to. Historical records indicate that Paul did missionary work in Southern Galatia. Therefore, Mark confirmed that he held to the “Southern Galatia” theory.
Paul was amazed that these Galatians had so quickly moved from the Gospel (1:1). Paul writes this letter to counter a “false gospel” that had been introduced into the churches in Galatia. Mark points out that this false gospel stemmed from a sect of the Pharisees- the same group in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). This sect was identified as the “Judaizers”. The Judaizers taught that obedience to Mosaic law brought the blessings of the Gospel (salvation). This is the identity of Paul’s opposition, and their tactic is to destroy the Apostle Paul. “You can attack the message by attacking the man. And that is what the Judaizers do- attack Paul”. For this reason, Paul defends himself in the first two chapters of this letter.
In 1:6-9 Paul affirms that there is only one Gospel and nobody, including an angel or Paul himself, is authorized to teach any other Gospel than the one that the Galatians had already received. Paul is following in the steps of Jesus. On one hand, Jesus was gentle with the sheep who were being led astray. On the other hand, Jesus was harsh with the false teachers who were leading them astray. In verse one Paul indicates that he is an “Apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father)”. Paul is making it clear that he is a hand-picked “sent one” by Jesus Himself. Paul is affirming himself as an authorized one who gives the true and only Gospel. Paul’s opponents were affirming that Paul was an “apostle”, but not an Apostle. He was not like Peter and John- “not up to the standards of the big boys in Jerusalem”. They accused Paul of not preaching the “full gospel”. To this accusation Paul replies that he was made an Apostle by Jesus Christ Himself, not by man in 1:1.
Why is it important for Paul to do this? “If this is not true of Paul, then why are we reading and studying Paul’s letter? If he is not an Apostle, then we have no reason to believe that this letter is an inspired book.”
The first time we see Paul is in Acts 7 and the stoning of Stephen. This was a long time of Christ’s resurrection and Pentecost. He was not an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry. He met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, but 500 people saw the risen Christ as well. So does this qualify them as Apostles? Paul claims he was taught the Gospel directly by Jesus Himself. He affirmed this in verses 11-12, “for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ”. He was given a thorn in the flesh because of the “abundance of revelation that he had been given”. So Paul argues that He was taught the Gospel by direct revelation.
Paul gives proof his claim by pointing to the history of his own life. In verse 15-16, Paul said that when God called Paul, he did not confer with other men. Rather, he went to the deserts of Arabia. “This was Paul’s seminary. Rather than conferring with man, Paul conferred with Christ in Arabia”.
In verse 18, Paul is saying that three years after this he went up to Jerusalem and stayed with Peter. And in 2:1, Paul went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas fourteen years after this. “This was his first visit with the big ones- Peter, John, James and the others. He says look fellows, this is the Gospel that I am preaching. What are you preaching?” 2:9 indicates that Peter, John, and James agreed that Paul preached the right Gospel by the giving of the “right hand of fellowship”. “The only division here was one of labor”. The “big” Apostles agreed that Paul be sent to the Gentiles to preach the Gospel (Acts 15:8 ff.).
Acts 15:8 ff. manifests the sovereignty of God as we see the Apostles choosing to minister to the Gentiles. God did this by hand picking the Apostle Paul. The verses in Acts indicate that the “big Apostles” agreed with Paul that the Gentiles did not need to obey the Mosaic law to be saved. Thus, Mark effectively showed us that all the other true Apostles were in agreement with Paul against the opposition he faced in the churches of Galatia. In short, the other Apostles agreed with Paul’s understanding of the Gospel- salvation not by works, but by grace.
In 2:11 ff. Paul recounts his public opposition of Peter who was “living” contrary to the Gospel by ceasing to eat with Gentiles when certain men from James came. Paul opposed him by explaining that the law has nothing to do with salvation in Christ. Simply put, Peter was being a hypocrite. “Once union with Christ takes place, His history becomes our history- his death and resurrection becomes ours.” We have died to the law through our union with Christ. It makes no difference whether we are Jew or Gentile. The law has nothing to do with salvation.
Mark gave an insightful illustration of being grafted into a tree to explain our union with Christ (get CD of sermon to hear illustration).
Mark closed his message by explaining his overall message… “the error that Paul faced is still present today- the idea of co-mingling law and grace, faith and works- the idea of a blended Gospel. Man’s heart is so wicked that we just can’t have it God’s way”. Mark was saying God’s way is only by grace. The Judaizers wanted the ability to brag about what they did in the flesh. The true Apostles message must be believed, thus Paul’s “testimony” is special because the church’s very origin stems from the Apostles teaching- “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). Mark emphasizes that this is important because it upholds sola Scriptura. In this sense, the Apostles still speak today, and they tell us what the Gospel is (through the written revelation of Scripture). And the Gospel is “Christ, all about Christ, and nothing but Christ!”
He, of course, closed in prayer. It was a joy to finally here Mark preach.
Mark Webb
Grace Bible Church, Olive Branch Mississippi
Session #1: “Paul the Apostle”, Galatians 1-2
Mark began by giving church and family background and the joy of learning how to make “Pepsi bombs” from Mike.
Mark announces what his plan is for three separate sermons. He will give to us three “looks” at the Apostle Paul:
I. Paul the Apostle (chapters 1 and 2)
II. Paul the Theologian
III. Paul the Pastor
Tonight we looked at “Paul the Apostle”. Mark spoke about the importance of the letter to the Galatians in the Protestant Reformation and especially Martin Luther. The book of Galatians tells us what the Gospel is not. The book of Romans tells us what the Gospel is. Romans and Galatians are the “ham and eggs” of Scripture. He gave some background information regarding who Paul’s recipients were. Paul wrote to the churches in the region of Galatia (Asia Minor). Mark poses the question, “Did Paul write to the churches in Northern Galatia or Southern Galatia?” Theologians are in disagreement as to which section Paul wrote to. Historical records indicate that Paul did missionary work in Southern Galatia. Therefore, Mark confirmed that he held to the “Southern Galatia” theory.
Paul was amazed that these Galatians had so quickly moved from the Gospel (1:1). Paul writes this letter to counter a “false gospel” that had been introduced into the churches in Galatia. Mark points out that this false gospel stemmed from a sect of the Pharisees- the same group in the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15). This sect was identified as the “Judaizers”. The Judaizers taught that obedience to Mosaic law brought the blessings of the Gospel (salvation). This is the identity of Paul’s opposition, and their tactic is to destroy the Apostle Paul. “You can attack the message by attacking the man. And that is what the Judaizers do- attack Paul”. For this reason, Paul defends himself in the first two chapters of this letter.
In 1:6-9 Paul affirms that there is only one Gospel and nobody, including an angel or Paul himself, is authorized to teach any other Gospel than the one that the Galatians had already received. Paul is following in the steps of Jesus. On one hand, Jesus was gentle with the sheep who were being led astray. On the other hand, Jesus was harsh with the false teachers who were leading them astray. In verse one Paul indicates that he is an “Apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father)”. Paul is making it clear that he is a hand-picked “sent one” by Jesus Himself. Paul is affirming himself as an authorized one who gives the true and only Gospel. Paul’s opponents were affirming that Paul was an “apostle”, but not an Apostle. He was not like Peter and John- “not up to the standards of the big boys in Jerusalem”. They accused Paul of not preaching the “full gospel”. To this accusation Paul replies that he was made an Apostle by Jesus Christ Himself, not by man in 1:1.
Why is it important for Paul to do this? “If this is not true of Paul, then why are we reading and studying Paul’s letter? If he is not an Apostle, then we have no reason to believe that this letter is an inspired book.”
The first time we see Paul is in Acts 7 and the stoning of Stephen. This was a long time of Christ’s resurrection and Pentecost. He was not an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry. He met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, but 500 people saw the risen Christ as well. So does this qualify them as Apostles? Paul claims he was taught the Gospel directly by Jesus Himself. He affirmed this in verses 11-12, “for I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ”. He was given a thorn in the flesh because of the “abundance of revelation that he had been given”. So Paul argues that He was taught the Gospel by direct revelation.
Paul gives proof his claim by pointing to the history of his own life. In verse 15-16, Paul said that when God called Paul, he did not confer with other men. Rather, he went to the deserts of Arabia. “This was Paul’s seminary. Rather than conferring with man, Paul conferred with Christ in Arabia”.
In verse 18, Paul is saying that three years after this he went up to Jerusalem and stayed with Peter. And in 2:1, Paul went up to Jerusalem with Barnabas fourteen years after this. “This was his first visit with the big ones- Peter, John, James and the others. He says look fellows, this is the Gospel that I am preaching. What are you preaching?” 2:9 indicates that Peter, John, and James agreed that Paul preached the right Gospel by the giving of the “right hand of fellowship”. “The only division here was one of labor”. The “big” Apostles agreed that Paul be sent to the Gentiles to preach the Gospel (Acts 15:8 ff.).
Acts 15:8 ff. manifests the sovereignty of God as we see the Apostles choosing to minister to the Gentiles. God did this by hand picking the Apostle Paul. The verses in Acts indicate that the “big Apostles” agreed with Paul that the Gentiles did not need to obey the Mosaic law to be saved. Thus, Mark effectively showed us that all the other true Apostles were in agreement with Paul against the opposition he faced in the churches of Galatia. In short, the other Apostles agreed with Paul’s understanding of the Gospel- salvation not by works, but by grace.
In 2:11 ff. Paul recounts his public opposition of Peter who was “living” contrary to the Gospel by ceasing to eat with Gentiles when certain men from James came. Paul opposed him by explaining that the law has nothing to do with salvation in Christ. Simply put, Peter was being a hypocrite. “Once union with Christ takes place, His history becomes our history- his death and resurrection becomes ours.” We have died to the law through our union with Christ. It makes no difference whether we are Jew or Gentile. The law has nothing to do with salvation.
Mark gave an insightful illustration of being grafted into a tree to explain our union with Christ (get CD of sermon to hear illustration).
Mark closed his message by explaining his overall message… “the error that Paul faced is still present today- the idea of co-mingling law and grace, faith and works- the idea of a blended Gospel. Man’s heart is so wicked that we just can’t have it God’s way”. Mark was saying God’s way is only by grace. The Judaizers wanted the ability to brag about what they did in the flesh. The true Apostles message must be believed, thus Paul’s “testimony” is special because the church’s very origin stems from the Apostles teaching- “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). Mark emphasizes that this is important because it upholds sola Scriptura. In this sense, the Apostles still speak today, and they tell us what the Gospel is (through the written revelation of Scripture). And the Gospel is “Christ, all about Christ, and nothing but Christ!”
He, of course, closed in prayer. It was a joy to finally here Mark preach.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Laurelville Family Conference Blog Updates
Due to the fact that some of you cannot make it to the Laurelville Family Conference until sometime Friday evening, I have chosen to publish posts that will give summaries of each sermon. There are two sermons on each day (except Thursday and Sunday), so I will try to post one summary Thursday night, and two on Friday and Saturday (for those who cannot make it until Sunday morning). These will not be expansive posts in any sense of the word. Rather, they will serve as a way for you to read (rather quickly) what has been spoken on so that when you arrive at the conference you will be "up to speed". Also, there will be CD's available for each sermon following the Conference (barring some sort of "recording disaster").
Blessings,
Andy
Blessings,
Andy
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