The Words of the Galatian Church

Title: Gospel Rescue
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 5:19-21

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: In our next study of Galatians, we will think about how walking in the Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit. As God's Spirit transforms us to look more like Jesus, these works of the flesh are overcome. But my hope—and I think Paul's hope—is that we would see this passage today as insight into what God is in the continual process of rescuing us from. He does not reach us only to abandon us. He saves us and then sanctifies us. He rescues us by the cross and then reforms us by his Spirit.

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