Oxford Bible Church - Living in the Last Days (audio)

Paul generally dictated his letters to a scribe, and then wrote the greeting at the end in his own handwriting, to personalise and authenticate the letter. But in Galatians 6:11-18 he wrote his whole conclusion in his own handwriting, using large letters (v11). He clearly wanted to put great emphasis on these final verses. In them, he contrasts the 2 kinds of religion (the 2 ways of salvation and living) represented by his opponents and himself. On the one hand, the legalists promoted a religion of human accomplishment, emphasising the keeping of externals, focusing on the outward form of godliness, but denying its power, making a good showing in the flesh to gain the praise of man, and to avoid persecution (6:12-13). On the other hand, Paul preached the Gospel of Divine achievement (grace), centred on the Cross of Christ, which is is the power of God unto salvation, able to make us New Creations, and change our hearts with the love and grace of God (6:14-15). These 2 ways oppose each other because legalism encourages self-righteousness, but the Cross declares that everything that a man can produce from himself in his external works and law-keeping is only worthy of judgment, and therefore he cannot save himself, because he continually breaks the law of God in his heart (v13). Therefore, preaching the Cross to the self-righteous often results in persecution, because it bursts their bubble. The true faith is based on the Cross, and true believers embrace and boast in the Cross rather than in themselves and their own achievements (6:14), because they know all their righteousness and salvation comes through the Cross of Christ. We are saved through personally receiving Jesus as our Lord and trusting in His perfect work on the Cross. When we trust in Christ for our salvation, we were put (baptised) into Christ; our old man was crucified with Christ and we are risen with Christ as a New Creation - this is a work of God's grace, independent of our works, or whether or not we are circumcised (6:15). This truth of salvation by grace through faith (6:15) is described as the fundamental rule, which characterises and governs the life of all true believers (6:16). That is, our whole christian life flows out from the foundation and well-spring of our salvation by grace through faith. When we accept the Cross and are crucified with Christ, we are born again into the Kingdom of God. This fundamentally changes our relationship with the world, as Paul says: "by whom (Christ and His Cross), (1) the world has been crucified to me, and (2) I have been crucified to the world" (6:14). The Cross created a separation between us and the world. (1) Now we see the true nature of the world through the standpoint of the Cross, as being under God's judgment - so we no longer love the world, or get our values from the world, but instead we find our meaning and value from our relationship with God. (2) Like a man hanging on a cross, we are in this world, but no longer of it (John 17:14-18). We are still alive in this world and it can still tempt us, but we know that we no longer belong here - we are outsiders, not insiders. A crucified man is no longer enmeshed in the world-system. The world can offer him nothing. He knows his time is short here, and he is just passing through, for he is on his way to a different destination. Likewise, through embracing (boasting in) the Cross, we lose our attachment to this world, knowing that our destiny is with God, and so we look for His praise, rather than the world's praise. In this way, Paul contrasts himself with the motives of the egotistical false-teachers. Whereas Paul seeks the praise and glory of God and the triumph of His grace in the lives of the Galatians, his opponents want them to be circumcised, so that they would look good to their fellow Jews (for turning the Galatian believers into Jews), and so be praised by the Jewish world. Therefore, they reject the message of Cross, which glorifies God and condemns all man-made righteousness, because identification with the Cross would mean rejection and persecution from their world.

Galatians 6:7 sets forth the general spiritual law of sowing and reaping: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." This applies to sowing financial seed (6:6), and it also applies to every area of our lives. God has built this law into the nature of reality, like Newton's 3rd Law of action and reaction - whatever you put out will come back on you, both good and bad. The Bible speaks of SEED-TIME and HARVEST (Genesis 8:22) abiding forever. Because there is a time-period between sowing and reaping (harvest), when the seed is invisible, it is possible to be deceived into thinking that our words and actions will have no consequences. God warned Adam and Eve that if they sowed sin they would reap death, but satan deceived them by saying: "You will not die." Your harvest is determined by the quality and quantity of your seed (2Corinthians 9:6). As far as our salvation is concerned, Christ has taken the full curse (harvest) of our sin upon Himself, so that in Him we can eternally enjoy His full harvest of righteousness - the blessing that flows from His perfect life of righteousness, which He sowed. However, in our life on this earth, the law of sowing and reaping still applies to us, in every area of life. We discuss the difference between the penalty and consequences of sin. Even when we are forgiven of a sin, it still carries consequences (Luke 15:31), but thank God for His grace which is able to turn things around for good (Romans 8:28). We either sow our seed (thoughts, words, and actions) to (1) the flesh, from which we reap corruption, or to (2) the Spirit, from which we reap a greater level of everlasting life, both now and eternally (6:8). Jesus said everlasting life is knowing God personally (John 17:13), so the more we sow to the Spirit, the greater will be our fellowship with God, and we will possess and enjoy a greater measure of everlasting life. When interpreting the Parable of the Sower, Jesus said to take heed to what we give our attention, for whatever we focus on will increase in us. Therefore, our first priority should be to keep on hearing and doing God's Word, for it will produce much good fruit in our lives (Mark 4:23-25). "With the same measure (of attention) you use, it (fruit) will be measured to you; and to you who hear (the Word), more (blessing) will be given." Sow a thought, and reap an action. Sow an action and reap a habit. sow a habit and reap character, so character and reap a destiny. Since sowing and reaping is a law, that governs the whole of life, we should not grow weary in sowing to the Spirit in our thoughts, words and deeds, for in due season, we shall surely reap a wonderful harvest (6:9). Whenever we obey God, we (1) reap greater holiness in our soul, making us more receptive to His grace, (2) the grace (blessing) of God is released through us resulting in a harvest of righteousness in our life, and most importantly (3) we will reap eternal rewards. Therefore let us keep fulfilling the Law of Christ, doing good to all, especially to those in the family of God (6:10).

The Foundation for our Christian life is Jesus Christ Himself, who lives in us, when we believe the Gospel and receive Him as our Saviour and Lord (1Corinthians 3:11, Matthew 7:24-27). God has given us the MILK of the Word, so that we may grow spiritually from being a baby to being mature (1Peter 2:2, 1Corinthians 3:1-3). We grow to maturity by receiving and obeying (putting into practice) the MILK (Hebrews 5:13-14, James 1:22). The best measure of our SPIRITUAL MATURITY, developed through obeying the TRUTH (the MILK of the WORD) is how much we WALK in LOVE (1Peter 1:22, 1 Corinthians 13:2-3). Thus the MILK is designed to develop the LOVE of God in us. Peter commands us to keep increasing in love (1:22). The basis for this love is the rebirth of our spirit, by the incorruptible Seed (Word) of God, so now God’s incorruptible life and love now abide in our spirit (1:23-25). The Milk of the Word is able to cause us to grow in love, for as we (1) desire and drink (receive) it, and (2) do it (2:2), then (3) the love of God in our spirit will increasingly fill and control our soul. We grow spiritually by (1) receiving God’s love into our soul by faith, and then (2) yielding to it and expressing it in our words and actions. Then, in this way, (3) God’s love is developed and perfected in us (1John 2:5-6), through His Spirit of love indwelling and filling our soul: “(1) We have known and believed the love that God has for us. (2) God is love; and he who dwells in love (by walking in love), dwells in God, and (3) God (who is love) dwells in him” (1John 4:16). “(1) Beloved, if God so loved us, (2) we also ought to love one another... If we love one another, then (3) God dwells in us (walking in love causes more of His Spirit of love to flow into and fill our heart), and His love is perfected in us” (1John 4:11-12). To be perfected in love is spiritual maturity. “Love is of God; and everyone who loves is (1) born of God and (2) knows God” (1John 4:7). God is the Source of all love, so for you to walk in love, you must (1) be born of God (so you have His love in you), and (2) be walking in fellowship with God (so you are connecting with His love - receiving and expressing His love). (1) As children of God, His love-nature is inside us, we have God’s love in our spirit (Romans 5:5, Galatians 5:22), and (2) as we yield to that spirit of love, the fruit of the Spirit will come forth into our soul and be manifested in our life. SPIRITUAL GROWTH is the process of God’s Spirit, life and love in our spirit, increasingly flowing into our soul and filling it (Ephesians 5:18), as we receive and release His love, forming our character, making us more like Jesus. Love in its essence is not a feeling, attitude or commitment. These are the effects that love has on our soul. LOVE is a SPIRITUAL reality. Love comes from the Presence of God in us, for “God is love” (1John 4:8), and the Source of all love, for: “Love is of God” (1John 4:7). We cannot generate true love from our own soul. It is the result of yielding to the Grace of the Spirit in us. So to grow in love requires that we live by the first 2 foundational doctrines in Hebrews 6:1-2: FAITH toward God and REPENTANCE from dead works. We need to realise we don’t have love in ourselves, so we must continually receive God’s love from His Spirit by faith, just as we know we need oxygen, and so continually receive oxygen from the air by breathing. Spiritual growth is the perfecting of God’s love in us, so we must know where it comes from (the Holy Spirit in our spirit), how to receive it (into our heart), and yield to it (in our actions), if we are to grow in love. “We LOVE Him because He first LOVED us” (1John 4:19), so we must first pray for a revelation of His love (Ephesians 3:14-21). As your vision of His love for us expands, our heart opens to know and receive more of His love, and be filled with His love, which in turn increases our capacity to love God and others. We need to trust in the love of God in us, because it is what empowers our spiritual growth. As we yield to the love of God in us and walk in it, His love will be perfected in us, but we have to (1) RECEIVE it into our heart, and (2) ACTION it - put it into practice (Matthew 5:44-48, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1John 2:5-6, 4:7-16).

The Foundation of Jesus Christ was laid in us, when we heard and responded in faith to the Gospel of Christ by receiving Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour (1Cor 3:11). Once the Foundation of Christ has been laid, we need to build upon that Foundation by hearing and obeying (doing) the teaching of Jesus in the New Testament (Matthew 7:24-27). The first 2 foundational doctrines in Hebrews 6:1-2: (1) REPENTANCE from dead works, and (2) FAITH toward God, together describe the basis for a whole new way of living, built on a new Foundation - Christ in us. We must REPENT of trusting in ourselves, and instead live by FAITH in the indwelling Christ, trusting in Him as our Foundation and Life-Source. Thus we are to change our whole base of operation from ourselves (our own strength, understanding and soul-life) to the Living God, and His Grace at work within us through the Holy Spirit. The foundational doctrines of repentance and faith do not just apply to our salvation, but to our everyday Christian life (Colossians 2:6). To live by faith in the indwelling Christ, it is necessary to understand the miracle of the rebirth (regeneration) of our spirit, making us a child of God, so Derek shares the Scriptures on the New Birth in John 1:12-13, John 3:3-16, Ephesians 2:1-10, Ezekiel 36:26-27, 2Corinthians 5:17-18, John 4:13-14, 7:38-39, Romans 5:5, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:24, Philippians 4:13, Galatians 2:20). Now we are born again, we have the choice to walk by the indwelling Holy Spirit or by our flesh, from our independent soul life (Galatians 5:16-18). We either live by faith, under GRACE (living from the grace of God flowing from our spirit), or under LAW (keeping rules and principles in our own strength, living out from our soul, producing dead works) - Romans 6:14. “Jesus said: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself (his independent soul life), and take up his cross (God's will), and follow Me (live a life of intimate fellowship with Jesus). For whoever desires to save his soul-life will lose it, but whoever loses his soul-life for My sake will find it (we will find our real life, identity and individuality, through the life of the Spirit)” (Matthew 16:24-25). We only please God, when we submit our souls to live under grace by faith, trusting in the Holy Spirit within us as our life-source. When we walk in the flesh, independent from God, living out from our own souls, in our own strength, we cannot please God, and we only produce dead (useless) works, which have no value to God (Romans 8:2-6). Therefore faith toward God and repentance from dead works (Hebrews 6:1) are the essential first foundational teachings undergirding our whole Christian life. Once we have been born again, we have His Spirit within us, but now we must learn to lean upon God’s grace as our base of operation (Romans 8:5). Then we will experience life and peace (v6). If we submit to the abundance of grace that flows through His gift of righteousness, we will reign in life over sin (Romans 5:17). Our spirit is dead to (free from) sin and alive to God, but sin (the sin-nature in our flesh) still wants to reign over us (Romans 6:11-12), but as long as we live under grace (by God’s Spirit within us, through faith), sin will not have dominion over us (Romans 6:14). That is, the power of the Spirit is greater than the power of sin in the flesh, so that as we trust and walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfil the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). This is confirmed by Romans 8:2: “The law of the Spirit of life (grace) in Christ Jesus makes me free from the law of sin and death." In this way, the righteous requirement of the law (love) is fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit (under Grace)” (v4).

In this Series, we study the Foundational Doctrines of Christ. By hearing and doing the teaching of Christ, we build our lives on the ROCK - Christ Himself, the only true and firm foundation (Matthew 7:24-27, 16:18, Isaiah 28:16, 1Corinthians 3:11). Hebrews 5:12- 6:3 define the 7 key Foundational Doctrines of Christ, the Elementary Principles of God, the Milk of the Word, that we need to master before going on to the solid food. This is how our lives are to be built on the Foundation Rock – the Person of Christ. The FOUNDATION of JESUS CHRIST is laid in our lives by the GOSPEL, which reveals who He is, and His love for us, demonstrated by what He did for us in His death and resurrection: “No other FOUNDATION can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is JESUS CHRIST” (1Corinthians 3:11). When we believe the Gospel and receive Christ, the foundation (Christ) is laid (established) in us. Thus, the GOSPEL is the central, entry-level foundational Message of the Bible: “the Gospel of Christ is the Power of God unto Salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). In this video, Pastor Derek shares the Gospel and explains how you can personally receive Jesus Christ and His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. The video ends with a prayer you can pray to receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour. If you need to make sure that you are saved, and will go to Heaven when you die, then please pray this prayer with Pastor Derek, saying it from your heart to God, and you will be saved, for: “ALL who CALL on the Name of the Lord (Jesus) shall be SAVED” (Romans 10:13).

In Galatians 5:13-24, Paul revealed how the Holy Spirit empowers us to fulfil God's Law of Love, and in v25 he applies this to our life together in the Church, saying: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk (march together) in the Spirit." This requires us to not be focused on ourselves, always comparing ourselves and competing with each other, but rather through humility of heart we can enjoy healthy, harmonious relationships (v26). In this way, we should see and support one other as members of the same team, all working together for Christ, and all playing our own special part, like soldiers in an army. In Galatians 6:1-6, Paul develops this military idea by giving a number of specific applications. (1) If a soldier is injured, the others do not gloat over him, but rush to his aid to restore him (v1). (2) If a soldier has an unbearable load, then others will help him to carry it (v2). Likewise, when people are in crisis we should be there for them. (3) If a soldier thinks himself too important to help his fellow soldiers, he is a useless solder (v3). Likewise, if we in pride and have no love, then we are nothing (1Corinthians 13:2). (4) Each soldier must focus on accomplishing the task his commander has assigned to him, and get his satisfaction from that, rather than focusing on other people's business, and gloating over their failures (v4).(5) Each soldier must carry his own load (backpack). Likewise, we must all fulfil our responsibilities, for one day we will have to give an account to the Lord (v5). (6) Each Christian soldier plays an important part in the central work of of the Church - the ministry and propagation of God's Word. Pastoring, teaching, and other evangelistic and missionary ministries require some people to dedicate their working hours to their ministry. But they can only do this successfully is all the others partner with them in the ministry through encouragement, prayer and financial giving (v6). In this way, the whole body works together to glorify Christ and spread His Word. In all these ways, we fulfil the Law of Christ (6:2), which is defined in the New Testament as (1) loving God with all our heart, (2) loving our neighbour (all people) as ourselves, and (3) loving fellow believers in a special way, as Jesus said: "love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34).

Two keys to success in God are (1) connect with His will and grace by having a willing (submitted heart), and (2) when He speaks to you obey with all your heart and refuse to quit, until it is done. Derek illustrates this WINNING ATTITUDE from 2Kings 13:14-25, with special application to Prayer and Intercession.

Both these Psalms reveal the spiritual warfare that is taking place in the time between Christ's Resurrection and Ascension and His Second Coming, and the part that we can play in enforcing His victory, as we represent Him in the earth. We need to learn to operate from His position of victory as we deal with the forces of darkness.

This inspirational Psalm reveals the goodness of the Lord. As we submit to the lord and our Leader and Owner and listen to Him and stay close to Him, He will protect us and lead us into all His covenant provisions. Derek shows how all 8 of the Covenant Names of God are represented in the Psalm. When Jesus said: "I am the Good Shepherd" in John 10, He was claiming to be the fulfilment of Psalm 23. Having died on the Cross (Psalm 22) the risen Lord now leads us into every blessing that He has purchased with His blood (Psalm 23), as we stay close to Him and keep our eyes on Him. this is a great Psalm to declare out loud.

Having compared the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit (v16-23), and described our proper attitude to the flesh (v24), Paul concludes by describing the attitude we should adopt towards the Holy Spirit, saying: "If we (1) LIVE in (receive our life from) the Spirit, let us also (2) WALK in (line with, keep in step with) the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). These describe the 2 keys to bearing the fruit of the Spirit: First (1) we need to realise that in Christ we are born again and the Spirit lives within us, so that He is our continual source (fountain) of life and love. Knowing this we can receive His love into our hearts by faith. Then (2) we are to walk in step with Him in love and obedience, as He leads us (see v18). In so doing, we will release His Spirit, and bear much fruit for His glory. We will know His Presence abiding within and upon us, filling our hearts and lives. Walking in step with Him describes a disciplined life of obedience to the leadership of the Spirit, as we seek to honour Him. A great example of walking in step with the Spirit is Israel marching into their Promised Land. We look at God's instructions to Israel in Joshua 1, where He says He had already given them the Land (by covenant), but that He would also give it to them in their experience as they walked step by step with Him into the Land. He promised that His Presence was with them to lead them into the Land to possess it, so that as they followed Him every place they placed their feet would become theirs. As long as they obeyed His leadership, His Presence was with them, and they enjoyed good success in possessing their Land. Again and again, He told them to be (1) strong (in faith, through meditating in the Word) that He was with them and leading them to victory, and (2) courageous (to obey His leading), and then they would see His power at work and His provision. This is a picture for us, for God has given each of us a Promised Land of blessing, and He is leading us step by step into our Land, so that as we follow Him, He will give it to us in our experience. We share some exciting archaeological discoveries from Israel that confirm the Biblical account, especially Gilgal and the Footprints of Yahweh, leading up to Joshua's altar on Mount Ebal (near Shechem), where also a highly significant discovery has recently been made of a curse tablet from the time of Joshua, written in ancient Hebrew, mentioning the name of Jehovah twice, confirming Deuteronomy 11:26-29, 27:11-26, and Joshua 8:30-35. The picture of us walking in step with the Spirit, evokes the image of a disciplined army under its commanding officer. This implies we do not just walk in step with the Lord under His command, but also in step with each other, maintaining our unity in the bond of love. Likewise, Israel possessed her Land through following the Lord all together in unity. Paul then develops this corporate aspect of walking in step with the Spirit in Galatians 5:26 - 6:5, starting with "Let us not become conceited (vainglorious), provoking one another, envying one another" (v26). When our flesh rules us, we become proud and self-centred, comparing and competing with one another, either asserting our superiority or feeling inferior. Either way this poisons our relationships and we become out of step with each other. In an army, when a soldier falls, the others help him up, likewise we should gently restore those who fall, rather than gloat over them (6:1). Likewise, when one soldier has to carry a weight too heavy for him, the others will help him lift it. Likewise, when people are overwhelmed, we should be ready to help and so fulfil the law of Christ - love (v2). We should not think of ourselves as too important to help others (v3). We should not compete with one another, but rather focus on carrying our own responsibilities (load), for in the end, God will judge each of us according to how well we have fulfilled His will for our own life (v4-5).