New Year's 2017 Sermon: The Christian's Only Boast

Title: The Christian’s Only Boast

Main Text: Galatians 5:16-6:16

Supporting Text: Matt. 5:13-29

Call for the Offering: 2 Cor. 9:6-9

Introduction

• In today’s sermon which I have titled “The Christian’s Only Boast,” we are going to discuss the believer's liberty in Christ through the Gospel of Grace given through the Apostle Paul. Using the first part of Galatians as a backdrop, we will move into what it means to walk in the Spirit and why Paul lists one and only one boast for the Christian.

Read Galatians 5:16-6:16

• 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
• 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
• 6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
• 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
• 11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Prayer

Exposition

• Introductory explanation (i.e., short review of the book up to this point)
• • Paul typically begins his letters with a greeting, an introduction and a commendation (notably absent here, for which I will explain in a moment), after which he will launch into the main theme of the book which is not behaviorist in nature but doctrinal, requiring right thinking about an issue foundational to Christian thought and life. Then, he will move into a section where he defines to the readers/listeners what that looks like for the Christian. Oftentimes, he means for specific application points, but usually it is broad enough for readers of all ages, experiences and eras to be led by the Holy Spirit to apply to many different facets of Christian life and practice.
  • One noteworthy feature of this letter is that there is no commendation given to the Galatians. Even the Corinthians receive a commendation, thought they are bragging of their approval of a incestuous relationship between a son and his father’s wife (could be a step-mother). The reason is clear: to mess up a life principal of the true gospel is one thing, though it is still sin. To get the gospel wrong is never deserving of commendation. In fact, Paul is so incensed of their perversion that he launches rather quickly into his rebuke of their apostasy.
  • Paul spends 4 and a half chapters correcting the Galatians for departing the gospel of the “grace of Christ” and turning to a works-based perversion of it. And, they had done it rather quickly after Paul’s departure from them. Paul, then, (I assume) reminds them of his testimony and his calling to “preach [Christ] among the Gentiles.” He spends a fair amount of time defending his apostolic status, even including a note in his greeting where he states that he is “an apostle - not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” This carries huge implications, foremost of those is that he was not appointed to be an apostle by an institution or person or group of persons, but of Christ himself.
  • Chapter 2 includes an unfortunate circumstance where Paul has to publicly rebuke Peter for his hypocrisy among the Gentiles he was visiting. He uses this as a launch-pad into the theme of this book - justification by faith alone and our subsequent freedom in Christ. Why become slaves to a system no one, save Jesus himself, could hold to? Even Abraham “believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
  • And, yet, the Galatians still somehow desired to live under the law. Interesting - the law was added because we committed cosmic offense against Almighty God. And, we’re told if you want to hold to the law, you have to keep the entirety of it, which no one is capable of. Paul says that “Scripture imprisoned everything under sin so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." And, while we were kept under guard by the law which simply drives us to our need of a Savior, that savior has been made known in the person and work of Jesus.
  • So, we’re free in Christ through belief in his name! As children of Abraham through faith, we are born in the Spirit. 
• Read Galatians 5:16-6:
• 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
• • Therefore, we are to walk in the Spirit of which we have been born into. Babies don’t learn to walk to prove they have been born to a human mother. They learn to walk as part of the natural process of growing in human maturity. In the same way, growing in holiness (or Sanctification) is not a means to attain salvation but as a part of the process of maturing as one born of the Spirit. And, as children are trained and subsequently disciplined for incorrect behavior, Paul is correcting the Galatians, prodding them to return to the God who gave them new life and not to return to their former slavery.
  • What is Paul correcting them for? “Gratifying the flesh.” They weren’t duped or tricked. They willingly departed the gospel presented to them by Paul. Now, make no mistake: being born of the Spirit does not undo the fact we still live our remaining days in this sinful flesh. Which is why he pits the works of the flesh versus the fruit of the spirit. Notice he does not call it “the works of the spirit.” Healthy trees naturally bear the fruit they were intended to bear, if placed in good soil and receiving the proper nutrients. He is repeatedly contrasting Law and Grace.
  • Nevertheless, Paul reminds them in 2:16 that “a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.” Why? 3:10 explains: “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, and do them.”
  • So, here in verse 16, walking in the spirit is contrasted with the cowardice of gratifying the desires of the flesh.
• 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
• • I might be taking a bit too much liberty here, but I sort of feel at this point like the Galatians are acid reflux patients at a hospital and Paul is a doctor giving them a list of how to get acid reflux. I get this sense that the Galatians heads are hanging quite low at this point. They know how to get acid reflux - they have it! They know how to gratify the desires of the flesh - they did it in rejecting the amazing gospel of the grace of Christ. Nevertheless, he issues a laundry list of ways to gratify fleshly desires. I can hear Martin Luther right now: “Well, if you’re going to sin, sin boldly!” We don’t have time to address the order this list occurs, but do note that the idolatry they just committed is 3rd on the list and not first.
  • The Law, though good, does not in and of itself produce righteousness but reveals sin.
  • Dr. John MacArthur, writing about human depravity in his book, Successful Christian Parenting, notes that all beings come into this world already with the sin-nature. It does not develop - only it’s expression. “[We] are not innocent when [we] come into the world, except in the sense that [we] are naive and inexperienced. All the potential for sin of every kind is already present in [our] hearts, in seed form. A proclivity toward sin (or, a tendency to choose sin regularly) drives [our] hearts, minds, and wills. And [we] have no native potential for true holiness or God-pleasing righteousness. We are totally depraved already" - get this - "for that depravity to express itself. Although we had some knowledge of good in our hearts (see Romans 2:14-15), we will not and cannot do the good, because we love evil.”
  • In other words, we sin because we’re born as sinners, not vice versa.
• 22 But (the Christian’s favorite word) the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
• • This is not a list of things we’re to do in order to prove we’re Christians. Psalm 1 alludes to this very fact:
  • • Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
    • 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,and on his law he meditates day and night.
    • 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
    • 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
    • 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
    • 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
  • The fruit we experience as Christians is simply the natural response to walking with and abiding in Jesus. We do this through regular daily time with our Lord in Scripture reading, prayer, devotional reading, as well as the public reading of Scripture, preaching, and fellowship with the saints.
• 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
• • Again, another way of contrasting walking in the spirit versus gratifying fleshly desires. Of course, we, as Christians, become conceited when we believe the goodness we’re working out in our life is of our own doing. Then, we look down our noses at the next person who - for even one moment - would dare commit a small offense against the God I’m doing such a good job of pleasing. Then, we’re right back at the story of the Publican (or tax collector) and the Pharisee.
  • Jesus tells this story from Luke 18:9-14
  • • 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
  • The story of the tax collector does not include any follow-up. It doesn’t say whether he gave back he money he stole. It is possible he didn’t even get the chance to. What do we know? “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” It is always the gift of faith that sparks our response of gratitude to a wise and merciful savior.
• 6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
• • As a reminder, Paul still calls them brothers (as they repent of their gospel desertion and return to the Biblical gospel).
  • Do you remember Achan’s sin at Ai from the book of Joshua? In short, Joshua and his company had just laid waste to Jericho and devoted everything to destruction, except for the silver, gold and the vessels of bronze and iron which they put into the treasure in the house of the Lord. The beginning of chapter 7 tells the story of Achan of Carmi who stole some of the devoted things. God became angry against - get this - the people of Israel. Achan’s solo sin was enough for God to cause Israel to lose the battle at Ai. Upon learning through casting lots that Achan had stolen these goods, he was ordered to “give glory to God” and tell the truth about his sin, upon which he and his family and all their possessions were taken to the Valley of Achor (or Valley of Trouble) and put to death.
  • Now, contrast this to Paul’s exhortation to gently restore the sinner. What changed? The Gospel of the Grace of Christ! I wonder if these and other examples from Israel’s past were running through Paul’s mind when writing feverously to the Galatians. Thousands of years of this cycle of individualistic moralism followed by broken promises to follow God’s law followed by tragedy followed by a plea to God for help followed by escape followed by more broken promises. Do we find ourselves there, too, sometimes? Oftentimes, perhaps? You are living under law, if so. You cannot have any of God’s glory but you can have all of Christ. He shed his blood so you could draw near to God in a way the Israelites would not.
  • As Christians, because the reason we come to Christ is for mercy, grace and lovingkindness, formerly unrepentant lawbreakers who have now been washed with the blood of Jesus, we should be the first to express deep pity for those caught in sin. I’m embarrassed to admit how many times I withheld compassion and a heart of reconciliation to my fellow brethren instead of offering a compassionate heart, reminding my fellow believers of how we have escaped from the corruption that is in the world through lust. I am the first to admit my sin there. We are not under the law of quid-pro-quo, but the law of Christ.
• 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
• • Jesus finishes the sermon on the mount with a warning to those who would attain God’s grace by their own means in Matthew 7:
  • • 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
    • 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
    • 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
    • 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
    • 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
  • Again, are we humbly seeking His mercy or our own exaltation? Those Jesus speaks of in this passage built their foundation upon their works - signs, wonders, prophecies, casting out demons, not faith alone in the finished work of Jesus.
• 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
• • Romans 2:6-10
  • • 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.
  • You, and you alone, will be judged. You cannot stand upon the merits of those around you.
  • We should be properly equipping the saints to be able to stand alone before God. It is useful to use the Fruit of the Spirit list from chapter 5 to test ones faith, but not to use it as a way to earn faith. Spoiler alert: it hurts, but it can be the greatest hurt possible.
  • • Here is a story of a mother who used the fruit of the spirit versus the works of the flesh to witness to her son who had made a profession of faith but exhibited no fruit in his life.
    • • I had been very concerned in particular about our oldest son, who had made a profession of faith about a year ago but I hadn’t seen evidence/fruit of true repentance. When I heard Ray Comfort’s teaching on “True and False Conversion” I realized that he hadn’t truly repented. The Lord led me to begin talking with my son about the fruit of the Spirit versus the works of the flesh. He was clearly convicted. From there, I went into the Law. Twice, my son was so broken he tried to run out of the room. He cried so hard he almost fell out of his chair. I have never seen anything like it before in my life (she had been saved for 10 years). When we went from judgment to the “foot of the blood-stained cross,” his entire demeanor changed. Broken and without hope, he reached for our blessed Savior! And I was right there when my baby was saved from hell! I cannot express to you my gratitude for the Lord’s hand upon your ministry. I have observed little buds of fruit in him. The most beautiful fruit is his tears now for the lost and his desire to share Christ with others. He was so hardhearted before!
    • This son, through - get this - not his professional of faith, but his possession of faith, he can now “bear his own load” when he passes from this life into the next, because he has sought God and repented of his hardheartedness.
• 6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 
• • Why do we give of our time, talents and treasures to churches and ministries? Are we sowing to our own fleshly desires? Importance? A sense of self-worth? Do we let the left hand know what the right hand is doing? Are we afraid of getting our hands dirty and proclaiming the gospel with our own mouths? Are we simply paying off a messenger? Paul warns us of mocking God with our giving.
  • So, be careful of why you give. Several times, Paul informs his readers of the honor it is to share the gospel. In one place, the reason to give on Paul’s behalf is so he can preach the gospel freely to others. 
  • • 1 Timothy 5:17-18 reads: 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
• 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
• • I appreciated the words of one of our potential members recently said about people in our church: people in our church are doers and not simply hearers. May it continue to be so. May we be so transformed by the life, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus that we are continual energized with the energy God works powerfully in us to do good. Isn’t that simply a response to the gift of faith?
• 11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
• • Our only boast is in the cross. If we look to him who suffered and believe, we receive forgiveness, a new heart with new desires and the Holy Spirit, who is the seal of our redemption.
  • So, how do we walk in the spirit? We start by believing the gospel, and we do not sway from that truth. For believers, that means to walk in the freedom bought for us through the blood of Christ. There was one sacrifice, one payment for sin - Jesus, the Son of God. If our energy is to be expended doing anything, it is to abide in the truth and love of God through his son Jesus.
  • We walk in love towards others, especially fellow believers. One of the ways we do so is through the ministry of reconciliation. This is based in the gospel. As the Father works through us to bear fruit in keeping with repentance, we reach out to those who have fallen into temptation and sin, doing so gently, reminding them as Paul does the Galatians that our forgiveness has been bought. Return to Jesus - do not seek slavery to sin.
  • We walk in love towards unbelievers by preaching the gospel, by proclaiming that forgiveness of sins has been purchased for those who would believe. Therefore, turn to God and believe. And, if you’re an unbeliever today, don’t wait. Today is the day of salvation.  Look at yourself in light of the Law of God. Have you lied, stolen, lusted and blasphemed the name of God? That’s just four of the 10 commandments. If God were to judge you by the 10 commandments, you would be guilty and in danger of God’s final judgment for unbelievers, which is eternal damnation in hell. “It is appointment man once to die, then to face judgment." Because God is good, He must by nature punish murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, fornicators, and blasphemers. God is going to punish sin wherever it’s found. Please understand: your sin is primarily vertical: you “sinned against heaven” (Luke 15:21). You have violated God’s law, have angered God and the wrath of God abides upon you (John 3:36). Do you see your need for a sacrifice? If you do, my friend, take hear: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). “God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). We broke the law; Jesus paid the fine. It’s as simple as that. And if you will repent and put your faith in Jesus, God will remit your sins so that on the day of judgment, when their court case comes up, God can say, “Your case is dismissed through lack of evidence.” And, therefore, exercise repentance towards God, faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21), put your hand to the plow and not look back because you're fit for the kingdom (Luke 9:62). That word fit means “ready for use”. May the soil of your heart be turned that you might receive the engrafted word which is able to save your soul (Jam. 1:21).