Evangelical Church of Bermuda: Recent Episodes
Equality exists naturally in two ways for us all. We are all created in the image and likeness of God. We are all born under sin. Both are important for our identity. When we really understand our sinfulness, we see our need for a righteousness that is outside of ourselves. God offers his righteousness through Jesus Christ when we put our faith specifically in Him and his what he accomplished on the cross.
God's glory is a pervasive theme throughout the Bible and we are instructed to live to the glory of God -1 Cor. 10-31-. So what is the glory of God and how can we live our lives for it-
God's plan for us though the gospel-1. Only trusting in Christ and his work on the the cross can make us right with God.-2. Christ is always with us as believers so we can continually rely on Him.-3. Soak in Christ's love for you.
Christ offers a real hope that extends beyond circumstances, feelings and even this life.
The Old Testament states that there is only one God.--The New Testament states that there is only one God.--The New Testament also states that Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God.--The Old Testament shows hints of the Triune Nature of the one God.----So What---1. The Trinity is essential for our Salvation.--2. Many religious groups claim Christianity but deny the Trinity.--3. The Trinity reminds us how vastly superior God is in comparison to us.
The Bible is necessary for every Christian. We are to desire it like a baby desires milk. It is the good news in the Word of God that brings us new life and it is the continual consumption of the Word of God that grows us up into our salvation until we meet our Lord Jesus Christ face to face.
Christ expects us to live in the freedom that he bought for us.--We are often tempted, like the Galatians, to not live in the reality of the Freedom Christ gives us as believers.--We are to fight to remain living in the reality of that freedom and avoid the prisons of the mind.--Paul gives us severe warnings about this.--The Christian is to wait and work in order to live in the reality of their freedom in Christ.--Wait for the sure hope of perfection but living in the positional reality of it now.--Work to love Christ because of his love for us which spills out into the lives of others.--This can only be done by continually dwelling in Christ.
The idolatry that is worldly or pagan is no different from the idolatry that is religious or has a form of godliness. Both are far from God but the religious idolatry is more dangerous as it creates a false sense of knowing God. The Gospel must never be assumed in someones life.
We all live in slavery to something apart from Jesus. But even when we find Jesus we have a tendency to revert back to slavery.--We must remember our redemption through Jesus Christ who was sent and became fully human and lived a perfect life to pay the price of our redemption.--But the good news does not stop there.--This redemption was given so that we would no longer be slaves but sons of God forever.--God sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us to confirm this so we need to strive to know our Father and understand our tendency to revert back to slavery.
People are searching for and inventing their identity. Christ offers and identity in Him that makes every other identity pale in comparison.----1. Before Christ -vs. 23-24--Under the law--2. In Christ -vs. 25-27--In Union with Christ--3. Together in Christ -vs. 28-29--Our Unity with others in Union with Christ
The giving of the Law of God was never meant to void God's promises already given though Abraham.--The purpose of the Law---To reveal the magnitude of our sin -v.19---To reveal the magnitude of God's grace -v.21-
Relying on the law to be made right with God brings a curse not blessing.--Christ removes the curse by becoming a curse for us.--We can receive the blessing of being made right with God only though faith in Christ as our sin bearing, wrath absorbing substitute.
Paul addresses the problem in the Church at Galatia with a series of questions that helps them to see how they started well in the gospel and where they ended up by diverting from it. The questions are---1. Who has bewitched you---2. Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith---3. Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh---4. Did you suffer so many things in vain --- if indeed it was in vain---5. Does he how supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law or by hearing with faith-