Galatians 3: Do You Like Slavery More Than You Like Freedom?

Class Outline:

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We get to choose our situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're in the resident congregation, turn off your electronic devices and put them away.Let this be a place where you aren't distracted by the world.

 

Welcome To

BARAH MINISTRIES

 

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with a worldwide impact.My name is Pastor Rory Clark.Thanks for listening to this Bible lesson!

 

Imagine, if you can, a thirty-eight-year-old woman making fourteen thousand dollars a year, raising four children under the age of eleven alone…two of them under the age of two…with two divorces under her belt…living in a neighborhood where her daily worry was whether her children would get home alive.

 

When she died, among the possessions she left behind was a Bible.Although not many of the pages were wrinkled, one section of the Bible had obvious wear and tear.Psalm 37…written by King David…which she used as a nightly prayer to bring calm to her soul because she was raising her children in a ghetto neighborhood fraught with danger. Let's listen to this forty-verse Psalm, in which the Lord tells His children the way He works for them.

 

PSALM 37:1

Do not fret because of evildoers…be not envious toward wrongdoers.

 

PSALM 37:2

For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.

 

PSALM 37:3

Trust in the Lord and do good…dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

 

PSALM 37:4

Delight yourself in the Lord…and He will give you the desires of your heart.

 

PSALM 37:5

Commit your way to the Lord…trust also in Him…and He will do it.

 

PSALM 37:6

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.

 

PSALM 37:7

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him…do not fret because of him who prospers in his way…because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

 

PSALM 37:8

Cease from anger and forsake wrath…do not fret…it leads only to evildoing.

 

PSALM 37:9

For evildoers will be cut off…but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.

 

PSALM 37:10

In a little while and the wicked man will be no more…you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.

 

PSALM 37:11

But the humble will inherit the land and will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

 

PSALM 37:12

The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth.

 

PSALM 37:13

The Lord laughs at him, for He sees the wicked man's day is coming.

 

PSALM 37:14

The wicked have drawn the sword and bent their bow to cast down the afflicted and the needy, and to slay those who are upright in conduct.

 

PSALM 37:15

Their sword will enter their own heart, and their bows will be broken.

 

PSALM 37:16

Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked.

 

PSALM 37:17

For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord sustains the righteous.

 

PSALM 37:18

The Lord knows the days of the blameless (believers in Christ), and their inheritance will be forever.

 

PSALM 37:19

They will not be ashamed in the time of evil, and in the days of famine they will have abundance.

 

PSALM 37:20

But the wicked will perish…and the enemies of the Lord will be like the glory of the pastures…like smoke, they vanish away.

 

PSALM 37:21

The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives.

 

PSALM 37:22

For those blessed by the Lord will inherit the land, but those cursed by the Lord will be cut off.

 

PSALM 37:23

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and the Lord delights in his way.

 

PSALM 37:24

When the righteous manfallshe will not be hurled headlongbecause the Lord is the One who holds his hand.

 

PSALM 37:25

I (King David) have been young and now I am old…yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging for bread.

 

 

 

PSALM 37:26

All day long the righteous man is gracious and lends, and his descendants are a

blessing.

 

PSALM 37:27

Depart from evil and do goodso you will abide forever.

 

PSALM 37:28

For the Lord loves justice and does not forsake His godly ones (believers in Christ)…they are preserved forever…but the descendants of the wicked (unbelievers) will be cut off.

 

PSALM 37:29

The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.

 

PSALM 37:30

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

 

PSALM 37:31

The law of his God is in his heart…his steps do not slip.

 

PSALM 37:32

The wicked spies upon the righteous and seeks to kill him.

 

PSALM 37:33

The Lord will not leave him in his hand or let him be condemned when he is judged.

 

PSALM 37:34

Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land…when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

 

PSALM 37:35

I have seen a wicked, violent man spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.

 

PSALM 37:36

Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more…I sought for him, but he could not be found.

PSALM 37:37

Mark the blameless man (believers in Christ)…and behold the upright…for the

man of peace will have aposterity.

 

PSALM 37:38

But transgressors (unbelievers) will be altogether destroyed…the posterity of the wicked will be cut off.

 

PSALM 37:39

But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord…He is their strength in time of trouble.

 

PSALM 37:40

The Lord helps them and delivers themfrom the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in Him.

 

That was my mother’s prayer, and I was the child she worried most about, even though I wasn't her favorite.When we read this,wemarvel at the Lord.He kept His promises to my mom, and HE delivered me from one of the worst situations anyone could grow up in.It took a long time to rid my soul of the fear that gripped it all my childhood days.

 

I thank the Lord for loving me, forgiving me, and delivering me.And I can't wait to see my mom again in heaven so I can thank her for her faithfulness in making sure that my foundation for life was solid.When you see me, you see my mom.She was a woman of determination and resolve and refused to let her circumstances dictate her life.She trusted the Lord, and He came through for her, just like He is coming through for each of us every day.

 

TODAY'S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Like Slavery More Than You Like Freedom?

 

LESSON INTRODUCTION

 

The Judaizers invaded the churches in Galatia…the spiritual home of new believers in Christ.Their goal was to shipwreck the faith of these new believers.The Judaizers encouraged these new believers to go from freedom to slavery… from the New Testament to the Old Testament…from grace back to the Mosaic Law… from faith to works…from being guided by God the Holy Spirit to being guided by the flesh…from happy to unhappy…from spiritually wealthy to spiritually poor.

 

Why would anyone want to do that?The believers in Galatia fell for their deception hook, line, and sinker…they were completely duped by this counterfeit lifestyle.Who is at the source of this deception?Is it the Judaizers?Hardly.In today's lesson, we'll trace this deception back to its source, the enemy of God, Satan.

 

OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let's hear some music! The main message of Paul's letter to the Galatians is captured in Galatians, Chapter 5, Verse 1…

 

GALATIANS 5:1

It was for freedom that Christ set us believers in Christ free…therefore keep standing firm in freedom and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.

 

June Murphy captures this sentimentin her song CALLING YOU TO FREEDOM.

 

MUSIC

OPENING SONG

Let's Sing the Lord's Praises

 

CALLING YOU TO FREEDOM

June Murphy

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We're grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father, thank You for loving us unconditionally…during those rare times when we get out of our heads and into our feelings about your love for us, it iscompletely overwhelming to feel just how much you love us…. it's amazing to see that You would send Your Son, our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ,to die for us when we were your enemies… it's a privilege to be Your adopted sons and daughters…

 

…as we continue to learn about false teachers and false teaching, remind us of the source…remind us that we have an enemy who wants to rob us of freedom and joy and who sends emissaries to shipwreck our spiritual lives…we count on you to protect us from our enemies…we rest in confidence knowing that You are completely sufficient in every way…and we know You have provided exactly what we need to weather every storm…help us to keep You at the top of our consciousness…

 

We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ's name...Amen.

 

TODAY'S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Like Slavery More Than You Like Freedom?

 

LESSON PART ONE

 

For most Christians, the answer is yes. It'sreally easy to slip into a state of spiritual lethargy…a mental laziness as a Christian. It's easy for us to point at others and say, "Boy…they don't know what they are missing because they aren't learning the Word of God."  It's easy to forget that when we display this air of superiority, we are being legalistic.

 

It's easy to slip into arrogance as Christians, thinking that Christianity is run by our intellect instead of thinking that God runs Christianity. We are content in our "knowledge" of Christianity, lording it over others who don't know as much as we do about God and His Word. We completely miss that our illusion of wisdom, independence, and control is nothing more than the legalism we detest.

 

The Judaizers in first-century Galatia were offering this lifestyle of legalism to the new believers in Galatia by perverting the gospel message.It is not the false teachers we are battling… it's their master’s that we are battling.The Bible gives us warnings about the source of legalism and lies.

 

There are demons…evil spiritual beings…that stand between man and God.False teachers are under demon influence.The Galatians believers turned from dependence on God the Holy Spirit to dependence on themselves, false teachers, false teaching,demons, and the doctrines of demons.This is commonly referred to as apostasy.

 

Let's look at some of the Biblical warnings about being sucked into apostasy. First Timothy, Chapter 4, Verse 1

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 4:1

But God the Holy Spirit explicitly says that in every generation some believers in Christ will fall away from the faith…instead paying attention to deceitful spirits and the doctrines of demons…

 

Matthew, Chapter 24, Verse 24…

 

MATTHEW 24:24

For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, to mislead, if possible, even the elect (believers in Christ).

 

Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verses 10 to 12…

 

EPHESIANS 6:10

Finally, be strong in union with the Lord and reside in the strength of His might.

 

EPHESIANS 6:11

Pick up and put on the full armor of God…so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

 

EPHESIANS 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood (human beings)…but our struggle is against the rulers…against the powers…against the world forces of this spiritual darkness…against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

 

First Peter, Chapter 5, Verse 8…

 

FIRST PETER 5:8

Be of sober spirit…be on the alert…your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

 

James, Chapter 4, Verse 7…

 

JAMES 4:7

Submit therefore to God.Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

 

 

 

First John, Chapter 4, Verse 3…

 

FIRST JOHN 4:3

…and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God…this is the spirit of the antichrist…of which you have heard that it is coming…and now it is already in the world.

 

First Corinthians, Chapter 8, Verses 5 and 6…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 8:5

For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 8:6

…yet for us believers in Christ, there is but one God…the Father…from whom are the source of all things…and we exist for Him…and there is one Lord…Jesus…the Christ (the Jewish Messiah)…by whom are created all things…and we exist through our union with Him.

 

First Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 20…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 10:20

The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God…and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.

 

Believers enjoy being in bondage to demonsand demon doctrines and being in bondage to the Law.They want to show God they are worthy of His blessings.However, we will NEVER be worthy of God's blessings no matter what we do.

 

One of the many things to love about the police is they are always on the alert, almost to a fault.Believers in Christ should be so smart.We aren't. We're casual, as if no enemy of God wants to ruin what is important to us.

 

These Galatian believers were Gentiles; before Christianity, they were pagans and idolaters.By believing in Christ, we were freed from this bondage, and now they want to go back to it.Proverbs, Chapter 26, Verse 11…

 

 

PROVERBS 26:11

Like a dog that returns to its vomit, it is a fool who repeats his folly.

 

Let's see what the apostle Paul has to say next to the Galatian believers in the first part of Galatians, Chapter 4, Verses 1 to 20…

 

GALATIANS 4:1

Now I (Paul) say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is the owner of everything…

 

GALATIANS 4:2

…but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

 

GALATIANS 4:3

So also we believers in Christ, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

 

GALATIANS 4:4

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son…born of a woman…born under the Mosaic Law…

 

GALATIANS 4:5

…so that He might redeem those who were under the Mosaic Lawthat we might receive the adoption as sons.

 

GALATIANS 4:6

Because you are sons, God the Father has sent forth God the Holy Spirit of His Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) into our hearts, crying, "Abba!(which is Hebrew for Father!)"

 

GALATIANS 4:7

Therefore, as a believer in Christ, you are no longer a slave, but a son…and if you are a son, and of course you are, then you are an heir through God the Father.

 

GALATIANS 4:8

However, at that time (when you were an unbeliever), when you did not know God the Father, you were slaves to those who by nature are no gods (you were pagans and idol worshippers).

 

GALATIANS 4:9

But now that you have come to know God the Father, or even better now that we are known by God the Father, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

 

GALATIANS 4:10

You observe days and months and seasons and years.

 

GALATIANS 4:11

I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

 

GALATIANS 4:12

I beg of you, brethren, become as I am…for I also have become as you are.You have done me no wrong…

 

GALATIANS 4:13

…but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time…

 

GALATIANS 4:14

…and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as if I were an angel of God…as you would have received Christ Jesus Himself.

 

GALATIANS 4:15

Where then is that sense of blessing you had?For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

 

GALATIANS 4:16

So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

 

GALATIANS 4:17

The Judaizers eagerly seek you…not commendably…but they wish to shut you out from me so that you will seek them.

 

GALATIANS 4:18

But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.

 

GALATIANS 4:19

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—

 

GALATIANS 4:20

…but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone…for I am perplexed about you.

 

When we return from the break, we'll take the offering, and thenwe'llexamine this phenomenal passage verse-by-verse.What is the apostle Paul saying to the Galatian believers now?

 

FIVE-MINUTE BREAK

NOBODY

Casting Crowns

 

TODAY'S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Like Slavery More Than You Like Freedom?

 

OFFERING INTRODUCTION

 

When we give the gospel message to unbelievers, they give tous by listening attentively. It's one of the most gratifying experiences in life when an unbeliever really wants to hear the gospel message.The gift of listening is the gift of intimacy.Luke, Chapter 8, Verse 8 exhorts…

 

LUKE 8:8

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear what God the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches."

 

When you give to Barah Ministries, you make it possible for us to give the gospel message to people all over the world through the Internet.People are listening!

 

Thank you for supporting this ministry with your generosity.Your unselfish giving is a reflection of our God, and it gives people around the world a chance to respond positively to a life-giving gospel message, which is the salvation offer of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Let's welcome up Deacon Denny Goodall with one of his always inspiring offering messages.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST JOHN 5:4

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world…and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

Instrumental Version

 

TODAY'S BIBLE LESSON

Do You Like Slavery More Than You Like Freedom?

 

LESSON PART TWO

 

Let's get into the depth of the next passage beginning at Galatians, Chapter 4, Verses 1 to 3…

 

GALATIANS 4:1

Now I (Paul) say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is the owner of everything…

 

GALATIANS 4:2

…but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.

 

GALATIANS 4:3

So also we believers in Christ, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.

 

Paul is using an analogy here.An heir who is a child will grow up and get an inheritance.Think about King Charles and Princess Diana's children…Prince William…the Prince of Wales…and Prince Harry…the Duke of Sussex.They are second and third in the line of succession to the British throne.They were born heirs.But as children, they are no different than the slaves who serve them.

 

They are being groomed under a set of rules…a set of laws…the do's and don'ts of

life…just as all children are raised, either by their parents or by the society in which they live.The heirs, as children, are under subjection to guardians and

trustees who look after their estate and their assets.Heirs own everything, the inheritance, but they are no better off than slaves when they are minors.

 

So, it is with believers in Christ.When we come to believe in Christ, we become heirs.Yet we begin as minorsunder trustees…under God's commands…laws, rules, and regulations…the elemental things of the world.The laws that manage our lives…the do's and don'ts…are loveless and ritualistic.

 

On their eighteenth birthday, the heir's life changes.Managers and restrictions disappear, and heirs come into the fullness of the inheritance.They can access their assets.What sense does it make for heirs to go back to the time when there was no access to the funds of the inheritance? That's what the Judaizers were inviting the Galatian believers to do.Galatians, Chapter 4, Verses 4 and 5…

 

GALATIANS 4:4

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son…born of a woman…born under the Mosaic Law…

 

GALATIANS 4:5

…so that the Lord might redeem those who were under the Mosaic Law that we might receive the adoption as sons.

 

God the Father set the date when the freedom bearer, the Lord…Jesus…the Christ…would come to redeem us, purchasing us from slavery to rules, the law, managers, and trustees.

 

There's a life beyond good and bad…beyond do's and don'ts…beyond rules.

 

When Jesus came, the majority of people lived in the Roman Empire, a place that was fabulous in every way.It had paved roads! You've heard the saying, "All roads lead to Rome." Rome was a center for commerce.It was a place everyone wanted to be.Because Rome had the most dominant military force, there was Pax Romana…a Latin expression meaning "the peace of Rome." It was a very stable time in history.It was a time when the gospel had its greatest impact.

 

The Lord, God the Son, came to earth as Jesus…the Christ…to give us full rights to our inheritance.He is a fully righteous human being.He was born of a woman so that he could identify with us.He was sinless, so he can talk to us about sin.He came to save us.Galatians, Chapter 4, Verses 6…

 

GALATIANS 4:6

Because you are sons (as believers in Christ), God the Father has sent forth God the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba!(which is Hebrew for Father!)"

 

Since we believers are indwelled by God the Holy Spirit…through the Spirit's power, we can shriek with excitement as we lay our eyes on our Dad!Abba!

Galatians, Chapter 4, Verse 7…

 

GALATIANS 4:7

Therefore, (as a believer in Christ) you are no longer a slave, but a son…and if you are a son, and of course you are, then you are an heir through God the Father.

 

Why did God the Father give us God the Holy Spirit?Because we are sons…we are adopted…we are related to Christ.The Lord pulled us out of a spiritual death spiral…our nature was changed…we are a new creation…we now have fire insurance…we are not the targets of God the Father's wrath…we are not condemned…we are saved!The gift God has given us is not intellectual.He redeemed us from the grave.We have gone from beingsinners to being sons.

 

Now, we want to obey the law because of the enabling power of God, the Holy Spirit.Now, we WANT to keep the Lord's commands, and we can keep the commands out of love for God rather than out of obligation.Galatians, Chapter 4, Verse 8…

 

GALATIANS 4:8

However, at that time, when you did not know God the Father, you were slaves to those who, by nature are no gods.

 

Through demon influence, people manufacture gods to worship.Roman Catholics worship "saints" and statues.Depending on whom you listen to, Hindus have thirty-three gods and goddesses.How do you pick which one to worship?The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-day Saints members see God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as three beings with different powers…each is either lesser or greater than the other.Is this the truth, or just beliefs?Galatians,

Chapter 4, Verse 9…

 

GALATIANS 4:9

But now that you have come to know God the Father, or rather to be known by God the Father, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again?

 

Thus, the title of today's lesson…do you like slavery more than you like freedom?Yes…you do.Slavery is more predictable than responsibility.Galatians, Chapter 4, Verse 10…

 

GALATIANS 4:10

You observe days and months and seasons and years.

 

The Judaizers contend that anyone who doesn't follow the rituals of Judaism is not saved.Sabbath…New Moon Celebrations…Tabernacles…Passover.When Jewish kids reach twelve years old, the male children have a bar mitzvah…they become sons of the law…the female children have a bat mitzvah…they become daughters of the law.They are now under 612 laws.How can they remember 612 laws, much less follow them?The law puts its followers under condemnation.Believers in Christ graduate from sons of the law to sons of God.Next, Paul makes a Pastor's lament…Galatians, Chapter 4, Verse 11…

 

GALATIANS 4:11

I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

 

Paul wonders, "Did I waste my time with you?" I wonder the same thing sometimes.Is all the work for nothing?Now that you are known by God, why do you want to go back to slavery?Are you looking in the rear-view mirror?Are you trying to impress God? It's foolish to go backward!Once you are born of the Spirit, you are perfected by grace.Do you want to go from being spiritually

rich to being spiritually poor again?Galatians, Chapter 4, Verses 12 to 14…

 

GALATIANS 4:12

I beg of you, brethren, become as I am…for I also have become as you are.You have done me no wrong…

 

GALATIANS 4:13

…but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to

you the first time…

 

GALATIANS 4:14

…and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as if I were an angel of God…as you would have received Christ Jesus Himself.

 

Paul is encouraging…he implores them to be the Christian he is…someone who has exited rituals and the law…he left them behind to enjoy the freedom from God and the unconditional love of God.Paul ends this passage by expressing that he is perplexed…Galatians, Chapter 4, Verses 15 to 20…

 

GALATIANS 4:15

Where then is that sense of blessing you had?For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.

 

GALATIANS 4:16

So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

 

GALATIANS 4:17

The Judaizers eagerly seek you…not commendably…but they want to shut you out from me so that you will seek them.

 

GALATIANS 4:18

But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.

 

GALATIANS 4:19

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you—

 

GALATIANS 4:20

…but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone…for I am perplexed about you.

 

Do Moms want to go back to the pain of labor after the baby is born?Hardly! Paul's plea? "I'm begging you…go back to the way it was when I met you!Nothing has changed on my end.I don't know what has happened to you.Why did you change?How did I become the bad guy?"

 

When they met, Paul was sick.Yet the Galatians became believers and welcomed him.It was a trial for them to care for Paul with his high fever and something wrong with his eyes.It was a lot of work to help him, yet they did it with so much joy they almost wanted to pluck their own eyes out and give them to him.Then everything changed.

 

Satan sent his demon army to ruin the joy of these new believers…to steal their freedom…to invite them back into slavery.He does the exact same thing with believers in Christ today.Is he succeeding with you?The Judaizers were "courting" the Galatians…flattering them…but the wooing was a trap so the Judaizers would get to steal congregations for an evil purpose.

 

You're invited not to go from sonship to slavery. You're invited to remember you are heirs of the inheritance. You're invited to value all the Lord has done for you. Don't be foolish. Don't get bewitched as these believers were.

 

THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

The Good News of Jesus Christ's Salvation Offer to the Human Race

 

The closing moments of our lesson today could be the ten most important minutes of your life.

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

He Wants You Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

Even if you don't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you still matter to God.He created you, so you're one of His creatures, and He wants the highest and best for you.Second Peter, Chapter 3, Verse 9 says…

 

SECOND PETER 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise of salvation, as some accuse Him of...instead, He is patient toward unbelievers…not wishing for any to perish (in the Lake of Fire) but for all to come to repentance (a voluntary change of mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ).

 

The bad news is that all of us are born in a state of unrighteousness.We are born physically alive and spiritually dead as ungodly, unrighteous unbelievers. We're born on Satan's team. It's not our fault, but it is our circumstance.In First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verse 22, the Bible says…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:22a

For all in union with Adam at physical birth (and that is every human being who comes to earth) are set to die the second death in the Lake of Fire…

 

To God's enemy, Satan…the ruler of this world…you don't matter at all.First, Peter, Chapter 5, Verse 8 says…

 

FIRST PETER 5:8

Be of sober spirit…be on the alert!Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

You are the "someone" on Satan's list.

 

Satan despises you so much he doesn't want you to be saved….hedoesn't want you to be with God in heaven when you close your eyes in this life.Instead, he wants you to be with him in the Lake of Fire, and he wants you so badly that he sends false teachers with false teachings to deceive you.In Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 15…the Lord Himself warns about this…

 

MATTHEW 7:15

"Beware of the false teachers…who come to you in sheep's clothing…but

inwardly are ravenous wolves."

 

When an animal is ravenous, it has an insatiable desire to tear you apart.So it is with false teachers who pretend to be for you, yet truly they want you to be twice the sons of hell they are.

 

This gospel message offers GOOD NEWS to rescue you from the kingdom of death and darkness you were born into, inviting you to be born again to the spiritual life available in God's kingdom of light.You can choose to be on God's team.John, Chapter 3, Verses 16 and 17 highlight Jesus' mission concerning you…

 

JOHN 3:16

"For God the Father loved the world unconditionally…and He loved the world so much…that He gave His uniquely born Son (the God-man…the Lord Jesus Christ…to be crucified on a Cross) … so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but haseternal life."

 

JOHN 3:17

For God the Father did not send God the Son (the Lord) into the world to judge the world…but the Father sent the Son into the world that the world might be saved through Him.

 

God wants you to respond positively to the good news of this gospel message so He can save you!

 

Who is this God who saves you?The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ…in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…

 

First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3

For I (the apostle Paul) delivered to you as of primary importance the gospel message I also received from God…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4

…and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Old Testament Scriptures…

 

If a gospel message makes it sound like you have to work to get to heaven, it's a false gospel message from a false teacher.Romans, Chapter 11, Verse 6 says you don't have to work to be saved…

 

ROMANS 11:6

…if salvation is by grace (a free gift from God) … and of course it is…it is no longer based on your works…otherwise, grace (as a free gift) is no longer grace (it is not free).

 

In fact, Romans, Chapter 4, Verse 4 says you CAN'T work for salvation…

 

ROMANS 4:4

Now to the one who works for salvation, his wage for his workis not credited to his accountas a favor from the grace of God, but his wage is creditedas what is due for the work.

 

Your hardest work is not perfect enough to earn you a spot in heaven.So relax!

You can get to heaven when you close your eyes in this life free of charge.Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31 says…

 

ACTS 16:31

"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes."

 

John, Chapter 3, Verse 36 warns…

 

JOHN 3:36

"He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment… but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him."

 

If you choose, you can spend eternity with God's enemy, Satan, in the Lake of Fire…OR…you can have the free gift of eternal life right this minute!RIGHT WHERE YOU SIT, RIGHT NOW, God can save you if you let Him.You can tell God the Father that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the moment of eternal life for you.In John, Chapter 6, Verse 37, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior, says…

 

JOHN 6:37

All those that God the Father gives Me will come to Me…and the one who comes to Me (for salvation) … I will ABSOLUTELY NOT cast out (into the Lake of Fire).

 

Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 and 10 exhort you…

 

ROMANS 10:9

…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (that He is God)…and if you believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead… you will be saved…

 

ROMANS 10:10

…for with the heart, a person believes…resulting in the imputation of absolute righteousness by God (your admission ticket to heaven)…and with the mouth a person confesses (admitting faith in Christ alone)resulting in salvation.

 

Satan, the enemy of God, who is a very real being, not a concept… sends false teachers to give you a false gospel message.If you've ever had Jehovah'sWitnesses come to your door, they are false teachers giving you a false gospel message.If you've ever had members of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-day Saints come to your door, they are false teachers giving you a false gospel message.But they seem so sincere…so how do you know they are false teachers?Just ask them if they think Jesus Christ is God.

 

Unfortunately for you, both of those groups are inviting you to spend eternity with them in the Lake of Fire!Neither of these groups believes that Jesus Christ is God.I have family members who are part of one of these religions, and despite my best efforts, even my family members don't want to hear the good news God is offering them through me.

The Lake of Fire…that place we call hell…is real.In Matthew, Chapter 8, Verse 12, the Lord says…

 

MATTHEW 8:12

"…the sons of (Satan's) kingdom (unbelievers) will be cast out into the outer darkness…in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

 

Many parents are false teachers, leading their children to an eternity in the Lake of Fire.Do you want to know if you're a good parent?Just ask yourself a simple question…are you influencing your children to have a relationship with the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Sovereign God of the Universe?

 

He is the ONLY WAY to get to heaven according to John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

 

JOHN 14:6

Jesus said to the doubting apostle, Thomas, "I am the way (to salvation), and I am the truth (through the gospel message…the Word of God), and I am the resurrection life…and no one comes to God the Father (in heaven) but through believing in Me."

 

There's no time to waste! God wants you. If you want to go to heaven when you close your eyes in this life, simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved! Take His word for it concerning salvation; the resurrection life is yours free of charge!

 

CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION

 

Let's close with music! Romans Chapter 5, Verse 8 says…

 

ROMANS 5:8

God the Father demonstrates His own unconditional love toward all mankind…in that while we were yet sinners (while we were unbelieving, unrighteous, ungodly ones), the Lord Jesus Christ died as a substitute for us.

 

Phillips, Craig, and Dean sing HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US.

 

MUSIC

CLOSING SONG

Let's Sing the Lord's Praises

 

HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US

Phillips, Craig, and Dean

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Almighty God and Father…

 

Thank you for adopting us and loving us and caring for us…let us reflect your love to everyone we meet…especially to our family members who work so hard to try our patience…

 

We ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ's name...Amen.

 

DISCUSSING THE LESSON AND PRAYER CIRCLE

 

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Immediately Following the Lesson

 

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pastor@barahministries.com

 

KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD!

 

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Thanks for listening!

 

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