Breaking the Chains: The Freedom of Grace

• Liberated Living 00:00:51 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor introduces the concept of 'liberated living' based on Galatians 5:1, defining it as standing fast in the liberty Christ has provided.
• True vs. False Freedom 00:02:19 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor contrasts true spiritual freedom with the 'freedom' claimed by those who are actually slaves to corruption, citing Satan's desire for converts rather than casualties.
• The Bondage of Legalism 00:04:55 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor identifies legalism as a primary bondage from which believers are freed by grace, referencing Paul's marvel at the Galatians being removed from grace.
• The Perversion of the Gospel 00:06:18 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that the devil's strategy is not to deny the gospel but to pervert it, leading people to accept a 'synthetic salvation' instead of the true gospel.
• The Immutability of the Gospel 00:10:23 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor asserts that there is only one true gospel, which is supernatural in origin and operation, and cannot be changed or substituted by any new revelation or messenger.
• Salvation by Grace Alone 00:15:01 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor emphasizes that salvation is entirely by grace through faith, not by works, and cannot be earned, bought, or inherited.
• The Nature of the True Gospel 00:14:36 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines the true gospel as supernatural in origin, operation, and object, contrasting it with false religions and distortions.
• Christ as the Sole Object of the Gospel 00:16:16 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that the gospel centers exclusively on Jesus Christ, not on creeds, codes, or causes, and that Christ is the only way to heaven.
• Freedom from Legalism 00:18:48 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a servant versus a son to explain that believers are saved by grace and accepted based on their relationship with God, not their performance.
• God's Unconditional Love 00:21:46 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that God's love is unconditional and flows from His nature, not as a reaction to human worthiness, meaning believers are valuable because God loves them.
• Freedom from Criticism 00:22:49 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor discusses how legalists and 'grace busters' use criticism to bind believers, citing Paul's refusal to submit to false brethren and his rebuke of Peter.
• Freedom from Fatalism 00:27:18 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor introduces the concept that the gospel frees believers from fatalism, referencing Galatians 4:3 regarding bondage under the elements of the world.
• Freedom from Fatalism and Astrology 00:29:14 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that astrology and fatalism are 'beggarly elements' and 'of the devil,' asserting that believers are not objects of fate but are free by God's grace.
• The Nature of the Christian Life (Executed, Exchanged, Energized) 00:33:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor defines the Christian life as 'executed' (crucified with Christ), 'exchanged' (Christ lives in the believer), and 'energized' (living by the faith of the Son of God).
• Justification by Faith vs. Law 00:32:52 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor emphasizes that if righteousness comes by the law, Christ died in vain, warning against frustrating God's grace by seeking salvation through works.

• Sermon Illustration 00:08:45 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the analogy of a pilot following a checklist and a pharmacist being 'narrow-minded' to argue that being narrow-minded is necessary and good when it pertains to eternal truth and safety.
• Sermon Illustration 00:11:15 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor presents a hypothetical scenario where a genuine angel from heaven appears to the congregation to preach a 'new gospel,' illustrating that even such a miraculous messenger would be cursed if they distorted the truth.
• Sermon Illustration 00:18:55 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references David Seamons' book 'The Performance Trap' to illustrate the difference between a servant (who is accepted based on performance) and a son (who is accepted based on relationship).
• Sermon Illustration 00:25:12 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts the historical event where Paul rebuked Peter to his face for withdrawing from Gentiles due to fear of legalists, illustrating the danger of submitting to criticism.
• Sermon Illustration 00:34:33 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses an analogy of a person in the electric chair who is pronounced dead and has paid their debt in full, illustrating that a believer crucified with Christ cannot be brought into double jeopardy for past sins.
• Sermon Illustration 00:37:00 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts an illustration by Major Ian Thomas about the burning bush, where God tells Moses that it is not the bush that matters, but 'God in the bush,' illustrating that it is not the person but God's grace working through them that is wonderful.

• Pastoral Charge 00:00:57 ▶️ 📄
  > Read Galatians 5:1
• Pastoral Charge 00:03:55 ▶️ 📄
  > Turn to Galatians Chapter 1
• Pastoral Charge 00:13:07 ▶️ 📄
  > Pay close attention to the truth that there is only one gospel
• Pastoral Charge 00:18:55 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor asks the congregation to read Galatians 4:7 to understand the difference between being a servant and a son.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:00] Now there are a lot of people who are free, but they're not quite free indeed.
[00:00:05] Someone has said, he is not truly free who drags his chain with him.
[00:00:12] I really want you to see how great the grace of God is and the liberty that God's grace will give.
[00:00:20] Now Jesus came to set you free, and there is nothing more liberating than grace.
[00:00:30] And there's nothing more wonderful than a life of liberty.
[00:00:38] We've been in the book of Titus.
[00:00:40] I want you to turn today to the book of Galatians as we continue our study on God's amazing grace.
[00:00:51] And today we're talking on this subject, liberated living.
[00:00:57] I want you to look in Galatians chapter 5 and verse 1.
[00:01:05] Galatians 5 and verse 1.
[00:01:09] Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
[00:01:24] Stand fast in the liberty wherewith, wherewith Christ hath made us free, liberated living.
[00:01:34] The gospel of grace is God's emancipation proclamation.
[00:01:40] We love to sing, he breaks the power of canceled sin.
[00:01:44] He sets the prisoner free.
[00:01:48] And the Bible says, if the Son shall make you free, you will be free indeed.
[00:01:57] Now, there are a lot of people who are free, but they're not quite free indeed.
[00:02:04] Someone has said, he is not truly free who drags his chain with him.
[00:02:11] I really want you to see how great the grace of God is and the liberty that God's grace will give.
[00:02:19] Now, remember this about Satan.
[00:02:21] Satan doesn't want casualties.
[00:02:25] He wants converts.
[00:02:28] And he wants to take those converts and make slaves out of them.
[00:02:33] And these people who are Satan's slaves are those, ironically, these servants of Satan boast about their freedom.
[00:02:42] They boast, for example, about reproductive freedom, which means the supposed right to live like alley cats and murder the unborn.
[00:02:57] They call that freedom.
[00:02:57] THAT FREEDOM. OR THEY TALK ABOUT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, WHICH MEANS, TO PRINT SALACIOUS LITERATURE, NOT SINCE MANHATTAN ISLAND WAS SOLD FOR TWENTY-FOUR DOLLARS HAS SO MUCH DIRT BEEN SOLD SO CHEAPLY. AND THEY CALL THAT FREEDOM. BUT SECOND PETER TWO VERSE NINETEEN SAYS, WHILE THEY PROMISE THEM LIBERTY, THEY THEMSELVES ARE THE SLAVES OF CORRUPTION. NOW JESUS CAME TO SET YOU FREE. AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE LIBERATING THAN GRACE. AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE WONDERFUL THAN A LIFE OF LIBERTY. NOW I STARTED AT THE END OF GALATIANS, BUT I WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST CHAPTER OF GALATIANS.
[00:03:55] NOW I STARTED AT THE END OF GALATIANS, BUT I WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST CHAPTER OF GALATIANS. CHAPTER FIVE AND VERSE ONE IS A SUMMATION OF ALL THAT WE'VE SEEN. SO GO BACK TO GALATIANS CHAPTER ONE, AND THE VERY FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO SEE IS THIS. I WANT YOU TO SEE THE DIMENSIONS OF A LIFE OF LIBERTY. THE DIMENSIONS OF A LIFE OF LIBERTY. WHAT ARE WE FREE FROM? WELL, IN THE FIRST PLACE, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, YOU ARE FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF LEGALISM. AND THERE'S NO GREATER BONDAGE THAN THE BONDAGE OF LEGALISM. AND LEGALISM. CHAPTER ONE IN VERSE SIX, THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, I MARVEL THAT YOU'RE SO SOON REMOVED FROM HIM THAT CALLED YOU INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST. NOW UNDERSCORE THAT PHRASE, THE GRACE OF CHRIST UNTO ANOTHER GOSPEL, WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER, BUT THERE'D BE SOME THAT TROUBLE YOU AND WOULD PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. BUT THOUGH WE ARE AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU.
[00:04:55] LET HIM BE A CURSE. AS WE SAID BEFORE, SO SAY I NOW AGAIN, IF ANY MAN PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT YE HAVE RECEIVED, LET HIM BE A CURSE. FOR DO I NOW PERSUADE MEN OR GOD? OR DO I SEEK TO PLEASE MEN? FOR IF I YET PLEASED MEN, I SHOULD NOT BE THE SERVANT OF CHRIST. BUT I CERTIFY YOU, BRETHREN, THAT THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME IS NOT AFTER MAN. FOR I NEITHER PREACHED ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU, BUT I CERTIFY YOU, BRETHREN, THAT THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME IS NOT AFTER MAN. FOR IF I NEITHER RECEIVED IT OF MAN, NEITHER WAS I TAUGHT IT, BUT BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
[00:05:33] NOW WE'RE FIRST OF ALL TO BE FREE FROM THE LOC, THE, THE YOKE OF LEGALISM. NOW LOOK IF YOU WILL IN, UH, IN VERSES, UH, UH, SIX AND SEVEN AGAIN, I MARVEL THAT YOU'RE SO SOON REMOVED FROM HIM THAT CALLED YOU UNTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST UNTO ANOTHER GOSPEL. THE FIRST DANGER IS THAT PEOPLE DESERT THE GOSPEL.
[00:05:55] THEY'RE SOON REMOVED. IT IS AN AMAZING THING TO ME HOW SOME PEOPLE CAN BE LED AWAY SO EASILY FROM THE TRUE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. AND AFTER THEY DESERT THE GOSPEL, THEN THEY PERVERT THE GOSPEL, VERSE SEVEN, AND, WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER, BUT THERE'D BE SOME THAT TROUBLE YOU AND WOULD PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. NOW LEARN THIS ABOUT THE DEVIL.
[00:06:18] THE DEVIL WANTS YOU TO DESERT THE GOSPEL, AND THE REASON THAT THE DEVIL, OR THE WAY THAT THE DEVIL GETS YOU OUT OF THE DEVIL GETS YOU TO DESERT THE GOSPEL IS TO PERVERT THE GOSPEL. THAT'S WHAT VERSES SIX AND SEVEN ARE ALL ABOUT, DESERTING AND PERVERTING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. NOW THE DEVIL DOES NOT DENY THE GOSPEL. HE PERVERTS THE GOSPEL. THERE'S HARDLY ANYBODY IN CHRISTENDOM WHO WOULD SAY, I DON'T BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, OR I DON'T PREACH THE GOSPEL. THEY ALL SAY THEY PREACH THE GOSPEL, BUT IT IS A PERVERTED GOSPEL, BECAUSE THE DEVIL KNOWS THAT IF HE CAN GET YOU, UH, SATISFIED, UH, SATISFIED WITH A PERVERSION OF THE GOSPEL, THAT YOU WILL ACCEPT A PERVERSION OF THE GOSPEL AND END UP WITH A SYNTHETIC SALVATION, NOT A REAL SALVATION. AND SO, UH, PAUL HERE SAYS, I AM ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AGAINST THOSE WHO DESERT AND THOSE WHO PERVERT THE GOSPEL. NOW PAUL'S GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS ALMOST UNCRISTIAN. I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO IT IN VERSES EIGHT AND NINE. BUT THOUGH WE ARE AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.
[00:07:29] AS WE SAID BEFORE, SO SAY I NOW AGAIN. NOW LISTEN TO THIS, IF ANY MAN PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT YE HAVE RECEIVED, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. NOW WHAT HE SAYS HERE SOUNDS ALMOST UNCRISTIAN, BUT PAUL IS A FREEDOM FIGHTER. HE IS FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AND HE IS NOT GOING TO GIVE ONE INCH. WHEN HE SAYS HERE, IF ANY MAN PREACHES ANY OTHER GOSPEL, LET HIM BE ACCURSED, IT LITERALLY MEANS LET HIM BE GIVEN OVER TO DESTRUCTION. PHILLIPS TRANSLATES IT, LET HIM BE DAMNED. LET HIM GO TO HELL IF HE PREACHES ANY OTHER GOSPEL. NOW THE NATURAL MAN RECOILS AT THIS. THAT SOUNDS NARROW. THAT SOUNDS BIGOTED. THAT SOUNDS PREJUDICED. BUT WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL IS SAYING IS, THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE WITH GOSPEL TRUTH.
[00:08:21] THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE WITH GOSPEL TRUTH. THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE WITH GOSPEL TRUTH. IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER TO SAY THAT TWO PLUS TWO IS FIVE THAN TO COMPROMISE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. NOT ONLY CAN THERE BE NO COMPROMISE, THERE CAN BE NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE GOSPEL. HE SAYS, IF YOU PREACH ANOTHER GOSPEL, THE WRATH OF GOD, THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS UPON YOU. YOU SAY, ADRIAN ROGERS, THAT'S SO NARROW-MINDED.
[00:08:45] WELL, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. WHAT IS WRONG WITH BEING NARROW-MINDED IF THAT NARROWNESS IS TRUTH? I WANT MY PILOT TO BE NARROW-MINDED WHEN HE FLIES AN AIRPLANE. I WANT HIM TO GO THROUGH THAT CHECKLIST. AND, UH, IF THE FLAPS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE UP OR DOWN, I WANT THEM TO BE UP OR DOWN ACCORDINGLY. I CERTAINLY WANT MY PHARMACIST TO BE NARROW-MINDED.
[00:09:08] I LIKE FOR MY DOCTOR AND BANKER TO BE NARROW-MINDED, BUT SOMEHOW IN THE MATTER OF OUR ETERNAL DESTINY, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BROAD-MINDED. WELL, FRIEND, IF YOUR DESTINY HINGES ON THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, THAT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR TASTE IN MUSIC OR YOUR DENOMINATIONAL PREFERENCE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR EVERLASTING, NEVER-DYING SOUL. NOW LOOK IN VERSE SEVEN. HE SAYS, THEY PREACH A GOSPEL WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER. IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE THE GOSPEL. IT IS A COUNTERFEIT GOSPEL. NOW WHAT IS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST? WHAT IS THE GOSPEL OF GRACE, THE GRACE OF GOD? WHAT IS IT? LET ME GIVE YOU THREE MARKS OF IT, AND THEY'RE RIGHT HERE ON THE GOSPEL HERE. NUMBER ONE, THE ORIGIN OF THIS GOSPEL. IT IS SUPERNATURAL IN ITS ORIGIN. LOOK IN VERSES 11 AND 12, BUT I CERTIFY YOU, BRETHREN, THAT THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME IS NOT AFTER MAN. THAT IS, I DIDN'T GET IT FROM ANY MAN. FOR I NEITHER RECEIVED IT OF MAN, NEITHER WAS I TAUGHT IT, BUT BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. THE TRUE GOSPEL IS NOT MAN'S INVENTION. IT IS GOD'S REVELATION.
[00:10:23] THERE IS BUT ONE GOSPEL. NOW, IF ANYBODY PREACHES ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S NOT THE TRUE GOSPEL. IF IT'S NEW, IT IS NOT TRUE. NOW KNOWLEDGE MAY DOUBLE, BUT TRUTH NEVER CHANGES. GET THAT.
[00:10:38] KNOWLEDGE MAY DOUBLE, BUT TRUTH NEVER CHANGES. PAUL SAYS, THIS GOSPEL THAT I GOT, I GOT BY DIVINE REVELATION. AND THEN HE SAYS SOMETHING HERE THAT IS VERY, VERY INTERESTING. LOOK, UH, HE SAYS HERE IN VERSE EIGHT, BUT THOUGH WE ARE AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT WHICH WE HAVE PREACHED UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. AS WE SAID BEFORE, SO SAY I NOW AGAIN, IF ANY MAN PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED, LET HIM BE ACCURSED. NOW WHAT IS PAUL SAYING? I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S MUCH MORE EMPHATIC THAN WHAT HE'S SAYING RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE.
[00:11:15] SUPPOSE IN THIS BUILDING THIS MORNING THERE CAME A GENUINE ANGEL. I MEAN, NO IF'S, AND'S, AND BUT'S ABOUT IT. LET'S SUPPOSE HE CAME THROUGH THOSE DOORS, DOWN THOSE STAIRS, AND WALKED OVER HERE. OR LET'S SUPPOSE HE JUST SORT OF MATERIALIZED AND CAME DOWN THROUGH THE CEILING. I MEAN, A, HA, HA, HA, A BRIGHT, SHINING, GLORIOUS, WONDERFUL, GENUINE, INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH ANGEL. I MEAN, HE COMES RIGHT HERE, AND HE SAYS, PEOPLE OF BELLEVUE, YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN. YOU HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED. WE, I HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED FROM HEAVEN. I AM MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL. I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THERE'S A NEW GOSPEL. PAUL SAID, LET HIM BE DAMNED IF HE SAYS THAT. LET HIM BE, AH, AH, CURSED IF HE SAID THAT. LET HIM GO TO HELL IF HE SAYS THAT. AND PAUL SAID, IF I COME TO YOU AND I'LL TELL YOU AND SAY, YOU REMEMBER WHAT I USED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE GOSPEL? I'VE GOTTEN A NEW REVELATION. I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE NOW, SOMETHING DIFFERENT. AFTER ALL, I WAS THE ONE WHO TOLD YOU THE FIRST TIME. NOW I'M THE ONE WHO'S GOING TO TELL YOU THE SECOND TIME, BUT THE SECOND TIME'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. PAUL SAID, THE WRATH OF GOD WOULD BE UPON ME IF I WERE TO DO THAT. IF I WERE TO SOMEHOW GET BACKSLIDDEN OR CHANGE OR, OR CHANGE MY MIND IN ANY WAY, DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT? THERE IS BUT ONE GOSPEL. IT IS IRREVOCABLE. IT CAN NEVER, EVER BE CHANGED. NOW FOLKS, GET THIS DOWN BIG AND PLAIN AND STRAIGHT.
[00:13:07] WE DON'T NEED A NEW AND MODERN GOSPEL FOR A NEW AND MODERN AGE.
[00:13:10] THERE IS BUT ONE GOSPEL. AND IF ANY MAN PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL, PAUL SAID, LET HIM BE CURSED. I'M NOT CURSING. I'M NOT USING, AH, BAD LANGUAGE, BOYS AND GIRLS, WHEN I SAY, GOD SAID, LET HIM GO TO HELL. I'M NOT CURSING. I'M NOT USING, AH, BAD LANGUAGE, BOYS AND GIRLS, WHEN I SAY, GOD SAID, LET HIM GO TO HELL. THAT'S WHAT GOD IS SAYING ANY MAN IS WORTHY OF WHO WOULD PERVERT OR DISTORT OR SUBSTITUTE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST EVEN IF IT IS AN ANGEL. NOW I WANT YOU TO LEARN SOMETHING AND LEARN IT REAL, REAL WELL THIS MORNING. LISTEN TO THIS PASTOR AND LOOK UP HERE AT ME. IT IS NOT THE MESSENGER WHO VALIDATES THE MESSAGE, IT'S THE MESSAGE THAT VALIDATES THE MESSENGER.
[00:13:53] NOW, PAUL SAID, LISTEN, EVEN IF HE'S AN ANGEL, EVEN IF HE'S AN APOSTLE, NO MATTER WHAT, IF HE DISTORTS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, YOU CANNOT, SHOULD NOT, MUST NOT LISTEN TO HIM NO MATTER HOW MANY DEGREES HE HAS, NO MATTER HOW PERSUASIVE HE IS, NO MATTER WHAT SEMINARY HE WENT TO, NO MATTER WHAT. THERE IS BUT ONE GOSPEL. NOW, THE DEVIL IS AGAINST THE GOSPEL AND THEREFORE YOU CAN FIND ALL OVER ALL KIND OF FALSE RELIGION. BUT THE TRUE GOSPEL, NUMBER ONE, IT IS SUPERNATURAL IN ITS ORIGIN.
[00:14:36] DO YOU HAVE THAT? SECONDLY, THE TRUE GOSPEL IS SUPERNATURAL IN ITS OPERATION. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, IN VERSE SIX, AND I MARVEL THAT YOU ARE SO SOON REMOVED FROM HIM THAT CALLED YOU INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST. NOW, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THIS PASTOR, STEVE. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MAYOUS. AM I RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING. NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE GRACE OF CHRIST, YOU ARE SAVED BY GRACE. THAT MEANS IT'S NOT OF WORKS.
[00:15:01] THERE'S NOTHING GOOD THAT YOU CAN DO. SALVATION IS IN CHRIST ALONE, BY THE CROSS ALONE, BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE. THAT'S THE OPERATION OF THE GOSPEL. YOU CAN'T BEG SALVATION, YOU CAN'T BUY SALVATION, YOU CAN'T BORROW SALVATION, YOU CAN'T BUY IT ALL, YOU CAN'T BUY IT ALL. YOU YOU CAN'T STEAL SALVATION. YOU CAN'T EARN IT. YOU CAN'T LEARN IT. YOU CAN'T MERIT IT. YOU CAN'T INHERIT IT. FRIEND, BY THE WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS, IT WAS COMPLETED, AND IT'LL NEVER BE REPEATED OR DEPLETED. IT IS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. IT IS DIVINE IN ITS ORIGIN. IT IS DIVINE IN ITS OPERATION, AND IT IS DIVINE IN ITS OBJECT. AND HERE'S THE CLUE. LOOK AT IT.
[00:15:49] YOU'RE SO SOON REMOVED FROM HIM, VERSE SIX, UNTO HIM THAT CALLED YOU INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST UNTO ANOTHER GOSPEL. NOW NOTICE, IT IS THE GRACE OF CHRIST, THE GRACE OF CHRIST. IT IS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, SUPERNATURAL IN ITS ORIGIN, SUPERNATURAL IN ITS OPERATION, AND SUPERNATURAL IN ITS OBJECT.
[00:16:16] THE OBJECT OF THE GOSPEL IS CHRIST. UH, YOU'RE SO SOON REMOVED. WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY THE GRACE OF CHRIST? WHAT IS THAT? WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, THAT HE WAS BURIED, THAT HE WAS RAISED AGAIN THE THIRD DAY.
[00:16:30] THAT'S THE GOSPEL. THAT'S THE GRACE OF GOD. IT'S NOT A GOSPEL THAT, UH, THAT MENTIONS CHRIST OR ALLUDES TO CHRIST. IT IS THE GOSPEL THAT CENTERS IN CHRIST. NOW THIS IS THE REASON THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH FALSE RELIGION IN THE WORLD. BEING SAVED, IS A PERSONAL CONFRONTATION WITH JESUS CHRIST. NOT A CREED, NOT A CODE, NOT A CAUSE, NOT A CHURCH, BUT CHRIST, CHRIST. DO YOU KNOW WHY WE HAVE SO MANY, SO MUCH FALSE RELIGION? PEOPLE HAVE MET CREEDS, AND THEY'VE MET CAUSES, AND CODES, AND CHURCHES, BUT THEY'VE NEVER HAD A PERSONAL CONFRONTATION WITH JESUS CHRIST. SALVATION IS RECEIVING CHRIST. IT IS BELIEVING ON CHRIST. BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED. YOU SAY, WELL, SURELY JESUS WAS ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT RELIGIOUS LEADERS. NO, JESUS IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD AND THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN. DOES THAT OFFEND YOU?
[00:17:46] WELL, BE OFFENDED. BE OFFENDED. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE OFFENDED.
[00:17:48] YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE OFFENDED. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE OFFENDED.
[00:17:48] IF JESUS CHRIST IS NOT THE ONLY WAY, HE IS NONE OF THE WAYS BECAUSE HE BECOMES A LIAR AND AN IMPOSTER. HE WAS THE ONE WHO SAID, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, AND NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME. THE APOSTLE SAID, NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER, FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNTO HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED. WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? IT IS SUPERNATURAL IN ITS ORIGIN. IT IS SUPERNATURAL IN ITS OPERATION. IT IS SUPERNATURAL IN ITS OBJECT. IT IS THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. AND WHEN YOU LEARN THIS, WHEN YOU LEARN THIS, FOLKS, IT SETS YOU FREE FROM LEGALISM, TRYING TO BE SAVED BY BEING GOOD.
[00:18:48] DAVID SEAMONS HAS WRITTEN A BOOK CALLED, THE PERFORMANCE TRAP.
[00:18:55] I WANT YOU TO LOOK IN GALATIANS FOUR AND VERSE SEVEN FOR A MOMENT, AND THEN I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT DAVID, DAVID SEAMONS HAD SAID. WHEREFORE, THOU ART NO MORE A SERVANT, BUT A SON. NOW THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRYING TO BE SAVED BY THE LAW AND BEING SAVED BY GRACE. THOU ART NO LONGER A SERVANT, BUT A SON. A SERVANT IS A PERFORMANCE TRAP. NOW THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRYING TO BE SAVED BY, LIKE YOU SAID, THE PERFORMANCE TRAP. NOW THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRYING TO BE SAVED BY GRACE. NOW THEY ARE PLAUNCHER OR他們� esaj wirondo jesus ladonł, WHICH I DID NOT LEARN. OH, OH, IT'S VIEW THAT ACCORDINGS ALLOW TO MENSHIP WHAT HE DOES. BUT A SON IS ACCEPTED ON THE BASIS OF HIS RELATIONSHIP. A SERVANT KNOWS THAT PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE ARE THE BASIS OF HIS ACCEPTANCE. A SON KNOWS THAT HIS ACCEPTANCE IS ON THE BASIS OF HIS POSITION AS A SON. A SERVANT HAS PEACE OF MIND AT THE END OF THE DAY IF HE HAS PROVEN WORTHY BY HIS WORK, BUT HE KNOWS HE BEGINS THE NEW DAY WITH A NEW ANXIETY. BUT THE SON IS SECURE ALL THE DAY LONG, KNOWING THAT TOMORROW WILL NOT CHANGE HIS STATUS AS A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. A SERVANT KNOWS THAT IF HE FE, IF HE FAILS, HIS WHOLE POSITION IS AT STAKE. BUT A SON KNOWS THAT IF HE FAILS, HE WILL BE LOVINGLY CORRECTED, BUT HE IS NOT AFRAID OF BEING THROWN OUT OF THE FAMILY. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE, FOLKS. WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD, YOU'RE SAVED BY GOD. IT'S THE MOST LIBERATING THING. SOMEBODY SAYS, WELL, IF I BELIEVE IN SALVATION BY GRACE, I'D JUST GET SAVED AND LIVE ANY WAY I WANT TO. WELL, FRIEND, I WANT TO SERVE HIM. I WANT TO BECAUSE OF HIS AMAZING GRACE. LISTEN TO THIS. GOD DOES NOT SAY, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE. GOD DOES NOT SAY, I LOVE YOU WHEN. GOD DOES NOT SAY, I LOVE YOU SINCE. GOD DOES NOT SAY, I LOVE YOU IF. GOD DOES NOT SAY, I LOVE YOU IF. GOD DOES NOT SAY, I LOVE YOU. GOD JUST SIMPLY SAYS, I LOVE YOU. HIS LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL. THAT'S GRACE. NOW, IF GOD WERE TO PUT SOME CONDITION UPON US, IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN US THAT CAUSES GOD TO LOVE US, THEN THAT MAKES HIS LOVE CONDITIONAL. BUT THE REVERSE WOULD BE TRUE. IF GOD LOVED ME BECAUSE OF MY SWEETNESS, MY GOODNESS, MY LOVABLENESS, THAT WOULD MEAN IF I'M NOT SWEET, IF I'M NOT GOOD, IF I'M NOT LOVABLE, THEN GOD NO LONGER LOVES ME. AND HIS LACK OF LOVE TOWARD ME WOULD BE FAILURE ON MY PART. LISTEN TO THIS.
[00:21:46] GOD'S LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL. NOW, HIS LOVE FLOWS OUT OF HIS NATURE. IT IS HIS ACTION TO US, NOT HIS REACTION TO US. IT IS HIS ACTION TOWARD US, LET ME SAY, NOT HIS REACTION TO US.
[00:22:09] DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU? GOD LOVES US, IT'S JUST HIS NATURE. I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT VALUABLE. GOD DOESN'T LOVE US BECAUSE WE'RE VALUABLE. WE'RE VALUABLE BECAUSE GOD LOVES US. GOD DOESN'T CHANGE US SO HE CAN LOVE US. HE LOVES US SO HE CAN CHANGE US. NOW, WE NEED TO BE SAVED, FIRST OF ALL, FROM LEGALISM, SET FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF LEGALISM. NUMBER TWO, WE NEED TO BE SET FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF CRITICISM. NOTICE NOW IN GALATIANS CHAPTER TWO. WELL WELL, LET'S GO BACK TO VERSE THREE, BUT NEITHER TITUS, WHO WAS WITH ME, BEING A GREEK, WAS COMPELLED TO BE CIRCUMCISED.
[00:22:49] NOW WE'VE BEEN IN THE BOOK OF TITUS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL SUNDAYS, AND PAUL USED TITUS AS A TROPHY OF GRACE. TITUS WAS A GENTILE, AND THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE TITUS KEEP THE JEWISH LAWS.
[00:23:01] AND VERSE FOUR SAYS, AND THAT BECAUSE OF FALSE BRETHREN, UNAWARES, BROUGHT IN, WHO CAME IN PRIVILY TO SPY OUT OUR LIBERTY WHICH WE HAVE IN CHRIST JESUS, THAT THEY MIGHT BRING US INTO BONDAGE, TO WHOM WE GAVE PLACE BY SUBJECTION, NO, NOT FOR AN HOUR, THAT THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL MIGHT CONTINUE IN YOU. NOW, IF THE DEVIL CAN'T GET YOU BY LEGALISM, HE'LL TRY TO GET YOU BY CRITICISM AND KEEP YOU INTO BONDAGE. NOW, LEGALISM IS THE BONDAGE WE PUT ON OURSELVES. CRITICISM IS THE BONDAGE THAT OTHER PEOPLE PUT ON US. AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PUT UNDER BONDAGE BY THESE GRACE BUSTERS, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM AROUND.
[00:23:42] YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE SAYS IN, IN, AH, JOHN ONE VERSE 17, FOR THE LAW WAS GIVEN BY MOSES, BUT GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS CHRIST. NOW, THE LAW HAD REQUIREMENTS, RULES, AND RITUALS, REGULATIONS. THE PHARISEES TOOK THAT, AH, TOOK THE LAW, AND ALL OF THOSE RULES, RITUALS, AND REGULATIONS, AND THEY MADE ANOTHER LIST OF THEIR OWN AS LONG AS A MAN'S ARM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY FINALLY HAD SIX HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN OF THEM.
[00:24:12] AND, AND, AH, THEN THEY, AH, THEY WOULD JUDGE EVERYBODY ELSE BY THESE THINGS. THEY HAD THEIR LITTLE LIST. AND IF ANYBODY STEPPED OUTSIDE THEIR LITTLE MAN-MADE LIST, WELL, THEN THEY WERE CRITICIZED. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL AND TO TITUS. THERE CAME DOWN FROM JERUSALEM SOME OF THESE GRACE BUSTERS WITH THEIR LITTLE LIST. AND PAUL, WHO WAS FREE FROM LEGALISM, SAID, I'M ALSO FREE FROM LEGALISM. I'M ALSO FREE FROM YOUR CRITICISM. IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT CONCERNED WHAT OTHERS THINK, BUT FRIEND, YOU'RE IN FOR A LONG, ROUGH RIDE IF YOU BECOME A SLAVE TO PUBLIC OPINION. NOW PAUL HAD A TENDER HEART, BUT HE HAD A TOUGH HIDE. LOOK IN VERSE FIVE, HE SAID, TO WHOM WE GAVE PLACE BY SUBJECTION, NO, NOT FOR AN HOUR. HE SAID, I REFUSED TO BECOME A SLAVE TO THEIR OPINION.
[00:25:12] AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE EVEN REBUKED SIMON PETER BECAUSE SIMON PETER ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, IN CHAPTER TWO VERSE 11, AND WHEN PETER WAS COME TO ANIOK, I WITHSTOOD HIM TO THE FACE, BECAUSE HE WAS TO BE BLAMED. FOR BEFORE THAT CERTAIN CAME FROM JAMES, HE DID EAT WITH THE GENTILES. BUT WHEN THEY WERE COME, HE WITHDREW AND SEPARATED HIMSELF, FEARING THEM WHICH WERE OF THE CIRCUMCISION. AND, AND PAUL SAID, PETER, YOU WERE NORMALLY STRONG, BUT WHEN THESE PEOPLE CAME IN HERE, THESE LEGALISTS, THEY WERE NOT STRONG. THEY WERE NOT STRONG. THEY WERE NORMALISTS. THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO GET YOU TO BEHAVE AND WALK IN LOCKSTEP LIKE THEY WANTED YOU TO LOCKST, WALK IN LOCKSTEP, YOU HAD BEEN FELLOWSHIPPING WITH THE GENTILES, YOU HAD BEEN ENJOYING YOUR GRACE, AND THEN YOU JUST REVERTED TO YOUR OWN WAYS. AND PAUL SAID, I PUT MY FINGER IN PETER'S FACE AND I TOLD PETER THAT HE WAS WRONG. NOW LISTEN FOLKS, IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, THERE'S GONNA BE SOMEBODY, AND IT MAY BE SOMEBODY IN THE CHURCH WHO'S GONNA PUT YOU UNDER ACCOUNTAGE. NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE FOUR, AND THAT BECAUSE OF FALSE BRETHREN, FALSE BRETHREN, THAT MEANS PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH. PHILLIPS TRANSLATES THIS, SHAM CHRISTIANS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LEGALISTS, AND THEY CAN'T STAND IT WHEN YOU'RE SAVED BY GRACE. THEY CAN'T STAND IT. I MEAN, IT, IT BOTHERS THEM. AND THEY'LL COME OUT TO CHECK YOU OUT, AND THEY'LL MAKE THEIR LITTLE LIST. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT GOD'S RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY COMMANDMENTS. I'M TALKING ABOUT THEIR SUPERFICIAL, MAN-MADE PREFERENCES. AND THEY'LL SAY, WELL, IT OFFENDS ME WHEN YOU DO THAT. NOW WE'RE NOT TO OFFEND WEAKER BROTHERS, BUT I'M GONNA TELL YOU THERE ARE SOME PROFESSIONAL WEAKER BROTHERS YOU BETTER WATCH OUT FOR. PROFESSIONAL WEAKER BROTHERS. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? PROFESSIONAL WEAKER BROTHERS THAT HAVE THEIR LIST OF THINGS THAT THEY BELIEVE IS RIGHT OR THEY'RE WRONG. YOU GO OFF TO SOME CONFERENCE SOMEWHERE, YOU GO OFF TO SOME SEMINAR, AND YOU GET YOUR LITTLE LIST, AND YOU COME BACK AND START CHECKING EVERYBODY ELSE OUT.
[00:27:11] WELL, DON'T DO IT, AND FRIEND, DON'T LET SOMEBODY DO IT TO YOU.
[00:27:18] NOW, NEVER WOUND A WEAKER BROTHER'S CONSCIENCE. BUT IF A WEAKER BROTHER IS A PROFESSIONAL WEAKER BROTHER, HE IS SICK, AND YOU CAN'T MAKE YOURSELF SICK TO MAKE HIM WELL. IT'S HIS PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH. BUT IF YOU ALLOW HIM TO BRING YOU INTO SUBJECTION, IT BECOMES YOUR PROBLEM. PAUL SAID, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT BUNCH. WHAT, I DIDN'T GIVE SPACE TO THAT OH, HAPPY CONDITION. AND THE GRACE OF GOD, IT FREES YOU FROM CRITICISM. FRIEND, WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE RIGHT WITH GOD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS TO SAY ABOUT YOU. AND THEN IT FREES YOU NOT ONLY FROM LEGALISM, AND NOT ONLY FROM CRITICISM, BUT IT FREES YOU FROM FATALISM. NOW LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING ELSE HERE. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, IN CHAPTER FOUR, VERSE THREE OF, OF GALATIANS, EVEN SO WE, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WERE IN BONDAGE, THERE'S OUR WORD BONDAGE, UNDER THE ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD. BUT WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME WAS COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, MADE OF A WOMAN, MADE UNDER THE LAW, TO REDEEM THEM, THAT IS, TO SET THEM FREE THAT WERE UNDER THE LAW, THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS. NOW WHAT IS THAT? IT'S THE ADOPTION OF SONS. NOW WHAT IS THAT? IT'S THE ADOPTION OF SONS. NOW WHAT IS THAT? IT'S THE ADOPTION OF SONS. NOW WHAT IS THAT? IT'S THE ADOPTION OF SONS. NOW WHAT DOES HE MEAN HERE BY THE ELEMENTS, IN BONDAGE UNDER THE ELEMENTS? WELL, THE WORD ELEMENTS HERE MEANS THE ELEMENTAL FORCES OF NATURE. UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE STARS, THE PLANETS, NATURE, BIRTH, WHAT YOU ARE, WHAT SIGN YOU WERE BORN UNDER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, HE REALLY HEAR, HAS IN MIND THE IDEA OF ASTROLOGY THAT HAD ALREADY BEGUN IN BIBLE TIMES. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, IN VERSES NINE AND TEN.
[00:29:14] CHAPTER FOUR, VERSES NINE AND TEN, BUT NOW AFTER THAT YE HAVE KNOWN GOD, OR RATHER ARE KNOWN OF GOD, HOW TURN YE AGAIN TO THE WEAK AND BEGGARLY ELEMENTS? WHERE, WHERE UNTIL YE DESIRE AGAIN TO BE IN BONDAGE? NOW WATCH THIS, YE OBSERVE DAYS AND MONTHS AND TIMES AND YEARS. I'M AFRAID OF YOU, LEST I HAVE BESTOWED UPON YOU LABOR IN VAIN. WHEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT DAYS AND MONTHS AND YEARS AND, AND, UH, UH, AND TIMES AND SEASONS, HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE ZODIAC. HE'S TALKING ABOUT ASTROLOGY. HE'S TALKING ABOUT THESE BEGGARLY ELEMENTS.
[00:29:51] HE'S TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE OBJECTS OF FATE, THAT THEY'RE BORN UNDER A CERTAIN STAR, THAT THIS THING COULD HAPPEN TO THEM OR THAT THING COULD HAPPEN TO THEM. HOW MANY OF YOU PITIFUL PEOPLE, IF YOU DO THIS, ARE PITIFUL PEOPLE, GET UP AND READ YOUR HOROSCOPE, SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU? OR YOU SAY, WELL, IT'S JUST A LITTLE, JUST A LITTLE SOMETHING I DO. GOD PITY YOU.
[00:30:14] GOD PITY YOU. THAT IS THE OCCULT. IT'S OUT OF HELL. IT'S OF THE DEVIL. FRIEND, DO YOU KNOW WHAT ASTROLOGY MEANS?
[00:30:29] ASTROLOGOS, THE WORD OF THE STARS? YOU DON'T NEED THE WORD OF THE STARS. YOU'VE GOT THE, THE WORD OF GOD. YOU'VE GOT THE WORD OF GOD. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT A DISASTROLE IS? YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT SOME OBJECT OF FATE. YOU'RE NOT THERE ARE NO DISASTERS TO THE CHILDREN OF GOD. ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. FRIEND, WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THE GRACE OF GOD, YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU'RE A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE, BECAUSE YOU CAN SAY, I AM WHAT I AM, NOT BY FATE, BUT I AM WHAT I AM BY THE GRACE OF GOD. AMEN? BY THE GRACE OF GOD. IT'S WONDERFUL. GRACE SETS YOU FREE. YOU'RE FREE FROM LEGALISM. YOU'RE FREE FROM CRITICISM. YOU'RE FREE FROM FATALISM. YOU'RE FREE IN THE LORD JESUS. THAT'S THE REASON HE SAYS IN GALATIANS CHAPTER FIVE AND VERSE ONE, STAND FAST IN THE LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HAS MADE YOU FREE. AND HE SAYS, STAND FAST IN THE LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HAS MADE YOU FREE. AND BE NOT ENTANGLED AGAIN IN THE YOKE OF BONDAGE.
[00:31:52] WELL, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HOW DOES THIS WORK OUT? I MEAN, HOW DOES THIS WORK OUT IN LIFE? WELL, IT'S ALL IN THE CROSS.
[00:32:04] LOOK IN CHAPTER TWO, VERSE 20. GET READY FOR A BLESSING. LOOK AT IT. HERE'S THE GOSPEL, HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.
[00:32:16] I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. NEVERTHELESS I LIVE. YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME. AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH, I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. I DO NOT FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD.
[00:32:41] SO MANY OF US HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATING THE GRACE OF GOD.
[00:32:44] THAT'S A, THAT'S A, A RICH PHRASE, ISN'T IT?
[00:32:46] I DO NOT FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD, FOR IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY THE LAW, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN.
[00:32:52] THAT MEANS IF YOU COULD BE SAVED BY BEING GOOD, CALVARY WAS A BLUNDER.
[00:32:55] IF, IF RIGHTEOUSNESS COME BY THE LAW, THEN CHRIST IS DEAD IN VAIN.
[00:32:59] AND GO RIGHT ON THROUGH TO CHAPTER THREE VERSE ONE, O FOOLISH GALATIANS, WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU, THAT YOU SHOULD NOT OBEY THE TRUTH BEFORE WHOSE EYES JESUS CHRIST HATH EVIDENTLY, HATH BEEN EVIDENTLY SET FORTH, CRUCIFIED AMONG YOU.
[00:33:14] WHAT HE'S SAYING IS, SOMEBODY BEGUILED YOU, SOMEBODY BEWITCHED YOU, SOMEBODY GOT YOUR EYES OFF OF THE CROSS AND ON TO SOMETHING ELSE.
[00:33:25] IT'S ALL IN THE CROSS.
[00:33:27] NOW LET ME TELL YOU HOW THE GRACE OF GOD WORKS.
[00:33:29] WHAT IS THE CHRISTIAN LIFE?
[00:33:31] FIRST OF ALL, IT IS AN EXECUTED LIFE.
[00:33:34] I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST.
[00:33:36] DO YOU SEE THAT IN VERSE 20?
[00:33:38] THAT'S TALKING ABOUT YOU.
[00:33:39] THAT'S TALKING ABOUT ME.
[00:33:41] WHEN JESUS, CHRIST DIED FOR ME, HE DIED AS MY SUBSTITUTE, AND WHEN HE DIED FOR ME, THEREFORE I DIED WITH HIM.
[00:33:49] NOW GET THIS DOWN BIG AND PLAIN AND STRAIGHT.
[00:33:52] HE DIDN'T JUST DIE FOR YOUR SINS TO TAKE AWAY YOUR SINS, HE DIED TO TAKE AWAY YOU, YOU.
[00:34:00] THE PROBLEM IS NOT WHAT YOU DO, THE PROBLEM IS WHO YOU ARE.
[00:34:05] I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST.
[00:34:07] I AM THE ONE THAT DESERVED TO DIE.
[00:34:09] I WAS THE ONE NAILED UP ON THAT CROSS.
[00:34:11] YOU SAY, I THOUGHT IT WAS JESUS.
[00:34:13] YES, IT WAS ME.
[00:34:15] BECAUSE HE DIED FOR ME, AND I DIED WITH HIM, AND HIS DEATH HAD MY NAME ON IT.
[00:34:23] AND WHEN HE PAID, MY DEBT WAS PAID.
[00:34:26] DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
[00:34:26] I'M CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST.
[00:34:29] HE DIED FOR ME.
[00:34:31] IT'S DONE.
[00:34:33] AND FRIEND, THEREFORE, IF A MAN IS CONVICTED OF A CRIME AND PUT IN THE ELECTRIC CHAIR AND THEY PULL THE SWITCH AND THE CORONER COMES AND SAYS HE'S DEAD, THEY'LL NEVER DO THAT TO HIM.
[00:34:41] AGAIN, IF THEY SEE HIM WALKING DOWN THE STREET TOMORROW, TOO BAD.
[00:34:45] HOW HE EVER CAME BACK ALIVE IS NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS.
[00:34:49] HE'S PAID HIS BILL IN FULL.
[00:34:51] HE IS DEAD, PRONOUNCED DEAD.
[00:34:53] HE CAN'T BE BROUGHT INTO DOUBLE JEOPARDY.
[00:34:55] SO THAT'S THE FIRST PLACE.
[00:34:56] THIS LIFE, THIS LIFE IS AN EXECUTED LIFE.
[00:35:01] BUT NOW WAIT A MINUTE.
[00:35:02] IT IS AN EXCHANGED LIFE.
[00:35:04] LOOK AT IT.
[00:35:05] I'M CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST.
[00:35:07] NEVERTHELESS, I LIVE.
[00:35:09] YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH.
[00:35:11] IN ME.
[00:35:13] NOW, I DIED WITH HIM AND I ROSE WITH HIM.
[00:35:19] YOU'RE LOOKING AT A RESURRECTED MAN.
[00:35:21] YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MAN WHO HAS ALREADY DIED AND ALREADY BEEN RESURRECTED.
[00:35:24] HIS NAME IS ADRIAN ROGERS.
[00:35:26] I DIED WITH HIM.
[00:35:28] I ROSE WITH HIM.
[00:35:30] I HAVE BEEN EXECUTED AND I HAVE BEEN RAISED.
[00:35:34] AND, AND NOW HIS DEATH HAD MY NAME ON IT, BUT I'M NOT WITH HIM IN THE GRAVE.
[00:35:41] BECAUSE HE HAS A LIFE THAT THE GRAVE COULD NOT HANDLE.
[00:35:45] AND THAT LIFE IS MINE.
[00:35:47] I AM RAISED WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
[00:35:49] BUT NOW WATCH.
[00:35:50] IT IS AN EXECUTED LIFE.
[00:35:52] IT IS AN EXCHANGED LIFE.
[00:35:53] NEVERTHELESS, I LIVE.
[00:35:54] YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST THAT LIVETH IN ME.
[00:35:56] AND IT IS AN ENERGIZED LIFE.
[00:35:58] HERE IT IS.
[00:36:00] AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH, RIGHT HERE IN THIS BODY, I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD.
[00:36:08] NOT FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD.
[00:36:11] HIS LIFE IS IN ME.
[00:36:13] HIS FAITH IS IN ME, IN ME, IN YOU.
[00:36:17] I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.
[00:36:23] NOW LISTEN, THE ONE WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME IS THE ONE WHO GAVE HIMSELF TO ME.
[00:36:29] IS THIS GETTING THROUGH?
[00:36:31] NUDGE YOUR HEAD.
[00:36:32] LOOK, FOLKS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GRACE.
[00:36:35] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL.
[00:36:40] WONDERFUL.
[00:36:41] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIBERTY AND EXECUTED LIFE AND EXCHANGED LIFE AND ENERGIZED LIFE.
[00:36:52] IAN THOMAS, THE GREAT PREACHER, DEAR MAN OF GOD, PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE, MAJOR IAN THOMAS, HE'S GOT ONE OF THE GREATEST ILLUSTRATIONS.
[00:37:00] HE TALKS ABOUT MOSES GOING OUT THERE IN THE WILDERNESS AND HE SEES THAT BURNING BUSH.
[00:37:06] REMEMBER THE STORY?
[00:37:07] JUST NOD YOUR HEAD, LOOK INTELLIGENT.
[00:37:08] ALL RIGHT, NOW.
[00:37:09] THERE'S A BURNING BUSH OUT THERE IN THE WILDERNESS.
[00:37:10] NOW MOSES STARTED OUT TO BE A MISSIONARY, ENDED UP A MURDERER.
[00:37:16] HE'S ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE DESERT NOW, BEEN OUT THERE IN THE BACK SIDE OF THE DESERT IN EXILE.
[00:37:22] AND GOD SAYS, MOSES, TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES.
[00:37:25] THE PLACE WHERE YOU STAND IS HOLY GROUND.
[00:37:27] AND THERE'S A BUSH.
[00:37:28] IT'S JUST BURNING, BUT IT'S NOT CONSUMED.
[00:37:31] AND IAN THOMAS IMAGINES MOSES LOOKING AT THAT BUSH AND SAYING, OH, OH, LOOK AT THAT.
[00:37:38] WHAT AN AMAZING BUSH.
[00:37:40] WHY, I TRIED TO BURN FOR GOD AND I BURNED MYSELF OUT IN 24 HOURS AND I'VE BEEN A PILE OF ASHES EVER SINCE.
[00:37:49] AND THERE'S A BUSH.
[00:37:50] IT JUST KEEPS ON BURNING.
[00:37:52] WHAT A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL BUSH THAT IS.
[00:37:58] AND THEN MAJOR THOMAS IMAGINES GOD SAYING TO MOSES, MOSES, IT'S NOT THE BUSH.
[00:38:09] MOSES, YOU SEE THAT OTHER BUSH OVER THERE?
[00:38:12] I COULD DO THAT WITH THAT BUSH, OR WITH THAT BUSH, OR WITH THAT BUSH, OR WITH THAT BUSH, OR WITH THAT BUSH, OR WITH THAT BUSH, OR WITH THAT BUSH, OR WITH THAT BUSH, OR WITH THIS BUSH.
[00:38:27] IT'S NOT THE BUSH.
[00:38:30] IT'S GOD IN THE BUSH.
[00:38:33] ANY OLD BUSH'LL DO.
[00:38:35] ISN'T THAT GREAT?
[00:38:37] ANY OLD BUSH'LL DO.
[00:38:39] IT'S NOT THE BUSH. OH, SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT PEOPLE AND WE SAY, OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN. ISN'T IT WONDERFUL HOW GOD IS USING HIM? ISN'T IT WONDERFUL HOW GOD IS USING HER? IT'S NOT HIM, IT'S NOT HER. IT'S THE GRACE OF GOD. I'M CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST, NEVERTHELESS I LIVE, YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME.
[00:39:01] IT IS GOD IN THE BUSH. FRIEND, THAT IS THE GRACE OF GOD AND THAT IS LIBERTY FROM LEGALISM AND CRITICISM AND FATALISM. THE SON SHALL MAKE YOU FREE. YOU'LL BE FREE INDEED. AMEN.
[00:39:37] THANKS FOR WATCHING.