The Life I Now Live
Galatians 2:20 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.
Intro: The Book of Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Galatia to confront a disturbing change in their theology. They were leaving a gospel of salvation by faith and drifting toward a salvation that was based on works. He was in a state of shock actually that they were no more grounded in the truth than that. He said in Galatians 1:6, 7:
· 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
· 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
In chapter 2, Paul openly rebuked Peter for his double standard and for his fear of men.
Verse 12 of chapter 2 says that Peter feared the circumcision, or the Jews, which reflected poorly on his leadership.
They were placing an unbiblical amount of emphasis on circumcision and were gaining great influence in the early church.
Paul referred to the Gentiles as “the uncircumcision” and the Jews as “circumcision” all throughout this chapter.
SEE vs. 7-9
Paul was trying to correct this false gospel and emphasis placed on outward works for salvation. (see chapter 3)
He encouraged them in Galatians 5:1 not to become entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
He reminded them in Galatians 5:6 that circumcision was irrelevant; but it was only by faith.
In Galatians 6:14, 15, Paul again emphasizes the new birth over obeying the works of the law.
But it was the statement in 2:20 that got my attention: “the life that I now live…”
It occurred to me that every child of God has three lives:
A. The Godless Life – this was our life before we got saved
· 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
· Ephesians 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
B. The Godly Life – this is the life we should be living now
· 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
· Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
C. The Glorified Life – this is the life we look forward to living in Heaven for eternity.
· 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
So, we’ve got:
1. the life we lived FOR the flesh in a fight against the Son of God
2. the life we live IN the flesh by the faith of the Son of God
3. the life we will live WITHOUT the flesh for a future with the Son of God
Paul is doing some serious reflecting in these verses.
He’s taking inventory, as he did many times.
NOTE: As Christians today, we should constantly be evaluating
Judging ourselves is what we should be preoccupied with; not judging everybody else.
What can you say about “The Life I Now Live?”
What is your current testimony?
Is your life one of purpose and intent or are you simply surviving.
I. A Life of Earnest Invitations
I worked on a message one time but never preached it on “Paul the Beggar.”
Paul’s entire life and ministry were spent weeping, crying, praying, while beseeching and begging people.
A. Inviting People to Salvation
One of the first things that Saul did after he got saved was to start soulwinning.
I find that fascinating.
In Acts 9:18, Saul is baptized. In verse 20, the Bible says:
· And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Verse 14 of Acts 9 says that he had authority to bind all that call on His name.
He immediately got busy beseeching all to call on His name.
Acts 17
· 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
· 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
· 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Acts 26
· 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
· 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
· 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Romans 9
· 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
· 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
B. Inviting People to Service
· Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
· Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
How much of the life that you “now live” do you spend inviting others to be saved and serve the Lord?
II. A Life of Edifying Involvement
Paul didn’t just BEG and BESEECH other people; everything Paul did was to BUILD other people.
His life was spent investing in other people.
Making their life prosperous and successful gave him fulfillment.
He never was concerned about himself.
He told the church at Corinth: And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; (2 Corinthians 12:15)
Most Christians spend far more time and energy tearing people down than they ever have building them up.
They criticize, complain, nitpick, pick apart one another instead of strengthening them and building them.
Looking at the example that Paul set for the believers, he lived his life edifying and building up God’s people.
A. He edified new converts.
· Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
Acts 11
· 25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
· 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
B. He edified pastors and young preachers.
Acts 14
· 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
· 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
· 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
D. He edified churches.
· Acts 18:23 And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.
III. A Life of Eternal Investment
I believe we can safely say that everything the Apostle Paul did was with the Judgment Seat of Christ in mind.
The Apostle Paul didn’t leave houses and property and toys and storage buildings full of junk behind.
Everything he did, he did it for the purpose of laying up treasures on the other side.
Paul lived every moment of every day with the awareness that this life is short and temporary.
Only what is done for Christ will last.
Paul said in Romans 14:
· 10 …for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
· 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
· 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
2 Corinthians 5
· 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
· 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
· 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
1 Corinthians 3
· 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
· 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
· 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
· 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
· 1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
2 Corinthians 4
· 15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
· 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
· 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
· 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Jesus said this in Matthew 6:
· 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
· 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
· 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
コメント