Freed to Change, Part 2

Today on the MetLife with Jeannie Greer when you struggle with sin and you have fall into that same sin again and again you've got the look of the finished work of Christ when you got a thank God that his acceptance of you is no longer based on how well you live the Christian life. But it is based on Christ's finished work and thereby receive the power to get up centerline the Bible teaching ministry pastor, author and theologian Jeannie Greer. I'm your host Molly made a batch.

Okay, next time you're in a bookstore to he still go take a look at the self-improvement section you see rows and rows of books promising to unlock the secret to a better life. But the truth is, no matter how many died to follow. No matter how much positive thinking. You do none of those tricks are actually get to fill your deepest needs or fix your greatest problems today. Pastor Jenny explained the only way for us to truly change set free from our sinful hearts title this message free to change.

So grab your Bible and turned back to the book of Galatians as we get started. Chapter 3 Galatians who has bewitched you before his eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.

In other words, I will point you understood the gospel so clearly now it's like you from when we forgotten that verse two. I only want to learn this from you that you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or did you receive the Spirit by believing what you have heard of this is really important because this is the first time. The apostle Paul mentions the Holy Spirit in Galatians and the Holy Spirit is going to become his primary theme for the next four chapters and hear his his question was, how did you first received the spirit as you first received the spirit because you did something was a because you went through some ritual now it happened because you put faith in the finished work of Christ. Well then he said after beginning by the spirit to finish by the flesh. Does God give you the spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the wall or is it by believing what you are just like Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Here is the game changing question if you initially receive the Spirit by believing why would you think growing in the spirit would be achieved in any other way. No, he says the way we grow in the Christian life is the same way we began in the Christian life through faith in Christ finished work.

The words it is finished. You see, listen are not just words that we believe one time to find forgiveness.

They are words we believe, again and again to experience spiritual power is ongoing power in us is released in August through renewed faith in the gospel. As we continue to put faith in the finished work of Christ.

The power of the Spirit is continually released in us, or think of it this way, by believing it is finished, we gain the power to continue and you thank God that his acceptance of you is not based on how much spiritual fruit you show it's not based on how you feel it's not based on what you've accomplished. It's based on Christ's finished work and then as you rest.

There you will start to bear spiritual fruit in verse six. Paul now compares it to the experience will most famous Old Testament people Abraham is. This is like Abraham when he quotes Genesis 15 six.

This is a quote here like Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness. Genesis 15 God makes a promise to Abraham that from him. We come a great nation that would provide forgiveness and salvation for the world the problem when Abraham gets this promise is that Abraham's old and is childless and he's long given about having a job when Abraham believed God's promise.

However, two things happen number one.

He was declared righteous adults.

Second, when Abraham believed number two is dead sterile body was given the ability to reproduce. Paul then asked the Galatians. What part of this exactly that Abraham accomplished by his own strength was in some technique or new way of positive thinking.

Know it was all God, all Abraham did was believe what God promised Eddie Believing it.

If that's so, Paul says then why would we think. Why would we think we can achieve spiritual life by our own strength through obedience to the law and fact.

Paul points out, when God made a promise to Abraham Israel have even been given the law.

Yet whatever 70.

My point is this the law, which came 430 years later about it, a covenant previously established by God. Or that's cancel the promise obedience. A lot of words can be a condition for obtaining the promise around yet righteousness and spiritual life are given to all who simply believe the promise of Jesus that it is finished, just like he said this is the kind of spiritual power that many of you are missing and the only way that you get it is by believing the promise that it is finished.

It is finished is not just the way we obtain forgiveness for the past is finished is the way we obtain power in the present. The Galatian error was that after they had started the faith in the gospel.

They thought they would be perfected or they would thought they would come to maturity by the power the fleshly obedience to certain laws or circumcision or obedience to dietary restrictions or whatever. Now the very first week of the series. I pointed out to you that those are not the same things we usually turn to write and so I gave you was a number of laws modern-day laws that we turn to the same thing. The turned in the first century none of your like have about circumcision and about avoiding pork back on itself. You'll do that you turn to a different set of laws to try to perfect yourselves so I gave you just real quick. Few weeks ago I gave you how different denominations of 10 and how your raised what laws they tend to point you to. So if you are from a for example liturgical backgrounder was a Catholic background that it was ceremonies in sacraments and in the Eucharistic baptism and confirmation. Salvation was faith in Christ. Plus all those things.

If you do this and this best plus the finished work of Christ is what will bring you closer to God.

If you grew up in a Anabaptist on contacts as I did, and the tenancy was probably to put all the emphasis on the rules.

Here's what Christians look like your father talk like is what they don't listen to.

Here's what kind of movies I don't watch here is what they. Here's everything about them come in in these traditions.

The definition of Christian was always really, really narrow is only if you conform exactly not just the faith in Christ, but also to our narrow definition of what a Christian talk like looks like what they believe in only if you do that you considered a real Christian. And that's because the emphasis was on external conformity, but it is not a law that can change us is not conformity in anything that can change us, not any of that can produce a single ounce of spiritual life in me.

Most liberal churches put emphasis on certain social justice rules of what you become a real Christian is by adopting certain societal agendas and hearing some of the agendas they put forward a good, but the emphasis is all in what you are to do rather than on the power of the spirit released the faith in the gospel that is just a new progressive version of the law. Do this and you will live the focus that you leave these churches with his on a list of things we are to do rather than on the power released through faith in what Christ has done.

There is no version of the law, whether it's Jewish or whether it's Catholic or whether it's Baptist or whether it's progressive that can save you. We mega churches.

We hate those guys right. We tend to put emphasis on our own set of laws that what we know for what mega church is known for practicality right we make Christianity practical. We give you life principles, practical applications of faith, I love practicality.

Okay this is my nature like given people listen. III get it, but we cannot listen you cannot and you will not go all we grow only as the spirits power is released in us through continued faith in Christ finished work.

Paul was pointing us to a power that cannot be accessed through the wall. It is only access to faith in the gospel and by the way, please note that when I talk about finding freedom for the law. I'm not listen. This I'm not talking about simply dumbing down the law Joyce Meyer. I was never in the radio sometimes. She said not too long ago, she said," I finally realized that the gospel is not about rules right so far so good.

It's about loving God and loving each other, so what have you done this week to help out somebody you know oh I gotten freedom from the rules and now I just have to love God and love people. As if that is any easier. Love God and love each other is what Jesus said was the summary of the law in big trouble if that's what the gospel is with all due respect just love God and love people is not the gospel is the very essence of the law that we have previously failed to keep the gospel is not love God and do your best. The gospel is that you did your best. Anyone enough to God in his love. Send his best who did for you. What you could not do for yourself and all you can do now is receded by faith. And that's where the power is not in some resolution to love God and love people. The Martyn Lloyd Jones of the 1950s-ish British pastor talked about a controversy that was raging in his day, between these modern terms, but a seeker sensitive church and more doctrinal church and so the argument goes like this, should we focus in our messages. More on practicality like you to live it out or should we focus more teaching. Dr. he said in the seeker sensitive churches want to make it relevant and doctrinal church is what you make a deep, he said I would very humbly say to them that both of those are in error. He said because the goal of a motivational speech is that you leave with action steps not certain. The goal of a lecture in seminary is that you leave with a page full of notes.

Doctrinal notes the goal of the gospel sermon is not that you leave the page full of action steps to leave with a page full of notes.

The goal the gospel sermon is that you leave worshiping at some point the pan has to go down in the eyes have to go upward and you have to stop saying oh my god look at all these things. I got to do for you and you start to sale my god look at all these things that you have done for me because as you are amazed with the beauty of what God has done what God does listen to this is you will begin to change you on the spot hidden change you because you make a list of things you can do in change. You change on the spot because your soul is captivated with the glory of Jesus and that changes you at the desired level, which is what God wants. God could've created robots. It would just obey mechanically. He wanted people who would love him like he loves himself, and love others the way that he loves them would then begin to do it not based on compulsive, but based on desire and I do something the law cannot produce only the gospel can produce that kind of change in people because it is a very power of new life were trying to teach my on Sunday was seven years old now and teach them the love to read my what I give my son motivation to read heard about some minor church French homicide always Pokémon cards all that well try that and so we got a bottom having 10 bucks for 50 out and so Mike you read 20 minutes. You can Pokémon cards so he dutifully goes upstairs. He reached 20 minutes for some.

I gave him one. I hated him one and that his ears or work. He looks at it.

He said, are there any DX cards in that deck I was like what the heck is in the X car is again how can you not know any X card is the only good Pokémon cards.

There are so that all sure. I'm sure there are just you got it you choose them randomly but we want to look later at the deck with millions cards in their site jump online like I want to be X cards turns out there a lot more expensive.

I think it was like 40 bucks for 10 of housing well is this a good investment for him. Are you really I guess so. $40 later I got to the X cards on the way to my house.

Another mixed in there I'm given about the amount he is reading not love of reading. He is reading because it's a means to a Pokémon car now, the same way when I was seven years old I would say my prime house 10 1215 years old but somewhere over that time, I developed a love for reading. Now some of you may not share that passion for reading.

That's not the point. The point is that at some point you want reading to cease to be a means to an end and you want to because it become an end in itself, and what God desires for us is not that we obey the law as a way of gaining blessing. Not that we obey the wall law is a way of escaping punishment. Not that we obey the laws way of going to heaven, but we obey God because we love God and we seek righteousness because we love righteousness and friend that's what's wrong with your heart. The problem in your heart is that you don't naturally do that no obedience to the law is going to fix that law cannot move your heart the needle of your heart to righteousness what the law can do is tell you what you ought to be like, but only the gospel is the power that moves that locomotive along the tracks and what the gospel, the wall cannot do.

God did in the gospel only the spirit release the faith in the gospel has power to change your heart like that, which is why the Martyn Lloyd Jones will more time. He said I spent half my time.

I spent half my time telling my congregation to study doctrine and the other half telling them the doctor didn't enough because it is faith in the gospel, not doctrinal knowledge.

It changes us, which means listen when you're struggling in your marriage.

You don't just need to learn new techniques for being a better husband the power to really change in marriage. Listen, comes not from a relevant list from uncle JD power for change in marriage comes from the finished work of Christ, learned five new steps to be in a more thoughtful husband is not nearly as important, has been overwhelmed by the 10 billion steps Jesus took me came to rescue you when you were struggling as a parent or your kid is struggling with sin.

And like I can't make them all the right things I'm trying to control them, but I can't change the hard matter what I say, no matter what I do.

Where do I turn I is your hope to simply get them to conform to the laws to give them the right rewards if they obeyed to the parties them enough and made no you can't produce righteousness in their hearts to the wall to get rid of this one. I'll explain again next week. How we use the wall but I'm telling you heart change heart change. New life only comes from the gospel which means you need to turn your hope for the gospel and pray in faith for that power that flows from the finished work of Christ to be released in your life and in their lives. It means when you struggle with sin and you have fall into that same sin again and again, you've got to look at the finished work of Christ and you got a thank God that his acceptance of you is no longer based on how well you live the Christian life that it is based on Christ's finished work and thereby receive the power to get up. You gotta look up from where you have fallen, and realize that Christ in Christ, the father has been running towards you already, even before you begin to repent because he wanted to restore you and bring you home before you even thought to look for him for the best descriptions of this I've share with you, I think, is that strange little verse in Proverbs that is so wonderfully encapsulates the Christian life forever 2460.

The righteous man the righteous man falls seven times and gets back up again. Imagine being behind a man who fell 7 times was that experience like the falls. Once and it's kind of funny right is my falls in the mall.

You cannot get a boy funny you for the fall second time I got SMS out somebody you to put it on the Internet. If all the third time you start to get worried so forth. I need you call an ambulance for six seven-time you're really worried about the guy seven in Hebrews.

The number of completion, which means it when somebody falls seven times. Listen their whole life is characterized by following don't you think whatever's again. The righteous man falls seven times and gets back up again. Which means that the righteous man listen to this does not show his righteousness by never falling short. His righteousness by what he does when he falls because the righteous man.

What's this recognizes that his righteousness is no longer based on how well he runs his righteousness is based on the finished work of Christ and when he is following Christ still stands, so he shows his belief in the gospel by where he looks when he falls when he falls he looks up and he says thank God that my acceptance is not based on how well I've run thank God it's based on your finished work I am is perfect in your side as if I had never sin because you have become my righteousness. So my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, right on Christ the solid rock I stand, even though will follow up on Christ the solid rock I stand all of the ground is sinking sand call other grandma CQ said Christ alone is my hope and when I have fallen again I will say his finished work. It is finished and I get back up. I can get backed up because it is no longer me is Christ in me and that race is one that victory is finished.

It is over and it matters what I'm struggling with the where I've been defeated or where I feel powerless that three is my I simply believe it and it's power flows in the it is finished is not just a statement you believe one time to escape the penalty of sin. It is finished as a statement you believe repeatedly, to gain power over sin, you understand that not like I alluded to you at the beginning, the first and most important sign the very first declaration you make the declares you believe it is finished is baptism. Baptism is probably the best picture we have, because ye baptism you should put on the water like Christ was put into the earth.

For your sin and then you come out of the water symbolic of the fact that Jesus was raised to new life that his death has canceled the penalty of your sin and his resurrection is the power. This is the power that will break sin's power over your life. That is an important declaration of faith that releases spiritual power in your life.

Your decision to get baptized often makes the difference. I have seen between a passing religious phase and a defining moment that transforms your life and that is in large part because the Holy Spirit takes the confession of faith and he uses it to infuse you with power. So when you say to me and sometimes you say verbally.

Sometimes you say with your eyes. Knowledge is not that important but first I was, when asked people to say that.

Who are you to tell God which of his commands are not important is not really how you want to begin your walk with Jesus by telling the things you're not going to do second. I try to tell people you still realize the power of the spirit that comes into you when you declare publicly.

I believe it is finished. I was thinking my my my dad who now comes that they retired recently me moved here and they're not part of our church on dead told me the story that he said 10 days before you were born 21st 1973 is a 10 days before you were born.

He said my spiritual life as a sort writers go back and forth in your mom and I've started to get back in church and we were about that you have a first side and so we want to God to be a part of her lives. She said I was a soda in and out in this is what you nothing was really good permanent. He said the guy basically did what I'm about to do with you and he said I want you to come forward. Don't you declare publicly your faith, he said he sent us all up.

He said not a little reached up and I grabbed that seat in front of me and I drifted my knuckles were white because I don't want to do that because I was embarrassed. He said I was too proud. I don't want to get out there and by watch me and see me. He said I said there are probably argued with the Holy Spirit for five or six minutes about why I didn't lead to God that I was to grow a little bit closer to God. Little by little. He says good things about surgeries and 84 versus a. Just as I am right never made it. He said he said. And finally, on a summer on the 70 verse is that I knew.

I knew that it was a defining moment for me is that is like had the strength to do is cease as artist reached out and I stepped out of that I'll use it in the moment I stepped out of the aisle, the Holy Spirit took over. He says, and that transform my life and change your eternity because it was a defining moment that changed me, which ultimately one day would change you see some of you are about to have that same moment, and I know you can give me reasons why you don't think it's that important, but this is what the New Testament says that you do is when you know Jesus in your trust in you.

Declare it and some of you have believed in Jesus and you've never declared a publicly now let me add that some of you have never made the decision to follow Jesus in your decision to get baptized is going to be simultaneous with your decision. Apologies.

That's the New Testament Way. By the way, immediately when you when you come to Christ, you, your baptized.

There's a big when I hear people so I got baptized as a baby.

Do I need to do it again. Listen, I understand you respect your parents and you do not want your parents to feel like you are rejecting your heritage. I totally get that. What I encourage you to think about those of this wasn't do not see this as a repudiation of your parents face in fact see it as a fulfillment of their faith because when they baptized you when you were a baby.

What they were saying is I hope one day my son or daughter goes up to follow Jesus do not see it as a repudiation of their face even as a fulfillment of their faith every single time in Scripture we see baptism.

It happens after a profession of faith never before accepted to 3000 believed and were baptized. Ask for 5000 believe more about that fact separate Ethiopian unit believe and said what hinders me from being baptized, and Philip answered it.

If you believe with all your heart, you may not a single time in Scripture do we see baptism done to somebody who doesn't yet have faith. So you need to profess faith in Christ, yourself, and be baptized as a symbol of that taken your faith in Jesus for salvation.

If not, we'd love to answer any questions you have to pray with you. Give us a call at 866-335-5220 or you can send us an email right to request Jeannie Greer.com that's requests JD GREE AR.com you're listening to Senate life. The Bible teaching ministry of Pastor Jeannie Greer. Today's message is a part of our teaching series called freedom in the in between these daily broadcasts are available because generous friends like you have stepped up and helped us cover the cost are so grateful when you get today will show our thanks by sending you a custom Senate life Bible. It comes with a custom reading plan to take you through the Bible in a year. It's not dated C can start using it now goes through 52 weeks so that every verse is included for the summit like title when you get a one-time gift or when you become a monthly gospel partner today by calling 335-5220 866-5224.

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Jeannie Greer.com or three I Molly that event inviting you to join us again Friday when we look at the question in Christ Christian still certain I'm sure you've wondered that yourself that sometime join us Friday night Jeannie 19