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Transcript July 1 and 2, 2017

Galatians: Live Free | Two Barriers and a Wrecking Ball Jake Barker | Galatians 2

Well,what’supTradersPoint?MynameisJakeandI’moneofthepastorshere.Iwanttogiveaquickshoutouttothoseofyouwhoarejoiningusonlinewhereveryouareintheworld.Wearesogladthatyoucouldtuneinwithustoday.Ialsowanttowelcomethoseofusatallofourcampuses.Wedon’tsaythisenough.Wearesogratefulforwhoyouareandthewaythatyoucontributearoundhere.Youserveandyougiveandyouarewhatmakethisplacegreat.WeareamonthawayfromlaunchingourWestcampusandwearesoexcitedtoseewhatGoddoesinandthroughthosepeoplebecausewewanttoplayasmallpartinGod’sbigvisionforthiscitythatwelove.Sothanksforbeingyou.Thanksformakingthisplacesogreat.WeareinweektwoofaseriescalledLiveFree.Andwhatwe’redoingoverthemonthofJulyistakingthebookofGalatians,thebookintheBiblecalledGalatiansandwe’regoingchapterbychaptertryingtolearnmoreaboutGodandthenhowthatmightchangethewaywelive.NowoneoftheprimarythemesofGalatiansistheonewordfreedom.It’sfreedomfromanoldwayofthinking,anoldwayofliving,reallyanoldwayofunderstandingGod.Andcontrarytopopularbelief,freedomoughttobeoneoftheprimarydescriptorsofChristianity.It’sactuallyoneofthemajortenetsofourfaith.Butifyoucheckwithourworldandourculture,freedomwouldprobablynotbethewordthatalotofpeoplewouldusetodescribeChristiansorChristianityitself.Theymayusewordslikerestrictiveorrepressive,certainlynotfreedom.It’slikesomehowthementalimageofAngelafromTheOfficehasbecomethemascotofChristianity.AnyOfficefansoutthere?Likereallyuptightandnotalotoffunandparticularlyjudgmental—that’stheimageofChristians.SoiffreedomoughttobethewayweunderstandChristianitybutthat’stheimagethat’souttherethequestionishowdidwegetsofaroffmessage?Andthat’swhatwe’regoingtodigintooverthenextfewweeks.SoifyouhaveaBibleoraBibleapp,I’dloveforyoutojoinmeinGalatians,chapter2.That’swherewearegoingtobehangingout.Ifyoudon’thaveone,theverseswillbeonthescreennexttome—it’snosweat.Soyoucangetaheadstart,Galatians,chapter2—headthatway.NowasyouareonyourwayIhaveaconfessiontomake.Ineedtotellyousomethingaboutmyself.It’soneofthedarkermomentsofmylife.AndIknowthatsinceyousuchakindandgraciouspeopleyou’llreceivemeverywarmly.Here’smyconfession.At16yearsoldIfailedmyfirstdriver’stest.It’strue.It’strue.Infactatallofourcampuseswillyoujustraiseyourhandifyoualsofailedyourfirstdriver’stest?Alright.Lookaround.I’mnotweird.I’mnotalone.Soherewasmyfatalflaw.Atonepointinthetesttheinstructortoldmetopullintothisside

Galatians:LiveFree|TwoBarriersandaWreckingBallJuly1and2,2017

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streetandhesaidthatthiswasthepartofthetestwherehewantedmetoputthecarinreverseandshowhimthatIcoulddrivethecarbackwards.SoIdidthatverything.IputitinreverseandIturnedtolookbehindme,becausethiswasbeforethedayswherewehadcomputersinourdashboardtoshowuswhatwasbehindus.Kidsthesedayswillneverunderstand.SoIhadtophysicallyturnmybodyandlookbehindme.Andtherewasanothercarthatpulledontothesamestreet.Nowmyinstructortoldmetoputthecarinreverseandbackup.Hedidnottellmethatintheeventthatanothercarpulledontothesamestreettostopbackingup.Iblamehimforincompleteinstruction.SoIjustkeptbackingup.Andtheothercariscomingtowardme.Ithadtoswerveoutofthewaytoavoidthis16-year-oldhomicidalmaniacthatwasbarrelingdownthestreetinhisdirection.ApparentlythatisfrownedupononadrivingtestsoIfailedandhadtogoback.NowoneoftheprimarylessonsthatIlearnedwhenIwaslearningtodriveisthatatsomepointinmydrivingcareerIwouldbedrivingoniceoralotofwaterandIwouldfeelthecarstarttolosecontrol.Itwouldstartveeringinonedirectionoranother.Andoneofthetemptationsofanydriveristopanicwhenthathappens.Thecarisheadinginonedirectionandourtendencyistograbthesteeringwheelanddowhat?Overcorrect.Andwewhipitintheoppositedirectionthinkingthatwillgetthecarbackinthelane.Butwhatovercorrectingdoesisoftenputthecaroutofcontrol.Youmightspinoutorpotentiallyflipoverandendupinaditch.Overcorrectingcanbeadangerousthingwhenyou’redriving.Andthat’snottheonlyplacethatovercorrectingshowsupinourlife.Wedothiswithourhealth.Likeonedayyoudecideyou’regoingtogoonadietandsoyesterdayyouwouldhaveeateneveryOreowithinarm’sreach.Todayforlunchyouhadagrapeandachickpeaandthat’sit.Like,“I’monadiet.I’mgoingtogethealthy.”Butthenyougetreally,reallyhungryandyoudecideyou’regoingtoquit.Youovercorrected.Ormaybeyoushowuptothegymtogetinshapeandyouhaven’tactuallybrokenasweatforlikesixtosevenyears.Butyoushowupandyou’reonatreadmillandyou’regoingtorunahalf-marathon.Andaroundmileone-and-a-halfyoupassoutandyouquit.Youovercorrected.Maybeonedayyourgirlshowsupandshesays,“Baby,you’renotshowingmeenoughaffection.Idon’tknowifthisisgoinganywhere.”Soyoudecidethatnowyouwillonlycommunicateintheformofemojiandtextmessages,alright?Youhaveovercorrectedandshe’sgoingtoquityou.That’swhatisabouttohappenrightnow.Overcorrectionhappensallofthetime.Wedothisinourfaith.WegofromneverreadingtheBibletowherewejumpintosomeancientprophecy.Wegofromnever,everprayingandtrytoprayforhoursaday.Wegofromnotdoinganythingtobeingoverlyinvolvedineverythinginchurch.Weovercorrectandthenwewanttoquit.



InGalatians,2PaulisgoingtodescribetwoextremeversionsofChristianity.He’sgoingtoshedaspotlightonthesetwowaysthatpeopletrytoliveouttheirfaith.Andthisisgoingtosoundfamiliartomanyofusbecausealotofushavetriedoneoftheextremes.Weliveditout,foundoutwedidn’tlikeitsowegrabbedforthesteeringwheelandwhippeditintheoppositedirection,tryingtoliveouttheotherextremeandfoundoutthatwedidn’tlikethatoneeither.Andthenwejustwantedtoquit.ButPaul’snotjustgoingtoexplaintheseextremes.Attheendofithe’sgoingtopaintthisbeautifulpictureofthefaiththatGodalwaysintendedforHispeopletohave.AndIbelieveyouwillbeinspiredandyouwillwanttolivethatlife.Nowweknowthatallofourcampuses,withasmanypeoplehere,notallofusareonthesamepagewhenitcomestoJesusorGodortheBible.Andifyou’renotreallysurewhereyoustand—we’resogladyou’rehere.Yourquestionsarewelcome.Butyou’regoingtohearthesetwoextremesandit’sgoingtostrikeupanimageinyourheadbecauseyouhaveseenpeopletrytoliveouttheselives.You’veseenpeopletrytoliveouttheextremesandwhatyoudidisyousaid,“Idon’tknowwhatIbelieveyetbutIknowthatIdon’twanttobelikethem.IknowthatI’mstillworkingsomeofmystuffoutbutifthat’swhatitmeanstobeaChristianthenIamout.”Andifyou’llhangwithmeuntiltheendofchapter2,Paul’sgoingtoexplaintoyouwhatGodalwaysintended.AndIbelievethat,ifyou’relikeme,youwillneverbethesame.SolastweekwelearnedthatGalatiansisaletterwrittenbyonemantoachurch.Theman’snamewasPaulandPaulwasachurchplanter.WhatthatmeantisthathewouldgointoacityandhewouldmeetalotofpeopleandhewouldtellthemaboutJesusandthenhewouldbuildthemupintheirfaithsothattheycouldstartachurchandonceitwasestablishedhewouldmoveontothenextcityanddoitalloveragain.Everyonceinawhilehewouldwritelettersbacktothechurcheshestartedtohelpguidethemandencouragethemandsometimeshewouldcorrectthemthroughtheseletters.Lastweekourcampuspastorsdidabrilliantjoboflayingoutchapter1wherePauljustcomesoutswinging.HeishotbecausethesepeopleinthischurchinthetownofGalatiahadfallenforfakenews.PaulhadworkedsohardtoclearlyexplainthegoodnewsofJesusandthenwhenhelefttheyhadbeencorruptedandtheyfellforafakeversionofJesus.Andhe’sgoinginsanelike,“Howcouldyoudothat?WewereallonthesamepagewhenIleftandnowyou’vefallenforthisfalseversionofJesusleadingyouintoafaiththatyoudonotwanttolive.”SoifyoumissedanyofthatlastweekIreallyencourageyoutogobackonourapporourwebsiteandhearthosesermons.Theywereamazing.Theydidagreatjoboflayingthatout.Todaywe’regoingtopickitupwheretheyleftoffinchapter2,verses1and2.Paulisgoingtosetthestagebeforeheexplainstheextremes.



Solet’sreadthistogether.Itsays,“ThenfourteenyearslaterIwentbacktoJerusalemagain,thistimewithBarnabas;andTituscamealong,too.IwenttherebecauseGodrevealedtomethatIshouldgo.WhileIwasthereImetprivatelywiththoseconsideredtobetheleadersofthechurchandsharedwiththemthemessageIhadbeenpreachingtotheGentiles.Iwantedtomakesurethatwewereinagreement,forfearthatallmyeffortshadbeenwastedandIwasrunningtheracefornothing.”SoPaulistellingthisstorytothechurchheplantedinGalatiaandhesaid,“Listen.BackinthedayIwenttoJerusalemtofactcheckmyself.IwantedtogobackandmakesurethatwhatIwaspreachingwasthetruth.”SoPaultraveledtoJerusalemandcheckedwiththeOGsoftheearlychurch—theoriginalleaders.We’retalkingJamesandPeterandJohn.AndPaulpullsupandhesays,“Listenguys.AmIthecrazyone?BecauseI’mprettysureit’sJesus+nothing.I’mprettysurethiswholethingisaboutJesuswhogaveuseverythingweneedforsalvationsothereforewedon’tneedanythingelse.Butthereareotherpeopleouttheresayingit’sJesus+religiousrituals.Theyaresaying,‘It’sJesus,yes.ButalsowehavetodosomethingsandactacertainwayandbehaveacertainwaytomakeGodloveus.’Sowhichoneisit?IsitJesus+nothingorisitJesus+religiousrituals?”Aritualofhisdaywascircumcision.He’ssaying,“DowehavetoaddanythingorisitjustJesus?”Watchtheirresponseinverse3,“AndtheysupportedmeanddidnotevendemandthatmycompanionTitusbecircumcised,thoughhewasaGentile.”SoJamesandPeterandJohnlookbackatPaulandtheysay,“Youareabsolutelyright.It’sJesus+nothing.Jesusdideverythingthatweneed.Wedon’tneedtoaddonanyreligiousrituals.ItisjustJesuswhosavesyou.Youareright,Paul.”Andtheydidn’tevenmakeTitusgetcircumcisedtolookthepartrightthere,towhichTituslookedbackatthemandsaid,“Uh,yeah.Yeah.I’mnotdoingthat.No.Thankyouverymuch.”Andtheyleftasquicklyastheycould.Nowhere’swhythismatters.Thisissofundamental.Thisactuallyhaseternalconsequencestoyourlife.IcannotoverstatehowimportantwhatI’mabouttosayis.ThewayyouunderstandsalvationwillgreatlyinformthewayyouunderstandGod.ThewayyouunderstandhowGodforgaveyouofyoursin,thewayyouunderstandwhatittooktoclearyourrecordandputyouingoodstandingwithGodwillabsolutelyinformthewayyouseeGod.Forinstance,ifyoubelieveinaGodwhodideverythingitrequiredtosaveyoufromyoursins—Hedidallofthework,youdidnoneofit,yousimplyreceivedagiftcalledgraceandyouhadnothingtodowithit.ThenifGodsavedallofyouthenyoucanfullytrustHimandyoucanfullyloveHimandyoucanfullyrestinthefactthatHe’sgotitallincontrolbecauseHefullysavedyou.Now,ontheotherhand,ifI’mconvincedthatGodmostlysavedmebutIalsohadsomethingto



dowithitthathasconsequences.IfIbelievethatGodmostlysavedmebutIchipinwithmygoodbehaviorandIkindofearnitalittlebittoo,thenthatmeansGodcanmostlybetrusted,andGodcanmostlybeloved,butIcan’tfullyrestinGodbecauseHeonlymostlysavedmeandsothequestionthatisalwaysinmyheadis,“WhatelsedoIneedtodotomakeHimloveme?”Sotheconsequencesarehuge.ThewayyouunderstandwillgreatlyinformthewaythatyouunderstandGod.AndthatistheverythingthatthepeopleinGalatiawerewrestlingwith.SoPaulisgoingtoexposetheveryfirstextremethatexistsnotonly2,000yearsagowhenthechurchesweregettingstartedbutitexiststodayinourworldaswell.Pickitupinverse4.Paulsays,“Eventhatquestion,”thequestionastowhetherreligiousritualwastomakeGodloveus,“Eventhatquestioncameuponlybecauseofsomeso-calledbelieversthere—falseones,really—whoweresecretlybroughtin.TheysneakedintospyonusandtakeawaythefreedomwehaveinChristJesus.TheywantedtoenslaveusandforceustofollowtheirJewishregulations.Butwerefusedtogiveintothemforasinglemoment.Wewantedtopreservethetruthofthegospelmessageforyou.”SoPaul’ssayingthattherewasthischurchmeetingandpeoplesnuckinlikeCIAagentsandtheywereundercoverandtheyshoweduptothesechurchmeetingsandsidleduptothesepeoplewhojuststartedbelievinginJesusandtheysaid,“Oh,youloveJesus?That’samazing.WeloveJesustoobut,like,youknowthatthereissomeotherstuff,right?“Jesusisagreatplacetostartandthat’slikethebeginnersclass,that’stheshallowendofthepool.That’sgreat.Butyou’vegotsomeotherstuffthatyou’regoingtohavetodo.You’regoingtohavetolookacertainway,andyou’regoingtohavetotalkacertainway,andyou’regoingtohavetobehaveacertainwayifyoureallywantGodtoloveyou.YoucanstartwithJesusbutyou’vegottoaddsomestuffontop.”MaybethatsoundsreallyfamiliartoyoubecausethathappenedtoyouinyourjourneywithJesus.LikeyouwentallinforJesusandthensomeonecameupnexttoyouandsaid,“Hey,youknowthat’sagreatstartbutthat’snotenough.God’sgoingtoneedtoseealittlebitmore.You’regoingtoneedtostartreadingtheBibleallofthetime.You’regoingtohavetostartprayingallofthetime.You’regoingtohavetostartgoingtothisveryspecificchurchallthetimeifyoureallywantGodtoloveyou.“Thenontopofthat,you’reprobablygoingtohavetostartwearinglong-sleevesbecausethosetattoosarenotreallyallowed.Andthenyou’regoingtohavetodeletethisplaylistoffofyourSpotifyaccount.Andyou’reprobablygoingtohavetomakeallnewfriends.There’salotthatyou’rereallygoingtohavetodoifGodisreallygoingtoloveyou.”WhatPaulisdescribinghereissomethingthatstillexiststodayandit’sthewordlegalism.Andlegalismis:rightbehaviorwithwrongbelief.SeethesepeopleweredoingthethingsthattheythoughtwouldmakeGodhappynotbecause



GodlovedthembuttomakeGodlovethem.TheywereconvincedthatiftheylivedagoodenoughlifeandiftheycouldgetitrightoftenenoughthenGodwouldlovethemandiftheygotitwrongGodwouldnotlovethem.Thereforetheybehavedtherightwaybutinternallytheyweredoingitforthewrongreason.Sowhenwedotherightthingsforthewrongreasonsitcaneasilybecomethewrongthing.Idothisallofthetimeinallofmyrelationships.Forinstance,Ihaveshownuptoafriend’stohelpthemmovefortheexplicitpurposeofwhenIneedtomove—theybettershowup,alright?Inthehistoryoffriendshipnoonehaseverhelpedtheirfriendmoveoutofthegoodnessoftheirheart.Thatjustneverhappens.Thisisallaboutreciprocity,okay?Rightthing—wrongreason.Ihaveputairinmydaughter’sbicycletiresjustsoshewillleavemealone.Kidsareuseless.Theycannotdoanythingatall.It’sexhausting.Idotherightthingforthewrongreasonsallofthetime.Idothisinmymarriage.Accordingtomywife,I’msupposedtowanttodothedishes.Haveyouheardaboutthis?IlookbackatherandIsay,“Babe,inthishistoryofdishesnoonehaseverwantedtodothedishes.”AndthenIgetinmoretroublefordoingthedisheswithabadattitudethanifIneverhaddonethedishesatall.Idon’tunderstandhowthisallworks.Idotherightthingforthewrongreasonsandsoitbecomesawrongthing.Here’stheuglytruththatIthinkthatmostofuswouldlovetoavoid.It’stheideathatmanyofushavebeengoingthroughthesteps.Wejustkindofdowhatwethinkwe’resupposedtodobutitneverreallychangeshowwefeelontheinside.Itneverchangeswhatwebelieve.ThatistheexactdescriptionofyourrelationshipwithGod.Youshowup.Youdothethingsthatyouweretoldtodo.Someoneonstagesaid,“Dothis.”Andyoudiditbut,really,youweredoingitsothatGodwouldloveyounotbecauseHealreadydoes.That’sthepictureoflegalism.Andit’sdark.AnditsneaksuponusanditchangesthewaythatweevenseeGod,Himself.Because,listen.Let’sjustlogicallyplaythisout.IfGodmostlysavedyouandmebutwehadtochipinalittlebitofgoodbehaviorjusttotopitoff,thatmeansoneoftwothingsaboutGod.EitherHewasstrongenoughtosaveallofusbutchosenottoorHewasneverstrongenoughtosaveusinthefirstplace.It’soneofthetwo.Godcouldhave100percentsavedusbutchosetogiveusonly80to90percentandexpectedustochipinaswell.IfthatistruethenGodiswithholdingandifGodiswithholdingIcan’treallytrustHimbecausewhatelseisHenotgivingme?Whatelseisheholdingoutonme?Ican’ttrustaGodlikethat.Whatelseinmyrelationships,whatelseinthejoyoflifeisHeholdingbackonmethatisavailabletoHimbutHejustchosenottogiveittome?AlegalisticheartisdarkandtwistedanditchangesthewaythatweseeGodandthenitchangesthewaythatwerelatewithotherpeople.Andit’ssneaky.Noneofussignedupforthis.Noneofussaid,“Youknowwhat?IbelievethatIwouldliketoliveoutthelegalistic



lifestyleofChristianity.”Wedon’tmeantodoitbutittakesover.Soletmeaskyouafewquestions.Maybethiswillhelpyoukindofprocesswhetherlegalismhassnuckinandtakenover.Firstquestion:Areyoujealouswhenothersreceivethingsyoudon’tthinktheyearned?Likewhenyouwatchsomebodygetapromotionoranewhouseorthecarthatyoureallywantandhonestlyyouthinkyoudeserveitmorethanthem—howjealousareyou?“I’malegalistandIthinkthatI’veearnedmywayintoeternityandIbelievethatnooneshouldgetanythingtheyhaven’tearnedthemselvesandIbecomejealous.Ispendalotoftimecomparingmylifetootherpeople’slives.”Questionnumbertwo:Areyouoverlysensitivetoperceivedslights?Howoftenareyouoffended?Howoftenareyoufightingwithpeopleinyourlife?Howdramaticaretherelationshipinyourworld.Because,again,ifIbelievethatI’veearnedeverythingthatIhave,includingsalvation,thenIbelievethateveryoneshouldtreatmejustastheyoughtto.Theyshouldneverhurtmyfeelingsandwhentheydoitisthroughtheroof.Howoftenareyouoffended?Finalquestionisthis:Whenmakingadecision,areyounaturallygenerousorstingy?Whengiventheopportunitytogivesomethingaway,what’syourdefaultmode?BecauseifIthinkthatI’veearnedeverything,againearnedmywayintoheaven,thenwhyshouldIbegenerouswithanybody?Ididn’treceiveagift.IearnedeverythingthatIhaveandthereforeIneverhaveareasontogiveanythingaway.ButifIknowthatIampurelytherecipientofthegiftofgrace,thenmylifecanbearesponseandmylifecouldbeoneofgenerosity.SeelegalismsneaksinanditchangesthewaythatweseeGodanditchangesthewaythatwetreatotherpeople.Nowthequestionis:what’stheremedy?Idon’tknowanybodylisteningtothatdescriptionwhowouldsay,“Ohthatsoundsgood.Iwanttodothat.”Allofuswouldlovetogetoutofit.Butthisiswherethedangeroftheovercorrectionhappens.Wegrabthesteeringwheelandwhipitintheoppositedirectionthinkingthatwillsolveeverything.WhatPaul’sgoingtodoisheisgoingtoexplainthatifyouovercorrectyou’regoingtoendupinthisotherextreme.Andmanyofus,wetrytotreatlegalismlike,“Youknowwhat?Ifyoucouldjustcareless—justlikeloosenup.Don’tworryabouttherules.Don’tworryaboutthelaws.Justkindoflikeshakethemoffandbealittlemoreeasygoing.”ButthatisanovercorrectionanditistheotherextremethatPaulisabouttoexplain.NowPaul’sgoingtointroduceustoaguynamedPeter.Andifyou’renotallthatfamiliarwiththeBibleletmegiveyouaquickupdateastowhoPeteris.Peterwasafishermanbytradewho



wasinvitedtobeadiscipleofJesus.HefollowedHimaround.HeheardHimteachandhewassupposedtorepresentJesusformanyyearstocome.Peterwasoneofthespecialones.LiketherewasamomentwhenPeterwaswalkingonwateratthesametimethatJesuswaswalkingonwater.Ipromiseit’sintheBible.Checkitlater.HesawallofJesus’miracles.Heactuallystoodupandpreachedtheveryfirstsermoninthehistoryofthechurch.SoyouwouldthinkthatiftherewasanybodywhowasuntouchableintheearlychurchitwouldbePeter.Hewaskindofabigdeal.LikeifPeterhadbroccoliinhisteeth—youjustletthatride.Youjustletitroll.Youdon’teverconfrontPeter.He’slikethedude.ButPaulisnotlikeyouandme.LookatwhathedoeswithPeter.Itsays,“ButwhenPetercametoAntioch,Ihadtoopposehimtohisface,forwhathedidwasverywrong.Whenhefirstarrived,heatewiththeGentilebelievers,whowerenotcircumcised.Butafterward,whensomefriendsofJamescame,Peterwouldn’teatwiththeGentilesanymore.Hewasafraidofcriticismfromthesepeoplewhoinsistedonthenecessityofcircumcision.Asaresult,otherJewishbelieversfollowedPeter’shypocrisy,andevenBarnabaswasledastraybytheirhypocrisy.“WhenIsawthattheywerenotfollowingthetruthofthegospelmessage,IsaidtoPeterinfrontofalltheothers,‘Sinceyou,aJewbybirth,havediscardedtheJewishlawsandarelivinglikeaGentile,whyareyounowtryingtomaketheseGentilesfollowtheJewishtraditions?YouandIareJewsbybirth,not‘sinners’liketheGentiles.YetweknowthatinJesusChrist,notbyobeyingthelaw.AndwehavebelievedinChristJesus,sothatwemightbemaderightwithGodbecauseofourfaithinChrist,notbecausewehaveobeyedthelaw.FornoonewilleverbemaderightwithGodbyobeyingthelaw.’”Sohere’swhathappened.PetershoweduptoatowncalledAntiochandwhenheshowedupPeterwasboundtohangoutwithanyone.Itdidn’tmatterwhattheylookedlikeorwheretheycamefrombecauseheknewthatJesuswasforeveryone.ThatmeantPeterwasforeveryone.Sohehungoutwithanyoneandeveryone.ButthentheseguysfromJerusalemshowedupandtheywerefromwhatwe’llcallthecircumcisionparty.AndifIknowanythinginlife,Idon’twanttogotothecircumcisionparty.That’sjustkindofmydeal.Sotheyshowupandtheywerefromareallyreligiousbackground.TheywerelikebackinPeter’spast.TheywerefromJerusalem.Theyweretheonesthatreallywantedtorequirethereligiousritualsforyoutobeonthein.SoPeterseesthemshowupandherealizeshehasachoiceonhishands.Heknowsthatifhekeepshangingoutwiththepeoplewhodon’thavetheJewishbackground—thenotreallyallthatreligiouspeople—thathewillbecriticizedandhewillbejudgedandhewillbetalkedaboutbehindhisback.SooutoffearofcriticismandoutoffearofrejectionPeterchangedwhohewouldspendtimewithandhewouldnolongerhangoutwith



thenewpeople.Hewentwithonlythereligiouspeople.Sohere’swhatIwanttodo.Ifyouwoulddomeafavor.AtallofourcampusescanIget100percentofyoutojustraiseyourhandrealquick?Everyhandoughttoberaised.Alrightlookaround.Seeallofthesehands?Thisrepresentsthenumberofpeoplewhohavedonetheexactsamething.Youcangoaheadandputyourhandsdown.Atsomepointinallofourlivesoutofthefearofcriticismoutofthefearofrejectionwehavechangedthewaywebehave,wechangedthewaywetalk,wechangedthewaywelooked,wechangedwhowewouldhangoutwithsothatwewouldavoidthetyrannyofwhatpeoplemightthink.We’vealldonethis,includingme.WearejustlikePeter.WhatPaulisdescribinghereisthesecondextreme.It’sthewordhypocrisy.Andhypocrisy=rightbeliefwithwrongbehaviorIt’sknowingwhatweoughttodobutitnevershowsupontheoutside.MaybeintellectuallyascribingtothetruthaboutGodbutitdoesn’tchangeanyofourdecisions.SoiflegalismisJesus+goodbehaviorthenhypocrisyisJesus–achangedlife.Someonewhoknowsthetruthbutdoesn’teveractitout.Nowwe’reprettyfamiliarwithChristianhypocrisy.Ithinkweallhaveexamplesandmaybeevenpeoplewhoyouknowthatyou’veseendothisbutweneedtounderstandthekindofhypocrisythatPaulistryingtoexpose.SeeusuallywhenwetalkaboutChristianhypocrisywe’retalkingaboutpeoplewhocometoaplacelikethismaybeonadaylikethisandtheygivelipservicetoJesusandtheysaythatthey’reallinbutthentheylivealifethatiscompletelyinconsistentontheoutside.TheysaythattheyloveJesusbutthenatworkthey’retheofficegossip.TheysaythattheyloveJesusbutwhenyou’reinconversationwiththemtheyareveryhatefultopeoplewhodon’tlooklikethem.TheysaythattheyloveJesusbuttheyintimidatetheirspouses.Christianhypocrisy—sayyoubelieveonethingbutneverliveitout.NowPauliscallingPeteroutonsomethingverydifferent.Peterwasn’touttherepreachingasermononaSundayandthenlivinglikeaheathenontheside.Peterwasuptherepreachingasermonandthenitwastimetohangouthewouldonlyhangoutwiththereligiouspeople.Peterwasuptherepreachingasermonandherefusedtohangoutwithpeoplewhodidn’tlookthepart,theydidn’tfitinwiththepreconceivednotionofwhataChristianoughttobe.AndPaulsaysthatisjustashypocritical.Itisequallydangerousbecausetheramificationsofthathypocrisyarenotjustindividualsbutcommunities.Seethetruthisthathypocrisydoesnotjustaffectindividuals,itinfectscommunities.PeoplecaughtPeter’sfaith.Didyounoticethat?Heledotherbelieverstodothesamething.TheystoppedhangingoutwithalloftheGentiles.Theystoppedhangingoutwiththepeoplewhodidn’tlookthepart.EvenBarnabas,Paul’sbuddy,followedPeter’slead.Itwasn’tjustaPeter



decision.Itaffectedthewholecommunity.WhatdoyouthinkthoseGentilesthought?WhatdoyouthinkthepeoplefromAntiochwerethinking?Theyallofasuddenweren’thangingoutwithPeteranymore.Like,whathappened?Peterusedtobecoolwithusbutnow,oncethoseguysshowedup,henevercomesaroundanymore.Soiswhathesaidtrue?LikeifPeterisn’tforusisGodreallyforus?Theconsequencesofourhypocrisyaremassive.Theyaremassive.Andwhatweneedtounderstandisthattherootcauseofbothhypocrisyandlegalismareactuallyverysimilar.Anditsoundssomethinglikethis:Idon’ttrustthatGodisforme.That’sreallywhereitcomesfrom.Thereasonthatweliveouteitheroftheselifestyles,eitheroftheseextremesisbecausewedon’ttrustthatGodisforus.SeelegalismsaysthatIdon’ttrustGodisformethereforeIdon’tfullytrustthatHetookcareofeverythingthatIneed.IthinkHemostlysavedme.Ijustdon’tthinkhefullysavedme.SoI’vegottochipinwithsomeofmygoodbehaviorsothatGodwillloveme.HypocrisysaysthatIdon’tthatGodisformethereforeImightsaythatIbelieveallofthisstuffbutI’mgoingtodomeontheside.I’mgoingtolivemylife,andI’mgoingtohavefunbecauseIdon’tthinkthatifIreallylivedoutthelifethatGodexplainsthatitwouldbemuchofagoodtime.IthinkHe’sactuallyholdingoutonmewhatwouldbereallyenjoyable.Idon’tthinkHehasmywellbeing,Idon’tthinkHehasmyhappinessinmindandthereforebecauseIkindofdon’ttrustHim,I’llsaythatIbelieveonethingbutI’llliveacompletelydifferentlife.ThechallengewithbothhypocrisyandlegalismisthattheyarebarriersthatnotonlykeepusfromanauthenticrelationshipwithGodbuttheyalsoarebarriersthatkeepotherpeoplefromJesusaswellbecausetheyarewatching.Thewaythatweliveoutourfaithdoesnotjustaffectusbutitaffectseveryonearoundus.And,again,Ibelievethatpeoplewhopoorlyliveouttheirfaith,poorlyrepresentJesusisoneoftheprimaryreasonsthatmorepeopledon’tknowHimthemselves.Maybethat’syoutoday.Yousawsomeoneliveoutthatlegalisticlifeandsaid,“Idon’twanttobelikethem.”Yousawsomeoneliveoutthathypocriticallifeandyouthought,“Thatturnsmystomach.Idon’twanttobelikethem.”SowhatI’dlikeforyoutodois,rightnow,givePaulachancetoexplainthewayitwassupposedtobethewholetime.NeitherofthetwoextremesbutthepicturethatGodwantstopaint.Here’swhathesaid,“ButsupposeweseektobemaderightwithGodthroughfaithinChristandthenwearefoundguiltybecausewehaveabandonedthelaw.WouldthatmeanChristhasledusintosin?Absolutelynot!Rather,IamasinnerifIrebuildtheoldsystemoflawIalreadytoredown.ForwhenItriedtokeepthelaw,itcondemnedme.



“SoIdiedtothelaw—Istoppedtryingtomeetallitsrequirements—sothatImightliveforGod.MyoldselfhasbeencrucifiedwithChrist.ItisnolongerIwholive,butChristwholivesinme.SoIliveinthisearthlybodybytrustingintheSonofGod,wholovedmeandgaveHimselfforme.IdonottreatthegraceofGodasmeaningless.ForifkeepingthelawcouldmakeusrightwithGod,thentherewasnoneedforChristtodie.”Paulissaying,“Look.Look.Look.Thetwoextremesarenotthepoint.Thetwoextremeswerenevermeanttobeinthefirstplace.Iflegalism=rightbehaviorwithwrongbelief;Andhypocrisy=rightbeliefwithwrongbehavior;Thenfaith=rightbeliefwithrightbehavior.WhatPaulistryingtoputinfrontofusis…“Listen,thisiswhyIliveforJesus.Idon’tliveforJesusbecauseI’mtryingtoearnmywaytothetoporsothatIcanearnmywayintoGod’slovebecauseHealreadylovesmeandHeshowedittomeonthecross.WhenJesusdiedformeitfinishedeverything.Itisdone.Idon’thavetoearnanythinganymore—that’snotwhyIliveforJesus.“AndIalsodon’tliveforJesusbecauseI’mafraidofthecriticismandrejectionthatyoumightgivemebecause,guesswhat?whatyouthinkaboutmeisnolongertheguidingforceinmylifeitisonlyGod.SoI’mfreeandIdon’thavetolivethatlifeanymore.Infact,thereasonthatPaullivesforJesusandthereasonthatIliveforJesusisthereasonthatIhopeyouwillaswell.It’sbecauseherealizedthathewashopelessandhelpless.HecoulddonothingtoearnhiswaybackintoGod’slovebecausehecouldn’tlivetheperfectlive.ThereisonlyonepersonwhocouldandHedidandHisnameisJesus.HecameandHelivedalifeyouandIweresupposedtolive.AndthenHediedthedeaththatyouandIdeservetodie.AndthenHegaveustherewardthatonlyHecouldearnsothereforewearefree.We’refreefromthechainsoflegalismthatsay,“You’vegottogetitalltogetherifyoureallywantGodtoloveyou.”We’refree.We’refreefromthechainsofhypocrisythatsay,“Thefearofrejectionoughttobeyourguidingforce.”Itdoesn’tmatterwhatotherpeoplethinkanymore.Youarefree.I’mfreefromthechainsofsin.I’mfreetolivealifethatsays,“IwaslostandnowI’mfound.IwasbrokenandnowIamwhole.IhadnohopeandnowIhaveafuture.IwasdeadandIamalive.Iamfree!”That’swhathe’stellingus.Paulisdesperately,desperatelytryingtogiveyouthefreedomthatsomanyofusarerejectingbecausewesawsomepeopleliveoutabadkaraokeversionofChristianity.Andmanitisso



free.Buthere’swherewegettrippedup.Thisisthethingthatwestumbleon.Thisiswhatisblockingourway.Somanyofusassociatethefreedomandthesalvationthatwereceiveaspurelyagiftsowethinkwehavetobeperfectnow.Wethink,“Well,ifGodsavedmethatmustmeanthatI’vegottohaveitalltogether.I’mnotgoingtosaythosewordsandI’mnotgoingtothinkthosethoughts,andI’mnotgoingtolookatthoseimagesandthatmustbewhatitmeanstobeaChristian.”Actuallyhere’sthetruth.Thisiskindofthewaythisworks:Weweresavedinamoment.Wegrowthroughaprocess.Thisissofundamental.Thiscouldabsolutelychangesomanyofourlivesifweembracethis.Weweresavedinamoment.WhenJesusdiedforusitwasdone.Hesealeditforever.Mysalvation,yoursalvation,isnotinflux.Itdoesnotriseandfallwithoursuccessesandfailuresbecause,guesswhat?ourstatuswithGodwasneverdeterminedbyourperformanceinthefirstplace.ItwasdeterminedwithJesus’performanceforus.Sowearesaved.It’sdone.It’sover.Andthenwegettobegintheprocessofgrowinginourfaith.SobecomingmoreandmorelikethemenandwomenthatGodalwaysintendedustobe.Butguesswhat?wegettodoitwithoutworryingaboutoursalvationbecauseit’sdone,it’ssealed.Whenwereceivethegiftofgrace,whenweembracethatfaithwearesavedinamomentandwegettogrowthroughaprocess.Therefore,andthisisthepictureoffreedomthatI’msoencouragedbytoday,wecanbeconfidentinoursalvation.Patientwithourgrowth.IgettobeconfidentthatGodhassavedmethatHehasgivenmeeverythingthatIneed.Hedidn’tmostlysaveme,Hefullysavedme.Itisdone.AndnowIgettogrowundertheguidingcareofaFatherwholovesmeperfectly.AndwhenIfallonmyfaceitisnotajudgmentaldrivinginstructorwhoisgoingtofailmeonthetest.ItisalovingFatherwhoisgoingtopickmeupandHe’sgoingtodustmeoffandHe’sgoingtosay,“Let’skeepgoing,”becauseIgrowthroughaprocess.SoIgettobeconfidentandpatient.Thereisnothingmorefreeingthanthat.Todaywe’regoingtoseesomepeoplegoAllInforJesus.Theyaregoingtodothisthingcalledbaptism.Andit’sourphysicalrepresentationofwhatPauldescribed.It’swhentheynolongerlivebutit’sJesuswholivesinthem.They’regoingtobeloweredintothewateranditrepresentsthedeathtoanoldwayoflifeandthenthey’regoingtobepulledback,whichrepresentsanewlife.Anewlifeoffreedom.Baptismisjustourhumblewayofsaying,“Godwesurrenderfromtryingtobeincontrol.Wesurrendertryingtobeincharge.Wesurrenderourefforts.Wesurrenderourneedtoplease



otherpeople.God,Youarefully,fullyincharge.”Therearesomepeoplewhocameheretodayandtheyplannedonthis.They’regoingtogoAllIn.Buttherearesomeofyouandasyou’vebeenlisteningyou’veheardsomethingandwasn’ttheextreme—itwasn’tthehypocrisy,itwasn’tthelegalism—itwasthefreedomandtodayisyourdayandyouneedtorespond.AndIknowthatyoudidn’tplanongoinghomewettoday.Iknowyoudidn’tdoallofthenecessarypreparations.Guesswhat?weplannedforyou.We’vegottheshirts—we’vegotthet-shirts,we’vegottheunderwear,we’vegoteverythingyouneed.Thechurchboughtunderwearforyou,alright?ThatmightbetheweirdestthingIsayallweekbutit’strue.Here’swhy.Wedon’twantanymorebarriersinbetweenyouandJesus.Wedon’twantthebarriersofsomeone’sbadexample.Wedon’twantthebarriersofyouleavingtodayandtalkingyourselfoutofit.Wedon’twantthebarriersofyouthinkingthatyou’vegottogetitalltogetherbeforeGodwillreallyloveyou.Guesswhat?Idon’thaveitalltogether.Noonearoundyouhasittogether.Socomeon.It’stime.I’mgoingtoprayforusandthenyourcampuspastorswillexplaintoyouhowyoucanbeapartofwhatwearecelebratingtoday.Listen,sometimeswhenwedothiswekindofgolfclapforpeople,wekindofgivethemthispoliteapplauselikeaneighthgraderwhojustfinishedherviolinrecital.Like,“Oh,welldone.”That’snotwhat’shappening.That’snotwhat’shappening.Therearepeoplewhoareliterallymakingalife-changingdecisionthatJesusistheLordoftheirlife.Therearepeoplegoingfromdeathtolifetodayandsowe’regoingtocelebrateandwe’regoingtogocrazybecausethat’sreallywhat’shappeningtoday.Thisisnotboring.Thisisnotnormal.ButeternityisatstakeandIhopethatthisisyourday.Letmeprayforyou.Father,weareblownaway—blownawaythatYougaveusthethingthatwedonotdeserve.I’mblownawaythatYouwouldsaveamessofapersonlikeme.IamselfishandIamarrogantandIamso,sointomyself.AndGodYoustillsawfittosendYourSon.Godthatisfreeing.Godstretchusandgrowusandchangeusfromtheinsideoutandhelpusgo—helpusgoAllIntowherewecanlivealifeoffreedomthatYou’veprovidedforusandsothatwecanseeothersfreedoftheirchainsandlivealifeoffreedomthatJesusdiedtoprovideforthem.It’sinyourgoodnameIpray.Amen.Sotoday,ifyou’reready,thenit’stimetogoAllIn.There’sanexitsignrightthere.Thedoorsaregoingtoopenandyouwillbereceivedwithloveandmercy.Therewillbepeoplewhowouldlovetopraywithyouaboutthedecisionthatyouneedtomake.TodayisthedaythatyougoAllIn.Andwe’regoingtocelebratelikecrazywithyou.Soifyou’llheadoverthererightnowtherestofuswillstandupandwe’regoingtosingtogetherandcelebratethegoodnews



ofJesus.Pleasestand.

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