Tear Down the Walls: Galatians Part 2
This week we are tackling “false gospels” that have taken root in our society.
“I believe in Jesus (but don’t really follow his way).”
It is common for people in our culture to have been told that they just need to “believe” in Jesus. While the scriptures do say that anyone who “calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13), our conception is too small about what “saved” means. If we call on the name of Jesus for salvation, we should be looking to him for: whole person, whole life, all of the time kind of help. Jesus has provided a way for us to live, and has not simply granted a free pass for our mistakes. The gospel is good news because all aspects of life are made accountable to the Lordship of Jesus.
Consider these verses that record the very words of Jesus:
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.”
John 14:23–24 (NASB)
10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
John 15:10 (NASB)
13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”
John 15:13–14 (NASB)
26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:26–27 (NASB)
These words can feel very heavy for us. Each of us recognizes how difficult it is to walk faithfully in the ways of the Lord.
There is grace for you. The reason we are pointing out this false gospel is not to bring condemnation on you, but to correct a shallow belief that salvation is only a mental assent or acknowledgement of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is far more dynamic. The reality of Jesus’ teaching, life, death and resurrection dramatically changes everything about the world, and we are called to live into and witness to this new reality.
On Sunday, we learned how offensive Paul would have been when he proclaimed “Jesus is Lord!” “Lord” was a title reserved for Caesar. The ramifications were immense.
And they are for you and me too. If Jesus is Lord, then he gets to be in charge. And because he’s so good, I have to trust that his rule in my life is better than trusting other so-called lords.
Today, conclude by reviewing what areas of your life aren’t under his Lordship yet.
- Sex?
- Money?
- Integrity at work?
- Tone of voice?
- Attitude towards authority?
Consider reviewing the life audit we did a couple of weeks ago. How are you doing making progress? What habits (liturgies) are still pulling you down?
End with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to draw you into an obedient relationship with Jesus.
