WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:01.360 Good morning. 00:00:01.600 --> 00:00:05.919 My name's Brian Robinson, and I'm one of the elders here at Christ the Redeemer. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:10.560 And one of the roles of an elder is to teach, which is why I'm here this morning. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:14.160 And I'm excited to teach from Paul's letter to the Galatians. 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:22.879 In the lectionary for this week, the first Sunday after Christmas, is a passage that comes from Galatians 3 and 4. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:31.920 And the common theme in all of the lectionary passages for this week are what Jesus' first coming means for us. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:35.200 Let me pray and then I'll get started. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:39.200 Heavenly Father, thank you for our church. 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:45.920 Thank you that you have sent your son to be like us, to die for our sins. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:51.200 And I pray that we would remember that you are in control and that you love us very much. 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:54.079 And I just pray that you would speak through me this morning. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:55.600 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:56.560 Amen. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:09.200 So on January 4th, 2007, in the college football world, the old ways were gone, were dead, and the new ways had come. 00:01:10.000 --> 00:01:15.680 The University of Alabama hired Nick Saban to be their head football coach. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:19.920 Before Nick Sabin was hired, it was a totally different system. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:26.000 There were a lot of different schools that had a chance to win national championships and even won them. 00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:33.680 Southern Cal, Texas, Florida, heck, even Tennessee won a national championship. 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:38.959 And at Alabama, we don't even want to talk about what the old system meant for them. 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:42.239 Some of you may even remember the name Mike Price. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:46.400 But Saban brought with him a new system. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:50.799 He won six national championships since 2007. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:53.760 That's two every five years. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:02:00.400 And it seems like to even have a chance, you have to be a disciple of Saban. 00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.000 You have to go through Saban. 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:11.840 If you look at Georgia, Ole Miss, or Texas AM, they all have Saban disciples as their coaches that are trying to compete with him, trying. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:17.840 Well, the Bible is also separated into two distinct eras. 00:02:18.400 --> 00:02:29.439 In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he describes what life was like before God sent his son into the world, and then after Jesus came into the world. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:33.599 So before Jesus came, the system was the law. 00:02:33.759 --> 00:02:36.719 There were rules that we had to follow. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:48.879 And then after Jesus came, he brought a new system of faith that we could be saved and made right with God through faith in his Son. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:54.080 And I love that the lectionary includes this passage in Galatians. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:03:05.520 It's not a traditional Christmas verse, but it moves beyond that and reminds believers of what Jesus' first coming really meant to us. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:12.319 So let's talk a little bit about the first section, which is Galatians 3 and deals with the law. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:15.680 And this is Galatians 3, 23 through 25. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:24.879 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:32.560 So then the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:37.360 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:42.319 So it says we were held captive under the law. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:45.520 What does it mean to be held captive? 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:57.439 Well, the Greek word is frureo, and it means to guard or protect, to prevent a hostile invasion, to preserve one for the attainment of something. 00:03:57.759 --> 00:04:08.960 It's the same root word as in Philippians 4 7, a familiar verse which says, And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:11.039 It's to protect us. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:14.639 The imprisonment is for our own good. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:20.399 Verse 24 says, The law was our guardian until Christ came. 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:28.079 Some versions say guardian, and some say tutor, but both I think imply protection or for our own good. 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:33.120 So what is the purpose of the law in the life of the believer? 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:37.759 Well, there's some controversy whether there are two uses or three. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:41.759 Martin Luther, who I agree with, says there are two uses of the law. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:59.920 The civil use, which is to maintain order so there's not chaos, and then there's spiritual use, which is to show us that we can't keep the law, we're sinful, and it points us to Jesus, so that eventually we would yearn for this freedom that comes through faith. 00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:05.759 I think it's important to remember that the law comes from an all-loving God. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:09.839 It's not punishment, and it's even for our good. 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:16.959 And that's why David and Paul both say, O Lord, I delight in your law. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:24.720 I think they're trusting Him because they believe that God knows better than them, which is the definition of faith. 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:33.519 Verse 24 says, the law was the guardian until Christ came in order that we might be justified by faith. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:41.199 So justified means to declare one to be just or righteous or such as they ought to be. 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:51.439 This is the only way that humans will actually stop trying to be autonomous or put our faith in something else besides ourselves. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:06:03.199 When we're shown repeatedly that we can't save ourselves or really even help ourselves in the long run, we will eventually lose our grip and surrender. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:11.519 Even when our way does appear to be working, often we become prideful and rely on ourselves. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:25.439 So both of these things, pride or despair, from trying to keep the law or the illusion of keeping the law, leads us back to the fact that we need help from outside of ourselves. 00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:37.279 And I think this is brilliant and has to be divinely inspired writing by Paul, that he cut to the quick of the problem of humans. 00:06:37.759 --> 00:06:48.720 We try at every turn to find a new way to justify ourselves and our actions, but he has provided a better way. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:55.040 Verse 25, but now faith has come. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:57.439 And this is a big but. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:00.959 And like Sir Mixalot, I appreciate that. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:04.319 But faith has come with Jesus. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:07.279 This is the Christmas verse of the passage. 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:09.759 Jesus has arrived. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:11.519 This is the better way. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:17.199 And we're no longer under this guardian, but now we're recipients. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:24.240 Now let's look at the second part of the passage, which is Galatians 4, 4 through 7. 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:38.560 It says, When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 00:07:38.800 --> 00:07:52.000 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba Father, so you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 00:07:52.720 --> 00:07:58.319 So Jesus came as a human, so that he could relate to us. 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:02.959 But even Jesus was born into this law-based system. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:09.199 In Matthew 5, it says he has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill them. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:14.319 Verse 5 says to redeem those who were under the law. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:21.279 The word redeem means to ransom, to gain possession of something in exchange for payment. 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:28.079 And this word is important to us because our church is named after Redeem, Christ the Redeemer. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:30.639 We are the recipients of this. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:34.799 Jesus has done this to us and for us. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:40.159 So that we might receive adoption as sons. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.480 So we have been adopted. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.720 What does that mean for us? 00:08:45.519 --> 00:08:49.440 It means we have a new family, a new heritage. 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:55.360 By receiving the Spirit of God into our souls, we become sons and daughters of God. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:58.799 So we were orphans. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:06.639 I don't know why, but when I hear stories of orphans, it often makes me cry. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:12.159 I think adoption stories are really emotional to me. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:17.120 And I think deep down it might be because I know this is my story. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:24.240 Some of you several years ago may have watched the British drama Downton Abbey. 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:31.519 Really, it's a soap opera, but they have English accents, so it's it seems more refined, but it's a soap opera. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:32.639 And it was a great soap opera. 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:34.879 I watched every episode and loved it. 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:39.440 But in that show, there was a character named Daisy. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:47.279 And she was a simple-minded cook's assistant, and she has a relationship with a footman named William. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:10:00.559 So William was kind of this boyish, naive man that they were friends, and William ends up having romantic feelings for Daisy, but Daisy is not interested in him. 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:08.879 So William gets called to go to World War I, and right before he leaves, he decides to ask Daisy to marry him. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:17.120 And Daisy reluctantly agrees, mostly because she doesn't want him to go off to the war brokenhearted. 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:19.039 So they become engaged. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:20.960 William goes to the war. 00:10:21.440 --> 00:10:26.240 He fights in the war and has to come home because he's mortally wounded. 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:34.320 So he comes back to Downton Abbey and he is literally hours from death, and his last wish is to marry Daisy. 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:49.279 She again knows she doesn't have romantic feelings for him, but kind of at everyone's wishes in the house, she eventually agrees to fulfill his last request, and they get married. 00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:52.879 And he dies only a few hours afterwards. 00:10:53.200 --> 00:10:56.559 And she feels very uncomfortable with this whole thing. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.080 I think she has a lot of guilt. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:00.320 She gets a military pension. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:03.440 And after William dies, his father, Mr. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:12.879 Mason, continually lavishes gifts upon Daisy and asks her to come visit him, and she just refuses him over and over. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:18.240 But finally, after one invitation, she relents and she agrees to meet with Mr. 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:19.039 Mason. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:21.600 And the following exchange takes place. 00:11:21.919 --> 00:11:25.120 Daisy says, You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:26.159 Not for me. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:27.440 I don't deserve it. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:30.480 Not when I was only married to William for a few hours. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:30.960 Mr. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:39.840 Mason says, You may not know this, Daisy, but William had three brothers and a sister, all dead at birth, or not long after. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:42.720 I think that's one reason why William married you. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.240 So I wouldn't be alone. 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:47.200 Without you, I'd have no one to pray for. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:49.039 I think William knew that. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:50.720 So will you be my daughter? 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:53.600 Let me take you into my heart, make you special. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.080 You'll have parents of your own, of course. 00:11:56.559 --> 00:11:59.519 Daisy says, I haven't got any parents. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.720 Not like that. 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:03.200 I've never been special to anyone. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:03.759 Mr. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.600 Mason said, Except William. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.360 Daisy says, That's right. 00:12:07.600 --> 00:12:09.600 I was only ever special to William. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.919 I never thought of it like that before. 00:12:12.159 --> 00:12:12.399 Mr. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:16.000 Mason says, Well, now you're special to me. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:22.320 For Daisy, I think love was emotional righteousness. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:24.799 It had the scales had to be balanced. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:27.840 This feeling for that feeling, quid pro quo. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:31.360 But her concept of love was skewed. 00:12:31.679 --> 00:12:37.279 She was viewing love through her own perspective, which we so often do. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:48.399 And when Daisy catches a glimpse of how much William and then his father loved her, the scales fell from her eyes. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:49.759 Mr. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:54.399 Mason doesn't relate to Daisy based on Daisy's righteousness. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:13:02.240 He relates to Daisy based on his son's righteousness or his son's love for Daisy. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:06.240 And on that basis, he wants to adopt her. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:12.320 And that like Daisy, we're not loved based on our own righteousness. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:16.960 We are loved based on the righteousness of someone else, of Jesus. 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:20.480 And we have been adopted into his family. 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.840 Verse 6. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:32.000 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba Father. 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:35.519 So what does this mean that we have a new spirit? 00:13:35.840 --> 00:13:39.120 I think that means that the Holy Spirit now lives inside of us. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:47.840 We have a new counselor, we have a new just force inside of us to help us, and we are receivers of this. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:51.840 And this is a miracle that God did this. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:14:00.480 This creator of the universe sent his spirit to live inside of us, to help us live in his creation. 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:06.399 This new spirit speaks through this tender language of a child crying, Daddy. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:16.480 And I think when we're still enough long enough, which is difficult, when we're quiet, long enough to listen, the Spirit will guide us. 00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.120 The last verse, verse 7. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:23.759 So you're no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:27.360 So we're no longer held captive or imprisoned. 00:14:27.679 --> 00:14:30.799 Now we are sons and heirs. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:33.360 This is good news for us. 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:36.240 We are the Creator's heirs. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:42.240 So what does this mean for us in December of 2021 in Marietta, Georgia? 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:51.519 I think mainly for me, it means we're already perfectly loved, accepted, worthy, and secure. 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:54.559 We don't have to look to anything else for that. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:15:01.360 I don't have to look at approval of other people, of financial status, of anything else. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:14.320 And I think that leads to this thing called awe, which is when my focus is vertical and not horizontal, the things of the earth will grow strangely dim. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:18.480 And that leads to gratitude and peace. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:24.480 And I pray that we all have that some more in 2022. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:26.320 Let me pray for us. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:29.840 Heavenly Father, thank you for this message. 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:33.519 Thank you for changing the world through your Son. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:44.000 Thank you for providing us a new way that we could surrender to your way and we would have new life, a new family in Jesus. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:50.000 I pray that we can find some times to be still and listen to your spirit. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:53.360 And in that we would know you more and know you better. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:54.720 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:55.600 Amen.