Throughout the centuries, people have fashioned their own forms of Jesus in order to accommodate their needs. We all desire a Savior – God’s placed that desire in our hearts – but if the one true Jesus doesn’t fit the mold that we prefer, we have a tendency to go looking for a version of Him that will. Many religions and denominations have been formed as a result of this prideful desire. If you really want eternal salvation and freedom right here and now, there is only one source of it. As Pastor Mark will explain in this teaching, the true Son of God who died on the cross to pay for your sin is the only one who can provide that salvation.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior and submitted to Him, you’re chained to sin. Whether you’re aware of it or not, in your disobedience, you’re serving the enemy of God. The incredible news of the Gospel is that you don’t have to stay in that slavery. When Christ opens your eyes to your need for Him, you’ll find that He requires nothing of you but faith. In this teaching, Pastor Mark will encourage you to make that decision and find the peace and assurance that Christ will give.

Whether it’s music styles, hat-wearing, dress codes, or other various church traditions, it’s important not to equate our manmade customs with God’s Laws. Today, Pastor Mark will point out some of the ways we cling to legalism in the modern Church. We have been made free in Christ. That doesn’t mean you can just go on doing whatever you want to do. If He’s transforming your heart – you won’t want to. But, you are free from trying to earn your righteousness through following specific rules – instead, you’ll want to live in a way that glorifies God out of gratitude for the righteousness He’s given you.

We have this built-in tendency as humans to cling to any sense of control we have in our lives. Even when we become aware of our sinfulness, instead of realizing the gap between us and God is too big, we try our hardest to find ways to cross it on our own. As Pastor Mark will point out in this teaching, there is no way for us to achieve righteousness by our own power and means. We may find ourselves trying and trying and trying, but ultimately, our hearts are wicked, and only by placing our trust fully in Jesus can we be made right with God. This trust is something that needs constantly renewed – legalism can easily sneak back in.

When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you become a brother or sister in His family. God becomes your Father, and you are given all the rights to the inheritance of His infinite wealth of grace, love, and freedom. You are no longer bound by the chains of slavery to your sinfulness. As Pastor Mark will illustrate in this message, the level of hospitality you’ll find in God’s family is beyond comprehension. You are welcomed with warmth and care and invited to be adopted. You don’t have to clean yourself up to come in. God offers you righteousness and freedom through Christ at any time if you will just accept His gift.

Think about your childhood. You had rules to follow; you had to be in bed by a certain time. Most likely, you weren’t allowed to do whatever you wanted. When you grew up, those restraints were lifted. You can go to bed whenever you want. You can do just about anything, as long as it doesn’t break the law. But, if you have wisdom, you’ll choose restraint as an adult, because it’s what’s best for you. Today, Pastor Mark will point out how it’s often the spiritually immature who need rules and regulations. When you mature in Christ, you choose to follow the Law to honor God and because you know it’s better for you.

The Law isn’t as much a guide for how to live as it is a revelation of how all of us are living wrong. On its own, it presents a great burden of guilt. It reveals just how far we are from God. The chasm between us is too far to span, but the beauty of the Gospel is that God made a way where there was no way. God gave the Law to reveal our wickedness, but He gave Christ to forgive and remove that evil from our hearts. Once He does that, as Pastor Mark will explain in this message, He empowers you for a life that follows the Law. You’ll still stumble, but your heart will shift towards honoring God with your actions.

If we can’t live by the Law in a way that pleases God and the only way to obtain righteousness is through Christ, then why even have the Law? Should we just do away with it? There have been those who would say “yes,” while there are others who stress the importance of the law in the life of a believer. As Pastor Mark explores these two seemingly contradictory approaches to faith, he’ll draw out some crucial guidance from Paul’s words to the Galatian believers. The law does matter but not in securing your salvation. It shows you your need for Christ, while also guiding you towards what He desires to form you into.

The consequences of sin are dismal. That word doesn’t even begin to cover the agony that can be expected throughout eternal separation from God and His grace. You may not realize just how much His grace does for you in this life, even before salvation, but an existence without it would be unbearable. As completely awful as hell sounds, the alternative is even more indescribable in the joy and pleasure it contains. And it’s not something that’s out of reach. All you have to do is trust in Christ for salvation and He’ll make you worthy in God’s sight. It’s really that simple – don’t miss the opportunity He’s given you.

You can try to live by the Law and earn your way to Heaven –many people have – but just like all of them, you will fail. You have sin in your heart, and no matter how well you follow the law, your heart can’t be made clean enough to be worthy of God’s presence. There’s only one way for that to happen. In today’s message, as Pastor Mark continues our study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we’ll be reminded of our sinful nature and the hopeless state we’re born into. From the standpoint of the Law, it’s hopeless, but God didn’t leave it that way – He sent Jesus to offer redemption to those who simply trust in Him.