[NOTE: The audio for this sermon starts late and is missing a chunk in the middle.]

The natural drift of our hearts is towards the pride – and the slavery – of legalism, which is seeking acceptance and right standing before God through what we do rather than through what Christ has done. But we are not salves to such living; Christ has freed us from legalism.

[NOTE: The audio for this sermon starts late and is missing a chunk in the middle.]

The natural drift of our hearts is towards the pride – and the slavery – of legalism, which is seeking acceptance and right standing before God through what we do rather than through what Christ has done. But we are not salves to such living; Christ has freed us from legalism.

As Paul reflects on how they had received the gospel and the fact that they were now rejecting it, he reveals his pastoral heart and models the truth that a leader who loves you labors for your good and God's glory, not theirs.

As Paul reflects on how they had received the gospel and the fact that they were now rejecting it, he reveals his pastoral heart and models the truth that a leader who loves you labors for your good and God's glory, not theirs.

At just the right time, God sent Jesus to the earth to redeem those under the weight of the Law and to adopt them as sons and daughters. If this is true, and the Spirit says to all children that it is, then why would we ever return to being slaves to sin and law?

At just the right time, God sent Jesus to the earth to redeem those under the weight of the Law and to adopt them as sons and daughters. If this is true, and the Spirit says to all children that it is, then why would we ever return to being slaves to sin and law?

Since we are all children of God through faith in Christ, baptized in and clothed with Christ, and children of Abraham because of Christ, all reasons for division are gone.

Since we are all children of God through faith in Christ, baptized in and clothed with Christ, and children of Abraham because of Christ, all reasons for division are gone.

After Paul seemed to have made the Law completely unnecessary in light of the promise made to Abraham, Paul shows us the real purpose of the Law is not to provide a means of salvation but to reveal our sin and drive us to Christ.

After Paul seemed to have made the Law completely unnecessary in light of the promise made to Abraham, Paul shows us the real purpose of the Law is not to provide a means of salvation but to reveal our sin and drive us to Christ.