Mercy Commons Podcast

Galatians 3:15-23 // "But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." The promise is not a wage. It was the gospel given to us in the Old Testament. Why did God give us the law? It restrains sin, it provokes sin, it reveals sin and it leads us to God's grace. As Jesus spoke, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Galatians 3:1-14 // It's scandalous to believe that faith is all we need. Nothing we do is enough to save ourselves. We are not enough. There is nothing we can do to justify ourselves to God. Our salvation is found complete in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross!

Galatians 2:11-21 // In this passage, Paul gives a reprimand and a reminder. Peter is struggling with fear of man. He is giving into a false gospel. This is not a gospel difference, but a different gospel – adding to Christ's work on the cross. It altered the truth and Paul had to contend for the truth in public. We must remain firm that it's the gospel plus nothing and the gospel minus nothing. Christ's work is sufficient. The gospel is what helps us find the lie that is promoting the bad behavior (like fear of man). We must continually align ourselves with the gospel.

Galatians 1:11-2:10 // Why did God choose Paul? "Seriously, seriously? You chose this guy, this this murderer to do that?!" What a scandalous choice. A man approving of imprisonment and murder of Christians became the principal missionary of Jesus. Many people reject the gospel because of God's choice. The gospel is scandalous and can rescue anyone. "For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor 1:22-24

Galatians 1:1-10 // The cross of Jesus Christ is a scandal, it is an offense, it baits us, it can cause us to stumble. The cross is where brutality and sacrificial love collide, where perfect justice and boundless mercy meet. It has been viewed as immoral, outrageous and shocking and so it is. The implications of the cross are no less scandalous. We are a people saved by and shaped by the crucified and risen Christ, called to live a crucified life in a world determined to explore autonomy, pleasure and individualism. Galatians will remind us that the cross of Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit enable us to live life in a curious mixture of holiness, engagement, suffering and joy, while being able to discern and reject false gospels.

Pillar 1: We have been rescued by His mercy, so we REVEL in His mercy. Pillar 2: We DISPLAY His mercy by the way we live as a family. Pillar 3: We have been called to PROCLAIM His mercy to those in our spheres of influence/relationship. Pillar 4: We PARTICIPATE in acts of mercy for the common good of the world and the glory of God.

Matthew 2:1-12 // At Christmas time it is very easy to give into our wants. The world tempts and entices us with empty wants that will never satisfies our true needs. We often don’t long for what we need. JESUS is the gift that satisfies our needs and our wants. “If death ruled because of one person’s failure, those who receive the multiplied grace and the gift of righteousness will even more certainly rule in life through the one person Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17

Luke 2:21-35 // Christ has come! Salvation now has a name. It is in Him – Jesus Christ. Salvation is also personal, it’s His presence, and it’s a blessing for all. Salvation is comprehensive. It delivers us from darkness and removes our shame. However God’s salvation was not easy. Simeon prophesied the pain that Mary would go through seeing the suffering of her Son. “We do not come to a set of doctrines. We do not come to a church. We do not even come to the gospel. All these are vital. But most truly, we come to a person, to Christ himself.” ~ Dane Ortlund.

Luke 2:6-20 // “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The host of angels proclaim the birth of Jesus! To whom was this song sung? To lowly shepherds known for their dishonesty and thieving. Not the recipients you would expect of this most glorious news. The angel’s song gives us courage to conquer our fears – fear of the mundane, rejection, and the darkness of the world.

Luke 1:25-55 // Mary’s response to the announcement by Gabriel, shows us her immense faith and in the Lord. Being pregnant and not married in those days was a death sentence. Yet, Mary trusted that God would take care of her. She magnified the Lord’s name, “From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored because the Mighty One has done great things for me.”