Stonybank Community Church with Pastor James Carroll

Guest speaker, Bill Neff has been a friend to Stonybank for many years.  In contrast to the false shepherds (e.g. Ezek.34) Jesus is called the Good Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd (1Pet.) and the Great Shepherd (Heb.).  We are His sheep.  We are needy creatures.  He tells what He will do for His sheep.  A great message of encouragement for us today.  Pastor Neff then closes with a pastoral prayer.

The law can only control (and he gives a list of things like anger and selfishness that we would all hope to limit).  Grace on the other hand can create (and he lists things like love, joy and peace which we would all hope to display).  Things of the law were crucified; things of the Spirit must be cultivated.  Like learning to walk, just put one step in front of the other and before you know they become second nature to you.

Stand fast, "therefore."  For everything Paul has laid out don't go back into bondage of the law.  Like the tip of the iceberg, circumcision is just the thing that if allowed makes you liable to the whole law.  The person who sounds reasonable and just says he wants to encourage will in fact steal everything you have in Christ if you give in on any of it.

By this ancient story with a new meaning you must answer who is your mother?  The story of Ismael and Isaac is an allegory of everything true in your Christian life.  By the end you are directed to send away the one of your flesh away and the last will become first.

Adoption makes permanent what the law could never accomplish.  Trying then to go back under the law is like trying to relive your childhood.. Our relationship to God as Father through our Lord Jesus Christ makes all the difference.  We are joint heirs all the way back to the promise God made to Abraham by adoption.

The law of Moses is in no way contradictory to the promise God gave to Abraham.  Neither is our connection to the promise "through" the law but through our Lord, Jesus Christ.  The law was a "schoolmaster" that brought us to the door and dropped us off where Jesus knocks and by faith we respond.   

A young man, Ben quoted this passage as our opening scripture reading.

Six questions that conclude that not only can the law not save us (chp.2) it cannot now keep us saved (chp.3).  We must deny the subtle claim that being justified by faith we are now sanctified by the law.  It is foolish (and dangerous) to think that having been saved one way you should now live another.

Some people have just enough religion to make them miserable, wrote Billy Sunday.  If you die under the law you are sealed in death.  However, the law has no response for the resurrection.  Therefore, we are free from the law but governed by love.  Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Paul refused to give in on anything others thought to add to grace.  However, when all the doctrinal discussions are settled, v.10 reminds us that we should be remember for doing good.  When everything is said and done, if we are only known for what we don't do, won't allow, and try to keep out, we have done very much for the kingdom.