Title: Accept The Gospel As Is
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 1:1-9

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: When I was an early-teen, my friends and I often played a simple game we called Quarters—I think we heard about it from Michael Jordan. Each of us would carry around a roll of quarters, and during school breaks, we would find a wall where two guys would take turns flipping quarters against it. Whoever's quarter landed closest to the wall—and the group was there to help judge—took home the other guy's quarter.

Every once in a while, a teacher or yard supervisor would catch us and tell us to stop because it was an introduction to gambling. We'd get in a tiny amount of trouble; they were never very concerned.

But imagine if we were tossing quarters as a way to compete for our future earnings. You win this toss, and I give you everything I earn for the next sixty years! Any teacher who overheard us would probably laugh. But imagine our game was somehow legally binding; they would've sternly rebuked us because the stakes were too high.

Adding to the gospel should never be done—the stakes are too high. We should not add the idea that our salvation is contingent on the quality of our surrender to Jesus. We should not add the idea that our salvation comes when we hold the right cultural expression of the gospel. We should not add the idea that we can save ourselves by being good people who do good things. We should not add the idea that we can save ourselves through regulation or religious ceremonies.

We cannot, and the stakes are high if we do—we don't fly, and people don't get saved! Instead, we must accept the gospel as is: the divinely inspired and initiated death, burial, and resurrection of Christ on our behalf—God's rescue mission to save despairing sinners.

Title: Paul's Gospel Is Legit
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 1:10-24

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: Our passage today helps us to consider Paul's gospel (and, thus, the theology that stemmed from his gospel) as legitimate. Neither he nor any other apostle in the first century delivered a man-made message but a divinely inspired and conspired plan of redemption through Christ's cross. It's an inconceivable message in that humans could and would not fully conceive of it. And we have a decision today—do I receive Paul's gospel and all the theology that flows from it, just as the early church, those closest to Jesus, did? Or do I reject Paul, his gospel, and his gospel theology in favor of how I see the world, truth, or even Jesus?

But, for those who have received the gospel message Paul (and others) preached, our passage also helps us consider the impact of that message on our own lives today. We aren't apostles. How we receive the gospel isn't vital to the underpinnings of Christianity. But Paul's testimony should reawaken in us an appreciation—not only for his gospel story—but ours. Paul's past life had a stranglehold on him, driving him even to the zealous murder of Christians, but Christ broke through and created a new man in place of the old. And, for as powerful as our pasts are, we must remember that Jesus makes all things new. If you are in Christ, you are a new creation, old things have passed away, and all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17).

Title: The Beautiful, Acceptable Gospel
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 2:1-10

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: So this passage tells us Paul's story of presenting this unearnable, freeing, and versatile gospel to the apostles in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. They considered it, and though they may have been quietly tolerating some who distorted the gospel by adding the Old Testament law to it, they stood up and recognized the gospel of grace as the gospel transmitted from Christ to them.

We have a similar decision before us today. Our decision does not impact church history as much as theirs did, but it greatly influences us and the people around us, even subsequent generations.

Will we think of acceptance by God as something we can earn through good works or religious ceremonies? If so, we have destroyed the gospel.

Will we allow ourselves to come under human controls that tell us we must add this or that behavior to the gospel to be approved by God? If so, we have destroyed the gospel.

And will we preach a message that forces everyone into a particular mold? If so, we have destroyed the gospel.

Instead, we must accept this unearnable, freeing, and versatile gospel message just like the apostles did.

Title: Live In Step With The Gospel
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 2:11-16

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: When God delivered the people of Israel from their captivity in Egypt, the final victory they won over their captors was at the Red Sea. As Moses stretched out his hands and his staff, the waters parted so Israel could cross on dry ground. And when the Egyptian armies pursued them, the waters closed upon them, ensuring freedom for God's children.

From that point on, Israel was meant to walk in line with the events of the Red Sea. When intertribal disputes arose, they needed to realize that, for all their differences, God chose all of them that day—they were united at the Red Sea. When they were faced with impressive foes in the Promised Land, they needed to remember who they were, God's victorious people—they needed to be motivated by the Red Sea. And when God gave them the tabernacle system of worship, they needed to remember that they were already God's chosen people—they became his at the Red Sea. And Israel should have pushed forward in determination, all because of the great and final victory God had won for them at the Red Sea.

And this great gospel message should produce a determination in us: I am going to live in step with the gospel I believe. I will unite with everyone who comes under the banner of the gospel. I am motivated to do so because that same gospel calls me up into a better version of life. And justification only comes by faith in that gospel—I will never trust my personal performance to gain me right standing with God, nor will I require others to perform above and beyond the gospel to get right standing with me. I will live in step with the gospel.

Title: Gospel Life
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 2:17-21

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: Gospel living is before us in the passage today.

It tells us that through the law we died to any possibility of standing approved before God on the basis of our own personal goodness. We died to that legal way of relating to God, and in being set free from it, we are now free to live for God.

It also tells us that we are so inextricably identified with Christ that it's as if we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. We died on the cross with Jesus, and now his resurrection life can be our daily experience.

And it tells us that this brand of life is gained by ongoing and persistent faith in Jesus, the one who loved us so much he gave his life for us. We are to live in continual dependence upon him because he has proved himself dependable to us.

In the Old Testament era, worshippers came from afar to offer animal sacrifices to God. It was God's way of helping them understand the problem of sin—their unholiness kept them from his presence. The sacrifices were meant as a covering for their sin, allowing them to engage in fellowship with God. Every sacrifice pointed forward to the ultimate and only satisfactory sacrifice of God's only begotten Son. But when those worshippers approached the altar, when the animal was slain, they would place their hands on the head of the animal. And, for many sacrifices, after the animal was offered, the worshipper would eat the meat in a holy meal. So they had to touch and consume the sacrifices that were offered. It was not enough to watch from afar; the worshipper had to connect with that which was offered on the altar.

In a similar way, modern worshippers must place their hands on and consume the sacrifice. The gospel life made possible by Christ's sacrifice must be energetically entered into. We cannot be passive. If we are, we will rebuild laws and codes that Christ destroyed, seeking to approach God through our works. If we are, we won't see ourselves as completely identified with Christ in his death and resurrection. If we are, we won't enjoy the simple devotion of faith and trust in Jesus every day of our lives. But we must not nullify the grace of God. Instead, we must put our hands on Jesus and take hold of him for life today and every day, believing that the power of his cross means life today is for God, in Christ, and by faith.

Title: See The Gospel
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 3:1-5

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: Believers in Jesus must repeatedly see the cross of Christ, along with all its implications. Jesus Christ must constantly be "publicly portrayed as crucified before our eyes (1). When Jesus is famous to us personally—when his sacrifice on the cross is understood and appreciated for what it is—beautiful results follow.

When we see afresh that the gift of the Son dying on the cross led to the gift of the Spirit living within us, we will turn to him for leadership, guidance, and strength.

When we see afresh that Jesus made us complete us on the cross, we will realize that he is constantly there for us throughout life, helping us grow.

When we see afresh the immense value of what Jesus did for us by substituting himself for us, we will become willing to sacrifice anything to live for him.

And when we see afresh how simple faith in the gospel released God's power in our lives, we will continue to express simple faith in him, releasing his power towards us.

But for all this, we must continually see his cross.

The week before Jesus died in Jerusalem, he passed through Jericho. A great crowd gathered, but there was a blind beggar named Bartimaeus. When he heard that it was Jesus passing by, he began to cry, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" People tried to silence him, but Jesus called for him and asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" Bartimaeus replied, "Let me recover my sight." Jesus commended Bartimaeus for his faith, healed him, and went on his way with Bartimaeus in tow (Mk. 10:46-52).

I think Bartimaeus can be a metaphor for every believer in Jesus. When we aren't hearing a clear, continuous, and bold portrayal of Jesus Christ and him crucified, we inevitably slip into spiritual blindness, begging for scraps, turning to lesser things to solve our issues. But when we cry out afresh to Jesus, asking him to open our eyes again to him and his cross, we begin to see once more. And with our sight, he stands before us, and we are able to follow him again. So, every day, let us be a people who ask him for sight so that he and his cross will be clearly portrayed to us. Let us ask him to help us see the gospel.

Title: The Gospel According To Abraham
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 3:6-9

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: In Matthew 22, Jesus told a parable about a wedding feast a king gave for his prince son. When he sent out his servants to invite the guests, it did not go as it does in Disney movies, where villagers are ecstatic that there is going to be a ball. Instead, his invitation was rejected, and some of his servants were shamefully treated. So the king commissioned the rest of his servants to go to the streets—to the highways and byways—to invite as many as they could find. The invitation must have included clothing provided by the king because when he saw one of his recently invited guests there without a garment, he told his attendants to cast him into outer darkness, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The entire parable is outrageous. Who would reject the honor of being invited to the prince's wedding? What king would clothe an entire population just so they could be his guests? And why would the lack of proper attire get someone a one-way ticket to outer darkness?

But the strong elements of the parable are what make it memorable. And the lesson seems simple: accept and wear the garments the king provides. Don't bring your own garments; wear the ones he offers.

And this passage tells us the same. The way for us to be found acceptable for God's wedding feast—for his forever kingdom, first on earth and then in the new heavens and earth—is to accept the clothing he has provided. By simple faith in Christ, we will be draped with the appropriate attire for our God. Just as Abraham believed God's promise and God deposited righteousness to his account, so when we believe in Christ, we are clothed with the righteousness of God.

Title: Gospel Blessing
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 3:10-14

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: I once heard the story of two men whose rowboat capsized above Niagara Falls. The current rapidly carried them to the falls, but people on the shore floated a rope out to them, and they both grabbed it. But one of the men saw a large log floating by and, in a panic, let go of the rope and grabbed at the log instead, leading to his demise.[^5] And there are so many other things we might grab at or trust in—our religious activity, our prayers, our good deeds—but only Christ can deliver us. Cling to his cross! Rely on him! Depend on him!

When we do, we escape the curse of the law and enter into the blessing of the gospel. It brings us into a life of faith. It shows us that Christ took on our curse by becoming a curse for us on the cross. And it allows us to partake of the blessing of Abraham, namely by receiving the Holy Spirit the prophets of old said would come.

And, with the Spirit leading and empowering our lives, we can enjoy the very life the law hoped to achieve—one where we trust in the true and living God, refuse to worship anything that would dehumanize us, are free from all forms of shameful defilement, are generous and just, keeping God's rules and acting faithfully (Ezek. 18:5-9). It is a life where God puts his laws into our minds and writes them on our hearts (Heb. 8:10). The Spirit empowers us, partly by reforming our motivations. And with this change of perspective and fresh empowerment, our lives come to describable with just one word—blessed!

Title: The Law Compliments The Gospel
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 3:15-22

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: Now that we've considered how the law compliments the gospel, how should we respond? Since it arrived well after God began dealing with us by grace, promise, and faith, it cannot void his grace, his promises, or justification by faith, but what do we do with that information? It was useful among the Israelites before Jesus arrived as a way to suppress evil, but how does that impact us? And it reveals our deep need for Jesus Christ and his cross to save us from sin, but does that have any meaning for us after we've trusted in Jesus? How should we respond to this passage?

First, if God promised to be enjoyed by faith in his promise and not by works of the law, we should be encouraged to enjoy God by faith. Hebrews held out a man from Genesis called Enoch as an example of this type of faith. Enoch used to walk with God every day until one day he disappeared because God took him (Gen. 5:25). Hebrews then says that "without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him" (Heb. 11:6). We cannot enjoy God by works and wage, but by grace and faith.

Second, if it was good for Israelite society that the law acted as a lid holding down the toxic waste of sin, we should rejoice that we are on this side of the cross. With the Spirit living inside us, we can be transformed from within. And that very real change in us is bound to be a major blessing to the communities we are in—our relationships, families, workplaces, cities, states, and nations all benefit when Christ changes us by his Spirit.

Third, we should recognize that if the righteous standard of the law points us to our need for Jesus, then righteous living fueled by the Holy Spirit is a powerful witness. Jesus said to let your light shine before mankind (Mat. 5:16). When, by the power of the Spirit, it does, your life serves as a signpost to Jesus.

Finally, thank God that he is a promise keeper who put you on earth at this moment in time. You can look back to the cross of Christ. Abraham had to believe offspring would come to bless the world, but we know his name—Jesus! God fulfilled his promise. Respect God and the time he has placed you in. The law has been fulfilled. Christ has come. And now he can transform you from the inside out!

Title: What Faith In The Gospel Does To You
Speaker: Nate Holdridge
Text: Galatians 3:23-29

Galatians Theme: Galatians describes a life that is free. It is a life in flight. If we cling to the true gospel, if we accept it for what it is, we can fly. But Paul wrote Galatians because the Galatian believers—and all future believers—were in danger. If we adulterate the gospel, if we add to it in any way, we will not fly. Like a bird chained in a birdcage, we will (at best) hinder ourselves from flying into God's ideal for our lives or (at worst) hinder ourselves and others from true salvation.

Overview: All the truths we've talked about today should fill us with meaning and significance. We are no longer imprisoned and guarded by the law. We are now sons of God because of the Son of God. We are now one in Christ because Christ broke down every wall of hostility between us (Eph. 2:14-16). We are now Abraham's offspring because we believed the promise just like he did (Gal. 3:11-14).

Notice the direction of all these changes. Our relationship with the heights of heaven has changed—we are sons of God. Our relationship with the breadth of humanity has changed—we are one in Christ with all others who've believed. And our relationship with the length of human history has changed—we are now part of God's long program of introducing his kingdom. This should infuse every one of us with a feeling of great significance, and I encourage you to meditate on each truth until that feeling arises. Up to heaven, around the globe, and deep into history, our lives have been changed by Jesus.

But how should we respond to all these truths? Here are a handful of suggestions:

First, if life under the law was one in captivity and under a guardian—if it couldn't produce true transformation—then we believers must turn to the right source for personal growth today. God has given us a new nature, and our flesh or old body of sin competes with that new nature, so we should feed the Spirit because he is the one who will transform us into all God has intended.

Second, if we are now sons of God, we should expect a lifetime of learning to experience God as our Father. We will jump into this more in our next study of Galatians, but this aspect of knowing God is of vital importance and is not gained overnight. Learning of God as our Good Father is clunky and awkward at times. We will often revert to a law code or angry dad way of relating to him. But we must keep pressing until we feel him for who he is: our loving and good Father in heaven.

Third, if we are one in Christ, we should resist the voices of division that seek to inflame us against other cultures, other classes, or the other gender. Instead, we should appreciate our differences and rejoice that, despite them, we are one in Jesus! Then, we should treat one another with the utmost respect.

And last, if we are Abraham's offspring, we should let it sink in that our lives are not accidents. We are part of God's long and beautiful redemptive plan, a massive family tree connected to Abraham, the father of faith. Many have come before us, and we are part of them. And many will come after us—hopefully from us—and we are part of them as well.