Village Church Annandale (Sydney) sermons

Paul is amazed. He jumps straight into a rebuke of the Galatian Church. Martin Luther points out that he's acting consistently with the teaching of chapter six of 'restore gently'.

It does feel harsh to our ears today though. But let's not get stuck on form, there's a content issue that is vital. There's a different gospel that is dragging the Galatian Christians away from a pure trust in Christ.

Gal. 1:6 ¶  I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 1:7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Martin Luther reminds us that God won't share his glory with another (Isaiah 42) and yet here grace and peace are spoken of as equally coming from God and the Lord Jesus Christ. It's another implicit reminder of the deity of Jesus.

But the way that grace and peace come is through the sin bearing death of Jesus that rescues us from this present evil age.

Gal. 1:3 ¶  Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

Gal. 1:4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

Galatians is the earliest of Paul's letters say John Stott and FF Bruce says this is probably the case.

Paul writes with the authority of an Apostle. CH Dodd puts it like this:

"Sometimes I think Paul is wrong and I have ventured to say so.  But we have no liberty to think or venture thus.  The apostles of Jesus Christ were unique - unique in their experience of the Jesus of history, unique in their sight of the risen Lord, unique in their commission by Christ’s authority and unique in their inspiration by Christ’s spirit.  We may not exalt our opinions over theirs or claim that our authority is as great as theirs.  For their opinions and authority are Christ's. If we would bow to his authority we must therefore bow to there's. As He Himself says 'he who receives you receives me.’ (Matthew 10:40)." 

Gal. 1:1 ¶  Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead— Gal. 1:2  and all the brothers who are with me: 

Today it's all celebration.

As the women go to the tomb early in the morning on that first Easter Sunday, the angel says to them of Jesus of Nazareth: He was crucified, he was raised, he is not here.

Dominic Steele unpacks that announcement that changes the world.

Dominic Steele takes us to the heart of God's love for us. His great act of sending Jesus to die for our forgiveness.

We look at four key statements in the final verses of Mark 15, 'The King of the Jews,' 'He saved others but coudn't save himself,' 'My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?' and 'Truely this man was the son of God.'

Good Friday 2021: The death of Jesus | Mark 15:21-47 | Dominic Steele

1 You and God

2 Mark’s gospel 1:1, 8:27-32, 10:42-45

3 The King of the Jews 15:22-27, esp 15:26

4 He saved others but couldn’t save himself 15:29-32, esp 31

5 ‘My God my God why have you abandoned me’ 15:33-38, esp 34

6 ‘Truly this man was the son of God’ 15:39-47, esp 39

Dear God, Thankyou for loving me Thankyou for Jesus Thanks that you sent him as your king. I am sorry that I haven’t lived rightly with Jesus as my king. I am sorry that I have been a mocker. Thanks that Jesus gave his life as a ransom for me. Help me now - like the centurion to see Jesus as the Son of God Help me now to honour Jesus as my Lord, my King. Amen

It's an accident that we are looking at these verses on April fools day. But actually these are the verses in the printed bible that are not really genuine.

Someone must have thought that the ending in Mark 16:8 was a little abrupt and centuries later they added this ending.

No serious bible commentator regards these verses as genuine.

But since they are still printed in modern bibles, this argument needs canvassing.

[Some of the earliest mss conclude with 16:8.]

The Longer Ending of Mark: Appearances of the Risen Lord

[9 Early on the first day of the week, after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and reported to those who had been with him, as they were mourning and weeping. 11 Yet, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.

12 After this, he appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country. 13 And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.

The Great Commission

14 Later he appeared to the Eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table. He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen. 15 Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well.”

The Ascension

19 So the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying sign

The angel told them to go tell the disciples that Jesus had risen, but instead the women ran away afraid.

What's going on?

Mark 16:8 They went out and ran from the tomb, because trembling and astonishment overwhelmed them. And they said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.

After the stupendous news of the resurrection, just one verse earlier, when the women heard from the angel that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

Next comes a word of grace and encouragement, and Peter particularly is singled out.

Mark 16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there just as he told you.’”