Grab your Bible and join us from the Whitemarsh Island Baptist Adult Sunday school class as we continue our study of the Apostles Paul's letter To Galatians. Today we seek to understand Paul's allegory of Hagar and Sarah, embrace our identity as free children of promise through faith in Christ, and reject any form of legalism.

As we come to the other side of the grave and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior in our study of His life through a harmony of the Gospels, our text (John 20) presents compelling evidence for His resurrection, beginning with the empty tomb discovered by Mary Magdalene and culminating in appearances that confirm faith. This chapter blesses those who believe without seeing and states the Gospel's purpose: these signs are written to foster faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, leading to life in his name.

We all know the phrase "the elephant in the room." It means a massive, obvious issue that everyone sees but no one wants to talk about because it's uncomfortable, controversial, or challenging. Today, we talk about the biggest "elephant in the room" in all of Christianity — one that many believers and churches try to step around: God's eternal purpose and sovereign control over all things.

In Galatians 4:1-20, Paul employs the analogy of a minor heir who lives like a slave under guardians and stewards until he reaches maturity. This illustrates how believers were once in bondage under the law and the elemental principles of the world. God sent forth His Son—born of a woman, born under the law—to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because we are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying "Abba, Father!" We are therefore no longer slaves but full heirs.

Jesus is risen—He is risen indeed! This is not just an Easter slogan, but the very heart of the Gospel. In Matthew 28, we witness the unstoppable truth of the empty tomb colliding with desperate lies meant to cover it up. Will we respond like the devoted women that found the empty tomb—with godly fear, great joy, worship, and bold witness? Or will we settle for the world's comforting deceptions and buy into the lie at the cost of truth?

The moral law is summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments, which serve as God's clear, concise summary of His unchanging expectations for human conduct. These commands, delivered with awe at Sinai and written by God's own finger, did not originate there but were already in force from creation—evident in the lives of the patriarchs and the Noahic covenant. Far from being limited to ancient Israel, they express God's holy character and moral will for all people everywhere, as confirmed by conscience, the New Testament, and their pre-Sinai existence. The law is not a path to salvation but a mirror that exposes our sin and drives us to Christ, who alone fulfilled it perfectly. For believers, it then guides grateful obedience, with each commandment unfolding into rich applications across every sphere of life, equipping us to honor God, love our neighbor, and navigate a morally confused world.

Years ago in college, while losing the battle against sin, I wrote the poem "Monkey See, Monkey Do," a playful yet honest picture of our fallen flesh—the slippery "monkey" that stares back in the mirror no matter how hard we scrub, glances back when we turn away, and simply finds "elsewhere to play." In this lesson we unpack its meaning through Scripture: the deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9), the war between flesh and Spirit (Galatians 5:17; Romans 7), and the futility of serving two masters (Matthew 6:24). Most importantly, we discover the only real solution—a new heart and new nature given by God through the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Romans 8). If you're tired of the same old struggle, come listen and find encouragement: the monkey doesn't get the last word—Jesus does, and He breaks every chain.

Who Is The Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the eternal Spirit of God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. ~Catechism On Biblical Doctrine

Today's message continues our study of the life of Christ through a harmony of the Gospels and closes the account of Jesus' crucifixion and records His burial. It emphasizes 1). the reality of His death, 2). the fulfillment of Scripture, and 3). the honor given to the King of the Jews even in death. John writes with an eyewitness perspective to strengthen faith, counter false teachers that imply the idea that Jesus only "seemed" to die, and show how God sovereignly overrules events to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

As we continue our study on the Children of Promise, we rejoice in a life- changing truth: through faith in Jesus Christ, we are no longer outsiders but deeply loved members of God's own family. If you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's true seed—adopted as sons and daughters and full heirs of every promise. This brings lasting security, for our inheritance comes by grace alone, not works, freeing us from the burden of performance. We live with great assurance because God always keeps His promises, and Jesus has fully accomplished our redemption, making us reconciled, adopted, and eternally secure.