“The false doctrine of Jesus AND ________” C.S. Lewis American Freedom: Always being able to do whatever you want to do. Never having to do something you don’t want to do. Biblical Freedom: Doing whatever Jesus asks us to do John 8:36  //  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Galatians 5:1  //  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 248 positive commandments 365 negative commandments Santa Claus Theology Galatians 5:2  //  Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Genesis 17:10-11  //  This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. Jesus +________ minimizes Jesus’ sacrifice Jesus +________ minimizes Jesus and elevates man’s role in salvation Does Christianity feel like a burden? Matthew 11:28-30  //  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Come to me

You foolish Galatians Galatians 3:13  //  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” You are redeemed Ways we confuse God’s gifts: Pride We don’t feel worthy It sounds too good to be true Galatians 3:23-25 // Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.  So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.  Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. paidagōgos - guardian or tutor Law doesn’t: Save Bring life Show warmth of love Ways we live like law will save us: Hating sinful people for being sinful Bragging about our “goodness” Majoring on the minors Stop worrying about how your neighbor is living and start living like you believe God loves you! Galatians 3:26  //  So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith

Performance can never produce peace Galatians 2:11-21  //  When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. 17 “But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker. 19 “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Gospel = Good News The Gospel changes how we behave Galatians 2:14  //  “When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel…” ὀρθοποδέω orthopodeō To walk straight, to walk correctly, to keep in step The Gospel is not only something we believe, it’s something we walk in. The Gospel has the final word. Galatians 2:16  //  "A person is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ." Justified: Declared righteous. Accepted. Acquitted. Made right before God. Religion Says: Obey first, then maybe you'll be accepted. Gospel Says: Accepted by God, so now I obey. Religion works from the outside in. The Gospel works from the inside out. Does obedience even matter? Obedience is the fruit of salvation, not the cause. Christianity is not about behavior modification. It’s about death to life. Galatians 2:20  //  "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Grace paid the bill. Galatians 2:21  //  "If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

When the Gospel truly invades a life, everything changes. Galatians 1:11–12  // 
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. The Gospel gives us a perfect instruction The power is not in our creativity.
The power is in the Gospel itself. Galatians 1:13–17 
//  For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. The Gospel changes our story Paul was successful! “But when GOD” What is your “But when God” Moment? Galatians 1:18–23  //  Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” The Gospel redefines our lives Acts 7:54-60  //  When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. The Gospel not only changes what we believe, it changes what we live for. Galatians 1:24  //  24 And they praised God because of me. 1 Timothy 1:15  //  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. Romans 1:16  //  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. The Gospel doesn’t just improve us it transforms us. “But when GOD”

Grow the church. Grow you. Who is the author? - Paul Who is the audience? - The churches in Galatia (modern day Turkey) What is the central message? - You can live  in freedom Gospel = Good News εὐαγγέλιον Euangelion Eu - Good Eulogy - Study of the Good Eucharist - Good Gratitude The Gospel is good news, not good advice. Galatians 1:1-10  //  Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Jesus + Anything =  Ruins Everything Jesus + Nothing =   Everything Ephesians 2:8-10  //  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Good works don’t save us. Good works show that we are saved.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5  //  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Romans 12:2  //  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Triune Spirt, Soul, & Body You’re a spirit with a soul that lives in a body. Salvation is instant, but sanctification is a process. Mark 8:22–25  //  They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:22  //  They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. We are designed by God, to experience God, in community Never underestimate what God can do when you simply bring someone to Jesus. Mark 8:23-24  //  Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Partial healing is not failed healing; it’s healing in progress. Mark 8:25  //  Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. … Philippians 1:6  //  being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 4:23 - Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. What gets access to your mind eventually gets influence over your life. Numbers 13:27-28 - We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. Numbers 13:28 - But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. Great opportunities can be ruined by bad thinking. The goal isn’t removal as much as prevention. Numbers 13:30-33 - Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Wrong thinking can talk you out of what God already promised you. Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Misaligned thinking leads to misaligned living. Numbers 14:1-4 - That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” The biggest battle in your life may not be what’s in front of you…. It may be what’s going on within you. 2 Corinthians 10:5 - We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. C.A.P C - Capture the thought. A - Audit the thought. P - Plant the truth. “I’m not good enough.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) - For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. “I’ll always be stuck….” 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! “I’m not loved.” Romans 8:38 - And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. Colossians 3:2 - Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. If you don’t guard the source, eventually it shows up in the stream.

2 Corinthians 10:5  //  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ Romans 12:2  //  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Conform: To be molded by something external John 14:27  //  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid Philippians 4:6-7  //  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Biblical Peace is not the absence of chaos it is the presence of Christ. Peace comes when you cast your worries Philippians 4:4–7  //  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 5:7  //  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. “Peace doesn’t come when problems leave it comes when control is casted.” Peace grows when you control your thoughts Philippians 4:8–9  //  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 10:5  //  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ ...and that's just the way I want it! Peace remains when you learn contentment Philippians 4:11–13  //  Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. If your peace depends on what you have, it will always be fragile. If your peace comes from Christ, it will always be stable. Ships don’t sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Peace Experiment: Pause Philippians 4:4  //  Rejoice in the Lord always Pray Philippians 4:6  //  ...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Prioritize Philippians 4:8  //  ...if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Proceed Philippians 4:13  //  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Romans 12:2  //  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Formed Conform: To be molded by something external Romans 12:2 (Phillips)  //  Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. Proverbs 4:23 (GMT)  //  Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. What do I think about? Neuroplasticity The Law of Cognition: What you think about determines who you are. We focus on behavior. Law of Cognition says we should focus on our thoughts. Rule of Exposure: Whatever we’re exposed to the most shapes our thoughts. This is why we must take every thought captive. If we don’t, the thoughts will take us captive. Stronghold 2 Corinthians 10:3-5  //  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Romans 12:2  //  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Metamorphoo (μεταμορφόω) Exposure Experiment Our thoughts establish our emotions 1 Thessalonians 5:18  //  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Our thoughts direct our decisions Our thoughts regulate our relationships Our thoughts determine our spiritual growth Colossians 3:2  //  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

We have permission to feel Emotions are symptoms Emotions make terrible leaders Anger: Cain and Abel Genesis 4:2b-8  //  Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Ephesians 4:26  //  In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Fear/Doubt: Gideon Judges 6:13  //  “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The presence of fear or doubt doesn’t negate faith Fear itself isn’t a sin, but the elevation of fear above faith can lead to sin Grief: Jesus Even perfect love expresses emotion It is not a sin to grieve Emotion, when anchored in truth and love, strengthens relationships. Emotion is not the enemy of relationships—misuse of emotion is Emotions must be: Expressed properly (Cain and Abel) Second to God’s voice (Gideon) Submitted (Jesus)