February 21, 2021 Sermon Notes  

Pastor David Moore  

“The Cross and Freedom”  

Old Testament reading: Deuteronomy 21:22-23 

If someone guilty of a capital offense is put to death and their body is exposed on a pole, you must not leave the body hanging on the pole overnight. Be sure to bury it that same day, because anyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.  

Theme: Paul is writing to the Galatians to clear up wrong teaching in the Galatian church about what is the requirement about becoming a Christian.  

New Testament reading: Galatians 5:10-13, 6:14-16 

I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision why am I being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.  

Galatians 5:1: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.  

The Galatians’ church understanding of righteousness is wrong:
1) Believe in Jesus
2) Follow the law
3) You are accepted by God (wrong).

Right:
1) Believe Jesus
2) You are accepted by God. ~D. Moore  

Many people were and are offended by the Cross. The Jews want power from the Cross and the  Greeks want wisdom. Paul’s response was that the Cross is the power and wisdom of God. ~D. Moore  

Do not try to make the gospel tasteful to carnal minds. Do not hide the offense of the cross, lest you make it of no effect. ~Charles H. Spurgeon  

Today the common thinking is all people are good and make mistakes and we can change them through being smarter and becoming wiser. The problem is our heart needs to change because we all have a sin problem and there is no way of talking oneself out of this dilemma except through the Cross.  

We do not come to God as bad people trying to become good people; we come as rebels to lay down our arms. ~C. S. Lewis

We have to see to be saved by grace alone. It is only God’s mercy that saves us, not anything else we base who we are on–not prestige, money, acceptance, etcetera, but the Blood of Jesus. ~D. Moore  

Galatians 6:14: “May I never boast except in the cross of Christ.”  

The Cross shows us the seriousness of our sin but it also shows us the immeasurable love of God.  ~Billy Graham  

Sin brings self-condemnation. Condemnation brings more condemnation.

STOP the condemnation and BE FREE.
FREEDOM BRINGS PEACE.
Your sin is paid for. 

Romans 8:1-2: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 

Think about this: Christians are different, we may want all the world’s trappings, but we will not boast in them. If we do not boast in what the world offers, then the world has nothing we must have and we are free to confront the wants in our life. That gives us courage, freedom, grace to give, and love to spread freely in this world. We recognize we have been saved by the Cross. Therefore, God forbids us to boast in anything except the Cross. ~D. Moore  

Think about Lent and giving up a want and boast in what we have been given in the Cross.

God bless you!