Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Preaching Through the Christology of Paul

After 5 1/2 years of preaching chronologically through the four Gospels, we're now preaching through the Christology of Paul. That is, we're highlighting the crucial, explicit Pauline references to Jesus the Christ.

This coming Sunday I'm preaching out of Galatians 3:21-29, which is on:
  • the inadequacy of following religious rules to achieve right standing with God
  • the all-sufficiency of what has been accomplished by the cross of Christ (Jesus didn't say "It is almost finished," or "It is 95% finished").
  • the cross of Christ as the Great Equalizer
The text:


21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

23 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. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
This morning I'm reading Scot McKnight's Galatians commentary.

It's going to be another "freedom" Sunday at Redeemer!