Rev. David Holwick X Galatians sermon series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
July 30, 2000
Galatians 3:26-29
CHRIST BREAKS THE BARRIERS
I. Who has the best sense of brotherhood?
Malcolm X is a rather controversial figure.
Born into a Christian family, he committed crimes and ended up
in jail.
There he discovered the faith of the Black Muslims.
Black Muslims taught that all whites are devils and Malcolm X
had no trouble accepting this.
He despised whites and advocated the violent overthrow of our
racist society.
Toward the end of his life, Malcolm X began to change.
A pilgrimage to Mecca played a significant part in this.
During this journey he wrote about his experiences:
Never have I witnessed such sincere hospitality and overwhelming
spirit of true brotherhood as is practiced by people of all
colors and races here in this ancient Holy Land.
There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world.
They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned
Africans.
But we were all displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood
that my experiences in America had led me to believe never
could exist between the white and non-white.
America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion
that erases from its society the race problem.
Here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk
from the same glass, and slept on the same rug - while praying
to the same God - with fellow Muslims,
whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest
of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white.
And in the words and in the deeds of the white Muslims, I felt the
same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of
Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana.
We were truly all the same (brothers) - because their belief in
one God had removed the white from their minds, the white
from their behavior, and the white from their attitude.
With racism plaguing America like an incurable cancer, the so-
called 'Christian' white American heart should be more receptive
to a proven solution to such a destructive problem.
#16598
Was Malcolm X correct?
II. Three results of having this relationship with Christ:
A. In Christ we are sons of God. 3:26
1) Being a child of God is not an automatic thing.
a) We are only "in Christ" through faith.
b) Baptism is the outward sign.
1> Have you taken this important step?
2) Note the strong emphasis on Jesus in this passage.
a) "In" Christ, baptized in Christ, clothed with Christ.
b) You have to believe in him, publicly identify with him,
then wear him like a coat.
B. In Christ we are Abraham's seed. 3:29
1) We become part of a long line of believers through the ages.
2) We have a positive "promise"-based faith.
C. In Christ we are all one person. 3:28
1) We belong not only to God, but also to each other.
a) If your spirituality doesn't go in both directions
then it is not genuine.
2) Three distinctions should disappear:
a) There is no distinction of race.
b) There is no distinction of rank.
c) There is no distinction of sex.
1> The Jews had a prayer that went like this:
"I thank you, God, that you have not made me
a Gentile, a slave or a woman."
2> Paul takes a potshot at that prayer, hitting right
at the three points of prejudice.
[John F. MacArthur]
3) Distinctions are not obliterated, but don't matter.
a) Distinctions remain real.
1> Your race, sex and rank won't disappear.
A> You remain smart/dumb, ugly/beautiful.
B> Paul acknowledges this elsewhere, and tells
slaves in particular not to claim their
freedom and run off.
(though if they can secure their freedom
legally, they should)
2> Some distinctions even have their reasons.
A> Bible itself contains gender roles.
B> S. Baptists are struggling over female pastors.
b) But distinctions do not create barriers for fellowship.
c) Therefore don't despise other people.
1> Unfortunately, we often do.
2> Malcolm X's criticism is pretty much deserved.
III. The Bible and brotherhood.
A. Abraham's promise.
1) Whole world to be blessed.
2) His faith is the foundation.
B. Jesus' mission.
1) He originally focused on Jews alone.
a) Gentile woman begs for crumbs.
b) Centurion an example of faith among Gentiles.
c) Parable of going into the lanes to drag people into
God's banquet.
2) Cross intended to draw all of us to Jesus.
a) Salvation is for entire world.
C. Peter and Paul.
1) No human is unclean.
2) Motivation to reach entire world for Christ.
a) For first 18 centuries, Christendom was mostly white.
b) Soon we will be a minority. Praise God!
D. Book of Revelation.
1) Every tribe and language represented in Kingdom of God.
IV. Broadening our perspective.
A. Think broader.
1) It is natural for us to draw small, tight circles.
a) Our family, our friends, our church.
b) Even in church we have our special cliques.
1> Are they hindering the work of Jesus?
2) As Christians we need to widen our circles.
a) We are part of a worldwide fellowship of believers.
b) An email I received from Hungary on Friday:
Date: 07/28/2000 9:36 AM
From: Endre Jfldi= <
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
>
Dear David,
This summer our church organized a three-weeks daily camp
for primary school students.
About half of the 60 children came from not church-going
families where they didn't hear anything about God & Jesus.
In Hungary only about 10 percent of the people go to church.
Our church has just about 80 members so it was a great
challenge and a trial of faith for us.
But all of this weeks became a real blessing for us.
We have seen God's work in lifes.
For example, one six grader was suspiciously looking around
when they sang Christian children songs at the first day.
He thought, this religious stuff is just not for him.
And this same boy begged his mom in tears that he could stay
for another week on Friday!
God is still in the business of changing lives!
Maybe the most memorable thing for me the next one.
The parents of the children regularly came to pick up their
children.
One day a mom came for her small seven years old daughter.
She arrived too soon, so she could heard as her daughter
prayed.
They have never prayed at home ever before.
When they were leaving the church building she asked her
little one:
- Do you can pray? (She meant it is hard to learn.)
Her daughter looked up with innocent eyes and said:
- This is so easy, mom!
Yes, this is so easy to pray! Why don't we want to?
God bless,
Endre Jfldi
Bkevr Baptist Church, Kaposvr, Hungary
B. Love broader.
1) Develop a love for people outside your circle.
2) This week we will send a mission team to Haiti.
a) The VBS collected hundreds of shoes. Literally!
1> Others have donated school supplies or money.
b) You have never met these Haitians and never will.
1> Your gifts will communicate Christ's love to them.
V. Faith must become sight.
A. Oneness in Christ must be practiced as well as believed.
1) It shouldn't have to wait for heaven to be a reality.
B. Which of the categories applies to you?
1) Are you a son / daughter of God?
2) Do you consider others your brothers and sisters?
3) Are you an heir of the promise?
=========================================================================
John Stott's commentary, "The Message of Galatians" (IVP) was used
extensively in this sermon.
SOURCE FOR ILLUSTRATION USED IN THIS SERMON:
#16598 "Malcolm X On Brotherhood," letter to Harlem,
http:/www.faqs.org/faqs/islam-faq/part10/
This and 16,500 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/illust.html
=========================================================================
John R. W. Stott, "The Message of Galatians," IVP, 'The Bible Speaks
Today' commentary series
Galatians 3:25-29
I. What we are in Christ.
A. These verses are full of Jesus Christ.
1) We are in Christ.
2) We are baptized into Christ.
3) We put on Christ.
4) We belong to Christ.
B. Three results of being in Christ.
1) We are sons of God.
a) Sonship is "in Christ," not universal to all humans.
b) We are only "in Christ" through faith.
c) Baptism is the outward sign.
2) We are all one.
a) Literally, "you are all one person in Christ."
1> We belong not only to God, but each other.
b) Three distinctions should disappear:
1> There is no distinction of race.
2> There is no distinction of rank.
3> There is no distinction of sex.
c) Distinctions are not obliterated, but don't matter.
1> They do not create barriers for fellowship.
2> Therefore don't despise other people.
3) In Christ we are Abraham's seed.
II. Antidote to meaninglessness.
A. Many today feel lost, that life has no meaning.
B. In Christ we find ourselves.
1) We find our place in eternity.
a) Related to God as sons.
2) We find our place in society.
a) Related to each other as brothers and sisters.
3) We find our place in history.
a) Related to the succession of God's people down the ages.
C. We gain an attachment in height, breadth, and length.
1) Height, in our reconciliation with a transcendent God.
2) Breadth, in our unity with all other believers around world.
3) Length, as we join the long line of believers throughout
the whole course of time.
D. Conversion is supernatural in its origin but natural in its
effects.
III. Conclusion.
A. In Christ we are set free.
B. Our religion is characterized by promise.
C. We know we are related to God.
D. We must let Moses send us to Christ.
