Romans 1 :16-17 : "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..."(KJ version)
Gospel means Good News : If you're a believer, you're forgiven (there is no such thing as an "unforgiven believer"). A believer's whole life is forgiven (see Colossians - having forgiven you all trespasses)
Power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (NiV)
Salvation=not limited to escape from hell
Also includes escape from hell on earth
Salvation comes from the Greek word, "sozo"=save-rescue from danger of every sort, includes healing
->"sozo" = wholeness-health, prosperity, deliverance, preservation, protection, rescue,
"Sozo" is a very rich word.
Christ gives to us a finished work : cf.Hebrew 12 : land flowing with milk and honey - our Heavenly Father has defeated the devil
- we are not in a warfare with the devil because the war is already won by Christ
- the only fight is the fight of faith => i.e do you believe of not?
Repentance : comes from the Greek word "metanoia" (related to "sozo") - which means changing your mind to "Christ has done it" rather than "I cannot do it". Changing of your mind to believing that your sins have been washed away by Jesus's blood on the Cross.
Galations 4
Sarah -> Grace
- didnt produce immediately but by the promise(not by self-effort)-slow-takes time to grow -> real growth is from within
- Isaac - born of Sarah - a free woman
- Isaac's name means laughter -> freedom
-God sees us as perfect; god sees us as Christ : Christ died for me on the Cross. Today, I walk as Christ
-whilst you are barred(in terms of finance, children, etc.), it is the time to rejoice because you have got it all (healing, prosperity, everything is yours) in Christ we have everything!
->Everything we want, we will have. Whilst we are still barren, we are to rejoice.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you."
Hagar -> Law- condemnation(Mt Sinai) -> Bondage
(incidently, there is no mention in the Bible that Haga was pretty, whereas Sarah was beautiful, even at the age of 90. Sarah was so beautiful that ven a king with a harem of woman wanted to have her in her old age!)
cf.v.4 - Paul challenged the christians who wanted to be under the Law
flesh : self effort - Ismael
-God said to cast out the slave woman
Abraham : justified by faith
New wineskin : new wine - will ferment in the Old wineskin (very brittle), causing the old wineskin to burst -> then you'll lose both the old wineskin and the new wine
//attempting to keep both law and grace amounts to spiritual adultery
Explanation : after being saved by Grace, you return to trying to keep the Law, being legalistic, etc
Cf.Genesis 21 : 8-10 when Sarah's son, Isaac was weaned, Ishmael made fun of him
Salvation : Heirship : on what grounds do we inherit the Kingdom of God?
Under the law?: "if you will, God will".
But under Grace : Jesus has done it -> you respond with faith
Therefore we must be careful/wary of legalistic Christian because legalistic thinking threatens our heirship : if we're under the Law, we Don't get the blessings of the Lord.
Cf. Prodigal son : blessed even though he sinned (vs.his brother - who tried to earn his father's blessing but ended up like a servant)
Before "wean":unskilled/babies
"wean" : solid food -> matured Christian -> that's when persecution starts
Hebrews 5:13
For the Christian, the work is done : Jesus has done it, ie,healing, etc. God has healed you already.
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