Coming Boldy to the Throne of Grace

Brief Overview of chapters 1-3
- Paul planted churches in Galatia
- Later found that the Judaizers were now  trying to pursuade the Galatians to add
  the keeping of the Mosiac law to their salvation.

IN GALATIANS CHAPTER 4:1-5 PAUL CONTINUES HIS TEACHING OF THE GALATIANS WITH TWO MORE REASONS THEY SHOULD BELIEVE BY FAITH AND NOT WORK UNDER LAW.

 

#1. True sonship (inheritance) is not by law but thru faith

#2. Intimacy with God is not by Law but by faith

I.  Point 1: True Intimacy With God Does Not Come Through The Law

Ga 4:1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate.  2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.  3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.  4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,  5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, <"Abba>, Father."

A. Paul was saying:

- Why go back to a slave mentality - YOU ARE SONS
- You are no longer like children with no rights and inheritance.
-  The Law is like a child under rules

WHY GO BACK UNDER SALVERY TO LAW?

WHY GO BACK TO BEING CHILDREN WITH NO RIGHTS

FULLY ENTER INTO YOU SONSHIP AS THE CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD

B. So Paul Says:

WHAT ABOUT THE KIND OF RELATINSHIP WITH GOD YOU WILL HAVE UNDER LAW?

4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,  5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, <"Abba>, Father."
 
Abba Father: Abba & Pater
Abba= Aramaic for father
Pater= Greek for Father

Intimate term - like our daddy

Paul says same thing to the Romans:

Ro 8:14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, <"Abba,> Father."  16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

Paul's point to the Galatians:
LAW= relationship to rules produces a distant God because you are always reminded of sin

Faith= relationship with God Himself as Abba Father because Jesus has paid for your sins results in the ability to draw close and experience intimacy with God.

C. ONE OF GOD'S GOALS FOR US IS INTIMACY WITH GOD

- Three things must occur before intimacy is possible between humans.

#1. A feeling of being accepted.

#2. Ability to trust that you won't be hurt or embarased.

 

#3. Results in a confidence to drop defences and reveal hidden things. (Be yourself)

When we go to a dinner party, church service, or any gathering ( where there will be people you don't know) we will base whether we had a good time on these things:

- Did I feel accepted? 

- Was I able to trust that it was a place I  would not be wounded or embarrassed?

- Was I able to be myself because I felt accepted and was able to trust that it was a safe place?

Certain levels of social Intimacy can occur under these conditions

II. Same Is True In Man's Relationship With God.      Paul's point:

Under Law:
- Never feel accepted by God
- Never feel safe
- Never can relax and open up - draw near
- Always feel a need to stay distant

If we are trying to earn God's favor:
Uncomfortable praying
Condemned by reading the Bible
Uncomfortable in church - feel like a hypocrite

So you avoid all these things because they make you feel condemned

Under grace through Faith

Intimacy with God is Possible because our sin has already been condemned, and judged in Jesus.

Col 2:13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,  14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Written code: The Law that Condemned us - that listed every infraction

This is What Jesus did thru the Cross
Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin.  16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
(NIV)

Throne of Grace: unmerited favor
Mercy: Deserved judgment held back

How should we come?

Boldly(NKJ)
Confidence (NIV)

Why can we come boldy?

Because Jesus has already paid the price & taken our guilt.

GO GET SOME HELP
- This help is for the undeserving

We Have a Abba Father relationship available to us not based on worthiness

But upon the shed blood of Jesus

1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.