Natural Born… Spirit Born

Gal 4:21-31

I fear for you… have I labored in vain? (Gal 4:11-20)

What does it mean to be a Christian? God indwells you, everything has changed, a new creation, a son of God & heir w/ Christ… radical transformation & new life. (2Cor 5:17)

What about people who claim to be Christians, but don’t evidence the revolutionary (radical) nature of a Christian… the new life of Christ indwelling them?

Christianity is so radical you cannot come to life & not have it show (evidence).

If no evidence of life… there is none. Parable of the Sower (Lk 8:11-15)

Many who name Jesus as savior have never been transformed by the H Spirit… they have only learned Christian jargon & external behavior.

Paul said, I don’t know for sure that you’re lost… but I am perplexed. (v.20) Is it possible to be Christian & also be totally apathetic, legalistic, & external? It doesn’t seem possible.

Natural born… Spirit born. (Gal 4:21-31)

Galatians had received Paul as an angel of God. While Paul was with them, there was joy, love, power, freedom, & Fruit of Spirit. (v.4:14)

Judaizers taught a gospel that sounded like grace by faith, but bottom line was it’s up to you… adding works & external focus. Not who you are in Christ, but what you do.

Galatians lost their joy & back slid into mentality of earning & striving.

Why to people fall back into legalism? They forget who they are… they’re already a son & heir, & don’t have to earn anything. (son by birth, not performance)

Problem is that we really don’t believe it & fall away from grace to works.

Sometimes the problem is that you never had new life… not really a son. (rocky soil)

Is Christianity really real? Yes, it’s real, but you may not be real. That’s why many fall away (to legalism). All they had was external religion… no internal new life.

It’s hard to get people to receive truth that they may be deceived. To help us see whether we have new life, Paul says the same thing again… in a more revealing way. (v.4:21-31)

Judaizers: it’s true that some are still born, but not us… we’re real, sons of Abraham.

Paul’s reply: you may be a son of Abraham… but he had two sons.

Ishmael: son of law, son of a slave, natural birth, of flesh

Isaac: son of promise, free, supernatural birth, of H Spirit.

Born of different mothers… one a slave, one is free. One is born according to flesh, one by promise & faith. One by natural birth, one supernatural. (v.4:22-23) 

God promised Abraham a son & many descendents. Abraham believed God. (Gen 15:1-7)

Abraham got impatient & added effort to faith. Since Sarah was barren, he took her maid Hagar as wife to bear his son. (v.16:1) Born according to flesh… not promise & faith.

There are many professing Christians today who were born of natural causes. Many who grew up in Christian homes, received training, learned language & doctrine… it was natural for them to become Christian. They became “Ishmaels”… born of natural causes.

Child of God must be born by the Spirit (Jn 1:13)… supernatural new life by faith.

Allegory: the two mothers represent two covenants. (v.4:24)

Hagar & Ishmael represent law, slavery, natural causes… no matter how good, still bondage

Explains lack of new life, power, & joy for professing Christians of natural birth.

Paul says to true believers, you are supernatural like Isaac… heirs by faith. (v.28)

Warning to his brothers in the faith… “Ishmaels” will persecute you. (v.4:29)

“Ishmael” will mock & oppose you. The only solution is to get rid of those who are natural born who are slaves to law & sin. (Gen 21:9-10)

There can be no peaceful & fruitful coexistence between son of law & son of promise.

When you confront legalism (Ishmael) it doesn’t make it worse… it exposes it.

 “Ishmael” must be removed from leadership. Don’t elect natural born leaders.

Don’t be subject again to law… don’t let Ishmael subject you to external rules. (v.5:1)

Spirit born sons & daughters live by faith & walk with the Lord.

The sure mark of salvation is deep longing & love for Christ, & steady effort to know Him more. (2Pet 1:8-11)

Desire to know Him, to abide with Him, & to obey & be well pleasing to Him.

Christ in you manifests himself in holy living… the normal Christian life.

Sons recognize that to be content with beginning well is first step to falling away & losing all (Heb 6:4-6; Lk 8:11-15)… their relationship with Christ must be maintained.

How can you maintain your relationship & faith in Christ that leads to fruitfulness?

True holiness & spiritual power are not qualities that can be once received & thereafter forgotten… every advance will be made against resistance of world, flesh, & Satan.

Practice constant awareness of His presence thru holding inward conversations & private worship of God in Spirit & truth.

Renew your mind by abiding in Christ, walking in the Spirit, praying without ceasing, & meditating on God’s Word day & night.

To do above implies separation from the world, & obedience to revealed will of God.

What is your answer to these questions: “Have you yielded your life completely to the H Spirit?” (Lk 14:26-27, 33)

Such surrender is not once done, nor is it as easy, or as complete as we often suppose.

                                                                                                                                              05-02-10