Everyone loves the showdown scene. But the showdowns in scripture are really a fun sideshow. The real questions are, who is God for you, and whose gospel do you embrace?
In scripture, the showdown typically pits those faithful to God against those faithful to other gods and powers. Those gods and powers have their own gospels, very compelling accounts of endorsement. That explains why God's people had divided loyalties most of the time, worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while at the same time having devotions for gods of Ba'al and Asherah.
In Paul's Letter to the Galatians, we find a different crisis of faith playing out. The gospel which Paul shared is one thing, but then "Judaizers" - strict Jews from Jerusalem who merged Jesus into Judaism - brought a different, more Jewish Torah-Law-centered sense of the gospel to those churches. Conflict erupts. Whose gospel is right? And relatedly, in whose God shall faith be committed?
Today, we faithful don't think our worship is divided, yet there are plenty of "gospels" laden with promises of blessing that receive passionate devotion. Those gospels reflect a god and/or power that is typically mean, small, and paltry.
Get challenged by the showdown, and consider if there are gods and gospels that have divided your devotion. Check out the sermon video below and note the downloads below the video panel.
In scripture, the showdown typically pits those faithful to God against those faithful to other gods and powers. Those gods and powers have their own gospels, very compelling accounts of endorsement. That explains why God's people had divided loyalties most of the time, worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob while at the same time having devotions for gods of Ba'al and Asherah.
In Paul's Letter to the Galatians, we find a different crisis of faith playing out. The gospel which Paul shared is one thing, but then "Judaizers" - strict Jews from Jerusalem who merged Jesus into Judaism - brought a different, more Jewish Torah-Law-centered sense of the gospel to those churches. Conflict erupts. Whose gospel is right? And relatedly, in whose God shall faith be committed?
Today, we faithful don't think our worship is divided, yet there are plenty of "gospels" laden with promises of blessing that receive passionate devotion. Those gospels reflect a god and/or power that is typically mean, small, and paltry.
Get challenged by the showdown, and consider if there are gods and gospels that have divided your devotion. Check out the sermon video below and note the downloads below the video panel.
| 05-29-16-ff-answers.pdf |
| 05-29-16-sacred_authority_showdown.pdf |