Change yourself

Galatians 1:6 - Paul is surprised people are quickly deserting grace and turning to 'different' gospel - grace v. religion - relationship v. rules

1. How to become 'godly' - choice between tree of life and tree of 'knowledge' (die) - devil tempted Eve to become 'godly' - wrong choice leads to loss of innocence and shame - must choose obedience and life

2. One focuses on what you do v. One focuses on what Jesus has done - how much Jesus I can find in what I have read or done - scriptures testify about Jesus and to get close to Jesus

3. One focuses on getting God's approval v. One focuses on receiving God's love that is unending - God demonstrated love while we were still sinners - we love because he first loved

4. One focuses on external duty v. One focuses on internal desire - God thank you for choosing me - 1John 5:3 This is how you Love God

Action:

A. Fall in Love with Jesus - for who he is and what he has done - if you love you will without even thinking about it

B. Don't allow condemnation - Jesus commands - law of spirit gives life and freedom

C. Make the choice everyday

Galatians 2 - How do we keep from going back to our old ways/life?

Peters eating w gentiles then shun due to Jewish peer pressure

Paul says you know Jesus not by rule-keeping but through Personal Faith - natural man v. God man

I have been crucified with Christ - must live and die with Christ - 1. deny yourself 2. take up the cross 3. follow Jesus - the more I die, the more I live

We want circumstances to change, God wants to change me and you - us

Paul - I die every day

Face grounded - no where to fall when once low

Action steps:

1. Humility - freedom

2. Crucify flesh - passion and desires that go against God - choose for yourself this day; we will serve the Lord

3. Choices - live for God

4. Crucify the world

5. Separation - 2 corinthians 6