Dive deep into the heart of the Gospel with International Gospel Hour as we explore ‘What Christ Has Done for You’. Hosts take us through the profound teachings in Galatians 5, unraveling the concept of liberty and the freedom that Christ offers us. Discover how the ministry of Jesus, rooted in love and sacrifice, liberates us from the law of sin and death, offering a life beyond fear and bondage.
00:00:00 Introduction to International Gospel Hour
Knowing what we can do and what we can become through Jesus Christ is wonderful, and it’s all due to what He has done for us. What Christ has done for you. That’s just ahead from the International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 03 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J. Webb for his kind words. You’ll hear from J. later on in our broadcast, as we do here each and every broadcast. And greetings and hello, everyone. We’re honored once again you’ve joined us for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. And let’s get right into our lesson text of Galatians chapter 5, verses 1 through 6. Paul is writing to the Christians scattered throughout the region of Galatia, and he says, Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed, I, Paul, say to you, that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ. You who attempt to be justified by law, you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but faith working through love. Friends, let’s consider today from Galatians 5, and other texts throughout this wonderful book, What Christ Has Done for You. We’ll be back in a matter of seconds.
SPEAKER 02 :
We love our friends and fellow servants at house2house.com. It’s a great website for researching topics. It has an excellent media section and free materials are available, for example. Please request a free copy of their publication, House to House, Heart to Heart. Check it out today at house2house.com.
SPEAKER 01 :
What Christ has done for you. You know, in Isaiah 53 and verse 11, it was Isaiah who predicted that the Messiah would be God’s servant. And how, as Jesus taught in his earthly ministry from Matthew 20 and verse 28, that he came to minister or to serve and not be served. In Galatians, the Apostle Paul emphasized the service of Christ. Galatians 1 verse 4 and Galatians 2 and verse 20. what Christ has done for man. So today, what has Christ done for you? From Galatians 5 and verse 1, as we noted earlier, number one, Christ has made us free. Freedom is one of the most cherished ideals. Men have freely sacrificed themselves to acquire and to preserve liberty. But real freedom, as we noted from Galatians 5 and verse 1, is in Jesus Christ. It is not a license to do anything that one wants to do. Freedom in Christ is the privilege of doing what one ought to do and refusing those things he should not do. For in Christ one is free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8, 1 and 2. And in Christ there is freedom from the fear of death. From 1 Corinthians 15, beginning with verse 54. So when this corruptible is put on incorruption, and this mortal is put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. One who is under a law of sin surely has basis for fearing death, but we see through Christ that’s not a fear we should embrace. One free from law or the rule of sin and over his life has no fear in death. We affirm there from Hebrews 2 and verse 13. What Christ has done for you, friends, He will make you free. You will have freedom in Christ from the law of sin and death. To God be the glory. Let’s consider some other thoughts from the book of Galatians. As we once again ask the question, what Christ has done for you, Galatians 5 and verse 2, Christ profits you nothing. that if one becomes circumcised or unfaithful, Christ will profit you nothing. We see this later in chapter 5 and verse 7, and even in chapter 5 and verse 4. You have become estranged from Christ. You want to go back to a law that He dealt with in chapters 3 and 4 that we are no longer under. Can you imagine one to be one fallen from grace from that opportunity? There is real profit in obeying and serving Christ. In Matthew 16, beginning with verses 24 and following, we learn that what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and will lose his own soul. We learn that from verse 26. Verse 24 reminds us that if any man will come after Christ, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Christ. In Luke 9 and verse 23, we learn that one must take up his cross and follow Christ daily. When we notice earlier from the book of Galatians chapter 3, verses 26 through 29, that we note that Christ will enable us to become children of God through our obedience to Him, and we become heirs of God’s promise, joint heirs with Christ. He may profit one nothing if one becomes unfaithful to Christ. There is no profit therein in becoming unfaithful to Christ or leaving Christ. What Christ has done for you? Consider number three. Christ is no effect unto you. Because, you see, they have moved away from Christ. But when we’re with Christ, we see what He has done for us. You see, Christ has a power to move men. When we think of Jesus Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection, the life and the gospel that is proclaimed, He has a power to save man from his sin. For Jesus came to this earth to seek and save that which was lost, Luke 19.10. We note at His birth the angelic announcement that His name would be called Emmanuel and He indeed would save people from their sins. God with us, Matthew 1.21. Christ has that power to save one from sin. That’s one great thing, the great thing Christ has done for man. to have freedom from the bondage of sin, as we noted earlier from Romans 8, but we would also parallel Colossians 1, 12-14. Within that text of verse 13, that He has redeemed us, conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, moved us into the kingdom upon obedience to His will. How about the power to escape corruption, the sin of this present evil world, for an individual to change their lives for good, because He’s provided us all things that pertain to life and godliness, 2 Peter 1, 3 and 4. And we certainly do not want to be individuals to be as Peter depicted in 2 Peter 2, verses 20-22, that would return back to the world, return back to a different way of life other than with Christ or for Christ. And to be like that dog returning to his vomit and the sow that was washed returning to the mire, 2 Peter 2, verses 20-22. Think about, for example, if time were to permit us to look at Galatians 1, verses 12-21, and to read of the effect Christ had on the life of Paul, and how Paul’s life was changed for good when he came to Christ. So, friends, this effect of Christ being of no effect unto us may indeed be lost through apostasy. as we noted earlier of 2 Peter 2, 20-22. Noting that we must be, as the Hebrew writer said in Hebrews 3, verse 12, Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God. Friends, may we never depart from God. One must be faithful to Christ, as we note Galatians 2, verse 20. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Christ can do for men that which no one else can do. He can save men from sin and redeem men unto heaven. Politicians, educators, financial leaders, they cannot save men from their sins. But Christ will deliver one from an evil world, Galatians 1 and verse 4. He can enable men to overcome temptations, trials, and troubles of life. Philippians 4 and verse 13. He can save men completely. Hebrews 7 and verse 25. But to do so, men must obey the Lord. Matthew 7, 21 and 22. Friends, to obey God, we need to understand His will for our lives. Maybe we’ve mentioned some things to prompt you to think along those lines today. We want to help you to consider thinking, searching, and learning with our free Bible course available by mail. And here is our J-Web with those details.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988. and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, how grateful we are for our study today, this being part of our Turn Back the Clock series. And the lesson, What Christ Has Done for You, was delivered by the late Tom Holland. A dear brother, encourager and friend, Brother Tom, as we affectionately called him, influenced generations as a college professor, a writer of well over 80 books, and one who was synonymous with great gospel preaching. How thankful we are to present his material today in the spirit of Abel, he being dead, yet speaks, Hebrews 11, 4. Thank you for joining me today here on the International Gospel Hour. Until next time, I’m Jeff Archie. Keep listening.
SPEAKER 03 :
God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. God be with you till we meet again.
