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♪ theme music ♪
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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
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an in-depth, interactive study
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of the Word of God.
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I'm glad you joined us
we're in the middle
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of a series on "The gospel in Galatians."
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Actually, we just started,
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but we're already learning amazing lessons
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for our lives today,
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The precious Good News,
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and how when we try to share it,
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sometimes people resist the truth
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as it is in Jesus.
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Our topic today: Paul's Authority
and Gospel,
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and there are amazing lessons for us.
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So we're glad you joined us
for Hope Sabbath School.
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And hello to the team;
we're back again.
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The Gospel in Galatians,
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what did we learn
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from the first part of our series
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about Paul being transformed?
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What was the most important
takeaway lesson for you?
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Well, we'll share that as we study today.
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I hope you were with us.
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If you missed the first part
of this series,
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you can go to our website:
hopetv.org/hopess.
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You can watch part one
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of "The Gospel in Galatians."
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And we're always happy to hear from you.
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You can write to us at sshope@hopetv.org.
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Here are just a few emails.
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You know, we know of 150 countries.
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You say, "Derek, how do you know?"
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Well, we have one Android app
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that's being used in 150 countries,
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so there's a lot of people joining us
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for Hope Sabbath School.
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And we've got an Apple app.
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By the way, for those of you
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who have an iPhone or an iPad,
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you can download Hope Sabbath School.
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It's free, and you can access the program.
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Got an email just a few weeks ago
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from someone who in China watched
one program,
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went back and watched 100 hours
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of interactive Bible studies
in our archives.
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So it's there for you.
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Here are a few notes.
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One from Albert in Namibia,
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that's former German West Africa,
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you know, just north of South Africa,
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and Albert writes, "It's so edifying
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to watch and listen
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to you explain the Bible so clearly.
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My wife and I enjoy
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your Bible study every Friday evening
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in preparation for the Sabbath.
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I am a teacher, and I gain
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a lot of knowledge from your classes,
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which I apply during my class," good?
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That's what we want, download the outline.
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"What I want to know is
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whether your class is consisting
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of all student pastors
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because you all seem to know the Bible."
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I guess you could tell, Albert, by the way
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that everybody laughed
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that they're not all student pastors.
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"May the Good Lord continue blessing
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and giving you spiritual wisdom
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as you share the Good News
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with the whole world," amen?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) So what's the takeaway there?
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And the answer is,
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we can all do something for Jesus, right?
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Whether we're teachers or counselors
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or physicians or homemakers
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or construction workers or pastors, right?
Bible teachers.
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We can all do something for Jesus.
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Thanks for writing to us, Albert.
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Here's a note from Kwasi in Ghana.
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Anyone with Ghanaian roots?
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Oh, Joshua! Ghanaian roots, all right.
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Have a little wave here for Kwasi. Okay.
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"I live in Accra," he writes.
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"Your Sabbath School discussion
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has made me an extraordinary Christian
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and has blessed me.
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It's built my personal relationship
with Jesus."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "It's made me a Bible student!"
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This is all good, isn't it?
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"It's helped me organize
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some children in my community
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to share the Word of God with them."
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It gets better and better,
doesn't it, Mario?
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"Every Sunday morning we do exercise
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with the children also
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to strengthen our physical bodies."
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It sounds like a pretty holistic approach,
right?
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Teach the Word of God,
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help them to be healthy.
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"It's my desire that the Hope
Sabbath School discussion
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will be translated
into different languages
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around the world; the program is amazing."
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Well, I want to tell you
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that it's already happening
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in different part of the world,
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that Hope Sabbath School
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is being broadcast in other languages,
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also with closed captioning,
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but you pray for us, Kwasi,
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because we're praying it could go
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to every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people.
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Thanks for being part of the miracle.
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Here's a note from Ludwig in Peru.
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He's written to us before.
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Ludwig says, "I'm always instructed
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by your Friday evening Bible study.
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I thank God for all of you.
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This program is so didactic
and instructive."
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I think he looked up a few words there
for us.
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"Big hug to all of you,
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and God bless you all," amen?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Thanks for writing.
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I know, Ludwig, you said
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you've been learning
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a lot of English, too,
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while you've been watching the broadcast.
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Here's a note from Tammy in New Jersey
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in the United States of America.
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She says, "Thank you so much
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for what you do; it's an encouragement.
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I love Hope Sabbath School.
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I watched the first episode
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of Hope Sabbath School in December 2016
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during a Sabbath school breakfast
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I'd planned for our church.
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I'd heard of Hope Channel,
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but not having a television,
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I'd never seen it before
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and never seen Hope Sabbath School.
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Well, I loved it, and I was thrilled
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when I found out you could get it online."
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It's easy; you can get the app,
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or you can watch it online,
hopetv.org/hopess.
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And she concludes, "May God
continue abundantly
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to bless your ministry.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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I love being a member
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of Hope Sabbath School."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) All right, and by the way,
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she's involved in a children's ministry
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there in New Jersey,
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and so she can do
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an interactive Bible study with us
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as part of Hope Sabbath School.
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One last note, from Trinidad and Tobago.
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That's in the beautiful Caribbean.
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Just a short note, Leslie Ann writes
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and says, "I'm from the island
of Trinidad and Tobago."
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I guess that's considered one country,
isn't it?
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"I enjoy watching and doing the lesson.
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I also enjoy watching Jason
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sing the Scripture songs."
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Well, Jason, why don't you wave
to Leslie Ann,
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and we're going to sing
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the Scripture song right now, actually.
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We've got a brand new song for this series
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from the gospel in Galatians.
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It's taken from Galatians, chapter 2,
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which says, "I have been crucified
with Christ,
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and I no longer live,
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but Christ lives in me," it's a miracle.
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If you haven't learned the song,
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go to our website, download the song,
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the sheet music, so you can sing along.
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We're going to sing it right now.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) There's so much included
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in that one verse in Galatians 2:20,21.
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The Son of God loves you
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and gave Himself for you;
isn't that awesome?!
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I just want to pray
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that Jesus would be lifted up today
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as we study the gospel in Galatians.
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Father in Heaven, thank You.
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Thank You that God so loved the world
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that You sent Your one and only Son
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that whoever believes in Him
should not perish
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but have everlasting life.
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We see sickness and death all around us.
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We know that sin
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brings death and destruction,
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but I thank You
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that You've given us hope in Your Word
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even today, hope in Jesus.
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And I pray as we study
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the Gospel in Galatians,
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as we study Paul's authority and gospel,
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that You would work in supernatural ways
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in each of our hearts,
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Hope Sabbath School members
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all around the world.
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May lives be blessed today
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to bring honor to Your name.
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I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Now before we go
into Paul authority,
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I want to go back
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to our previous study, Nicole.
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How could it be
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that God could take a rebel
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who was forcing people
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to blaspheme and wreaking havoc
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(you remember that word?)
in the church
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and call him "My chosen servant"
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to be an ambassador
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for the Gospel message?
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How can that happen?
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(Nicole) Because God loves each and every
one of us and wants us all to be saved.
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And so He uses us wherever we are to
spread His Word to those He wants to save.
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In terms of this case, He knew he was
a Zealot, even if it was a Zealot
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in the time before he was transformed,
and he was doing evil things.
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God knew that he was a Zealot
and when he was actually changed,
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he'd be a Zealot for Him.
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And so God was like, "I know the end
from the beginning, and so, therefore,
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this person's going to be the person
I need at this time to bring my Word
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to those who need it."
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(Derek) Is that encouraging?
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That God sees the potential
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even in the midst of all our stumblings?
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We're going to talk about Paul
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as he writes now.
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Many think this was
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one of the earliest documents
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that we have in what we call
the New Testament,
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about 49-50 A.D.
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And it's written because of a problem
in the church,
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but by then, even at that time,
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we're going to see
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that the Christian church recognized
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the Holy Spirit working in this man,
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name changed from Saul of Tarsus to...?
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(Team) Paul.
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(Derek) Paul the Apostle.
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So let's start in 2 Peter, chapter 3.
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We're going to come back
to Galatians here,
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but Jonathan, would you read for us
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2 Peter 3, verses 15 and 16.
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I want you to listen carefully as Peter,
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in some ways a little humorous,
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he says, "Paul is not always easy
to understand,"
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but there's a testimony
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about the authority of his work.
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(Jonathan) I'm reading
from the New International Version:
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(Derek) So, I've always read that
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and though, "Oh, it's not always easy
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to understand Paul," which is true.
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Sometimes I read a text, and I go,
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"What does that mean?"
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Maybe I need to come
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to Hope Sabbath School
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and get a little help
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from sisters and brothers.
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But there were a couple
of little phrases there
270
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that showed that Peter,
271
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
one of the church leaders and apostle,
272
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recognized the work of the Apostle Paul
273
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as being from God.
274
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did you hear?
275
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Laurel, did you hear something
276
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that caught your attention?
277
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Laurel) It just was amazing that Peter,
278
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who was part of the original 12
with Jesus,
279
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
recognized that Paul was also called,
280
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even though he wasn't with Christ
281
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when He was physically on Earth.
282
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(Derek) That's right; He wasn't
283
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
one of the twelve, right?
284
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he has seen something in his ministry.
285
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Didn't Jesus say, "By their fruit..."
286
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) "...you shall know them."
287
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he had seen something
288
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the fruit of his ministry
289
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that said, "He's an apostle."
290
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What does apostle mean, by the way?
Do you know?
291
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
One who's sent out, right?
292
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"He's an apostle of Jesus Christ," okay?
293
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What else, even in the wording
of the passage,
294
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
did you see something?
295
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Christine and then Marcus.
296
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Christine) It says here in verse 15
297
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God gave Paul the wisdom
and the knowledge...
298
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Aha, wisdom, I think the way
Jonathan read it,
299
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
wisdom comes from God, all right?
300
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anywhere else, a little clue, Jason?
301
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) In verse 16, he talks about those
302
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who twist and distort the meaning,
303
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and he's saying they do it
304
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to their own destruction.
305
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And so, you can deduce from that,
306
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you understand it correctly,
307
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's the way to salvation.
308
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's preaching the message of God.
309
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's an interesting thought,
310
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and actually there's another phrase
attached to there
311
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
which is important, too.
312
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Did you notice it, Peter?
313
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) It says, "as the rest
of the Scripture."
314
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, so he's including
Paul's testimonies,
315
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
not only as a wisdom from God
like Christine said
316
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but as part of Scripture, God breathed.
317
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's Peter who says all Scripture
318
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is God breathed, right?
319
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
No private interpretation,
320
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
321
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
All right, but that's interesting.
322
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Also, implicitly he's saying,
323
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you listen, it's for your salvation,"
324
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that gives it authority.
325
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you twist it,
326
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it's for your destruction."
327
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
All right, so Paul is recognized
328
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
by at least Peter, but I think
329
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we could say by the Christian community.
330
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God's at work in him,
331
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and God is speaking through him.
332
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We're going to look at one of his letters
in this series,
333
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the gospel to the Galatians.
334
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The standard format of a letter...
335
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
did you find this from your study?
336
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What's the standard format of a letter
337
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
back in those times, Tricia Lee?
338
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) I don't know about back then,
339
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I do know like when you're
in grammar school,
340
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you're taught that you start
with a greeting...
341
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay.
342
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) ...or some type
of salutation,
343
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then you have who it's to
344
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then the subject of the message,
345
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you kind of end off with some type of,
you know...
346
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Farewell or closing remark or?
347
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Is that pretty much, Jason,
348
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the way it looked in these letters
349
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
during the New Testament era?
350
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) Largely yes, and you generally
351
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
start with the positive, too.
352
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So you'll say, "Oh, you guys,
353
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this is a nice thing about you,"
354
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
whether you're writing a letter now
355
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or these letters of Paul.
356
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're always saying,
357
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is a good thing that you have,"
358
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is what I like about you."
359
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That would probably
360
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
still work today, right?
361
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If you've got a problem with someone,
362
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you can say, "Here's some things
363
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I really appreciate about you, but,"
364
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and talk about a problem.
365
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And that's pretty much standard format,
366
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
greeting, some word of thanksgiving,
367
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
body of the letter,
368
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then some closing remark,
369
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and typically with Paul
370
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it would include, "the grace of the Lord
371
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
be with you," right, something like that.
372
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's see how he begins
373
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the letter to the Galatians.
374
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians, chapter 1, verses 1 and 2,
375
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, Alyssa, if you'd read that for us,
376
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then we'll compare that.
377
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If someone could find
Ephesians 1, verse 1,
378
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Colossians 1, verse 1,
379
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
let's see if they're similar
380
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or if there are some differences.
381
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
By the way, all of those letters
382
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
were written by the Apostle Paul.
383
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) In the New International Version
it says:
384
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, that's his greeting there.
385
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Keep that in mind.
386
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Does someone have Ephesians?
387
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Joshua, chapter 1 and verse 1.
388
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version.
389
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The Bible says:
390
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) All right, so that's to the church
in Ephesus,
391
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
then he writes to the church in Colossae,
392
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we call that Colossians, Marcus, verse 1.
393
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Marcus) I'll be reading from the King
James Version:
394
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So what did they have in common,
395
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
those three opening salutations?
396
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did they have in common?
397
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) He's an apostle.
398
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay so, Paul, an apostle,
gives his name
399
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like we do even today, right?
400
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Gives the name and says
401
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he's an apostle of Jesus.
402
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What was different, Mario?
403
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did you see different
404
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the Galatian intro?
405
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) He expounds on that.
406
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He says not by the will of man
407
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but of God, you know.
408
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So you can tell
409
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that he needs to clarify something.
410
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Why would he have to do that,
anybody?
411
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He didn't do it to Ephesus or to Colossae.
412
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why would he have to do that for Galatia,
Alyssa?
413
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) This is still early.
414
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Remember, he had to go to all those places
415
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and represent himself anew
416
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to each new church,
417
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so maybe he was still kind of having
to defend
418
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God did call him.
419
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Possibly, of course we haven't
420
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
read the letter yet, have we?
421
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That is a possibility, though.
422
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's like, "You may not know me,"
423
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but actually there's something else
424
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going on here. Nicole?
425
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) His letter talks
about false teachings,
426
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so in this case he's saying, "Listen,
I'm from God.
427
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm an apostle of God.
428
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm bringing you the truth and the Word
429
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that you need to hear,
430
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I want you all to be careful
431
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what else is going on around you
432
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that may draw you away from Christ."
433
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And implied (stay with me now),
434
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
implied is that these people
435
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who are giving these false teachings
436
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are saying what about Paul?
437
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) That he's not from God.
438
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He's not a true apostle, right?
439
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Or he's sent by man and not sent by God.
Jonathan?
440
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) It seems like multiple times
throughout this that he's
441
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
emphasizing this, that, "My authority
doesn't come
442
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
based on other people; it's God."
443
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's the truth that matters
and not the people.
444
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Well let's take a look
445
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as we read on in Galatians.
446
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jason, if you could read
447
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the first six verses,
448
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it will include the initial salutation
that we read,
449
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
verses 1 through 6.
450
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's going to go pass
451
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
saying thank you about anything,
452
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and he's going to come right to the issue
at hand.
453
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's take a look, Galatians 1:1-6.
454
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) I'll be reading
455
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the New King James Version,
456
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians, chapter 1, verses 1 through 6:
457
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Whoa! So something's up here.
458
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We're going to get right to it,
459
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but he has kind of given us
the gospel message
460
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
right in those first few verses.
461
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How would you summarize
the gospel message
462
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from those verses? Peter.
463
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) The salutation
that he gives there, grace and peace,
464
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is very interesting to me,
465
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and is actually used
466
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
almost in every letter,
467
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Peter uses it,
468
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Grace and peace to you."
469
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
""Grace and peace to you."
470
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And it's almost like, the heart of God,
471
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
full of grace, brings something
472
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to our hearts, peace,
473
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and He does that through forgiveness,
474
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and this is given to all men.
475
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So even in the greeting
you're seeing a message.
476
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Many Bible scholars would say
477
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
grace would be a more typical
New Testament,
478
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and shalom, or peace,
479
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
would be more from the Hebrew heritage,
480
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but we're bringing both
481
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in Christ Jesus, right?
482
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What's the message?
483
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did you hear
484
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the first six verses, anybody?
Yes, Alyssa?
485
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) Christ died for us,
486
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but in accordance that God
the whole Trinity is working together.
487
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Also he mentions that when we've been
transformed by that message,
488
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we give glory back to Him.
489
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Yeah, "He gave Himself
for our sins,"
490
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is the way my Bible translates it,
491
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"that he might deliver us from..."?
492
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Evil.
493
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "...this present evil age,
494
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
according to the will of our God
and Father,
495
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to whom be glory,"
496
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then he, like, "God is awesome."
497
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You know, he kind of ends
498
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
his little statement there.
499
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But he up front says,
500
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is God's plan of salvation,
through Jesus," right?
501
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"...to deliver us
from the present evil age.
502
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What is wrong with you?!"
(Thank you, Nicole.)
503
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Where did you get some other gospel?"
504
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Some other...what does
the word gospel mean, do you know?
505
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Good News.
506
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "Where do you find some other news
507
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that isn't good news at all?"
508
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he obviously is dealing immediately
with a challenge.
509
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now before we go into that,
510
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a revelation about the Good News
511
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
was not only given to him, right?
512
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's go back; in our first study
in this series,
513
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we looked at that amazing
concise statement by Peter.
514
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Do you remember that?
515
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Guided by the Holy Spirit.
516
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In Acts 10, verses 34 to 43.
517
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want to hear that again.
518
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm always amazed, Nicole,
519
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you could it for us...
520
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm always amazed at the brilliance
521
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of this concise statement
522
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
about the Gospel message.
523
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And we know it's not because Peter says,
524
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Well, I'm a great scholar."
525
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
No, no, he was a fisherman
526
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who wholly surrendered his life to God,
527
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and by the Spirit he's speaking.
528
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So let's hear his testimony.
529
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) I'm reading Acts 10,
verses 34 through 43,
530
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I'm reading from the New
International Version, and it says:
531
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I love that;
it's so powerful, isn't it?
532
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And by the way, when he says,
"as all the prophets,"
533
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he kind of says that it's the testimony
534
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the whole Scripture.
535
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It reminds me of a Bible study
that Jesus gave.
536
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Do you remember when that was,
Tricia Lee?
537
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) When they were
walking to Emmaus.
538
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Right, first to Cleopas
539
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and the other disciple
540
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
on the road to Emmaus,
541
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but then with the disciples
542
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the Upper Room.
543
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And He said all of these prophecies,
544
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
all of the Scriptures, what?
545
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) "Testify about Me."
546
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Yeah, they "testify about Me,
547
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and not only about Me
548
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that I had to suffer." Why?
549
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He suffered for our sins, right?
550
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He bore our sins that He might...?
551
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What was that wonderful word?
552
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) Deliver us.
553
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Deliver us
from this present evil age.
554
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Wonderful news, but all of that...
555
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "That's a great summary;
556
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm going to write it down, Acts 10:34-43.
557
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If anybody non-Christian come and says,
558
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
'Could you give it to me
559
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in like just a couple of minutes?'"
560
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "Well, let me read to you
561
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what the Holy Spirit said through Peter."
562
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But we could get even more concise
than that.
563
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Someone have John 3:16,
564
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
would read it for us?
565
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anybody have John 3:16?
566
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "I'd like to repeat it."
567
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
John 3:16, got a volunteer?
568
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jason, read it for us, please.
569
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version, John 3:16:
570
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Well that challenges
571
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the whole idea that it's
572
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just for the Jews, right?
573
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It says "whoever."
574
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God so loved the...?
575
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) World.
576
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I mean it's right there
577
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in that very simple statement.
578
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, I have a question for you, Mario.
579
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why do people make the Gospel message,
580
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Good News about what God has done
581
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for us in Jesus,
582
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
why do people make it so complicated?
583
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) Oh, wow, we have something
inside of us
584
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that wants to give out steps or processes
to accomplish things.
585
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean, in our jobs and in school,
586
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
there's this system that tells us,
you know,
587
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you have to do this and this and this,
588
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then you can get what you want.
589
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So it's hard for us to conceive
590
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that a God can love us
591
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and give something to us
592
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
without us having to do something
to earn it,
593
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that it is a gift
594
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if we would just submit to His will...
595
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now the New Testament
596
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and especially the writings of Paul
597
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are all about a new creation.
598
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're all about deliverance
599
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the present evil age,
600
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that is the fruit
601
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of accepting the Gospel message.
602
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Somehow we try to make it
603
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
more complicated than "whoever believes
in Him."
604
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We've got several hands.
605
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's take a moment to reflect on this.
606
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) One way, and we have
seen this, actually,
607
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
throughout the New Testament,
608
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what we studied last time, traditions.
609
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
At times we fall into a routine,
610
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as Tricia Lee mentioned
in a previous study,
611
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that at times we are so ingrained...
612
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we get so comfortable that we believe
613
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that that's the way to go to be saved.
614
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's maybe even
615
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what the Bible teaches, right?
616
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Because we've done it for so long,
617
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or what our religious teacher told us.
618
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) Yes, and Jesus even rebuked
the Pharisees
619
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because, "You come to Me,"
620
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you know, with your mouth;
621
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you're worshiping with your mouth
and everything.
622
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But yet you come to Me
623
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
by the commandments of men."
624
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And this is found in Matthew,
chapter 15.
625
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Right, so that could happen
626
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for us, too, right? Tricia Lee?
627
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) He's reminding us
that we're in an evil age.
628
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The devil is out there
trying to deceive us.
629
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
From the garden he said,
"Did God really say?"
630
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And when we have simple truths
about salvation, that doubt comes
631
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
into our minds like, is it really
that easy to be saved through Christ?
632
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You can hang your doubts on anything,
but it's just like, we have to believe
633
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the true Word that God says
and not question this simple path
634
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God already laid out.
635
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I guess there's two approaches
that the devil could bring.
636
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
One would be to say
637
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it's not that simple, right?
It's more complicated,
638
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or it's not even true.
639
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is not true,
640
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but it's not that simple, you know?
641
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) Is He really
going to forgive you if you ask Him?
642
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Or maybe it's for someone else,
643
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but would it really be for you?
644
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anybody else, why do we make it
so complicated, Jonathan?
645
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) I think sometimes we really
want it to be...
646
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's an issue of pride.
647
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean like, if I can make all these
so wonderful thoughts and ideas,
648
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
then it becomes about me and about what
I'm doing or what I'm thinking
649
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or having the right knowledge, but this is
so simple, like a child can understand.
650
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Didn't Jesus say something
about we need to become as little children
651
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if we would enter the Kingdom?
652
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) That's humbling.
653
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) It requires humility?
Yes, Peter?
654
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) I was thinking, too,
655
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that sometimes maybe...
can God be that good?
656
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Can it be that good?
657
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) You mean a distorted picture
658
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the character of God
659
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
could hold me back
660
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from believing that God could be
661
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that good to me.
662
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) Right, right.
663
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Part of the reason
664
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we study the Bible
665
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is to find out the truth about God, right?
Joshua?
666
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) I believe it was along the lines
667
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what Jonathan said.
668
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He mentioned that, you know,
669
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Gospel is even for little children,
670
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as easy that they can understand it.
671
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I remember as a child
672
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I always saw the Gospel
673
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as something that was easy to digest,
674
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like Jesus loves me,
675
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He wants to save us from our sins,
676
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we're going to Heaven one day,
677
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and it was that simple.
678
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But then as I got older,
679
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
things started to become more and more
and more complicated.
680
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
People are like, "Oh! This prophecy,
that prophecy."
681
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"We have to be saved through this."
682
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you do this,
this is going to happen to you."
683
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And your mind just has
684
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this, for some people,
a spiritual breakdown.
685
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Like, "Whoa, it takes all of that now?
686
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Every move that I make now,
687
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I have to be worried if God is
688
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going to like me or not like me?
689
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Is He going to strike me from Heaven?"
690
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I think that we lose touch
691
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of that real essence of who Christ is,
692
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
making things complicated,
as we've been discussing.
693
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "Whoever believes in Him
694
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
should not perish."
695
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But of course we need Scripture
696
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to know how He is.
697
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Otherwise we could
make up some Jesus, right?
698
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The Bible is crucial,
699
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Jesus, when He said, "Baptize
700
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit,"
701
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He did say, "Teach them
702
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to observe all things I've commanded you."
703
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But all of that is an outgrowth
704
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of my relationship with Him
705
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as my Savior, right?
706
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well let's go back
707
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to the letter of Galatians,
708
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, Laurel, could you read
709
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians 1, verses 6 through 9?
710
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Like we noticed in the first part
711
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(we read verse 6 already,
712
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but read it again),
713
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he skips over, "I'm really thankful
714
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for so much about you,"
715
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and comes in - boom!
716
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"We've got a problem here."
717
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's read verses 6 through 9
of Galatians 1.
718
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version:
719
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek)