galatians doctrines the gospel justification grace law legalism liberty spirituality sowing...

Galatians DoctrinesGalatians Doctrines The GospelThe Gospel JustificationJustification GraceGrace LawLaw LegalismLegalism LibertyLiberty SpiritualitySpirituality Sowing & ReapingSowing & Reaping

What Spirituality Is What Spirituality Is NOTNOT

1)1) MoralismMoralism

2)2) LegalismLegalism

3)3) SentimentalismSentimentalism

4)4) EmotionalismEmotionalism

5)5) StoicismStoicism

6)6) Piety/ReligiosityPiety/Religiosity

7)7) IntellectualismIntellectualism

8)8) RationalismRationalism

9)9) AsceticismAsceticism

10)10) GnosticismGnosticism

11)11) MysticismMysticism

12)12) AntinomianismAntinomianism

He That Is SpiritualityHe That Is Spirituality Lewis Sperry ChaferLewis Sperry Chafer pg 141pg 141

““If our kind of spirituality makes Christ unattractive to If our kind of spirituality makes Christ unattractive to others, it needs some drastic changes. May God save His others, it needs some drastic changes. May God save His children from assuming a holy tone of the voice, a holy children from assuming a holy tone of the voice, a holy somberness of spirit, a holy expression of the face, or a somberness of spirit, a holy expression of the face, or a holy garb (if by the garb they wish to appear holy). True holy garb (if by the garb they wish to appear holy). True spirituality is an inward adorning. It is most simple and spirituality is an inward adorning. It is most simple and natural and should be a delight and attraction to natural and should be a delight and attraction to all….Some Christians are disposed to ‘traffic in unlived all….Some Christians are disposed to ‘traffic in unlived truth’; repeating pious phrases the truth of which they truth’; repeating pious phrases the truth of which they have never really experienced. This must always grieve have never really experienced. This must always grieve the Spirit.”the Spirit.”

Objective Context of SpiritualityObjective Context of Spirituality

1)1) CreationCreation

2)2) ChristChrist

3)3) The Spiritual RealmThe Spiritual Realm

True SpiritualityTrue Spirituality Francis A. SchaefferFrancis A. Schaeffer pp 75-77pp 75-77

““The truth is not just an abstract truth, there is a truth of what I am. Now The truth is not just an abstract truth, there is a truth of what I am. Now we could think of two basic areas in considering the question of man. we could think of two basic areas in considering the question of man. The first is being or the question of his existence. This is the dilemma of The first is being or the question of his existence. This is the dilemma of all men, regardless of what their philosophy is. It is the basic thing all men, regardless of what their philosophy is. It is the basic thing which no man can escape, that he does exist. … No matter who he is, no which no man can escape, that he does exist. … No matter who he is, no matter what his philosophy is, he exists and there he is…matter what his philosophy is, he exists and there he is…

““The second area relates to what man is in the circle of his existence. In The second area relates to what man is in the circle of his existence. In other words, I am, but what am I in comparison with what God is? I other words, I am, but what am I in comparison with what God is? I exist, God exists: what is the difference between the circle of my exist, God exists: what is the difference between the circle of my existence and the circle of his existence?…existence and the circle of his existence?…

““Now the rebellion of man is trying to exist outside the circle in which God Now the rebellion of man is trying to exist outside the circle in which God made him to exist. He is trying to be what he is not. But as he tries to made him to exist. He is trying to be what he is not. But as he tries to be what he is not, all the elements of what he is as man rise up against be what he is not, all the elements of what he is as man rise up against him. When man stands before judgment, and God judges him, him. When man stands before judgment, and God judges him, everything that man is has already risen up and judged him in the everything that man is has already risen up and judged him in the present life…present life…

““Man cannot escape the fact of the motions of a true right and wrong in Man cannot escape the fact of the motions of a true right and wrong in himself… And yet beginning with himself he cannot bring forth absolute himself… And yet beginning with himself he cannot bring forth absolute standards and cannot even keep the poor relative ones he has set up. standards and cannot even keep the poor relative ones he has set up. Thus in the area of morality, as in rationality, trying to be what he is Thus in the area of morality, as in rationality, trying to be what he is not, as he was made to be in relationship to God, he is crushed and not, as he was made to be in relationship to God, he is crushed and damned by what he is.”damned by what he is.”

The Practical Spiritual Relevance of CreationThe Practical Spiritual Relevance of Creation

Hezekiah, 2 Kings 19:15: Hezekiah, 2 Kings 19:15: ““Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: ‘O LORD Then Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: ‘O LORD God of Israel, God of Israel, the Onethe One who dwells who dwells betweenbetween the cherubim, You the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earthmade heaven and earth.’”.’”

Levites (during Feast of Tabernacles), Nehemiah 9:5b-6:Levites (during Feast of Tabernacles), Nehemiah 9:5b-6:““Stand up Stand up andand bless the LORD your God forever and ever! bless the LORD your God forever and ever! Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all Blessed be Your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise! blessing and praise! You alone You alone areare the LORD; You have made the LORD; You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You and everything on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.”preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.”

Jeremiah, Jeremiah 32:16b-17Jeremiah, Jeremiah 32:16b-17““I prayed to the LORD, saying: I prayed to the LORD, saying: ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”



2)2) ChristChrist


Was Jesus Christ a Historical Was Jesus Christ a Historical Figure?Figure?

Books by G. A. GrahamBooks by G. A. Graham Did Jesus Exist?Did Jesus Exist? (Prometheus Books, 1975; second edition (Prometheus Books, 1975; second edition

1986)1986) The Historical Evidence for JesusThe Historical Evidence for Jesus (Prometheus Books, 1982) (Prometheus Books, 1982) The Jesus LegendThe Jesus Legend (Open Court, 1996) (Open Court, 1996) The Jesus MythThe Jesus Myth (Open Court, 1999) (Open Court, 1999) Cutting Jesus Down to Size: What Higher Criticism Has Cutting Jesus Down to Size: What Higher Criticism Has

Achieved and Where It Leaves ChristianityAchieved and Where It Leaves Christianity (Open Court, (Open Court, 2009)2009)


““We have a good deal of information about the polemical We have a good deal of information about the polemical and often bitter arguments Christians, Jews, and pagans and often bitter arguments Christians, Jews, and pagans had with one another in the early centuries. But the early had with one another in the early centuries. But the early Christians' opponents all accepted that Jesus existed, Christians' opponents all accepted that Jesus existed, taught, had disciples, worked miracles, and was put to taught, had disciples, worked miracles, and was put to death on a Roman cross. As in our own day, debate and death on a Roman cross. As in our own day, debate and disagreement centered largely not on the story but on the disagreement centered largely not on the story but on the significance of Jesus. significance of Jesus.

““Today nearly all historians, whether Christians or not, Today nearly all historians, whether Christians or not, accept that Jesus existed and that the gospels contain accept that Jesus existed and that the gospels contain plenty of valuable evidence which has to be weighed and plenty of valuable evidence which has to be weighed and assessed critically. There is general agreement that with assessed critically. There is general agreement that with the possible exception of Paul, we know far more about the possible exception of Paul, we know far more about Jesus of Nazareth than about any first- or second-century Jesus of Nazareth than about any first- or second-century Jewish or pagan religious teacher.”Jewish or pagan religious teacher.”

Graham Stanton, "The Gospels and Jesus" (Oxford:2002), [GAJ2, 143-Graham Stanton, "The Gospels and Jesus" (Oxford:2002), [GAJ2, 143-145]145]


Professor E.P. Sanders, Duke University : “There are no substantial Professor E.P. Sanders, Duke University : “There are no substantial doubts about the general course of Jesus' life: when and where he doubts about the general course of Jesus' life: when and where he lived, and the sort of things that he did during his public activity.”lived, and the sort of things that he did during his public activity.”

Dr. John Dickson, Macquarie University: “To describe Jesus’ non-Dr. John Dickson, Macquarie University: “To describe Jesus’ non-existence as ‘not widely supported’ is an understatement. It would existence as ‘not widely supported’ is an understatement. It would be akin to me saying, ‘It is possible to mount a serious, though not be akin to me saying, ‘It is possible to mount a serious, though not widely supported, scientific case that the 1969 lunar landing never widely supported, scientific case that the 1969 lunar landing never happened.’ There are fringe conspiracy theorists who believe such happened.’ There are fringe conspiracy theorists who believe such things - but no expert does. Likewise with the Jesus question: his things - but no expert does. Likewise with the Jesus question: his non-existence is not regarded even as a possibility in historical non-existence is not regarded even as a possibility in historical scholarship. Dismissing him from the ancient record would amount scholarship. Dismissing him from the ancient record would amount to a wholesale abandonment of the historical method.”to a wholesale abandonment of the historical method.”

Professor Graeme Clarke: “Frankly, I know of no ancient historian or Professor Graeme Clarke: “Frankly, I know of no ancient historian or biblical historian who would have a twinge of doubt about the biblical historian who would have a twinge of doubt about the existence of a Jesus Christ - the documentary evidence is simply existence of a Jesus Christ - the documentary evidence is simply overwhelming.”overwhelming.”


““We have a good deal of information about the polemical We have a good deal of information about the polemical and often bitter arguments Christians, Jews, and pagans and often bitter arguments Christians, Jews, and pagans had with one another in the early centuries. But the early had with one another in the early centuries. But the early Christians' opponents all accepted that Jesus existed, Christians' opponents all accepted that Jesus existed, taught, had disciples, worked miracles, and was put to taught, had disciples, worked miracles, and was put to death on a Roman cross. As in our own day, death on a Roman cross. As in our own day, debate and debate and disagreement centered largely not on the story but on the disagreement centered largely not on the story but on the significancesignificance of Jesus of Jesus. .

““Today nearly all historians, whether Christians or not, Today nearly all historians, whether Christians or not, accept that Jesus existed and that the gospels contain accept that Jesus existed and that the gospels contain plenty of valuable evidence which has to be weighed and plenty of valuable evidence which has to be weighed and assessed critically. There is general agreement that with assessed critically. There is general agreement that with the possible exception of Paul, we know far more about the possible exception of Paul, we know far more about Jesus of Nazareth than about any first- or second-century Jesus of Nazareth than about any first- or second-century Jewish or pagan religious teacher.”Jewish or pagan religious teacher.”

Graham Stanton, "The Gospels and Jesus" (Oxford:2002), [GAJ2, 143-Graham Stanton, "The Gospels and Jesus" (Oxford:2002), [GAJ2, 143-145]145]



2)2) ChristChrist


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