Nothing but Christ!

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs June 17, 2007.

Have you ever wondered why people aren’t just flocking in the doors on Sunday morning? Why aren’t people standing in line to get in the door? Why is it not standing room only in this place every Sunday morning? Have you ever wondered? I have. Because I look around at this world and I see that people are hurting. They are searching for truth, sensing that there is more to life. And as hard as they try, they are never finding it!

It is plain to see that the world is searching for things that are spiritual. Just turn on the TV or the radio and pay attention for a while. People are trying to find meaning everywhere they turn. I turned on the radio on the way here and I heard a song by Train called “When I Look to the Sky.” I was struck by the spiritual tones of the song—it could be a prayer! The chorus goes:

Cause when I look to the sky something tells me you're here with me
And you make everything alright
And when I feel like I'm lost something tells me you're here with me
And I can always find my way when you are here.

I see people trying to measure up to the expectations placed on them by family: parents who want more from their kids, self-imposed expectations to be a better father, mother, husband, wife, lover. I see people trying to measure up to the expectations placed on them by the culture we live in. We are expected to succeed, and success is measured by the stuff we have by the society we live in. The other day I saw a beautiful brick home with a lovely manicured lawn. In the driveway sat a new Escalade, pulling a boat painted to match. For a moment I was envious: Why can’t I be rich and successful? But then I realized that I was already blessed by the family I have and the people I live and worship with.

But friends, I believe that the reason we can find a seat here this morning is not that people have better things to do, rather I believe people believe that we expect them to measure up to expectations placed on them by the church. Whether these expectations are real or imagined, in the minds of those who aren’t here, they are as real as the hunger in their souls for something real. To them, we expect them to behave a certain way, speak a certain way, listen to a certain kind of music, even dress a certain way. Maybe they are not real expectations, but the truth is that the expectations people perceive are there until we show them differently, and continue to show them!

Turn with me to Galatians 2:15-21. This is an interesting place in this letter. Paul is relating a confrontation he had with Peter. Peter had been eating with the new Christians, but stopped when pressured by those who wanted to bring some of the old traditions into the faith like circumcision and the observance of Jewish holidays. This passage is interesting because he starts out talking to Peter, and finishes by talking to the Galatians!

Read with me what Paul says…

Galatians 2:15-21 ¹⁵ You and I are Jews by birth, not 'sinners' like the Gentiles. ¹⁶ And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ -- and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law."

Paul is saying that it is only by our faith that we are saved: It doesn’t matter what we have done, what clothes we wear, how we live—anything!

¹⁷ But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not!

This is equivalent to being told “You can’t be a real Christian--you gamble, drink smoke or chew—or go with girls who do!” or “You can’t be a real Christian, you don’t speak in tongues!” or “You can’t be a real Christian because you don’t wear a tie to church.” Is it possible that Christ can come into someone’s life, no matter where they are?

¹⁸ Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. ¹⁹ For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. ²⁰ I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die.

If we take the acceptance Christ extends to us and add a bunch of other requirements—then we rebuild the walls that contained us before! It is only by the power of Christ that we can be freed from our hang-ups—that we can realize that we measure up to any standards through the power of Christ. If we could make it on our own, by being good people-- without faith in Christ—then Christ died for nothing—and we as a people are to be pitied. By putting aside the rules that have governed our lives and putting our full trust in Christ, we nail that old life to the cross—we are crucified with Christ—and the old ceases to have control. We can cry out with Paul—It is Christ who lives in me!

Does that mean I don’t have to quit sinning? No.
Does that mean that I don’t have to grow in my faith? No.
Does that mean I don’t have to give? No.

It means that we all start somewhere, and as we mature in faith, we realize that there are things that draw us closer still. Some of these things are things like giving – it is a contradiction to say “selfish Christian.” By definition, a follower of Christ gives of self—of time, talents, and money. Another is study – if the primary revelation of Christ is through the Bible, how can we draw closer if we don’t study? Finally, there is worship – a time to be encouraged, enriched, to share and build up

The point of this passage of Scripture is that the Galatians were putting on shackles Christ had taken away. But it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Don’t put shackles on your faith, or on anyone else’s faith. I encourage you to grow and develop your faith, and to give your life to Christ –to see him as the Messiah—allow him to save your life, to free you from the expectations of the world, and to empower your life.