Galatians 2:19-21 | Death to the Selfie.

This is City Post Church. We're about three things.

Build equipped and send. All under the Lordship of Jesus

Christ, a small church plant in Fort Worth, TX.

Who decided to do things a little differently?

Adoramos. Ajesu Cristo.

I love City Post because of the people.

It's where I belong. We truly preach the word.

I love City Post because of the community we've been able to

build. To do ministry like Jesus.

For light to push back. Darkness.

This is City Post podcast so. We're going to be in Galatians

Galatians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2 today. Hey, so in 2001 there was a term

that began called selfie. Anybody familiar?

So pretty much if you look at the.

History of what? A selfie.

Is and where it came from. It all started with a group of

Australian students who took a camera, turned it around.

And took a picture of. Their friends and this girl that

posted it on her. Blog called it a selfie.

And then a selfie is pretty much a.

Self photograph, a self. Self photography, a

self-portrait. In 2003 that term was coined and

it it was infused into our culture today and it actually.

Caused me to do a little bit of. Like digging because I was a

real. Curious about this because we

use it so. Much in our vernacular and so

even today, 93,000,000 selfies are taken.

Daily, Worldwide. It's just a normal thing now,

like nobody. Y'all remember when people used

to talk about? Hashtags.

We're like every marketing meeting you would go to, they're

like, we got to make sure we added hashtag.

And I'm like, thanks, Boomer. Like we know that like that's

just normal information now. And I feel like that's kind of

what selfies have become. 60% of Americans take at least one.

Selfie a week. And out of those 60%, only 60%

of those selfies are people smiling.

So I guess the other. 40% are duck.

Faces like alright. Anyway, I'm just curious.

Don't look at nobody. All right, so the average.

Teenager in the United. States takes 5 to 8 selfies a

day. Between 7th and 7th grade and

seniors in high school. And some of you are like, that's

not true. Like just because you don't post

them don't mean that you take them.

Right. Like that's the average.

Teenager. The.

Average person or the average selfie takes about 7 minutes.

To take, to edit, to add filters and to be satisfied with it. 5

to 7 minutes. That whole process.

And and then I started thinking I was like you.

Know selfies tell a story? And they're and I'm not saying.

Selfies are bad, trust me. After this, I'm going to keep

taking them. Right.

Like it's part of our culture. It's just what?

We do. We want to show people things,

but selfies also have. Topical like, like they, they,

they. Get into.

These like spaces where you're. Trying to convey a message.

To people. So what I did was.

I got in my iPhone and you know like.

You could look at pictures like folders of pictures.

And now? If you have the update, there's

actually a folder that says selfies so I was curious.

I was like man I wonder what the kind of selfies I have saved on

my camera. So I opened the folder in my

iPhone. I had 244 selfies.

That's a lot, y'all I? Don't even remember that.

So I started. Looking through them and I was

like, man, these are like. Categories that we do today, so

I would like to. Share with you some some of the

stuff I found right so so. When we take selfies.

I think one of the selfies we do is we take the famous person

selfie. So the famous person selfie is

when you see somebody that is popular or famous, like I took

one with Santa. Claus, do y'all have selfies

with Santa Claus? No, in my family, yeah, we do

celebrate Santa Claus. We think it's fun.

Let my kids have that. Y'all believe in essential oils?

Let my kids believe in Santa. All right, so I'm just saying

let let my kids have it. Don't ruin it for them, right?

And then, you know, not just the famous person selfie, but then.

You have the. Airport selfie So whenever

you're travelling or you're at an airport, you tend to want to

take. A selfie to let the.

World know that you will no longer be in town after the

airport selfie. You have the Somebody stole my

cell phone selfie where people Jack your phone.

People take your. Phone and then they.

Decide to take 50. Of them to take up all your

memory, and that's kind of a normal thing.

But then you have the look who I ran into selfie and.

When you see somebody that you haven't seen in a long time, an

old friend, a family member, the first thing you think of is

like, I want to. Take a picture with you so I

could show everybody like hey. Reunited, and it feels so.

Good, right? Like.

I want to. Show the world that that like we

took a selfie. Then you have the.

I took it first selfie, right? So I had the privilege.

When Estefan and Crystal. Got married as.

Mr. and Mrs. Cortez, I was the first person that I took a

picture with with them. That's my claim to fame.

And many of us like whenever we do something first, whether we

finish a. Race, whatever it is.

We want to make sure that we let the world know.

That it was us first. Then you have like toxic a

selfie or like I like to call the crazy eyes.

You know, sometimes we try to take selfies and, and, and it

kind of shows like, hey, I'm pretty, but I'm also crazy.

Don't mess with me. Like I saw this.

Picture and I was like, oh, she got the crazy.

Eyes like like she's like I'll cut you.

You know what I mean? And then we see these selfies.

Then we have the wish. You were here selfie like the

celebrating. The FOMO.

Like I wish. You guys were here.

I'm here right now, but you're not, so let me.

Take a picture to let. You know.

That you should be here. With me right now having a great

time. Then you have the.

Before disaster strike selfie. All right.

There's always a picture that you take that you.

Remember, like I took this photo before it all went bad.

This was my disaster. Strike selfie.

I went biking with Alex. And I ended up in the in the

bushes because I didn't listen to him.

Rachel was beating me up for that one.

Then you got the rocking with. Jesus selfie, right?

And this. One a lot.

Of us take selfies. When we're rocking with Jesus.

So whether we are doing. Devotionals whether we're.

Getting ready for Bible study sermons.

We want to make sure. We take take a selfie.

In our coffee shop. Or wherever we're.

At To Let people know. That we're rocking with Jesus.

Today and which there's nothing wrong with that I think.

It's a great way to let. People know that hey, I'm in the

word. You should be in the word too.

Right. So rocking with Jesus selfie

last. Couple we have the I'm just

bored. Selfie where people are just

bored so you just take selfies. Just to pass the time.

We have the. Church gang selfie When you're

out with the church, you want to let people know you see Mina.

All right, so that church gang selfie.

Then you have the small. Flex Selfie where you're at a

place or location. And you want to flex on people,

but you don't want to tell them. Exactly what it is because.

You want them to ask. You where you're at.

So you take a random picture and just post it and be like.

Wish you were here, right? Or it sucks to be at the beach.

You know, you just. Throw that out there so.

People pay attention. And then the last and not least,

my favorite, the Stevie Wonder selfie.

So we have all sorts of selfies. I mean, I could go down the

line. We have gym selfies because we

want people. To see that we are.

Progressing in our workouts, we have motivational selfies.

Or we take a picture. Looking into the sun and we

throw a motivational like I am somebody you know, I don't know,

like just just think. About what motivates.

You and then we have. The thirst trap selfie where

people will take. Yeah, where people take selfies.

Sharing their assets to the. World.

Because they want attention and they want people to look at

them. And what's wild is this whole

idea of selfie is. Ingrained in our culture to the

point. Where we do these?

Things not really knowing. Why we do it and really what the

selfie. Stems from is inside the word

self. In 2014, the Chain Smokers came

out with a song called #selfie Blew up Worldwide.

It's. Everywhere and it's going to

continue to drive our technology.

However, I think if we're not careful, this whole concept of

selfie is actually going to. Drive our theology as well, and

we have to be. Very, very careful because it's

starting to leak. In to our eschatology and the

way. That we see ecclesiology and our

Christology like. The way we view Christ and the

church if. We're not careful.

We're going to stick ourselves in the center of that when what

God is saying when we look at the gospel, is that the problem?

Is you you're the issue. You're not the, you're not the

solution. So I had to send.

Christ to come in. And solve that problem.

So. The Gospel says it's not.

About self, it's actually. You must die to self.

And that's a hard concept for many of us in this room and many

of us in this world to understand because.

The gospel puts the world. Upside down, it's not.

About you, it's actually. About dying to self, you want to

be first. You got to be last.

You want to be the greatest in the Kingdom.

You got to live a humble life. It's the upside down Kingdom.

It's kind of. What Jesus teaches us.

And when I what I want to. Show us today.

Is that? Listen, I'm going to say this

with a. Lot of love you.

Are not the main character in the movie of life you're not

you're. Actually, the guy that's

begging. To be in the B roll, Jesus is

the main character. Jesus is the one who comes in

and saves. US.

And. Pulls us out of our self.

And he gives us his. Spirit so that way we.

Can live life and live Christianity the.

Way it's supposed to live. And it's only done through him

and not us. It's kind of a hard concept to

grasp. Because the gospel pushes

against self. And it points us to.

Die to self. So what we're going to look at?

Today in Galatians chapter 2. Is that Paul?

Galatians 2 · chapter mention

Is going to make an argument he's going to confront.

Cephas. Who's Peter and Cephas?

Is coming in here and he's like, Nah, man, like he like these

guys come in, these Judaizers come in and they see the

Gentiles are all coming to. Christ and the Judaizers.

Are like, man, that's great. But you guys need to.

Follow some of the law. So you can come to Christ, but

it's also the law as well, so. If you want to be.

Justified by. Christ, it's not just through

faith and grace and Him alone. You also have to dip into the

law as well. And they walk in.

Here and they pull Peter. And even Barnabas fall into it,

and Paul shows up, and Paul's like, hold on a second, that's

not how this is going to roll. And Paul confronts Cephas to his

face. And I think it's a great

reminder for us to understand. That the gospel is for.

Every single person and the. Gospel is all about grace.

Alone, it's not through. Works.

It's about faith. Alone, and it's through Christ

alone. And if you hear any other

gospel, that's all trash. And I and I understand that we

live our. Life through tik.

T.O.K and social media and. Reels but listen if.

It's not through faith, grace, and Christ alone.

It is a gospel that is not existent.

It's an encouraging message that does not work.

So what Paul does here is Paul's like.

Listen the gospel I received. I received through Christ.

Straight up from him and this is the.

Gospel, that is, that saves. And brings salvation to all.

Of us so we're. Only going to focus on verse 19

through 21. But I got to catch us up a

little bit. So Galatians.

Galatians 2 · chapter mention

Chapter 2 Look at verse. 11 so Galatians chapter 2 I'm going to

Galatians 2 · chapter mention

start on verse 11 and this is what.

The word of the Lord says. When Cephas came to Antioch.

I opposed him to his face. This is Paul talking.

Because he stood condemned for before certain men came from

James. He used to eat with.

The Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began

to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles

because he was afraid. Of those who.

Belong to the circumcision group the other Jews joined him in

his. Hypocrisy so that their

hypocrisy. Even Barnabas.

Was LED astray, so look. What's happening?

So that the book of. Galatians is all about Paul

looking at the church in Galatia saying like you guys are falling

back into. The law when it's faith through

Christ. Alone, you don't have to.

Abide by the law. It's through faith in Him and

these Judaizers are coming into the church and they're starting

to feed like, no, no, no, it is through Christ.

But you also got to be circumcised.

It is through. Christ, but you also can't eat

certain things and when when the people that from James came it

changed the way that Cephas and Barnabas and some of the.

Believers, it shifted. How they saw the Gentiles.

Now who are the Gentiles? Gentiles or anybody that's not a

Jew, Pretty much. So think about.

This like you're in high. School High school cafeteria.

Now, some of you are like, well, Ricky, I go off campus.

We didn't have to do that. Just go with me here.

You're in the high school cafeteria.

You walk into cafeteria, you have all.

Groups kind of hanging out, eating with each other.

Right like you have the. Football team, like everybody's

eating, hanging out there. You have like the video game

squad we we call. Them the white hats.

Right, like the rich. Kids and then you had the emo

kids and then you had. Like the language center kids

over here, like, like you had everybody.

In their own little groups, hanging out together and and.

Paul is walking. In there and he sees the

Gentiles who he's been ministering to and they've been

sharing the gospel to. But then there's.

A group over here that are the Judaizers.

And as he's going into the cafeteria, the Judaizers like,

hey, come sit with us, Paul, You don't sit with them.

They don't. Follow the law.

Like they're, they're eating bacon.

You're not supposed to eat bacon and.

Cephas is like, well, it says that Cephas was scared, so

Cephas is like. Y'all right, I'm going to come

over. Here, So they started pulling

the believers to treat. The Gentiles differently and

Paul is seeing this and what Paul does is Paul is going to.

Call out Cephas or Peter to his face.

So look at verse 14, he says. When I saw that they were not

acting in line with the truth. Of the gospel, I said to Cephas

in. Front of them all.

You are a Jew, yet you live like a.

Gentile and not like a. Jew How is it then that you

force? Gentiles to follow Jewish

customs. AKA Paul you're.

Capping. I mean, Peter, you're capping

right now because I know you eat bacon.

You coming over here saying like, Oh no, like I I.

I follow the law. I do all these things like, no,

I can't do that. And Paul's like, hold on, Peter,

you and me, we had a bacon sandwich yesterday, so don't act

all high and mighty right now. So this is an example.

Like what? Paul is is saying.

He's like, man, you're making stuff up, man you're lying in

front of. Everybody, because you live this

way. But that's not what.

The gospel is. You don't.

You don't. Neglect people because you.

Think they're not following the law?

That's not the gospel. Cephas Barnabas, and Paul is

quickly throwing this there. Now look at 15 through 17 and

Paul's going to explain kind of why.

We who are Jews by birth. And not sinful Gentiles know

that a person is not. Justified by the works of the

law, but by faith in who? Jesus.

So we too have to put our faith in Christ Jesus that.

We may be. Justified by faith in Christ.

And not by the. Works of the law, because by the

works. Of the law no one will be

justified Paul is breaking this thing down he's like, listen,

the gospel is not about doing the law of.

God, the Gospel is about faith in Jesus Christ, that's what.

Brings you salvation, but if in seeking to be justified in

Christ. We.

Jews find ourselves also among the sinners.

Doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin?

Absolutely not if I. Rebuild what I destroyed.

Then I really. Would be a law breaker.

So Paul is going after the fact that Cephas kind of went back

into his old ways and what's. Wild is if you if you follow the

story of Peter. Even in Acts, Peter has a

vision, a dream of this blanket where God's telling him it's not

about. The food you eat that brings you

closer. To me.

So Peter knows he knows better, but he got intimidated and Paul

is kind of charging them up saying no, Peter, it's not about

if you want to be. Justified with Christ.

It's about putting faith in him. It's not through.

The works of the law. So Paul is.

Bringing all this up and this is the climax of this conversation,

this. Is where it all bubbles.

This is where I want to focus. Look at 19 because Paul says

something here that is so important.

Look what it says for though the law.

I died to the law. So that I might live.

For God. What Paul says here is a massive

statement to say this in front of Judaizers.

Who has? Spent their whole entire lives

believing that in order for them to be right with God, they must

know and follow every single law of God.

And what, Peter? Says is like Nah, I had to.

Because of the law. I had to die to the law so that

way I might live. For God, see what Peter.

Was saying is if I don't die to the law then it's going to be

impossible for me to use the law in order to be justified in

front of a holy. And righteous God, how did?

Paul die to the law. See the law.

Itself killed Paul. Now I'm not talking.

Literally, but spiritually. See, what Paul understood is

that because. Paul knew the law.

Listen. Paul's pedigree, his background,

he was. Trained by one of the the

strongest rabbis, Paul knew the law back and forth.

Paul was zealous to the law. To the point where he would go

and kill Christians, Christ's followers.

He would persecute the Church. Until he had an encounter with

Jesus that changed his life forever.

And if you want to know more, you should come to.

VBS. That's what we're going.

To be talking about. It.

Showed him that he could never live.

Up to the law and fulfill its holy standard, right?

So. Paul's understanding of the law

he never understood. It it actually frustrated?

Him watch this. The law of God to.

Paul made him guilty not. Justified so all through life.

He's thinking, this is how I become good with God.

But then Jesus shows up on the scene, the new covenant comes in

and God's like no, the law points.

You to the Savior. It's a big fat.

Neon sign that says you can't do this, you need somebody.

To do it for you, You can't do this yourself.

It's impossible, you see, like. When Jesus taught on the Sermon

on the Mount. Jesus would be.

Preaching, he was giving Kingdom principles, things that you

should do. That's different than what?

Paul understood the law to. Be.

So if the law makes you feel guilty and doesn't point you to.

Somebody to be justified? You have your faith in the wrong

thing because what the law should make you do.

Is you should look at the law it serves.

As a mirror to help. You understand that you can't do

it. So I need a savior.

I need somebody that will help me do it, but I want you to

notice something that Paul says here.

I think this is so important in verse 19 because when I read.

The text, it says the law. I died too.

Paul does not. Say I had to kill the law guys,

the law of God is great. It shows the holy heart of God.

It shows the character of God. David, I will hide your word,

your. Law in my heart, so that way I

do not sin against you. Psalms, 1/19/10.

It was the way that Paul viewed the.

Law so Paul doesn't go around saying I need to.

Kill the law so that. Way I'm good with God.

Think about what, Paul? 'S saying here look he.

What what he's saying? Is like everything in my life

that I've put hope in. Like this is how I always live,

this is how I always thought that I would be right with God

by the law pursuing. The law doing the law.

Paul never said I had to kill this, Paul says.

I have to kill. This and when I think about the

things that you and I as believers.

Struggle with if you think. About the things that we battle.

Our addictions, our past, our anxiety, our depression, our

anger. Our lust, our deceptive nature.

All the things that our sinful nature brings up.

All the things that our. Flesh.

Battles, many of us grip it and we're like, we got to kill it.

I got to kill my past. I got to.

Kill my anxiety, I got to kill my depression and we.

Try to do it ourselves and what you need to kill is you.

It's not it. We live in a sinful world.

There's always going to be sin until the new heaven and the new

earth come, until we're in. Glory with Him we're always.

Going to live in our sinful nature and in the.

Sinful world. But the great news of the Gospel

is that Jesus came, He died, He was buried, he rose.

Again, so that way if I put my trust in Him and ask him for the

forgiveness of my sins, he gives me His spirit and I'm able to

walk in this sinful. Jacked up world saying.

Saying Nope, you don't have no bold on me.

You don't have no hold on me. I'm not a slave to you anymore.

You're able to walk in. Freedom, guys, that is what?

The gospel is. And I think sometimes many of us

struggle with things and has nothing.

To do with the thing. We're struggling with has

everything to do with. US.

But we don't want to point that out, and what Paul is going to

tell us in the next verse is the reason why I had to die to

myself. Why I died to the flesh?

How did I do that? Because I was crucified with

Christ. Therefore, I no longer live.

Look at verse 20. For it is Christ who.

Lives in me. So that way, the life.

I now live in the body which is in earth.

I live by the Father. And the Son of God who loved me

and who gave himself for me AKA. The death of a selfie.

What Paul is. Getting out here, he's like,

man, I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it.

Like man, the law, I had everything, all my hope in this,

what I thought, and really the only way for me to defeat this

thing was I had to crucify my flesh.

Had I had to kill? What's inside of me spiritually?

You see, Paul? Was struggling the.

Pride of the old I if you look at this.

Look at verse 20. Look at, look what he uses.

I have been crucified. I no longer live now.

I now live I. Live by faith.

He uses the word IA lot because he's putting the responsibility.

Where it needs to go on himself. He doesn't say law, he says my

I. So what?

He says. Is I've been.

Crucified with Christ? What?

What? What he's saying?

Here is like man, when Jesus was put on the cross, I understand

that he took all of my sin, he took everything that.

That I should have been and he killed it.

He let God put his wrath all over it.

So that way I. Could no longer live for myself

now I live. For Christ.

And in our culture, man, we. Are directed to.

Everything focused on me, I myself.

Everything is self esteem, self-confidence, self.

Direction, self help, self exaltation, but also that's the

good stuff. But the good stuff leads to some

also bad stuff like self pity, self sabotage, self hate, self

hatred. Why does the that good lead to

the bad? Because you're focused.

On you and you cannot do it. Listen, you're bearing a weight

that you were never meant to carry.

You don't have the. Power to defeat.

Sin. You don't have the power to

defeat Satan, You don't have the power to fight against the

devil. So the longer.

That you gaze. On yourself, the more frustrated

you're going to be calm because nothing is working the way that.

You thought it should work. And then when things don't work,

you begin to mask, you begin to find pleasure in positions and

all this other stuff. And listen, what Paul is saying

is like. You have got to die.

To self, it's time. To be crucified with Christ.

So how does all this work? How do I?

How does this work? Because the truth is meant like

those who struggle, those who. Really, really struggle with.

Things, man, they have not truly surrendered yet.

Jesus being Lord means that he's all I want, He's all I need,

He's all I want to serve. So when other things start

coming in, I say I've been crucified with Christ.

That don't work on me. Because it's Christ.

That lives inside of me. I have a spirit that lives in

me. I no longer live.

What does that mean? That means that my heart of

stone is now crushed and I have a heart of flesh now.

The pride that I once had is now shattered and my life is

surrendered so. We talked about this a few weeks

ago. So when I give my life to

Christ, that means that I have a new self.

My old self is now gone, right I?

Crucified that I gave. That to the Lord now it is his

spirit that lives in me when I put my trust in him and I ask

for forgiveness. Like Lord, I'm going to live for

you now. You're the Lord of my life.

Then then you come. So that old self is.

Passed away and remember that old self was dominated by sin,

right? Like our sinful nature.

The way that we're. Pulled into things the way that

I feel inadequate. All that stuff that we struggle

with is part of our old self, the new self says.

Man, I sin and I can't sleep because it's bothering me the.

Old self is like I. Sin and I don't care.

Because that's just. Part of my life.

And we use things like. It's who I am.

It's how I grew up. I'm a product of my environment.

I. Get that?

That's old self. Thinking new self thinking is

now I am found in Christ. I have a new heart and my thing,

my mind and my heart under things of heaven now.

Who cares where you're from? Who?

Cares what's around. You you are a new.

Creation. The old is gone and the new has

come. Jesus covers.

Our sins. But he also changes.

Our lives. And if you're a believer in

Christ, your life must look different.

If it doesn't look different then either you just fell into

emotionalism or you just haven't been discipled yet.

So our lives look. Different.

I'm not the same. Ricky I used to be before I knew

Jesus. I'm different now we got to

understand. Listen, the key to Christianity

is this. It's so simple.

The key to Christianity is faith in.

Christ. It's faith in Jesus.

Listen, everything else is just preference.

How we want to worship, how we want to pray, what church we

want to go to. How certain churches make me

feel, How come they ain't loud? How come they're too quiet?

Listen, all that stuff is preference.

And I'm going to be honest with you all that.

Stuff is real privileged. Because you go to other

countries where they're just happy to be meeting together in

a house. There ain't no instruments.

There ain't none of. That stuff like that's like, you

know, like. That's a Western problem.

That we have. So guys, we're lucky we we're.

Blessed to live in a country where we could.

Decide what we want. But listen, everything is about

having faith in Christ. That's what it all comes.

Down to everything else. Listen, Jesus is what sustains

us. He's He's our portion like he's

our. Strength so when I give my life

to Christ, when I surrender, when I when I put.

The flesh to death. There's a few things that

happen. Right, like we participate

spiritually. In the.

Death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ which?

Means that we now have victory over sin and death we are no

longer a. Slave to it it.

Doesn't control our life anymore, I'm now able to say.

Lord help me with this. And you know what?

He does. He helps me with this because

it's. Christ, it's not me.

Believers, the old self. Is now gone, then you have come.

So we live in what we call the new man and we have the

indwelling. Power of the Holy Spirit.

And then also we have the love of Christ is now made manifest

in our souls. That's why I'm able to love

somebody that's hard to love. That's why I'm able to not punch

you in the throat when I want to and put my arm around you and

say. Brother, I love you.

That's why I'm able to. Love.

Hard to love people. It's not Ricky, it's Christ.

That's what it looks like guys, to die to self.

And many of us have this idea. Of like now, but.

I have to because of what God did for me.

I have to pay it back like I I feel terrible.

I feel guilty. Listen, that is law talk.

You can't pay it back because the grace that he pays you.

Is nonstop, it's continual. There's no.

Way that you could pay. Anything back to Christ?

It's impossible. That's why Jesus.

Comes and he says listen, my payment.

Is. Sufficient.

We call that propitiation. That God looks.

At my payment for your sin and he.

Says it's all good, I'll accept that.

He will never stop shedding His grace on you.

And then I love in verse 20, the last.

Part because I think this last part a lot of us miss outlook

what it says right He's I've been crucified with.

Christ, I no longer live. But it's Christ who lives.

In me, the life I live in the body which he's talking about

present day. Now I live in faith through the

Son of God. Who loved?

Me and gave himself. For me.

Now listen, I could tell somebody I love them all I want.

I know the guys we call that pillow talk girl.

I love you, really. How do you know you love

somebody? You show it.

If you don't show it, talk is cheap.

And what he's saying here is? Like you know how I know that

God loves me? Right here because he gave.

Himself for me. That's the verse that Hector

read. In the beginning he's like, man

like. Even while we were still

sinners, Christ died for us. Like what other love is there?

Did you know that Christ knew exactly what He was purchasing

on the cross? He knew that you were going to

Jack it up. He knew you were going to live a

life on sin. And He loved you enough to say I

still want Him. And guys, that is a.

Kind of love that we will never understand.

God loved us. How do we know he loved us?

Because he. Gave himself for you.

That's how we know. He still.

Loves us very much today and he still wants to forgive you.

And then let's end this thing. Look at verse 21.

And I love how Paul ends. This he says I do.

Not. Set aside the grace of God for

if. Righteousness could be gained

through the law. Christ died for nothing, Paul

concluded To Peter. This is kind of a strong way to

acknowledge Peter, but he's saying it's like, listen, when

you took a stand with the Judaizers, when you decided to

ignore the Gentiles and go sit with them, what you're pretty

much saying is that Christ's death was for nothing.

It was the better. Translation is Christ died

needlessly. He didn't have to die.

Because. If everything we've been

talking. About was about the law.

Then why would we need grace? It would just be up to you.

It's impossible, but Paul wants to make sure that Peter knows

that it is through grace only that we're justified.

So we could have a relationship with the holy and righteous God.

Doesn't matter what you did in your life in your past, none of

that matters. God wants you and he's like,

man, I want to forgive you, I want to give.

You grace, but you have got. To make that decision, SO4 quick

things and then we'll be out of here.

About this passage. I think these are 4 great

reminders for us as we. Look at how what Paul taught us.

Number one is you and Jesus are still too many people.

That's kind of awkward. To say out loud.

But it's true when it's like, man, it's just me and we're

going to storm the gates of hell with a water gun.

No, no, no, you're there. It's too many.

What does Paul say? I've been crucified with Christ,

so I no. Longer live, it is Christ who

lives in me. So.

Everything I do now it's. Jesus.

It's not you and Jesus. It's not you rocking with Jesus.

No, it's. Jesus only He allowed.

He uses you as a vessel in order to do His work.

And his build his Kingdom and the faster that.

You could take yourself out of the way.

And take yourself out of that middle.

Piece and just let Christ use you the.

Better it's going to go for you. So if it's not no, it's not

Ricky and Jesus doing this. It's not Ricky and Jesus

planning a church. No, it's.

Just him, I. Submit to his Lordship, and I

say, Lord what? Is it that you want me to do?

Like? What is it that you?

Want me to do and then listen when I start leaning toward my

flesh, which does happen. I know it's surprising.

To a lot of you guys, but I do struggle.

When I start leading toward my flesh and my sinful nature.

It is the Holy Spirit that's like, Hey, Rick.

No, that that's not, that's not what Christ wants.

Come back to the point where it bothers me.

Like it's hard to sleep sometimes.

Because the Holy Spirit is just where the Spirit of God.

Almighty inside of me is like is wrestling with this.

So listen, it's not it's, it's Christ only, and the faster you

could understand that. The faster it's going to.

Be. For you.

I love this. Even and and you're like, well,

Ricky, what else do you see that in the Bible?

I'm so glad you asked talk to John the Baptist.

What does John the. Baptist say I must decrease so

that way he could. What increase?

John the Baptist is not like man, I can't wait.

For Jesus to get here so that way everybody could look at me.

Baptizing him, John the Baptist is like, man, I'm not worthy to

even tie his sandals. I shouldn't be here, right?

Now. Because it's all about Jesus.

Jesus. Talks about this in John 15.

What did? You say listen if you.

Abide in me, abide in me. You will bear fruit.

Why? Because it's me.

But. Apart from me, you can do

nothing. It's only.

Jesus, it's all about Christ. So that's that's what we're.

Getting. That's what Paul's getting at.

It's not. You take yourself out.

Of the middle and stop focusing on you and start focusing on

Christ and if and the faster. You do that, the better.

It's going to be. For you, how do I?

Take myself. Out I crucify it to the cross.

#2 which leads me. Listen, if I die.

To myself, that means that my identity is solidified.

No more identity issues for Ricky.

You almost become untouchable. Like it's awesome.

It actually. It turns yourself into

testimony. Because.

It's like, man, Ricky, weren't you that guy?

Remember, You used to do that back in the day, weren't you?

That guy that used to. ABC and D and then I'm like.

Yeah, it was me. But you know what?

I'm now. Crucified with Christ I no.

Longer live that guy that. Ricky died.

He died. When I went to the cross, I'm a

new creation now. So yes, you know what?

You have a great memory, I'm so glad you remember that.

But I got a better story for you and because.

Now remember, we're agents of reconciliation.

My testimony is going to bring them in to the forgiveness that

you experienced. So listen.

When people come at you, I know sometimes we tend to feel

ashamed. We're like, Dang man, I don't

want like all that on me. Like I don't like people

bringing up my past. No, if they bring up your.

Past It's an opportunity for you to drag their butts into the.

Forgiveness and grace of Christ. Yes, that was me.

But you know what? That's not me no more because my

identity is found in Christ. Listen, you become untouchable,

you ain't going to hurt my feelings.

Trust me, I'll sleep just fine. Why?

Because I know who I am in Jesus #3 you are no longer enslaved to

sin, but you are freed in Christ.

So if I die to myself that means.

That Jesus lives. In me and through me, that means

that sin no longer has a grip on my life.

I'm able through the. Power of the Holy Spirit to.

Say no, not today. I'm good.

Keep it moving. But you know what else?

The fruit of the Spirit. I think some of us.

Forget that it's Lovejoy. So because I have Christ.

In me I'm not not only free to my sin, right?

I'm not like sin doesn't grip me no more.

But now I have a joy in my life knowing that it is.

Christ who lives. In me and through me, there's

nothing. That you can do.

To lock me in and lock me up emotionally, mentally, and

spiritually because my hope is in Christ.

So you ain't going to drag me to that place because I'm free now

so I'm able to. Walk out of it. #4 and I think

this one is so important. The more you focus on Christ,

the less. You're going to struggle.

With sin, the more you focus on Christ, the more the less you'll

struggle with your sin. Man.

Because we live in our selfish nature, we tend to try to dig

our own. Selves out of a hole.

That we made and we. Grip it and we fight it and we

struggle. With it and when it doesn't

work, we mask. It and we make excuses and

listen it just. Continues to bury you more and

more and more. Imagine if you kept that same

energy. And put.

That toward affections for Jesus and what Jesus is saying is

like, man, stop trying to do everything yourself.

Just look at me. So instead of.

Me trying to dig myself out of a hole instead of me just being

all mad all the time and upset and depressed and anxious.

What if I just served the Lord? And I prayed and I read his word

and I got involved. In the work that he's doing, I

promise you your life. Is going to change.

Jesus is saying. Look up.

Look at me, I'm the one that's going to do this.

For you. I'm going to put my.

Spirit in you gaze. On me it goes bad when we gaze

on ourselves too much. For I'm crucified with Christ.

I no longer live. Listen when the devil comes for

you. This is the verse that.

You want to use to fight when you let him know listen, I've

been crucified with Christ. I no longer.

Live. It's Christ that.

Lives in me, bye when people come at you.

When people say things about you and listen, it's all good.

I've been crucified with Christ. And I no longer live.

It's Christ that lives. Within me.

So say what you want to say. Bye.

I'm doing what the. Spirit tells me so the.

Way I want to end us today is we're going to have a time of

worship, might have some brothers and sisters up here.

I'll be up here as well. Listen.

If you need some prayer, if you just want somebody to pray with,

man, we're here if you want to. Give your life to Christ I.

Usually don't do this but man, I just.

Feel the Holy Spirit like. If you want to an invitation,

say Lord, I want to follow. Jesus today.

Come see me, let's pray. Together.

Let's talk together because. There's nothing better in life

than living for him and not yourself.

Let me pray for us.