Coming soon to this Web Site

Dear Reader.  Thank you for coming to our web site. 

I know that there are lots of different places you could go but you come to us and return to our site time and time again.

We really am thankful for your visits.  We would like to know who you are.  Sometime, when you have the time, leave a short message letting us know what you like about the ICCS site or what you would like to see change.  One thing we want to change real soon is to have an updated information page.  (Some of the things you find here are not happening at ICCS and have not been happening for a long time.)  Forgive us.  We do not have a large staff putting this together.  In fact, we don't have a staff at all--just volunteers who love the Lord and want to serve Him.

This week I will post the new sermon that will cover Galatians 6:2-5. ガラテヤ人への手紙　6：2-5.   The title is: "What to do with the Family?"  「家族に対してどのように行動するのか」I hope that you will enjoy the sermon and that it will help you as you seek ways to better understand your place before a Mighty God and King.

It is my pleasure to serve you.  Hope to see many of you at ICCS this Sunday.  We will be celebrating the Lord's Table.  Join us if you can!

The Practical Side of the Teaching. 善を行う：教えの実践面

Galatians 6

Doing Good to All

 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The Practical Side of the Teaching. 善を行う：教えの実践面

A couple who have been through Marital counseling breaks the silence with: "So where do we go from here? What practical steps can we take to resolve this crisis?" The couple asking these questions had taken a long time just to understand the calamity they were facing in their marriage. But now they had gained some insights into the reasons for their conflicts. They are now ready to work to put things right and get into the practical side of their healing.

So far Paul has led the Galatian believers to understand the historical background and theological background for the crisis in their fellowships. He then gave them general principles about life in the Spirit. Now he spells out specific responsibilities for those who are led by the Spirit so that they can rebuild their broken relationships and find God’s JOY in their Walk of Faith.

Here are some of the corporate responsibilities and individual accountabilities that are woven together in this section.

1. corporate: restore him gently: communal. 共同体：柔和な心をもって、その人を正しなさい

2. individual: watch yourself:   care for your own being. 個人：自分自身を反省しなさい

3. corporate: carry each other's burdens. 共同体:互に重荷を負い合いなさい。

4. individual: each one should test his own actions . . . each one should carry his own load. 個人：ひとりびとり、　自分の行いを検討してみるがよい・・・人はそれぞれ、自分自身の重荷を負うべきである。

5. corporate: share all good things with his instructor. 共同体:教える人と、すべて良いものを分け合いなさい。

6. individual: do not be deceived . . . a man reaps what he sows. 個人:神は侮られるようなかたではない。人は自分のまいたものを、刈り取ることになる。

7. corporate: do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 共同体：だれに対しても、とくに信仰の仲間に対して、善を行おうではないか。

We will not have time today to look at each of these sections. We will put flesh on two of them so that we could reflect them in our own Walk of Faith.

The problem might be: once we see these in action and alive in our lives, we might then look upon them as too high or too deep to really live under them.  We may even feel we could not really do enough for the Lord to really bless us.  After all, I am a sinner who deserves much, much less than what the Lord has promised to give me.  Facing the truth might be harder so we might be tempted to give up living a growing Christ-centered life. Living outside His ideal for us might seem to be the easy road to take.  PLEASE don’t take that easy road.  He will help us.

We tend to cut ourselves off from really living in the blessing. We have a knack at hurting ourselves.  We need to relax.  We need to believe what the Lord is teaching us and not look for ways to undermine or sabotage our own Spiritual Life.

Let’s get started then. Ready to scrap away at some deep hurts and find relief?  I hope so, because I am going for the jugular vein! 

The person who feels they are spiritual, they need to act in a mature way when sin is found in the Church. Paul talks about a situation where some Believers are behaving very poorly, indeed. They are “biting and devouring each other” (5:15 and in 5:26) “Provoking and envying each other.”  Some were forcing Believers to return to a system of belief that did not work to begin with: follow the Law and ALL it’s practices.  Some were zealous but they were zealously in the wrong.  That can happen, you know.  Being 100% convinced that you are 100% right but are 100% in the wrong!

We have a whole lot of freedom in our responsibilities of being a Follower of Christ. This interplay deals with a corporate and an individual response.  That is where we get this list of seven actions or responsibilities.

  1. corporate: restore him gently: a communal action of the Body!

It is a high probability that someone here today is in sin.  I will not try and weed you out but take it from one who has been in churches all his life: the possibility of sinners sitting next to you is very high. It is not a hypothetical possibility, it is a reality. What do we do with that?  Have a witch hunt?  Burn them out?  No!  Paul is concerned with how the Church deals with the sinner and not so much what the sin is.  There are people in the Church today that are feeling trapped by sin.  It could be any one of the "acts of the sinful nature” (5:19-21). But how to help them, that is Paul’s aim—and it should be for us as well.

When people in the church fall into sin, it should not be taken that the WHOLE system is at fault.  I have heard it said many times: “The church is filled with hypocrites,  I don’t want to go there.” 教会は偽善者で満ちている。 Friends, show me any group where there are not some who are hypocrites!  So when sin is found here among us, what is our proper response? Harsh condemnation? That kind of response would crush the fallen one and it could then divide the Church.  The one being a Zealot for the Things of God might show little or no mercy.  What Paul is looking for is a Spirit-filled person, who would demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit in order to convey healing to the sinner and unity and agreement to the Body of Christ.

We must be compassionate to the one who has fallen.  A while ago, there was a song that said : “Don’t shoot the wounded!” 痛んだ者を打ってはならない。 We tend to hurt the ones who are hurting. Not a Biblical way: not a healing way. It doesn’t matter what your cultural background is, being harsh with the one who is hurting is not Christ-like. And, we can’t wait for “them to grow up!” We need to be active in their return to the Fellowship.

Jesus speaks of the fact that “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34) ヨハネ8：34　罪の奴隷 Paul suggests that the sinner is trapped by sin.  We do not want to nor should we excuse them of personal responsibility for their sin. They had been overtaken, ensnared and apprehended by sin’s grip. Our response needs to reflect Jesus’ and that would be to have compassion toward them.  

Those who are spiritual are not an elite leadership group of professional Believers.  All believers have received the Holy Spirit so we all have the role of being Spiritual.  In other words, Paul is including all of us as we are Children of God and therefore agents of restoration.  It is another way to “keep in step with the Spirit” (5:25) as we all restore whose who have been trapped in sin.

The term ‘restore’ is as active as the mending of a broken bone or sewing a torn net.  The restoring is in line with spiritual maturity and of the equipping for service of the individual. 

 私たち皆が備える (2 Cor 13:11 Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace.; Eph 4:12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up; Heb 13:21 equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ... and 1 Thess 3:10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.).   

Here in Chapter 6, Paul is concerned for the well being of the entire Church Body. Remember that there were divisions. A united Church means a united Message. And Christ is the One who reconciled the World to Himself on the Cross.  He was the One who died for them. His Blood was shed to free us all from the entanglements of sin.  It is the ability of Christ’s Spirit to empower the fallen Believer to once again work properly and perform their vital tasks for the benefit of the whole Body. This has been His goal from eternity past!

The whole Body of Christ suffers when ANY member of that Body is broken. (Your pain should affect me.) When there is an amputation or a loss, all of us should feel it.  Such was the case with a family in our Fellowship who lost a son. So many of you have expressed your personal pain on their behalf.  There was not sin here but the illustration of one’s pain felt by others is worthy of noting.  Keep that kind of caring going. You are doing well. In the case of sin, the task is one of restoration.  The goal is to restore the fallen into a place of health and being productive once again. 

Eph 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

How the restoration is done is not the topic of interest here.  Each circumstance is different.  The key is to “restore him gently.” 柔和に彼を正しなさい “In the spirit of gentleness” as one of the Fruit of the Spirit. Gentleness is not weakness as some would hold. It requires GREAT strength under deep control! Even when the sin is outrageous, control is necessary for the fallen one to be brought all the way to total recovery.  The Holy Spirit of Christ is the only one who can do that in us.  We must allow that to rule in our thinking.

2. individual: watch yourself:   care for your own being. 個人：自分自身を反省しなさい。

  So now we move from seeking recovery for others to looking into one’s own heart, as “you may be tempted” yourself.  Watch out. Take care. “But watch yourself” less you become a victim. 

As Believers, we all need to understand our needs before our Heavenly Father. We need to be aware of our own vulnerability to moral failure and to allow our hearts to be gentle with those who are caught in it. I did not say permit.  Watch out because everyone is vulnerable to temptation. The sin spoken of here in this text might be dealing with the response of conceit 5:26 and their ‘fits of rage’ 5:20 and are looked upon as serious as any other sin. 

We who are being led by the Spirit of God realize, don’t we, that we are only sinners saved by Grace.  We all need to live our lives with personal insight of our own weakness and our full dependence on the redemptive Work of God in our hearts.  

Life by the Spirit. 御霊によって生きる

Gal 5:16-26. 

Paul continues his teaching as so will I.

“16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  

わたしが言いたいのは、こういうことです。霊の導きに従って歩みなさい。そうすれば、決して肉の欲望を満足させるようなことはありません。

  

It has been the prayer of all of God’s People thought history to do just that: to walk blamelessly before the Father. Proverbs 11:20 “The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.”  Why is it so hard to do that? Why is there a struggle within all of us to fight the things of the Lord and, in effect, demand our own way? To desire the drives of our old nature might, at times, feel appropriate, as we have lived that way for so long.  We have had things our way for so long, the Way of the Lord might seem a real hindrance to growth.

Let’s be assured today that way of thinking is the way of error. The Scripture calls that line of thinking the Way of Balaam, son of Beor.  The way of error. Who was this character?  We read about him in Numbers 22:4-20~24:25.  Balaam loved gain from wrongdoing: see 2 Peter 2:15

See Jude 11. “Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for the profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.”

ユダの手紙 11節

不幸な者たちです。彼らは「カインの道」をたどり、金もうけのために「バラムの迷い」に陥り、「コラの反逆」によって滅んでしまうのです。

(Numbers 16:1-3 1 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent (or took men) 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?”)

Connect with John 14:6.

"I am the Way    わたしは道であり

  the Truth           真理であり

and the Life. "     命である。

Paul continues in verse

“17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

肉の望むところは、霊に反し、霊の望むところは、肉に反するからです。肉と霊とが対立し合っているので、あなたがたは、自分のしたいと思うことができないのです。

17 Both the Way of the Spirit and the Way of the Flesh are contrary to each other.

Both have major conflicts with each other. The battle goes on and we are aware of it! What we do with that is SO important.  It will not just go away. Some have allowed these small seeds of rebellion in their lives—thinking all along, it is not all that bad.  But once it takes root in our hearts, we are headed for some real sour times in our walk. Rebellion in any form is rebellion against the Lord. It was rebellion for those people who wanted it their own way when Moses was guiding them and it is still a way of destruction today.  Beware of the cold heart towards God and toward the things of the Lord--so that you will not do what is contrary or opposing with what the Lord wants or desires of you. So, even Paul had this problem and it is not the end of the world when it happens to us but it still feels not good! 

Romans 7:15-25  ローマの信徒への手紙 / 7章 25節

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature (my flesh). For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

How do we move from there? The key is attitude.  Paul ends this problem with 

25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!! わたしたちの主イエス・キリストを通して神に感謝いたします。!

Paul reminds the Churches in Galatia that only in Christ alone can one find that Hope for a better life.  In Christ alone!

19-21 Acts of the sinful nature are obvious-

“19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

肉の業は明らかです。それは、姦淫、わいせつ、好色, 偶像礼拝、魔術、敵意、争い、そねみ、怒り、利己心、不和、仲間争い、ねたみ、泥酔、酒宴、その他このたぐいのものです。以前言っておいたように、ここでも前もって言いますが、このようなことを行う者は、神の国を受け継ぐことはできません。

22-23 BUT the fruit of the Spirit is- 9 of them. No law against these.

“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

これに対して、霊の結ぶ実は愛であり、喜び、平和、寛容、親切、善意、誠実、柔和、節制です。これらを禁じる掟はありません。

24 Look again at what Paul points to!

“24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

キリスト・イエスのものとなった人たちは、肉を欲情や欲望もろとも十字架につけてしまったのです。

Do you belong to Christ? Paul writes that the action was already done—have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Done in the past.  When in the past? At the Cross-it was paid for and at the resurrection of the Lord Jesus had sealed for all time. If we belong to Him, than the Spirit Life is ours in Christ Jesus. We MUST look to Him for it all to be realized and understood. By Faith. Not in works but by Faith!

25-26 Paul ends this section with some powerful words.

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. もし、私たちが霊によって生きているのであれば、霊によって前進しましょう。

Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” うぬぼれて、互いに挑み合ったり、ねたみ合ったりするのはやめましょう。 

Christ is looking for community! “We”—not just ‘you’!  It is a Family activity.  We encourage each other by living this way.  Watching each of us keeping in step with the wishes of the Lord.  See verse 15. If the opposite keeps up, we will destroy each other. The way of Balaam is not the road we are to walk on.  That way leads to destruction but the Way of Jesus leads to life and life eternal.   Let us live the Way of Christ.  Forgiving each other and have a Life by the Spirit of Christ.

Sons Of Freedom 自由の子供たち

Galatians 5:1, 4-6, 7, 13-14

ガラテヤの信徒への手紙 / 5章 1節-15節

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. この自由を得させるために、キリストはわたしたちを自由の身にしてくださったのです。だから、しっかりしなさい。奴隷の軛に二度とつながれてはなりません。

 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from Grace.

律法によって義とされようとするなら、あなたがたはだれであろうと、キリストとは縁もゆかりもない者とされ、いただいた恵みも失います。5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

わたしたちは、義とされた者の希望が実現することを、“霊”により、信仰に基づいて切に待ち望んでいるのです。キリスト・イエスに結ばれていれば、割礼の有無は問題ではなく、愛の実践を伴う信仰こそ大切です。

 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?

  13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in Love.

兄弟たち、あなたがたは、自由を得るために召し出されたのです。ただ、この自由を、肉に罪を犯させる機会とせずに、愛によって互いに仕えなさい。

 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Flying back from Russia about 16 years ago, we were carrying two boys who we had adopted. It was the end of February and it had been ever so cold in Moscow. As we looked out the window, we caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty.  What a feeling filled my heart. Both our Grandparents had seen that same statue as they arrived in their new country back in the early 1900’s. Now, my wife and I were bringing in two more Sons of Freedom and it felt great!

In my personal background, I can’t find any military leaders or followers. As far back as I can go in my family line, we can find painters, writers, silversmiths and sailors. All of them came from someplace else in Europe. There is evidence that some came to the Colonies to gain a better life. Now, I am living in another country but every once in a while, when I see our national flag, I get emotional. 

I remember watching the Tienanmen Square event in China. I watched with great interest as some of the people in the crowds were calling for Liberty.  When asked what that meant to them, they said, “I don’t know what Liberty means…but I want it!”  Very moving TV footage.

Paul is reminding the Believers in the churches in the Galatian areas of their freedoms as well. They did not have a Statue of Freedom to look at but a clear understanding of the Freedom given to them by Jesus when He died for them on a Cross for their sins. 

Paul reminds them to remember that and to stand firm. Stand firm and don’t allow anything to take away the joy that was placed there by God’s Amazing Grace. There are many things and issues that might interfere with that joy. We need to bath our minds in the things of the Lord to combat those evil intrusions.  Is it worth it? I would say YES as we are to put all thoughts under the control of the Lord.  He will hold us accountable for those idle thoughts.  There is a battle. It is not always in the Heavenliest. It is as close as your nearest relationship!

What do we have to use to combat these attacks? God in His wisdom has given His Children weapons. Are you ready to use them? Are you ready to go into battle for His Glory to be realized in your life? 

Here is a list of such weapons: 

Divine Weapons: 2 Cor 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Prayer: Eph 6:18  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Salvation: Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

In the Name of The Lord: 1 Samuel 17:45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."

The Word: Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 The Blood of the Lamb: Rev 12:11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

Light: Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Because of the Victory we have in Christ, we are Sons of Freedom. That means we are not to be slaves to our past any more. Again, as we have said a number of times before, our past is not only forgiven but forgotten by the Lord. When it comes up in our minds, we are to remember that we are free from that guilt. Set free by His sacrifice on the Cross. “do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Paul is rather strong here in verse 4. “you have fallen away from Grace.” This is a point of where you continue in your Faith. Falling away is not where He wants us to be. The situation Paul describes is one that is self-started. Beware where you go with your freedom. If you are trying to justify yourself—you poor attitude or actions—that will only “alienate” you “from Christ.” Stand firm therefore on the THINGS you know to be true—and be strong.

Verse 5 suggests a better way: “5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”

Faith is central to this relationship we have with Christ. By Faith, so many things can happen in our life. It is by Faith that we even have a relationship with Him. It was a Gift from God…not of our own making. Faith is the center of everything we have in Christ. Are you eagerly waiting? Waiting for WHAT? An afterlife that is free from the attacks of the evil one.  A life with the Master of our Salvation. It is the Gospel at it’s fullest. All that we have in Him! All that is found in Him! 

In that, we do have HOPE.  Kiboo.  希望。Hope/ambition.

Which now, brings us to verse 13 this morning:  You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in Love.  Here is the final call to holiness. There is a battle over our souls and over our lives. There is call to enter into what the World would call freedom from authority. The Scriptures call it slavery. We are called to be Free. As one French philosopher once said: We are everywhere in chains.  And that is true—when it comes to being outside of Christ.  But being part of the Family of God through Faith in His Son Jesus, real freedom is found. How do I know this? Because once the Lord sets you free, you are free indeed!

We who have Christ have Hope!

The Passion of Paul / パウロの熱い思い

ガラテヤ人への手紙4：12, 15, 17-19b, 29b /  Galatians 4:12, 15, 17-19b, 29b

12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.   17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. 19b until Christ is formed in you,

29b born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now.

There is one message that is ever so clear from this letter of Galatians: Forgiveness is found in Jesus alone.  No other way to deal with the problem of sin can be found. Faith alone!  Whatever conditions you once had, it is no longer there.  You have been healed. You have been forgiven. You have been given the RIGHT to be called a Child of God! Not a slave or a child of a slave.  Set free and now part of the Family of Faith. 

It seems that when Paul came to them, he was afflicted with some form of illness.  The letter suggests it had to do with his eyes. (15b if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.)  It must have been hard for them to look on him with his sick eyes; running, oozing, possibly swollen. But they saw behind that rather hard-to-look-at exterior and saw The Message as Truth.  They saw Paul’s passion. Now, over time, that look had changed as the people started to follow another Gospel—one of slavery to the rules of men. Paul encourages them to set that aside and return to the safety of the Gospel he first preached to them.  He did this because he had a deep passion for the Gospel.

聖書の学び舎において… I have read about certain students at a Bible College in South East Asia had recently been expressing their concern that some ethnic  churches are sounding more Confucian than Christian. Their point was that these Christians were in danger of turning their faith into a version of Confucianism, which was what they followed before their conversion to Christ. In their Confucian background, they maintained high moral standards. But they were not able to enter into a personal relationship with God by their moral achievements. In fact, they experienced unresolved guilt for not being able to live up to their own standards. When they first met Christ, they focused on their new-found personal relationship with God the Father, which they enjoyed through faith in Christ by the presence of His Spirit in their lives. But slowly their center of attention changed. They put more and more emphasis on the high moral standards of their Christian faith. They began to lose sight of what God had done for them in Christ and began to concentrate on what they must do to inherit "the good life", which is not a Biblical term! They were especially drawn to the Old Testament's legal codes. Then they formulated those moral laws in the familiar terms of their own Chinese cultural background. So these colleagues shook their heads with concern when they said of some fellow believers, "I'm afraid they sound more Confucian than Christian."

In every real way, that was happening to the Believers in our text this morning! It seemed easy for them in the first century and for us in our present time, to settle for the easy way. Not to grow deeper in our Faith. Not dig deeper into the things of God but rather sit by and let life run its course. Not bother with growing up in the Faith as our Lord would want us. (And is He our Lord?  We say “Lord, Lord!” 

 私たちは「主よ！主よ！」と言うが・・・But has He taken over in the center of our lives? A good question to ask yourselves this morning. Are we growing closer to Him today than we were yesterday? Are we seeking to please Him and seeking to know Him better? If not, we are not being what He wants us to be. We need to be IN HIM and OBEY Him.

In Paul's day, letters that were written to rebuke someone for misbehavior often ended with a request for a renewal of friendship and a change of behavior. For example, one short papyrus letter from Paul's time reads: "I am surprised that you did not see your way to let me have what I asked you to send by the hand of my friend, especially when I wanted it for a festival. I beg you to buy me a silver seal and send it to me with all speed." Here we see the same form as Paul's letter to the Galatians. First there is an expression of rebuke ("I am surprised . . ."--see Gal 1:6) and a statement of the cause of rebuke ("that you did not see your way to let me have . . ."). Second there is an expression of request ("I beg you . . ."--see Gal 4:12) followed by imperatives ("buy . . . send").(Totally necessary)

In 4:12, Paul turns from rebuke to request: “I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you.” Become like me is the first imperative (totally, absolutely necessary) in this letter. It sets the focus for the rest of the request section of the letter. This personal appeal 個人的な要請 (4:12-20) is followed by a scriptural appeal 聖句の要請 (4:21-31). Then Paul sets forth his authoritative appeal 権威にある要請 (5:1-12) followed by his ethical appeal 民族的な要請 (5:13--6:10).

This morning, we are going to look at this core of Paul’s concern.  It is centered on the fact that he has a deep passion for the Message of the Gospel.  That passion for the Gospel is contagious.  But it is also a passion that can be faked and counterfeited. 

The Holy Bible speaks of passion on both sides of the topic.  Some passion is good and up lifting while other passions destroy and are hurtful.  We want to spend our time today looking at the passion that is God honoring.  A passion for God! The same kind of passion that Jesus had for His Father. Is that kind of passion alive and well in our hearts today? I am afraid, for many in the Church, their passion has dried up or has not been set on fire…yet. ヨハネによる福音書2:17 John 2:17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”

神への熱い思いについて何が言えるでしょうか？ What can be said for passion for God?

Look to the life of David, Samuel, Noah, Enoch, Daniel, and Peter: ：ダビデ、サムエル、ノア、エノク、ダニエル、ペテロ.

One reality found in these men is that they endured during hard times.  Each of these men had perseverance in the face of trials. For David, when he became King of Israel, his father-in-law, King Saul was out to kill him, yet David retained his passion of the things of the Lord. As for Samuel, his own two priest-sons were rebellious to the things of God yet he remained passionately in love with his God.  Noah, the whole world as he knew it was evil and were against God’s Laws and commands, yet when God called him to build the ark and flooded the whole world, he followed God’s commands with deep devotion and passion. Enoch walked with God and because of his passion for God, God did not allow him to die. Daniel and his three friends faced all sorts of hardships because of their love for God, yet God delivered them. And Peter, at one time even walked on top of the water, doubted and said the wrong things and even denied Jesus, three things, yet God, in His mercy encouraged this tough fisherman to become a pillar of the Church.  And then we have Paul…

Called to serve God in the area of being a Pharisee, Paul (then called Saul) carried out his duties with deep devotion.  He attacked the Believers of The Way with all his heart. Then one day, on the way to do damage to the Believers in Damascus, the Lord met him and changed him forever.

Paul gave his all. His passion for Christ went deeper as he grew more in love with Him. Why?  Here is a clue:

ピリピ人への手紙  Philippians 3:4-9

4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.  7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

あなたの労苦は無駄ではない。第１コリント人への手紙　15:58 Your labor is not in vain… 1 Cor 15:58 

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

もしわたしたちが耐え忍ぶなら、報いがある　第２テモテの手紙2:12 There is a reward: … 2 Timothy 2:12 

if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us;  

 This deals also with how we respond to His Word in our lives. Endure with a passion for Him!  If we endure, we will reign

結果：あなたがたは成長を遂げた、完全なものとなります！ヤコブの手紙1:4  The result: you may be mature and complete… James 1:4 

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

第２コリント人への手紙6:4-12  2 Corinthians 6:4-12 (New International Version)

4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.  

This Christ, whom Paul served, meant everything to him.  Even life itself. His PASSION for knowing Him carried him through all of life’s hardships and Paul came out on the other side-a winner!  A conqueror. 

第２コリント人への手紙11:24-26 2 Corinthians 11:24-26 (New International Version)

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. (195 times!)  25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

Jesus was the Captain of his life. The Master of his continued existence. The controller of his heart. The satisfier of his soul. Jesus was the Light to his path. The cleanser of his sin. The fulfill-er of his thirst. The direction for his feet.  The meaning of his life. The passion of all that he is, was and ever will be.  Jesus was his!

Don’t you want some of that yourself?  Some of the drive and hunger for the things of God? To feel His pleasure as you walk in Faith in this world? To understand that His passion for you is SO much more than your passion for Him could ever be—BUT, He is looking for that passion to grow in our hearts. Not to allow the things of this world to bring you down. 

Nothing is more important than this 神にある男女のすべての義務 : とこしえに神を愛し主を楽しみとすること To Love God and to enjoy Him forever.

聖霊の力による生まれ、キリストがあなたの内に形造られるまで。  

 Until Christ is formed in you… born by the power of the Spirit

In the beginning...

John 1:1-14

The Deity of Jesus Christ

 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The Witness John

 6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Made Flesh

 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

(New American Standard Bible)

All The Way From Slavery to Son-ship

  奴隷から子供とされる道のり

Galatians 4:1-11

1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

When you write a sermon, it is a good idea to keep it simple. Simple, in what you’d want people to walk away with.  Some times, it might be necessary to give 12 points but for the most part, people don’t remember 12 points.  They remember what you were wearing or if the room was too cold OR one to three points from the talk.  If I were to give you a three-point outline right now, do you think you would remember it?  Most likely.

Here is the three points of this passage today.

• You were once slaves
• Now you are Sons
• It would be rather foolish to return being a slave.

In the Jewish culture, a young boy becomes a man at around 13. (In the west, the term ‘teenager’ came into usage around 1910.) There was a Bar Mitzvah.  The father verbally says something like: From birth till now, I have been responsible for this child, but now, he is under the care of God Himself.  He is now God’s responsibility.  In Norway, the ceremony is called ‘Russ.’ In the US, Sweet 16 for girls, Shinto- 11-17, called Genpuku. Buddhism: age 20, Shinbyu; Christians-confirmation, believers Baptism, but that is not a coming of age thing. The young person notes a change.  Now, the older people don’t look on him as a child.  Earned some respect. Has to live up to a higher standard.

In Greek society, Paul knew that full well.  Boys between 7-18, there would be a state sponsored event where the child was given to the State for two years and after, into society.  In the Roman tradition, the boy removes the toga with the purple ribbon on the bottom and replaces it with a pure white toga—now considered a man with the full understanding of what is expected of him and what he can now do. Not a child, with adult responsibilities and roles.

Here, Paul reminds the Galatian Believers that their roles have changed as well.  From being a slave to being a true Son.

Two points here: 1. Unlimited resources  2. Limited rights.

For the first, unlimited resources, the child KNOWS that the estate will be his; all of it.  One day, it all will be his, but not yet. By promise and by agreement from the family BUT not yet to experience it because his is too young.  The reality is that he does not have ‘use’ of the estate. His guardians will hold it for him.  Stop him from doing certain things. Govern even when he goes to bed; when he awakes. He has it all but can’t really use it at all—until he becomes of age.  Much like a slave who works in a rich man’s house.  All the wealth is around him. He sleeps in it and eats of it and lives his life under the control of a Master. Unlimited resources.

2. Limited rights. He is still a minor or a slave UNDER authority. He cannot do certain things. Not free to act—not yet.

Verse 3-4 explains that’s how it is with us.  We too were under slavery—to the Law. To the Basic Principles of the world.  Earth, wind and fire and how it affects us.  We are influenced by the basic creation! See in verse 8, WHEN we did not know God, we were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.  

But NOW that you know God—rather are known BY God—why would you want to return to the slave-like life style.  Jesus came to, what—set us free! And we sometimes look for rules and situations and people to make us once again slaves and not free!

The Devil has used the Law of God (that what was good and perfect) in a way that the Father did not intend it to be used.  Satan was the bad tutor.  He abused the child. Took him for a ride. Stole from him. Hurt him. He even tried to kill the child! 

God uses the Law to reveal sin and to drive Mankind to God. Satan uses the Law to reveal sin and to drive men to despair. To condemn man. Hold him in bondage. But the Lord’s desire is to move man from slavery to freedom. From being a slave to be a Son (a child of God!). As it says in Verse 5,

“to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”   

We were helpless—and He came at just the right time. 

God sent FORTH the son.  He came to seek and to save that which was lost…in bondage under the Law.  We have new things to wear. Sons now! Part of His Family. Heirs to the Kingdom. Join hairs WITH the Son of God.  Jesus is our Big Brother.  God has purposed from eternity to reach into this time for you and I, to both hear and believe His Message.  All He has done for us.

Application:

a. He provides us with a present intimacy

b. He provides us with a future inheritance.

He provides us with a present intimacy. Verse 6 uses a wonderful name.  “Abba, Father.” That God, the Father would send the Spirit of the Son to us.   

Used two other places:  

Acts 16:7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.Philippians 1:19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Here we can see the Trinity at work.  The Father, setting things going. The Son for the reality of going Himself and the Spirit Who applies this to our Salvation. 

John 14:23  “Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”John 16:13  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all Truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.”

2. He provides us with a future inheritance.

God has made you an heir to His Kingdom.  2 Peter 1:3-4

He has done this by adopting us into His family.

Paul is asking the Body then—and now—to correct the focus and to continue in the faith.  Correct and Continue.

Many will say that they know God.  We know all about Him! We have a deep interest in Him. He is ever so important to me.  Yet they might not yet really know Him.  You don’t really know Christ unless Christ is in you!

You may know all about someone but still not be related to him. But He knows my name. He knows my every thought. He knows my pain. My joys: better than we know ourselves. Paul is asking us to correct our focus! He knew us when we were lost in the past.  When we did not even know Him, He sought us out. He knew what we were doing but He has indeed shown us a better way: the Way of Jesus. 

Paul wonders if he was wasting his time with them. (Vs. 11) The people were looking to the ways to get to God—the rungs on a ladder.  Using that to get to God.  Correct your focus and continue your faith.  Stay the Course.

To live the Christ Life; remember what you once were: slaves. Realize where we are now: sons. See how far you have come? 

John Newton (Amazing Grace) had a sign in his room he ALWAYS looked at each and every day.

Deut 15:15. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you.

REMEMBER YOUR PAST, but you are set free in your present. Do you know 4:6 to be yours? “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” The relationship is there or it is not.  If not, do all you can to get it! IT is free and it is amazing!

John Wesley—the man who help start a denomination. He was ordained, active in the community, regular in worship, gave to charity, generous in his giving, serious in prayer and diligent in fasting, missionary work in the Colonies with the native Indians. He looked saved. Acted Saved. Thought he was saved. He was on his way back from the mission trip when he attended a street meeting on Aldergate Street. He listened to the sermon and a strange feeling came over him.  He called it a warming.  His heart was moved. He spoke after the event. He knew ABOUT the Lord but his heart was not filled WITH the Lord. He had not trusted in Christ for his salvation until that day on the street. He left being a slave and became a Son of God. 

Once were slaves, now set free to be sons-strange to want to return to being a slave again.