In these verses Paul is continuing his argument that no one can be justified by works of the law but only through faith in Christ. He introduces the illustration of a covenant made between two human parties, which no one could change once ratified. He then brings his readers back to the story of God’s promise to Abraham. Paul’s argument is that, what holds true in human terms is even more true when it is God who does the ratifying. He wants believers to understand they are no longer imprisoned under law; instead, through their faith in the Promised One, they are now children of the promise! To help us understand he explains the power of the promise, the purpose of the law & the priority of faith in Christ. 

Chapter 3 of Galatians opens with an advertising term from the ancient Greek world. Paul uses the term to highlight that his ministry had been successful in winning the Galatians believers over to the gospel. However now they are foolishly falling for a rival message & Paul’s basic point is to challenge them to stay with the message they initially received. For the gospel is not only how you become a Christian but also how you continue to live the Christian life! In other words, the gospel is for life! To underline this Paul points back to the core message the Galatians had believed, then he asks five questions, before leaving his readers with two options.

In this part of Galatians the Apostle Paul recounts a time when he had to confront the Apostle Peter because his conduct was out of step with the gospel. We learn it is only by keeping in step with the truth of gospel that we are kept safe from the venomous snake of legalism & from getting lost along the trail of licentiousness. We're encouraged to keep in step with the gospel in three ways: 1. By standing for the gospel. 2. By remembering the gospel. 3. By living the life of the gospel.

Based on the story of the 12 Spies who went in to check out the Promised Land in Numbers 13, guest speaker Paul Dunn challenges us to ask three important questions. What’s in your mouth? What do you see? What’s in your heart? The message encourages us to be those who carry good news, whose perspective is based more on God’s promises than the challenges we may see in front of us. 

When it comes to Christian faith & practice “Where does authority reside?” If we are to be those who fight for the freedom of others in Christ as well as our own, then we need to know the answer to this question. Freedom from legalism & spiritual abuse, or from domineering religious hierarchies, systems or leadership is found in answering this question correctly! Paul’s answer to the question is that ultimately it resides in the gospel itself, not so much in those entrusted with it! This is one reason preserving the gospel is to be a primary priority of true Christianity. Also, it is only in the gospel that true Christian freedom & partnership can continue to exist & flourish. 

Paul uses his own story of God’s Life-Changing Gospel to help point to its origin! It is not man’s life-changing gospel but God’s Life-Changing Gospel! In fact, it’s only because it is God’s Life-Changing Gospel that it has the power to eternally transform those who receive it! So, Paul firstly underlines the origin of the gospel, then he talks of its transforming power in his own life. His whole purpose being to underline the genuineness of his apostleship so the Galatians stick with God's Good News!

In Paul’s other letter’s we find thanksgiving & blessing at this point, but here in Galatians we find holy frustration & the warning of a curse for those who preach ‘another gospel’. This is because the Galatians are right in the middle of being scammed out of the true gospel! One of the purposes of Paul’s letter is to save them from this. The letter continues to serve this purpose. There are three things that stand out very clearly in in this section of Galatians: 1. To turn to another gospel is to desert the God who called us. 2. When the Gospel is distorted Christians become troubled. 3. The gospel is the supreme authority – even over apostles & angels! All point to the fact there is no other gospel!

​Paul’s letter to the Galatians is written to professing Christians. It’s written to help kill off our ‘inner Pharisee’ & to help ensure we never allow ourselves to be subject again to the yoke of pharisaic teachers or leaders & their distorted gospel, which Paul says is no gospel at all. The true gospel is both the highest authority & most liberating reality of the Christian’s life. It is so because it speaks God’s final verdict & liberating truth over God’s children. This is why as Christians we must not let anyone, or anything turn us from it! Yet one of the dangers in Christian circles is that we can become familiar with gospel language without truly understanding the gospel itself. So, it’s important to ask, ‘What is the Gospel’? The whole of Galatians helps answer this question. Yet, even in Paul’s opening greeting we find a clear & simple answer to this vital question!

Psalm 134 is the final Psalm of Accent & it focuses us on the priority of worship. Worshiping God in his temple had been the goal of the pilgrims all along! Now that goal is finally realised as the Psalm brings us right into the atmosphere of the temple for evening worship. First, is the invitation & command to bless God, then comes the pronouncement of God's blessing over worshiper. Psalm 134 can be summed up by two simple phrases; 1. Come, bless God! 2.God bless you!

Songs for the Journey: Sermons on the Psalms of Accents
Reading: Psalm 133

Psalm 133 paints a beautiful picture is of God’s people dwelling together in unity. David viewed such unity as God’s blessing from above! In context it is most likely referring to the unity that resulted from David’s ascension to the throne of Israel. Up until that point is Israel’s history unity had proved very difficult to attain, & as history continued the unity proved impossible to maintain. However, as Christians we do not only read this Psalm looking back at a beautiful moment in Israel’s history. We read it looking forward to a lasting unity that has already been initiated & one day will be fully realised in Christ. Christ is the only King who can unite God's people forever! 

Songs for the Journey: Sermons on the Psalms of Accents
Reading: 2 Samuel 7 & Psalm 132

Psalm 132 reminds us of the bigger story Christians are now part of in Christ. It is rooted in an historical account from Israel’s past (2 Samuel 7) & points forward to things that could & can only be fulfilled in Christ! The first part of the Psalm focuses on David’s vow to build a dwelling place for God, the later part focuses on God’s sure promise to David & in the middle we find a prayer for God to fulfill his promise! Every time the pilgrims repeated this Psalm, they were reaffirming their trust in God’s commitment & ability to fulfill the promise he made to David! 

Songs for the Journey: Sermons on the Psalms of Ascents
Reading: Psalm 131

The way to God's best is not found in aspiring to greatness as the world does. It's found in weaning ourselves off pride, selfish ambition & grandiose ideas of ourselves to simply rest content in God's care. One person notes that Psalm 131; “models the ideal frame of soul before God." Like David, we need to learn to calm & quieten such desires in our souls & learn instead to content ourselves in God’s love! Trusting him to establish us in his way & at his time. 

Songs for the Journey: Sermons on the Psalms of Ascents
Reading: Psalm 130

Psalm 130 helps us know who God is & declares to us that no matter how deep we have sunk God can still hear our cry, forgive our sin & fully redeem our life when we cry out to him for mercy! ​

Songs for the Journey: Sermons on the Psalms of Ascents
Reading: Psalm 128

​Psalm 127 gave us an example of the negative results of an unhealthy fear – worry – & gave us the antidote. Psalm 128 now shows us the positive fruit of a healthy kind of fear, what the Bible calls ‘the fear of the LORD’ & teaches us it is the basis of a truly a blessed life! However what does it mean to fear the LORD? This sermon answers the question while pointing to the blessedness that belongs to everyone who truly fears the LORD.

Psalm 127 is written to remedy the painful restlessness which can result from worry by giving us a vision of God’s providential care. The remedy is not working harder or longer, it’s trusting in God’s care. The Psalm highlights three ways God’s care comes to us in very ordinary ways; work, security services & family. Yet what the Psalmist wants us to see most is that behind, above & beyond each of these is the LORD who is the primary carer of those who trust in him.