Dying to Live

God has designed human beings as aiming creatures. Aim is built into our physical and spiritual framework. The Lord has given us eyes that are designed to look forward and focus on a target. He has given us minds that can imagine a future target and aim our actions toward achieving that goal. As a result of this design, we are enthralled by such activities and find deep meaning and pleasure in hitting a target. How many of our sports are designed around aiming and hitting a target? Basketball, football, baseball, soccer, volleyball, lacrosse are all designed to reward those teams and individuals who can take aim and hit the target. And when someone does this well, we rejoice and celebrate how wonderfully they have hit that for which they aimed. We jump up and down, we hug complete strangers, we dance and sing, all because someone hit what they were aiming for.

Why has God created this way? Why do we love to aim? I believe that God has created us this way so that we would learn how to aim our lives toward the ultimate target. The Lord has designed us so that we could point ourselves toward a goal and live in a manner to achieve that goal. The word of God is clear that the ultimate purpose for man’s creation is the glory of God. We were designed to aim our lives at this purpose and when we achieve this goal we experience the highest sense of meaning and fulfillment. We are meant to aim our lives toward God. 

In our passage for this Sunday Paul continues to outline the power of the gospel to transform lives. In particular, in verse 19 he explains how we might live to God. That is to say, Paul explains how Christians are to aim their lives toward the glory of God through faith in Jesus Christ. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Galatians 2:17-21, Romans 7:4-6, Ephesians 4:22-24, and WCF 13.1. 

As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”, the Acclamation of Praise “Rock of Ages”, and the Hymn of Response “In Christ Alone.”  Our special music will include, Prelude "Be Still, My Soul" played by Adelheid Terry, piano, Offertory Anthem (8:00) "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light" by Sanctuary Choir, (11:00) "I Want to Be Like Jesus" by the Chapel Choir.

Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him! 

Text: Galatians 2:17-21 

Title: Dying to Live 

Outline: 

1. Every Christian Must Die to the Law (vv. 17-19)
2. Every Christian Must Die with Christ (v. 20a)
3. Every Christian Must Live by Faith in Christ (v. 20b-21)

Sunday's bulletin