August 24, 2025
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
= = =
Is it an improvement to go from Dante to Dr. Seuss? When you go from “Midway this way of life we’re bound upon, I woke to find myself in a dark wood, Where the right road was wholly lost and gone” to “Do you like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam-I-am. I do not like Green eggs and ham”, that is going backward! Strangely, the way some people think about spiritual maturity is actually not moving forward, but backward.
The legalistic person expects God will accept him because of the quality of his life and good works. In the Bible they are known as the Pharisees and the Judaizers. Yes, of course, they talk endlessly about God's grace. The Bible mentions and talks about grace too much and too often for anyone to pretend that grace does not exist. But if its existence cannot be denied, its meaning surely can be corrupted.
The Judaizers were quite willing to accept Jesus as long as his gospel was put in its proper place. “Oh you believe in Jesus? Good. But that’s kiddy stuff. Let’s move on to the real important and mature stuff. Get circumcised. Eat this, not that! Babies have to rely on God’s free gift. But if you are really mature then fix your life so you are not always so utterly dependent on God.” After all, who wants to remain a spiritual baby forever?
But Paul flips this argument on its head in Galatians 4:1–7. “I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.” Paul compares the OT believers under the law as a minor child. They were part of God’s family and had the promises. But they did not enjoy the blessings of the promises, just as a minor heir does not have full enjoyment of his assets and properties until he is grown up. In the Greco-Roman culture the father would set the time for the child to come into his inheritance. The heir would remain under the supervision of trustees usually until he was 25 years old. Until then, even though he is actually the lord of his household, he had to submit to the servants that his father put over him.
The OT believers were under the authority of the law because they had not reached the state of maturity that comes with Jesus. They only come into their full inheritance in Jesus. Faith in Jesus changes their status from minor child to rightful heir. Jesus changes their experience of God’s promises from ones looking at them from a distance to a full enjoyment of them. The Judaizers said that spiritual maturity is in the law. They had it exactly backwards! To go back to the way of living where they hang the hope of their eternity on how well they keep the rules is not becoming more mature, but immature. It is not an improvement to go from Dante to Dr. Seuss. And it is not an improvement to go from Jesus to the Law. Similarly, we never outgrow Jesus. There is no moving past the gospel to something more important. Do you see it?
= = =
Growth Resources
This year: Please see the full list of 2025 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
In August we are reading “Political Visions & Illusions: A Survey and Christian Critique of Contemporary Ideologies” by David Koyzis..
This week: We are reflecting upon Shorter Catechism Q. 34.
Everyday: Noted pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson posts a short reflection every day, each around 5 minutes long. "Things Unseen" cover various aspects of the Christian life, worship, and theological topics in a very accessible and edifying way. We encourage you to incorporate this into your daily life. Please see this page for more information. There you will find links to various podcast platforms as well as YouTube page.
Upcoming Events and Notices
August 24 (Lord's Day): Please join us for Sunday School lesson from “Essential Truths of the Christian Faith” Ch. 56 “Salvation.”
September 10 (Wednesday 7 PM): The Survey of the Pentateuch will resume with highlights from the book of Leviticus over Zoom. More information will be available shortly.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).