10. Redeemed from the Elements of the World
Description
A deep dive into the “stoicheia cosmou,” the elements of the world.
Sermon Outline:
I. God created humanity to mature
II. The post-Edenic world is a world of boundaries enforced by heavenly beings
III. Christ redeems us from the Elements of the World
Quotes:
Nothing could express the character of the change brought by the gospel more stunningly than the language of physics. Jesus did not merely rearrange the surface. The world works differently now, because it is no longer made up of the same stuff. It is as if Paul announced that Jesus transformed the world right down to the quarks.
-Peter Leithart, Delivered from the Elements of the World
Had not we been first made sons, we could not have called Him Father. If then grace hath made us freemen instead of slaves, men instead of children, heirs and sons instead of aliens, is it not utter absurdity and stupidity to desert this grace, and to turn away backwards?
-St. John Chrysostom, 4th c.
Christ says, “‘Come unto me all you that labor’ under the yoke of the law. I could have overcome the law by my absolute power, without my own hurt: for I am the Lord of the law, and therefore it has no right over me. But I have made myself subject to the law for your cause who were under the law, taking your flesh upon me; and of my love for you I humbled and yielded myself to the same prison, tyranny, and bondage of the law, under which you served as captives and bond-slaves. Therefore I have vanquished the law by double-right and authority: first, as the Son of God and Lord of law; second, in your person, which is as much as if you had yourselves overcome the law –for my victory is yours.”
-Martin Luther, 16th c.
Jesus’ salvation is more than receiving a pardon and a release from death row. Then we’d be free but on our own. But Jesus has also awarded us the Congressional Medal of Honor. We
are received as heroes, as if we had accomplished extraordinary deeds. Unless we remember this, we will be anxious and even despairing when we sin or fail. We think our slate has been wiped clean, but now God’s opinion and acceptance of us are based on our record. That is not the case. When a son becomes heir, his inheritance is guaranteed. It is not a prize to be won. It is his. So is our salvation.
-Tim Keller
Scripture Text: Galatians 4:1-11
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, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.
Liturgy bulletin link
Sermon transcript link
Outline of Galatians
“Redeemed from the Elements of the World” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, September 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org.
Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com.
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