Let us commence our service this afternoon by singing together hymn number 407. The tune is Fording Bridge, 338. Dear Lord, my panting soul in flame, to spread abroad thy matchless fame, and with a solemn pleasure tell the grace which saves from death and hell. Hymn 407. tune fording bridge 338 ? For my wounded soul and pain ? ? Chains that are broken and forsaken ? you. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. And the home of the brave? A nation once so bravely brought here, Our children now can let them be. He that shall find the gracious peace. Take them from me. And take them away. Take thy cap off, thou troubled one, Let us read together from the holy word of God in Paul's epistle to the Galatians and chapter 2. The second chapter of the epistle to the Galatians. Then 14 years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and took Titus with me also. And I went up by revelation and communicated unto them that gospel which I preached among the Gentiles, but privately to them that were of reputation, lest by any means I should run or had run in vain. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And that because of false brethren, unawares brought in, who came in privilege to spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage. To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. But of these who seem to be somewhat, whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me God accepted no man's person, for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me. But contrary wise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was committed was unto Peter. For he that wrought effectually in Peter, to the apostleship of the circumcision, The same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles. And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the heathen and they unto the circumcision. Only they would that we should remember the poor the same which I also was forward to do. But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles. But when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compelst thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Ye who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we which have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law. For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead. in vain. May the Lord bless the reading of his own precious word. Grant us the spirit of real prayer. Holy and most merciful Lord God, we desire to bow before Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. for through him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father. And we desire to come to the throne of grace and to plead that precious mercy that did for sin atone, to plead the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, that cleanseth us from all sin, and plead that holy life and that glorious righteousness of our Lord Jesus, who was made of a woman made under the law that he might redeem them that are under the law. And this, O Lord, is our only hope, the finished work of Jesus Christ, the precious blood of that holy sacrifice of Calvary, which has put away sin, which has reconciled poor sinners unto God, O most gracious Lord, this is our only hope, the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. We will plead. We thank Thee for the throne of grace. We thank Thee that Jesus sits on that throne. We thank Thee for that wonderful provision of prayer whereby we can approach unto Thee and we can call upon thy great and holy name. For Jesus has made a new and living way into the holy place, therefore we can come. So we come in his name and we plead his precious merits and we plead his precious blood and his righteousness. Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. foul I to the fountain fly, wash me, Saviour, or I die. We pray, most gracious Lord, that Thou would remember us as a church and as a congregation. We thank Thee for the labours of Thy servants while we have been away, and the labours of our dear brother here while we have been away. We thank Thee, O Lord, that thou wast with thy people, and we pray that thou wouldst be with us now, as we unite together before thy glorious majesty. Make us of one heart, of one mind, and of one spirit. Be with us as we gather together around the table of the Lord, and grant, O Lord, thy sacred presence and blessing to be with us, and that as we partake of the the bread and of the wine, may we have that sacred realization that we are in Christ and that our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Bless our beloved brethren, the deacons, and give grace, wisdom, and help, and graciously be with us as a church and as a congregation. Continue to work mightily among us and gather precious souls unto Jesus Christ, and work mightily, powerfully, and effectually in our midst. Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. O Lord, we do beseech thee. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, the son of man, whom thou madest strong for thyself, so will not we go back from thee. Grant that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God our Father, and the sacred fellowship of the Holy Spirit may rest and abide upon us. Grant ears to hear, eyes to see, hearts to receive thy holy word, and hearts to receive thy precious gospel Hear us, O Lord, we pray thee, and graciously help us. Those that may be in bondage, bring them into liberty. Those that are in darkness, bring them into light. Those that are far off, make them nigh. Those that feel to be out of the secret, we pray that thou would graciously discover that secret unto them. Thou hast said in thy word, thou wilt show them the secrets of thy covenant, and we pray that they may be so this afternoon, that some poor sinner might come to see the secrets of thy covenant. We pray, most gracious Lord, that we may be led of the Spirit, for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God, and the word of truth may be made a living word, that shall reach into our hearts, that shall bring light into our hearts and life into our souls. Lord, may it be so this afternoon as we gather together around thy word, that thou wouldst come and open thy word. We thank thee for the table of the Lord and pray that it may be a sacred place to us this afternoon, a sense of thy presence, And the deep sense, O Lord, why me? O blessed God, why me? Why such a wretch as me, that must forever lie in hell, were not salvation free? And gracious God, how true that is. We pray, most gracious Lord, for the little ones, the children, that thou wouldst bless them indeed. Put the fear of the Lord into their hearts. Bless the young friends. Give them precious faith in Jesus Christ, that they may become followers of thee and of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst graciously bless all in the midst of the journey of life and give wisdom and grace and guidance and direction in all matters. deliver us from the temptations of Satan, whether he comes as a roaring lion to devour, or whether he comes as an angel of light to deceive, thou hast promised in thy word that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him, and that glorious standard of the cross of Christ, of the blood of Christ, of the righteousness of May it be lifted high. We do humbly beseech them. We pray that most gracious God that they always remember those not able to meet with us and graciously be with them. And remember, Lord, we pray those of us that are in the evening time of life's journey, and we pray to be prepared. Yea, Lord, we pray for young and old, to be prepared. And now, my God, prepare my soul for that great day and wash me in thy precious blood. Take all my sins away. Lord, we do pray that thou in thy great mercy would remember this village and grant that the glory, light, and power of gospel truth may shine into this village and the surrounding villages and hamlets. and yet many souls may be gathered in, and the stronghold of Satan pulled down, and the kingdom of our Lord Jesus set up in the hearts of sinners. Lord, let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. We pray for all thy servants as they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion, that thou would set them free, that thou would set them at liberty, that thou would graciously grant a door of utterance and the spirit of power, that there may be signs that shall follow the preaching of the word, and that which is sown in weakness may be raised in strength to the great glory of thy name. We do humbly beseech of thee. We pray that the Lord Jesus may be exalted and that thou wouldst give us that determination to know nothing among men, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. Lord, we do pray that thou wouldst graciously hear us in heaven, thy holy dwelling place, and that thou wouldst fill our hearts with gratitude, with thanksgiving, for all thy tender mercies, thy loving kindnesses, thy great goodness that has passed before us the way. We thank thee for that profound mystery of godliness, of God manifest in the flesh and Lord we thank thee for the holy life he lived and the bringing in of everlasting righteousness in that holy life. We thank thee for the holy sacrifice he offered and in that sacrifice the putting away of sin. for by one offering he hath perfected forever all them that are sanctified. Oh, we do thank thee for these wonderful and precious truths of our most holy faith. We pray that thou wouldst be with us as we turn to thy holy word, and that thou wouldst touch one's lips with the live coal from off the heavenly altar. Do hear us, Lord, we humbly beseech thee. for thy great name's sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn number 542. The tune is Paris 486. Jesus is my great high priest. bears my name upon his breast, and that we may never part, I am sealed upon his heart. Hymn 542, tune Paris, 486. you is O come, O come, Lord Jesus Christ, I'm scared you Greatly feeling to need the Lord's gracious help, I'll direct your attention to the second chapter of Paul's epistle to the Galatians, and we'll read verse 20 for our text. Galatians chapter two, verse 20. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am crucified with Christ. He says in the previous verse, for I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ. The Apostle quotes in Romans chapter 8, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. It's the same meaning. I am crucified. And this crucifying is a very painful work. Just as crucifixion is an exceedingly painful thing. And this work in the heart of the true believer, I am crucified with Christ. The apostle speaks of mortifying, which means killing. We have to be killed to all hope in ourselves, all hope in what we can do, all hope in what we can accomplish. We have to be brought to realize that we are nothing in self. And that constant teaching, it's crucifying to the flesh. As we've often pointed out to you, Romans chapter 7 how the Apostle there he speaks of the conflict in the true believer that which I would I do not that which I would not I do and so there is that constant conflict in the believer I am crucified with Christ And sometimes the Lord's people have some very crucifying experiences in affliction, in trouble, in trial, in perplexity, in mental conflict. And that carries on in conviction of sin. And all these things to our flesh are crucifying. sometimes we have great losses sometimes we have a great cross that we have to carry and this is what the apostle means when he says i am crucified with christ and yet there is of course another meaning and that is when christ was crucified it was for us just as the Apostle Paul says in the 53rd chapter, sorry, the prophet Isaiah says in the 53rd chapter of his prophecy, he speaks there of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed. And in that sense, I am crucified with Christ. And when you have, by faith, a sacred view of that, by faith that when Jesus suffered and bled and died for our sins, that in itself is exceedingly crucifying to our flesh. When we realize that in infinite love to our souls, He suffered and bled and died for our sins. And when we realize that my sins were the nails and the spear, you know, in that sense, when we have a sacred realization of it, I am crucified with Christ. I've often told you at the time when Those words in Isaiah were made so very precious to my soul and the Lord breathed them into my heart. And such was the effect of the view of Jesus wounded for my transgression and bruised for my iniquities. It was crucifying to my flesh to realize that the Holy the perfect, the spotless Son of God, manifest in the flesh, suffered and bled and died for my sins. And when we realize that, there is a far deeper sense of conviction of sin than ever we knew under the law. When you realize it was your sins that crucified the Lord Jesus, and it will produce in your heart a hatred of sin, That's something the law never can do. The law will convince you of sin, but a sight of Christ crucified for your sins, it'll make you realize the awfulness of sin. When you see the holy person of Jesus, the son of God, suffering, bleeding, dying, personally for your sins. When you realize, as it says in Isaiah 53, He was wounded for our transgressions. And then it says, He laid upon Him, who your heavenly Father laid upon His only begotten Son, manifest in the flesh the sin of the whole church. He laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. That's why He was crucified. That's why He suffered and bled and died. our sins. I am crucified with Christ. Maybe there's one or another of you here this afternoon and you have that sense and realization of your sin and it brings bondage and darkness into your soul and yet you know friends He says here, yet not I. You see, nevertheless I live, yet not I. And it's when we have a view of Christ, on the one hand, there is that deep sense that we crucified him. But then on the other hand, there's that sense that he willingly gave his life. He gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time and then there is a deep sense of love, wonderful love to Christ in that he suffered and bled and died for our sins and you know there's that beautiful hymn that has been very sweet to me on a number of occasions, sweet the moments rich in blessing which before the cross I spend him 158, life and health and peace possessing from the sinner's dying friend. May I sit forever viewing mercy streams in streams of blood, precious drops my soul be doing plead and claim my peace with God. But then he says in verse 3, love and grief my heart love because of such love on such love my heart still ponders love so rich so full so free that love that took Christ to the cross that love that made him willing to give his life a ransom for our souls love and grief my heart divided with my tears his feet are bathed, constantly in faith abiding, life deriving from his death. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. The apostle says, doesn't he, Christ in you, The hope of glory. Christ in you. It's a wonderful thought, isn't it? Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith. That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. That we may be rooted and grounded in love and know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. When we feel Christ in our hearts, Christ in our hearts, the hope of glory. And I'm not sure that I can turn to it, but I believe the Apostle Paul in one of his epistles, he speaks so beautifully concerning this Christ in us. hope of glory and he speaks of us receiving Christ, receiving Christ and he says in the second chapter of the Colossians and verse 6 as you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk ye in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. You see, Christ in you. It's a wonderful thought, isn't it? Christ in you. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. By faith. Christ in you. It's a wonderful thing. that's what brings life and that's what brings light and that's what brings peace into the heart of a poor sinner, Christ in you. That personal revelation to your soul that Jesus suffered and bled and died for your sins. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I. but Christ liveth in me. Christ liveth in me. It's a wonderful, precious, sacred thing when we realise that Christ lives in us. When we embrace him in the arms of living faith, when our hearts are at peace with God, when we feel that reconciling grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in our hearts. When we feel the effect of that precious blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth us from all sin, when we feel the preciousness of the righteousness of Christ covering us, clothing our nakedness, Nevertheless, I live Yet not I the apostle he desired this didn't he in the third chapter of the Philippians He said that I might know him in the power of his resurrection What a mercy my beloved friends that we do not worship a dead Christ We worship a living Christ We worship a Christ that died for our sins, but rose again for our justification. And the significance of that is that he left our sins in the grave, never to be seen again. That's why he said, rose again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. He has delivered us from death, from eternal death. from eternal damnation. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. Christ in you, the hope of glory. What a wonderful, precious, sacred truth that is, and that we live in Christ, and that we are alive in Christ. Nevertheless, I live. Though, as the apostle says, we are killed all the day long, and yet in our Lord Jesus Christ, there is eternal life, eternal salvation. Doesn't he lay that out so beautifully in Romans chapter eight? He so beautifully sets before us the sacred and precious nature of salvation in Jesus Christ. He says in verse 29 of Romans 8, for whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things, if God before us, who then can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that dieth. yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughter nay in all these things We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded. What a wonderful thing, my beloved friends, when the Lord gives us a persuasion. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us. from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. This is a significant word my beloved friends about the life which I now live in the flesh. The life which I now live in the flesh. What is the significance? The life that the believer lives in the flesh is not the life that he lived before he was a believer. The life I now live is not the life that I used to live. The life I now live, in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God. What a life that is, isn't it? This is the life of the believer. In the Apostle he says, doesn't he, and Christ who is our life, Christ who is our life. You see, this is that conflict in the believer that is often there that Christ who is our life and yet there is the old man of sin which is corrupt and wretched and undone and yet there's a life in Christ that we live in the flesh. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the Swedish frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name, the life I now live. The apostle says, doesn't he, he quotes from the prophet Isaiah, who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved. He says a very similar passage in the Song of Solomon. coming up out of the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved. The believer coming up out of the wilderness of this world, leaning upon her beloved. The beloved is our Lord Jesus Christ. He's God manifest in the flesh. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith. See the distinction that the apostle is making here, if you look at verse 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. And if while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also have found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin, God forbid. You see, the apostle here is making the distinction between an unbeliever under the law and a believer in Christ, under Christ. He says, O foolish Galatians in chapter 3, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you. There were those deodizing teachers in the Galatian church that were actually instructing the believers that now that they'd come to faith in Jesus Christ, they were able to fulfill the law. And the apostle immediately sees the terrible error that they were falling into. So he uses very strong language, O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you? This only would I learn of you, received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith. Are ye so foolish, having begun in the Spirit? Are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain, if it be yet in vain? He that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth it by the works of the law? or by the hearing of faith. You see the clear distinction he makes. He says in the later part of that third chapter, verse 21, is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, very righteousness should have been by the law. But the fact is, my beloved friends, the law is just the opposite. Under the law is death. It's called the law of death. The soul that sinneth it shall die. Cursed is every man that doeth not all things that is written in the book of the law to do them. So under the law is death. But under Christ is life. And it says in verse 22 of chapter 3, but the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up under the faith which would afterward be revealed, wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. What does a schoolmaster do? He instructs and that is what the law does. It instructs us of what sin is. The law reveals to us what sin is. A broken law brings the curse of God. But here he says, if you look carefully at this verse 24, where for the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ. To bring us is in italics. Now what that means is that it was added by the translators as they thought it gave a clearer understanding. But if you actually take out to bring us, it says, wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For you're all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you're all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me. and gave himself for me. You know the Apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Spirit of God when he writes to the Corinthians and he speaks of people of the world in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 and he says in verse 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves and mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. You think of the is in our text, the life I now live, I live by faith. The life I now live is not the life that I used to live and such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of your God. What a wonderful precious gospel isn't it? made perfect, set free from sin, set free from the law, set free from the curse of the law. It's a wonderful liberty that the people of God have in Jesus Christ and the life which I now live in the flesh. I live by faith of the Son of Now, on this point, the life I now live in the flesh, just turn with us to the Romans chapter 12. And in Romans chapter 12, the apostle, he speaks to the believers. He says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies, a living sacrifice. You know, we read in the Word of God Christ has made us kings and priests unto God. And here, in this sense, the believer is a priest. That you present your bodies, that is this life that we now live in the flesh. You present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Everything we have is God's. Everything we have is Christ. Everything that we have received, we receive from Christ. And hence he says, by the mercies of God, that wonderful mercy that you've received in Christ Jesus, that you present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. It's not unreasonable that having been partakers of so great a salvation, that we should present our bodies and live in sacrifice. And when he says present our bodies, he means everything that we have, everything that we possess in the life which we now live. We present it unto the Lord, which is your reasonable service. Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind we might prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Good, acceptable and perfect will of God. The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Think of what Jesus gave for us. He gave his life, a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. And therefore the Apostle, both in the Romans and here, he argues that we should give ourselves, now that we've been sanctified by the Spirit, raised up to a blessed hope in the finished work of Jesus Christ, that we should live as he lived, who loved me and gave himself for me. And that as we follow the Lord Jesus, he says to the Hebrews, doesn't he, let us lay aside every way. And the sin that does so easily beset Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking on to Jesus. Poor sinner, that's the only way you'll ever run this race, looking on to Jesus. And he gives us more grace. You feel to lack your grace. You feel to lack love. You feel to lack the ability to follow the Lord Jesus. He gives us a clear word of direction of how we're to run this race. looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame thereof, and is set down at the right hand of the majesty on high, who loved me and gave himself for me. May the Lord add his blessing.