I. Introduction
A. Who are you?
1. If you grew up watching police shows, one of the things that police used to identify individuals in crimes was fingerprints.
2. It is commonly presented that no two people’s fingerprints are identical based on loops and whorls located within every finger and thumb.
3. The use of fingerprinting in crime solving goes all the way back to a Scottish physician, Henry Faulds, who was a missionary in Japan in the late 1800s. Through experiments, he believed that he had discovered a foolproof way to solve crimes (even doing so himself).
4. What’s interesting is that fingerprinting has never been “proven” to be truly unique, at least scientifically.
5. In fact, AI has determined that our fingerprints are not as unique as we once thought.
B. Uniqueness
1. While our fingerprints might not be as unique as we once thought, we’re still unique in the eyes of God.
2. No two souls are alike.
C. Background on Galatians
1. Paul writes this letter to the Christians in the region of Galatia (Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Pisidian Antioch, etc.)
2. This is a region that Paul visited on all three of his missionary journeys.
3. The letter addresses the issue of false Judaizers teaching the brethren who had come to Christ from paganism that they needed first to become Jews to become Christians truly (adhering to feasts, circumcision, etc. Gal 4:10; Gal 5:1-12).
4. Paul even has to confront Peter when he falls for this line of teaching (2:11-14).
5. There is some debate about whether or not Paul is still recording his response to Peter after verse 14. The NIV, NASB, and NIV all include verse 15-21 in quotations while the ESV ends the conversation at verse 14.
D. The “I” in Galatians
1. In our passage tonight, Paul speaks frequently about himself.
2. He is not bragging; he is simply trying to help the Galatian brethren understand how important it is to find their identity in Christ, not the law.
3. How does Paul identify this life in Christ?
II. Not I, But Christ
A. with Christ
1. Paul recounts his conversion by describing what transpired spiritually.
a. Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
b. Colossians 2:11-15 Paul returns to this argument about the purpose of baptism, comparing it to circumcision. The Christian’s circumcision is not of the flesh, but of the spirit.
c. Crucifixion is not something that people survived; the cross always ended in death.
2. People sometimes say, “That’s just who I am,” but if we belong to Christ, there should be a change from our old lives to the new one we have been .
a. Paul here tells us that we cannot hold on to the old things that used to identify us.
b. Christians should live with a new identity.
B. in Christ
1. While living in the flesh, we should want others to see in us above all else. Paul wanted his primary identity to be as a Christian.
2. Illustration: What if we had to walk around with a nametag that described us to everyone? Like a giant emoji face or something? What would people see that they can’t otherwise? Paul wanted them to see him in light of the cross.
3. Galatians 1:13-16 Paul recounts his conversion. He reminds us that he wasn’t always friendly to Christians.
4. The death Paul experienced was not a one-time past event.
5. This change in us is a continual process. We are always a work-in-progress.
a. Galatians 5:24
b. Galatians 6:14
c. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18
6. When people get to know us, they should get to know a little bit about Jesus.
C.
1. Paul was not one to be convinced easily or swayed by the influence of powerful people.
2. Paul tells us that the reason he desires to live for Christ is because of Christ’s death for him.
a. McKinney notes that Paul’s view of Christ’s sacrifice was not merely theological, but “intensely personal.”
b. “…who…gave Himself for me.”
3. What motivates me to live as a follower of Christ?
a. Am I motivated by fear?
b. Am I motivated by reward?
c. Am I motivated by love?
4. Paul was motivated by his faith in Christ, His love, and His sacrifice.
5. If we can remember what God has done for us in Christ and seek to understand it, we will always be able to find the motivation to be faithful.
III. Conclusion
A. Unique
1. While our fingerprints might not be quite as unique as we think, Jesus died for each one of us.
2. Paul takes it personally, do you?
B. Invitation
1. This evening, maybe you’ve struggled to crucify the old person. You buried them, but they just seem to keep digging themselves out of the grave.
2. Perhaps you need help with that.
3. Maybe you’ve never truly died in the waters of baptism as you should. (Rom6:6)