We turn our attention to John 9, immediately after Jesus claims to be divine. Remember, this is a blasphemous statement… unless it’s true. Pastor Phil drives home this context before diving into the Pharisees’ reaction. It becomes clear that those who are the spiritual guides and leaders of the land were the most blind to the truth of all! Jeff’s …
Pacific Garden Mission Ep 277 It’s Hard To Do Right (Galatians 6)
An all-too-common experience for us all is to see so many people, often wicked or cruel, flourishing and thriving while we are endlessly caught in despair as we do our best to live in obedience to God. The reality is it’s hard to do what’s right, especially when we do not see the good fruit that we are sowing. It’s …
Pacific Garden Mission Ep 276 Be Filled with the Spirit
Last week pastor Phil exhorted us to “walk in the Spirit.” This time, he follows up by explaining what it means to be FILLED with the Spirit. Believe God can change you, renew your mind, exercise self-control. These are three important factors in being filled with the Spirit. Kalia’s story is one of heartache, trauma, and loneliness. Rebellion set in …
Pacific Garden Mission Ep 275 Walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5)
As we move through the book of Galatians, we are faced with the issue of living as believers who still experience temptation and even sin. Now that we have put off our old selves, we must not sit in that void, but rather put on the new self. Sanctification is not a snap of the fingers, but a process we …
Pacific Garden Mission Ep 274 Christian Liberty (Galatians 5)
The idea of Christian liberty does not immediately mesh with the world around us, and it didn’t for the Galatians either. It is not the freedom to go on scot-free with nothing and no one to hold us accountable and with no obligations to God and each other, but rather freedom to a new life in which our desires are …
Pacific Garden Mission Ep 273 Believing God’s Promises
Before there was Christ, there was the Law, but what was there before the Law? In Galatians 4, Paul refers back to Abraham, who simply believed God’s promise and it was credited to him as righteousness. Once again, there were no works involved; in fact, Abraham’s works were counterproductive! The righteousness of Abraham, like ours, was credited by faith alone. …
Pacific Garden Mission EP 272 Heirs of God’s Grace
“Some of us walk around like spiritual paupers,” as pastor Phil puts it—we don’t know who we are. At PGM one of the greatest messages we remind people of is their identity; we want you to know who you are. You are no longer a slave but a son, a child of God, and if a child, then an heir …
Pacific Garden Mission Ep 271 Faith is the Answer (Galatians 3)
When we examine our human condition and reckon with our sin and failures, there is no other conclusion except that we desperately need a Savior—and we can’t save ourselves. The mind-blowing truth is that, just as Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness so that whosoever might look upon it might be cured, so Christ has been lifted up so …
Pacific Garden Mission Ep 270 Freedom in the Christian Life (Galatians 3)
Using texts from Genesis to Paul, Pastor Phil explains what freedom in Christ really entails. We shouldn’t be projecting our personal preferences and convictions onto others as if they were God’s absolute rules, lest we lead our neighbors to stumble under the weight of our burden or descend into legalism. Raphael takes us through his chaotic past in jail and …
Pacific Garden Mission Ep 269 That’s Called Grace
Pastor Phil builds up to one of the most important verses of the Bible, Galatians 2:16, the very heart of the Gospel. At the end of the day justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, glory to God! Otis looks back at his gradual decline into the hopelessness and devastation he was in when he came to PGM. It …