Galations #3: Live by Faith

October 13, 2024

Pastor Patrick presented today's message, "Galations #3: Live by Faith." Here's a video of the message.

What is the most important thing to remember according to Christianity? I think it's safe to say that the answer is "Jesus died for our sins, thus providing salvation and a gateway to sanctification." After all, every time we celebrate Communion, which we did today, we "do this in remembrance of Him."

Remembering is a big deal in the Bible, both for God and for His subjects. The list of verses in both testaments that talk about remembering is very long. The Hebrew word for remember is tsakar (זָכַר). It's used at least 232 times in the Old Testament. Most often it means remember, but other connotations exist as well: be mindful, celebrate, consider, extol, invoke, mention, recorder, and take thought.

From the Torah alone, we have these examples:

Deuteronomy 6:12, "Then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."

Deuteronomy 8:2, "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."

Deuteronomy 32:7, "Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you."

Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Deuteronomy 4:9, "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children."

Genesis 8:1, "But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided." When God "remembers," it's not that He has forgotten. It's that now He chooses to act.

Genesis 9:15, "I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh."

Deuteronomy 7:18, "You shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt."

Genesis 9:14-16, "It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.

Genesis 19:29, "Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived."

Deuteronomy 8:18, "But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."

Deuteronomy 5:15, "You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day."

Numbers 15:38-40, "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, so that you may remember to do all My commandments and be holy to your God." Like Communion, this is a physical ritual to remind us of a spiritual truth.

If you want more, just do a web search on "remembrance Bible".

Bonus

Remember: POW-MIA

Speaking of remembering... our Family Dinner topic for this weekend was "Remembering," motivated by my use of the POW-MIA flag this weekend (see JF2.com/flags/#POW).

We talked briefly about the flag itself. but mostly talked about the Missing Man Ceremony and how its focus is remembering. Pictured at right is our "Missing Man Table" setting for the evening. Here's the script for the ceremony:

This Table set for one is small -- Symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors. Remember!

The Tablecloth is white -- Symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms. Remember!

The single Red Rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades-in-arms who keep the faith awaiting their return. Remember!

The Red Ribbon tied so prominently on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn upon the lapel and breasts of thousands who bear witness to their unyielding determination to demand a proper accounting of our missing. Remember!

The Candle, the candle is lit -- Symbolizing the upward reach of their unconquerable spirit. Remember!

A Slice of Lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate. Remember!

There is Salt upon the bread plate -- Symbolic of the families tears as they wait. Remember!

The Glass is inverted -- They cannot toast with us this night. Remember!

The Chair -- The chair is empty. They are not here. Remember!

Remember! -- All of you who served with them and called them comrades, who depended upon their might and aid, and relied upon them, for surely, they have not forsaken you. Remember!

Remember! -- Until the day they come home, Remember!

The other topic we remembered was why there is a Columbus Day. Here's a PragerU 5-minute video about Columbus Day. Hint, Columbus was merely the symbol used for the holiday; the holiday had/has a much greater focus and purpose.