Grace From Galatians (6-19)

We call them New Year’s resolutions. But so often we MAKE THESE PROMISES and then we BREAK THEM!

Illus: Did you hear about the man who got tired of making these promises and breaking them? He got so disgusted with himself that he came up with a list of Resolutions he felt he could keep. He said that this year, he resolved to...

• Gain weight - at least 30 pounds

• Stop exercising

• Read less

• Procrastinate more - starting tomorrow

• Not date any people in the cast of “ER”

• Not jump off a cliff just because everyone else did

• Not have eight children at once

• Buy an '83 Eldorado and invest in a really loud stereo system

• Get further in debt

• Break at least one traffic law

• Not swim with piranhas or sharks

• Focus on the faults of others

• Never make New Year's resolutions again

We all know what it is to make promises to ourselves and then break them only a few days later. We also make promises to others and break them sometimes.

For example, the marriage vows we take are sacred vows we make before God and men, saying that we will be faithful to our spouse.

When some folks take these vows, it is a very emotional time in their life.

Illus: Dr. Odell Belger was asked to conduct a wedding in a home for a Christian couple. It was a lovely home and there were about 20 to 25 people there.

The wedding started. They both marched in and stood before Dr. Belger in front of the fireplace. He opened in prayer and got started into the wedding ceremony when he noticed the groom was pale. The man soon hit the floor.

Everyone was concerned about him, but in about 20 or 30 seconds he was on his feet again.

Dr. Belger got started again, watching the man to see if he was alright. He soon got that funny look on his face and he was back on the floor again.

Everyone gathered around him, and in about 20 or 30 seconds he was on his feet again.

He still looked pale and Dr. Belger asked a man in the room to bring him a chair. They placed him in the chair and put a cold wash rag on his forehead and Dr. Belger started again.

It wasn’t long before he passed out and almost fell out of the chair. In around 20 to 30 seconds he was conscious again.

Dr. Belger got on his knees and looked him in the eyes and said, “Say, I do!” He said, “I do!” Dr. Belger said, “You are married!”

Many folks know how serious these vows are and they have a difficult time emotionally, saying the vows.

But then there are others who do not have a difficult time SAYING THEIR VOWS, they have a difficult time KEEPING THEIR VOWS!

But when God makes a PROMISE, we can rest assured that He will keep His promise.

Paul, in this portion of scripture, is still showing these Galatians who had been “bewitched” by false teachers, that WE ARE NOT justified by OBEYING THE LAW but by putting our FAITH IN CHRIST WHO FULFILLED THE LAW.

The Jews had two great men that they held in high esteem in the Old Testament, Moses and Abraham. But God used them differently, for example:

1. Abraham received the promise

2. Moses received the Law

3. God told Abraham, “I will”

4. God told Moses, “Thou shalt”

Look at the contrast between THE PROMISE AND THE LAW -

• The PROMISE created a religion dependent on God. The LAW created a religion dependent on man.

• The PROMISE centers on God’s plan. The LAW centers on man’s duty.

• The PROMISE focuses on God’s grace, sovereignty, and blessings. The LAW focuses on man’s duty, work, responsibility, and behavior.

• The PROMISE requires only sincere faith. The LAW required perfect obedience.

The apostle Paul had heard the Judaizer’s arguments and he was responding to them.

WHAT WAS THEIR ARGUMENT?

• One of their complaints was that the Mosaic law annulled Abraham’s promise

• They claimed that the plan of salvation changed when the Law was given

• They claimed that God made the law a supplement to faith

These are the arguments that Paul is dealing with in Galatians 3:15-25.

We are justified by FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST. PAUL WANTS TO PROVE THAT THIS STATEMENT IS TRUE!

HOW DOES HE DO THIS? He uses the covenant that God made to Abraham. In this passage of scripture under consideration, Paul shows us God’s covenant (promise) to Abraham proves that justification is by faith and not by works of the law.

HOW DOES HE DO THIS? First, let’s look at-