By Faith, From Start To Finish
Galatians 3:1-9
Intro.-
* Most people enter the Christian life with the emotions of joy and freedom.
- It’s even difficult to put into words the feeling of being forgiven.
- "It’s like having a heavy burden lifted off of you"
* To accept God’s forgiveness through Jesus is a liberating experience.
* Usually, we are pretty good at staying in fellowship with God the first few months, and for some the first few years of their relationship with God.
* But then something ominous often begins to happen in our relationship with God.
* We begin to see that we are really much worse than we realized.
- We begin to fail in our Christian walk more than we thought we ever would or could fail.
* In our own foolish and subtle way, we attempt to earn God’s favor by working harder at being a better person.
- We somehow believe that doing more or working harder will cause God to smile on us again.
Illus. – We are sometimes like the purchasers of a new automobile. There is just something exciting and thrilling about driving a brand new car. Most of the time when you purchase a new automobile it will come with a full tank of gas. What if, when it ran out of gas, you just decided to push the car. It would be much cheaper to operate that way. Wouldn’t that be ridiculous? Yet, we as Christians operate that way. We begin the Christian life with a full tank of gas. We begin living off the fuel of the Holy Spirit. But then when we run out of gas, we turn to our own energy and strength to live the Christian life. And the harder we try, the more we fail… the more exhausted we become.
* We gradually turn from a life dominated by faith in God to one that is legalistic.
* We lead lives that are more performance based than they are faith based.
* We become legalistic in our approach to God.
Charles Ryrie - What is legalism?
"Legalism is not the presence of laws, otherwise, God would have to be charged with promoting it since He has given man innumerable laws during human history. Neither is legalism the imposition of law on something else, for if it were, God would be a legalist of the highest order. Furthermore, legalism is not the opposite of liberty, meaning that a person can live a lawless existence. Christian liberty does not give the believer the option of living any way he pleases; it is not license. It places him in a position where he can live as God pleases, something he was unable to do as an un-regenerated person. Liberated living is not unrestricted living. What is legalism then? It is a wrong attitude toward the code of laws under which a person lives. Legalism involves the presence of laws, the wrong motive toward obeying that law and often the wrong use of the power provided to keep the law, but it is basically a wrong attitude. Thus legalism may be defined as ’a fleshly attitude which conforms to a code for the purpose of exalting self…" It cannot be emphasized too strongly that having to do something is not legalism, but the wrong attitude toward doing it is."
*Quote - "In the first two chapters of the epistle Paul established the divine origin of his apostleship and his message. Then he turned to the Galatians who were being urged to add works to faith, to keep the Mosaic Law in addition to placing faith in Christ as the grounds of acceptance before God. The Galatian Christians would receive, the Judaizers thought, a more complete salvation and a greater sanctification if they would obey the Law.
v. 1
Paul reproves the Galatians rather sharply when he calls them “fools, bewitched, and disobedient.”
"O Foolish Galatians" -
Luther, Martin –Commentary p. 85-86 - A certain distance and coolness can be noted in the title with which the Apostle addresses the Galatians. He does not now address them as his brethren, as he usually does. He addresses them as Galatians in order to remind them of their national trait to be foolish. We have here an example of bad traits that often cling to individual Christians and entire
congregations. Grace does not suddenly transform a Christian into a new and perfect creature. Dregs of the old and natural corruption remain. The Spirit of God cannot at once overcome human deficiency. Sanctification takes time. Although the Galatians had been enlightened by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of faith, something of their national trait of foolishness plus their original depravity clung to them. Let no man think that once he has received faith, he can presently be converted into a faultless creature. The leavings of old vices will stick to him, be he ever so good a Christian.
"bewitched" -
* means – "To be led astray by sorcery" - …mesmerized
Message – "Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, "
* As if he were saying: “I know your defection was not willful. The devil sent the false apostles to you, and they talked you into believing that you are justified by the Law. With this our epistle we endeavor to undo the damage which the false apostles have inflicted upon you.”
* It’s as though they have fallen under a spell!
* They have been deceived, …duped, …
Luther, Martin –Commentary p. 86 Paul calls the Galatians foolish and bewitched. In the fifth chapter he mentions sorcery among the works of the flesh, declaring that witchcraft and sorcery are real manifestations and legitimate activities of the devil. We are all exposed to the influence of the devil, because he is the prince and
god of the world in which we live. Satan is clever. He does not only bewitch men in a crude manner, but also in a more artful fashion. He bedevils the minds of men with hideous fallacies. Not only is he able to deceive the
self-assured, but even those who profess the true Christian faith. There is not one among us who is not at times seduced by Satan into false beliefs.
"before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"
* Paul had given them a vivid picture of Christ when he was there.
Luther - “No artist with all his colors could have pictured Christ to you as vividly as I have pictured Him to you by my preaching. Yet you permitted yourselves to be seduced to the extent that you disobeyed the truth of Christ.”
Bible Knowledge Commentary – "evidently set forth" - lit., “to write for public reading” as with the posting of a public announcement. Paul had vividly and graphically proclaimed the crucified Christ to the Galatians; yet their eyes had been diverted from the Cross to the Law. They were without excuse.
I. Salvation began by faith, not works v. 2
* The first proof is that of salvation’s beginning
* Paul points to the time of salvation,… when salvation began.
* It’s a rhetorical question, - the implied answer is obvious.
* Paul is not questioning their salvation, he’s asking how they received the Holy Spirit. What part did the law play in their receiving the Holy Spirit?
* Paul is asking them to go back in memory to the time of their conversion, and remember what led to them being saved. Was it their promise to obey the law and it’s demands, or was it believing that Jesus died on their behalf as their substitute on the cross?
* You didn’t walk the aisle of a church and sign an agreement to obey the ten commandments or any part of the OT law in order to get saved.
* These Gentiles weren’t required to even read the law in order to be saved.
* Paul didn’t bring with him a set of scrolls with the OT law written on them and demand that his hearers obey those laws.
* Paul didn’t initially come to them preaching the law, but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
* The experience of Peter in the book of Acts verifies this teaching in Galatians.
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
* The Galatians received Holy Spirit in response to the preaching of the Gospel, not the preaching of the law.
* The law doesn’t bring the Holy Spirit…they didn’t receive the Holy Spirit by law.
* A person becomes a Christian not by working (deeds of the law), but by hearing.
* We get saved not by trying, but by trusting!
* Salvation is a gift to be received, not a reward to be earned.
Luther – "The heart of man finds it difficult to believe that so great a treasure as the Holy Ghost is gotten by the mere hearing of faith. The hearer likes to reason like this: Forgiveness of sins, deliverance from death, the gift of the Holy Ghost, everlasting life are grand things. If you want to obtain these priceless benefits, you must engage in correspondingly great efforts. And the devil says, “Amen.” We must learn that forgiveness of sins, Christ, and the Holy Ghost, are freely granted unto us at the preaching of faith, in spite of our sinfulness. We are not to waste time thinking how unworthy we are of the blessings of God. We are to know that it pleased God freely to give us His unspeakable gifts. If He offers His gifts free of charge, why not take them? Why worry about our lack of worthiness? Why not accept gifts with joy and thanksgiving?
* Their receiving the Holy Spirit was not the result of their obedience to the law
II. Sanctification continues by faith, not rules v. 3
* The second proof we have of salvation being by faith and not works is the
proof of how salvation continues.
* What happened after they were saved? …
- Did they return to the law to become better Christians.
- Did Paul preach Jesus to them to get them saved, and then preach the law to them to get them sanctified?
- Will bringing a sacrifice to the temple and offering it there get us closer to God?
- Will we have a more complete salvation by trusting in Jesus initially and being obedient to the OT law?
* Paul didn’t originally teach them that they could be closer to God by believing in Jesus and keeping the law.
* It’s not a combination of the two that Paul preached to them!
* Neither salvation, nor sanctification require the law.
Gal 3:3 (Message) - Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?
* The law is not needed for salvation to begin and it is not required for sanctification to continue.
* Nowhere in Scripture is it taught that obedience to the law brings sanctification.
* There was no provision under the Law for the Holy Spirit to do the work of sanctification.
* How can that which brings death and bondage lead to maturity in the Christian life?
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Gal 6:13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
* The Galatian believers probably thought that keeping the old Law would aid them in their spiritual lives, but it would not.
* The Christian life is not a routine, but a relationship.
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
III. Suffering came because of faith, not the law v. 4
* It wasn’t your obedience to the law that led to the trials and persecution in your lives.
* Paul had warned of persecution as a result of their faith in Jesus.
Act 14:21-22 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, (22) confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.
Luther – Paul is saying, “Consider not only the good start you had and lost, but consider also the many things you have suffered for the sake of the Gospel and for the name of Christ. You have suffered the loss of your possessions, you have borne reproaches, you have passed through many dangers of body and life. You endured much for the name of Christ and you endured it faithfully. But now you have lost everything, the Gospel, faith, and the spiritual benefit of your
sufferings for Christ’s sake. What a miserable thing to endure so many afflictions for nothing.”
* BKC - "Paul reminded them that if they turned from grace to Law they would brand their former position in error and would then have suffered so much for nothing. But the apostle was unwilling to believe that this was so."
* To desert the Gospel is to have suffered in vain.
* They were in essence saying they had suffered for error in the beginning, rather than the truth.
* They suffered because they embraced the Gospel, not because they embraced the Law.
* Paul asks them to reflect on why they had suffered in the beginning, … it wasn’t because of the law, it was for the sake of the Gospel.
IV. Supernatural events were by faith, not the law v. 5
* Paul had witnessed miracles done in their midst.
Act 14:3 Long time therefore they tarried there speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Act 14:8-11 And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked. (9) The same heard Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole, (10) said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked. (11) And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
* "worketh miracles" - "energōn dunameis" = energy, dynamite – ’dynamic power’
* These supernatural events didn’t come as a result of the works of the law, but they accompanied the preaching of the Gospel.
* The ministry of the law was not what brought a powerful change to their lives nor did it result in miracles.
V. Salvation of Abraham was by faith, not the law v. 6-9
* Paul continues to confirm that justification is by faith alone by using the example of Abraham.
* Argument is simple.
* Abraham was declared righteous on the basis of faith, not works, …not the law,…not circumcision.
Gen 15:1-6 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. (2) And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? (3) And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. (4) And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. (5) And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. (6) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
* Abraham was justified by faith, not works of the law.
* Abraham "believed God" a decade before he was circumcised and the law didn’t come until about 400 years later.
* Abraham, the father of the Jews,… the very first Jew was saved by faith.
* We are not his natural offspring, but he is the father of all who believe.
* Those who believe are the true seed of Abraham.
* We are the children of Abraham not according to the flesh, but according to promise.
* Paul is saying we are justified in the same way as Abraham was justified.
Rom 4:1-5 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? (2) For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. (3) For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:19-25 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: (20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; (21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. (22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (23) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (25) Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Lessons for life
1) To supplement the work of Christ is to replace it.
* There can only be one way of salvation, and that is by faith in Christ alone.
* To add something more to the work of Jesus is to make void what Jesus did on the cross.
* Illus. - For the doctor to recommend a vitamin supplement for you is to suggest that you are lacking something. There is something missing. Maybe it’s iron, Vitamin A, B, or C. He’s telling you that you regular diet is not supplying you what you need. You need something more.
* This is what the Judaizers were telling the Christians at Galatia.
- You need something more. Jesus is not sufficient!
2) To return to the law for sanctification is foolishness and folly.
* The Law can’t save us and the law can’t sanctify us.
* The means of justification and sanctification are the same.(by faith, not works)
* The law can’t make you holy nor keep you holy.
* The Galatians began well by turning to Jesus, but now they were turning to the law for sanctification (see v. 3)
Illus. – You see carpenter and his crew come out and begin to build a house. Perhaps he gets half of it framed up on the first day. The next day, they begin to tear down what they had built the previous day. Wouldn’t that be foolish.
* The Galatians were actually tearing down what had been built up by faith in God.
Jesus is all we need!
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