November 13, 2016
Morning Worship
Text: Galatians 3:1-14
Subject: Redemption
Title: Set Free From the Law – Redeemed Part 1
We want to begin this morning a new series called “Redeemed”.
The dictionary meaning of the word redeemed is as such:
1. to buy or pay off; clear by payment:
2. to buy back…
3. to recover by payment or other satisfaction:
4. to exchange
5. to discharge or fulfill
6. to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.)
7. to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.
8. Theologically - to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.
I think it is very appropriate that we begin this Sunday on this series. Friday we had our national observation of Veterans Day. We can look at the sacrifices that have been made by our men and women in the armed services as a redemptive work in the sense that they have willing placed themselves in harms way and have discharged or fulfilled a duty that is not forced upon them but that they willingly entered into. It is their sacrifices that have allowed us to vote for a president of our choice. It is their faithfulness to their charge that enables us to continue to meet here in this building and express our faith the way we do.
And we thank you.
Let’s Read…
Galatians 3
1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
6Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
I believe this is God’s word…
I believe it is for me…
I accept it as mine…
I will appropriate it to my life today…
In Jesus’ name…
In this passage Paul deals with a church that has been influenced by those who have come out of Judaism and have insisted that in order to be saved you must adhere to the Law.
Look how he confronts them… 1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?
The word bewitched in the NKJ and the NIV is in reference to enlightenment.
Galatians 3:1 (MSG) 1 You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened…
The Amplified Bible says it this way, 1 O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you…
What was the problem? Why was Paul so upset with them?
Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. That last part of verse 1 is connected with verse 13. 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
Was Jesus crucified or not?
Did He become a curse in your place or not?
If He did then how did you receive your redemption? Was it by grace or was it by your works?
2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
No, that’s not how you began. You began with the good news. And the good news is grace received by faith and not works or the Law. Look real closely at verse 5. 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law…
WE think, “I’m so glad that’s not how we believe!” But is that true? Do we sometimes fall into that trap without even realizing it? Well there was Sister Jones who was such a grand saint of God for 50 years and she taught Sunday School and gave faithfully, and worked with the Women’s ministry… Why didn’t she get her healing? Are you listening to me?
We often think that because we act a certain way or do certain things that somehow we deserve grace. If we deserve it then it is no longer grace! It’s works! 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
6Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.
Who are the children of Abraham?
Go back to the series that we just finished 2 weeks ago. Isaiah 53:1 (NKJV)
1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
To whom is the power of God being revealed? To those who believe what they have heard! It’s so simple but we keep trying to add to it and we end up making it more difficult.
8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Are You Blessed?
Numbers 22:2-6 (NKJV)
2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3 And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel.
4 So Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5 Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: "Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me!
6 Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."
Now Balaam had a reputation didn’t he? He could bless people and they would be blessed and he could call curses down on people and the would be cursed.
Numbers 22:7-12 (NKJV)
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner's fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 And he said to them, "Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 Then God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"
10 So Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
11 'Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.' "
12 And God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."
And we know the story of how Balaam went with them and three times he told Balak to build an altar and offer sacrifices and the he would pray to see if God would allow him to curs Israel and it just didn’t happen. Why? Because what God has blessed is blessed and what He has cursed is cursed.
Was Israel blessed?
How does that pertain to us? Well let’s go back to Galatians 3. 10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”
9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Are you blessed or are you cursed?
Are you saved through your faith or through the Law?
Are you healed through your faith or through the Law?
Where does your blessing come from?
Where does your deliverance come from?
14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Romans 4:13-22 (NKJV)
13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect,
15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be."
19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.
20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."
There is the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ…
There is the promise of healing through that same faith…
There is the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit by faith…
There is the promise of the spiritual gifts by that same faith…
James 1:17 (NIV2011)
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
