Dance Lessons: Bewitched!
Galatians 3:1-14
Pastor Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
03-08-2020
Headstand
Imagine that we went on a mission trip together. We went to a remote jungle village and spent several months there. We learned that they were taught at a very early age that they had to stand on their head to appease their platypus god. They spent many hours on their heads and many passed out as the blood rushed to their brains. Some could stand on their heads for hours and they became the leaders of the tribe.
When we begin to teach these people about Jesus we tell them that there is a God and He’s not a platypus. He’s the God that made everything. He is the God of all gods. And He is holy and He expects perfection. And we can never hop higher enough for God’s holiness. The punishment for our sin is death. We are hopeless to save ourselves. We need a Savior.
We get the honor of telling them that Jesus loved them and gave Himself up for them by dying in our place, on the cross, to pay the penalty for our sins. They hear that all they have to do is place their faith in the Jesus’ finished work on the cross and they can be saved and be in right relationship with God.
And mass revival breaks out. Many people get saved that day and a church is planted. We leave a week later, overjoyed over the miracle God did in that tribe.
When we arrive back in Chenoa and several months later we open our emails and discover a message from one of tribesman with a video attached.
We open the video and are absolutely dumbfounded by what we see. It’s a video of the church service and every single member is standing on their head!
What?!! You shoot off an email and ask why are they on their heads?
Almost immediately the man responds that the head platypus headstanders had taught the people that what we had taught them was fine but it wasn’t enough. In order to be really saved, they had to stand on their heads for Jesus.
As you sit back and watch this video clip again and again, your stomach churns and your blood pressure goes up.
What would you say to these brothers and sisters that so recently come to faith in Christ through your ministry?
Galatia
That’s what was happening in their churches in Galatia. After Paul and Barnabas planted churches throughout the region of Galatia, they returned to Antioch. Soon after, they heard that false teachers, called Judaizers, had come behind them and were teaching the churches that Paul wasn’t a real apostle and that the Gospel he taught them was watered-down.
Yes Jesus died on the cross but that wasn’t enough. In order to become a “true” Christian, one had to be a Jew first - circumcision, follow dietary rules, and the Mosaic Law.
Paul sits down and writes his first epistle (letter) to these churches and in the first chapter, he gives his spiritual autobiography and assert the fact he was an apostle and that his gospel didn’t come from other people from God.
In chapter two, he gives us an overview of his meeting with the apostles in Jerusalem and then the blow by blow of his confrontation with Peter over his hypocrisy in the church at Antioch.
If you missed one of these sermons, you can watch them on our FB page.
Chapters 3 and 4, Paul lays out the doctrine that the Galatians need in order to protect them from false teachers.
They are learning to dance to a new rhythm of grace and remember those that dance are thought crazy by those who cannot hear the music.
Turn with me to Galatians 3.
Prayer
Argument from Experience
In these verses, we are going to see Paul make three arguments:
an argument from experience (v. 1-5)
an argument from Abraham (6-8)
an argument from the curse (9-11)
Each one of these sections could be a sermon of it’s own but we are going to try to get through them today.
“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.” (Gal 3:1)
Remember that Paul begin this letter not with thanksgiving but astonishment. He expressed his astonishment that they were so quickly deserting the Gospel of grace for what he calls “another gospel, which is no gospel at all,” the idea that works can make you acceptable before God.
Notice he doesn’t say “brother and sisters” but Galatians - foolish Galatians! It could even be translated “idiots!” He’s not calling them dumb. He’s saying that they are not using their brains. They are acting mindlessly.
Paul actually asks who has bewitched them. This is fascinating word is only used once in the entire Bible. It speaks of charming someone, putting a spell on them. Literally it means to give “the evil eye.”
Paul is so baffled by their behavior that he suspects that sorcery might be involved. How else do you explain leaving the dance floor of the Gospel of grace to put on the chains of the slavery of the Law?
Before their very eyes, Paul had clearly portrayed Jesus Christ as crucified.
This doesn’t mean he used Key Note, or video, or a flannel graph. The actually word means “placarded.” In our time, it would be like a billboard own the side of the highway.
Racquel Bailey paid for Billboards to be put up on the highway that she knew Tyler Perry would travel. She was trying to get his attention. They read “Attention Mr. Perry. Racquel Bailey is your next leading lady.”
By the way, it worked and she is now appearing on Tyler Perry’s show “Sistas.”
Paul’s preaching was so vivid, so graphic that it was like they were there at the foot of the cross.
This was his practice in preaching:
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (I Cor 2:1-2)
But they had taken their eyes off the cross and were back to standing on their heads.
Then Paul asked four rapid fire questions to try to get them focused again.
Philip Ryken describes these questions as ones of;
Initiation. Paul takes them back to the moment of their conversion:
“Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing by faith?” (v. 2)
They obviously knew that their Christian experience didn’t start by obeying the Law, but by hearing the Gospel and putting their faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death.
Completion. How does the Christian make it to the end of the Christian life?
“Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (v. 3)
They understood that they were saved by faith, did they now think they had to finish the work themselves?
persecution. Had they forgotten the cost of following Jesus?
“Did you suffer so many things in vain - if indeed it was in vain?” (v. 4)
Many had lost their jobs or their families by placing their faith in Christ. Was it all for nothing?
Miracles. What was the origin of the miracles you saw in your midst?
“Does He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” (v. 5)
Were they willing to deny the Spirit’s work in the church? God supplied the Spirit out of grace not as a result of their actions.
The main point of these questions is - are we saved by what we do or what Jesus has done for us?
John Stott writes:
“The law requires works of human achievement; the gospel requires faith in Christ’s achievement. The law makes demands and bids us obey; the gospel brings promises and bids us believe.”
These Gentiles had not even heard of the Law. All they knew was that they were sinners and Christ died for them. When they placed their faith in Christ, God lavishly gave them the Holy Spirit.
Why in the world, would they try to add works of the law to their faith?
Argument from Abraham
Paul is now going to call a witness to the stand but it’s not just any witness - it’s the father of the faith Abraham.
“Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.” (Gal 3:6-9)
We may think this is sort of random but Paul is speaking the language of the Judiazers. Abraham was the father of the faith. All the Jews reading this would have started nodding their heads. Until Paul makes his point.
What is Paul talking about?
In Genesis 13, God appeared to Abraham, known as Abram at that time:
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:
“Do not be afraid, Abram.? I am your shield,? your very great reward.”
But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Abraham and Sarah have no children and God tells him that he will have an heir, his own flesh and blood son.
He is 99 and Sarah is 90. You do the math. Baby time has long past this couple.
As Abram looks up at the countless stars, God said your offspring will be uncountable.
And Abram believed God - in spite of impossible odds. He simply had faith that what God was going to happen would happen. He didn’t know how or when. He just knew that he could truth God and He was faithful.
And because he was circumcised, God credited it to him as righteousness? Nope. Abraham wasn’t circumcised until 14 years later in Gen 17.
And because Abraham followed the Mosaic law, God credited to him as righteousness? Nope. The Mosaic law wasn’t give for another 430 years.
It was because of his faith. Out Testament people were saved in exactly the same we are - faith. Abraham had faith in God. He trusted Him. He couldn’t see the whole plan but He knew God would bring it to pass for his good and God’s glory.
The Jews that had rejected Jesus as Messiah were not really Abraham’s children. They might be Jews physically but not spiritually. And the Gentiles, who by faith put their truth in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, they were Abraham’s children. That’s why us Gentiles can sing:
Father Abraham had many sons. Many sons had Father Abraham. And I am one of them. And so are you. So let’s just praise the Lord.
After this episode, Abram fell into a deep sleep and God took animals and cut in two. This is how a covenant was sealed. The two people would walk through the middle of the animals thus making the agreement but this time only God went through.
Why? This covenant wasn’t based on Abraham’s actions. It was based on his faith and God’s grace.
All the nations would be blessed by Abraham’s offspring. How?
Look how the New Testament begins:
“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham.” (Matt 1:1)
From Abraham, the man of faith, would come the Savior of both the Jews and Gentiles who would enter a relationship with God through faith.
Argument from the Curse
“ For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ 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 pole.” He 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.” (Gal 3:10-14)
Paul now goes on to quote multiple Old Testament verses to back up his case. By the way, I’ve said this many times but I believe it - if you haven’t read the Old Testament there is no way you could fully understand who Jesus is and what He has done for you.
Deuteronomy 27:26. “Curses is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
What if I offered 25 people 100 million dollars if you could bowl a perfect 300 game? As of the 11th frame, you’re the only one left with a chance. You roll the ball and the pins explode, leaving just the ten pin. You bowled a 299. Do you get the 100 million dollars? Nope!
Well you may say I did better than everyone else. True. But the deal was 100 million for 300, not a 299. You get squat. Good day to you sir!
The law brings a curse because no one, not even one, can ever live it perfectly.
James told his readers:
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. “ (James 2:10)
Again, 299 isn’t good enough. We can’t keep the law and we can’t stop sinning. So the Scripture says we are cursed.
Not by satan. But by God Himself.
Paul said in Romans that we are “children of wrath.” Because of our inability to keep God’s rules, all men are under a curse.
2. Habakkuk 2:4: “The righteous will live by faith.”
This verse should seem familiar to us because we studied in the Habakkuk series.
Paul is contrasting faith and works of the law. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we find our salvation. The Law is like an MRI machine. It can diagnose but it cannot cure.
The law brings a curse because trying to be acceptable to God through following rules doesn’t work. You cannot hop high enough for God’s holiness. You can’t ever be good enough.
3. Leviticus 18: “The person who does this things will live by them.”
We either live by faith or by works of the law. If you decide that you can get to heaven by being religious and doing religious things, then you must live under that system and its consequences - a curse.
4. Deuteronomy 21:23: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
When a person would be executed in that time, they would be stoned to death and then, afterwards, their body would be displayed on a pole or a tree to show that they were accursed. This is one of the reasons that Jews cannot fathom that Jesus could have been the Messiah, because He was “hung on a tree.” He was cursed.
They don’t understand what happened on the cross. Jesus redeemed us, bought us back, from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us.
He absorbed the wrath of God, the curse, our sin, in His body on the cross. The only Person who kept the law perfectly was Jesus. They only Person who didn’t deserve to go to hell was Jesus.
But:
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21) ?
In Egypt, right before God would deliver them, He told the Israelites to take blood from a lamb and put it on the doorposts. The angel of death would see the blood and passover the house. If the blood wasn’t on the doorpost, the first born would be killed.
John wrote:
“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2)
Paul makes it clear:
“Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (I Cor 5:17)
This is incredible news!
You don’t have to fear of meeting God loaded down with sins. You have been redeemed, justified, acquitted.
Jesus lived a perfect life so He could give Himself as a perfect sacrifice so you could have his righteousness. As you stand before God, all you can do is to point to Jesus and say, “I’m with Him.”
Isaiah, writing 700 years before Christ:
“ Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5)
Why did He do this? He didn’t have to. The real question is not why would God send anyone to hell. The real questions is why would He allow anyone into heaven?!
He did it order to make the blessing of having the Holy Spirit available to everyone, including us Gentiles! The indwelling of the Spirit guarantees eternal life. You no longer have to be afraid of death. It’s simply the door we walk through to get to our Father.
Applications
What’s your story?
In verses 1-5, Paul takes the Galatians back to the beginning of their Christian faith, back to their conversion experience.
It is very helpful for us to do the same. Some people can point back to a specific day, (Dec 31, 1990), others it’s more of a general time frame.
Maybe it was church, or at a camp, or like a friend of mine, on the side of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere.
Remember, becoming a Christian is not like joining a club. It’s a transformation into a whole new thing.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17)
I once had a conversation with a guy in his 20s. I’ve known him since he was a little kid. He went to church every week, Christian school, said a prayer in 5th grade, student ministry every week. He said he was a Christian.
But as we talked, it became clear there was absolutely evidence of Jesus in his life now. He had no interest in reading his Bible, (boring), going to church (stupid), or loving God’s people (hypocrites).
As I listened, he suddenly stopped and said, “I bet you think I’m not a Christian.” I swallowed hard and said, “Just because you had a Christian mom, doesn’t make you a Christian. Just because you went to church or was baptized or attended Christian school doesn’t make you a Christian. And just because you prayed someone else prayer in 5th grade doesn’t mean you are born again.
I smiled and said something I couldn’t believe. He said, “i think you are right Jeff.” So I walked him through the Gospel and challenged him to have a real conversation with Jesus about the destiny of his soul. He shook his head and said that he wasn’t interested right now. Too much “fun” to be had while he was young.
In American Christianity, many times we turn the work of the Spirit into a little formula. I know of a church that if the kids in Sunday school said the “sinner's” prayer, they got cookies. Many of them prayed the prayer every week just to get cookies.
On the surface that seems sweet, but it is deadly dangerous. Because then they grow up and will tell you that they are Christians because of a prayer they said when they were 5 years old, no matter how little fruit their is in their lives.
Where are you today? Not when you were 12. Today. If I put you on the stand for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict? Could I call enough witnesses to make the case?
It starts with conviction of sin. If you haven’t grieved over your sin, you don’t understand Christianity. We are all under a curse. How down know? Because we all die. Dying is one of the consequences of the curse.
We are sinners in need a Savior. All He asked is that you put your faith in Jesus alone for your salvation. He died on the cross, in your place, to pay the penalty for your sins. Just surrender to Him.
Are you born again? Have you been redeemed?
C.S. Lewis wrote a series of books called the Chronicles of Narnia. Four children, Peter, Edmond, Susan, and Lucy, stumble through a wardrobe into another world called Narnia. In this world, it is always winter but never Christmas because the White Witch has put a spell on the land.
There is a prophecy that two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve would come, and then Aslan would return and set everything right.
In the third book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmond is seduced by the White Witch be promising him that he would king and he didn’t need his siblings. She holds him captive and calls Aslan out.
Aslan, willingly dies on the stone table after being shaved and beaten, to buy Edmond back from the witch. Edmond certainly didn’t deserve it and he could have never earned his release.
Play clip.
“If the witch knew the true meaning of sacrifice, she might have interpreted the deep magic differently. That when a willing victim that has committed no treachery is killed in a traitors stead, the stone table will crack and even death itself will turn backwards.”
Later in the movie, the three other children watch from afar as Aslan and Edmond talk. Aslan then tell the children to never speak of it again.
Why? He’s been acquitted. He’s been set free.
C.S. Lewis said that he wanted to write these “children’s books,” so that when the children would hear the Gospel for the first time it would have a familiar ring to it.
Aslan, (Jesus), died on the stone table (the cross) to redeem, to buy back Edmond (us) from the White Witch (from sin and Satan), to set us free to dance to the rhythm of grace!
