Video Transition: Grace Skit by Skit Guys
Series: Galatians (The Gospel of Grace)
Thesis: Have you lost your mind, gone crazy, become stupid or are you hexed by a demon into thinking your works are what saved you? Are you slapping away faith, grace and Jesus’ sacrifice as not necessary and deceived into thinking you can get to heaven on your own good works? Have you chosen to rob Jesus of His glory, making the cross un-necessary? Have you told grace to take a hike I don’t need you? You must have been bewitched!
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:1-29(NIV)
1You foolish Galatians! (You stupid, ignorant, dumb Christians) Who has bewitched you? (Who put you under a demonic spell or hex?) Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. (Have you lost your minds and vision of Jesus?) 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? (We start with faith then switch to works - Many are still doing this today - the major religions of the world believe this and promote works to get you to heaven – even some Christian denominations push this) 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? (Did you receive divine miracles by doing works or having faith in Jesus to heal you? Do you think you can do your own miracles of healings or other any types of miracles by doing or saying a magic formula (which is about works not faith?)
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. (Faith is what made Abraham a child of God not works – believing in the Lord – putting His faith and trust in Him)
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.” (Romans 3:23 reminds us of the fact - for all have sinned and fall short – All – this even applies to the very religious the Pharisees) 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” (The law is a works orientated system not a belief system which is centered in Jesus) 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.
15Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. 17What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. (Faith as the path to salvation preceded the law as in the case of Abraham) 18For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. (Those who believe in him will be saved).
19What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. (The law was given by the Lord to show we are sinners and unable to get ourselves into Heaven it was a temporary way to God until the time of Jesus coming and ultimate sacrifice was completed) 20A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. 21Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. (Right standing with God comes from faith in Jesus not works) 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. (Do you believe in Jesus or your good works to save you?) 23Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. (So don’t return to bondage of rules and regulations to save you! That is a foolish way to live in freedom!)
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, (FAITH IS THE EQUALIZER IN God’s kingdom) 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (There is no caste system in Christianity everyone is equal deserving of honor and respect and Kingdom rights – don’t treat others as inferior and not eat with them or treat them as inferior – all minister in this new era no one is left out – treating people as inferior is not the way of Jesus and His Kingdom.)
Introduction:
Opening Illustration:
N EPITAPH TO GRACE
In a small cemetery of a parish churchyard in Olney, England, stands a granite tombstone w/ this inscription:
“John Newton, clerk [pastor], once an infidel & Libertine, a servant of slavers in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy.”
You may not remember his name, but all of us know the song he wrote as a testimony of his life: “Amazing Grace.”
Illustration from sermoncentral.com about How faith alone and grace make us worthy of the blessings of Heaven:
In the comic strip, Dennis the Menace, Dennis and his little friend, Joey, are leaving Mrs. Wilson’s house with their hands full of cookies. As you may remember, Dennis is not always very considerate toward the Wilsons who are his next-door neighbors (especially Mr. Wilson).
But Joey says, "I wonder what we did to deserve this?"
Dennis answered, "Look, Joey, Mrs. Wilson gives us cookies not because we’re nice, but because she’s nice."
God's Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace and Faith Alone. Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ.
Story of Martin Luther: The Great Divide in Christianity happened through the Reformation (16th century) was a result of the church saying works saved you not faith alone!
Luther’s teachings and beliefs can be summed up in the five solas which sparked the Reformation (The splitting of the Catholic church and the beginning of Protestant Churches):
• Sola Scriptura or Scripture Alone,
• Sola fide or Faith Alone,
• Sola gratia or Grace Alone,
• Solus Christus or Christ Alone,
• Soli Deo gloria or to the glory of God Alone.
Martin Luther’s emphasis of Faith alone: According to Martin Luther, justification by faith alone is the article on which the Church stands or falls. Thus, "faith alone" is foundational to Protestant Reformed Christianity, and as a formula distinguishes it from other Christian denominations.
Martin Luther said: "Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible. Then, it accepts the impossible, does without the indispensable and bears the intolerable." Contributed by Lalachan Abraham to sermoncentral.com -
Hebrews 11:6 says, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
But we still live in a world – that wants to work its way to heaven by good works!
The world’s major religions: Islam – Judaism – Buddhism – Hinduism - Some Christian Denominations (Catholic) – also other major religious groups Mormons, Jehovah Witness all believe in a works path to Salvation! But the message of Jesus – The Gospel (The Good News) is that we are saved by Faith – believing in the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross and then being saved by His grace – we don’t and cannot earn our way into Heaven by Good works or religious works. We come to heaven through Jesus!
Jesus said, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father - except through me.” (John 14:6).
This is what God has done for us: Because He is Love – he sent Jesus to do for us what we could not do for ourselves – John 3:16
I. Paul’s direct question 1: “Has someone put a hex, a spell, on you that you have gone crazy and lost your spiritual sanity?”
a. Paul in verse one of chapter three- addresses the Christians in Galatia by saying – “Have you lost you spirit, soul, minds and wisdom?”
i. Galatians 3:1 (NIV) “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.”
1. A vision we need to always have in front of us by the way!
2. Many believe that they can save themselves by doing so-called good works religious actions – in other words they can earn their own way to salvation: But in doing so they mock Jesus on the cross and dismiss grace.
a. Story: Case in point by Kyle Idleman: Last year I read a New York Times interview with New York City’s former mayor Michael Bloomberg. At the time Bloomberg was seventy-two years old. He was being interviewed just before his fiftieth college reunion. Bloomberg talked about how sobering it was to realize how many of his classmates had passed away. But the journalist, Jeremy Peters, observed that Bloomberg didn’t seem too worried about what waited for him on the other side. Peters wrote: But if [Bloomberg] senses that he may not have as much time left as he would like, he has little doubt about what would await him at a Judgment Day. Pointing to his work on gun safety, obesity and smoking cessation, he said with a grin: “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place in heaven. It’s not even close.”
i. Kyle notes the problem with this mind set, “From his perspective grace isn’t needed or wanted. He puts the good he has done on one side of the scale and decides he’s not going to need any help. We can all find ways to reach the conclusion that I’m not that bad, but in doing so we miss out on God’s great gift of grace. Until we recognize our need for grace, we won’t care about receiving it. Our default is to cover up our sin or at the very least minimize it. But in covering up our sin we are covering up grace.”
1. Idleman, Kyle. Grace Is Greater (pp. 26-27). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
ii. He adds it’s all about deception: “We work hard at convincing ourselves and others we’re not that bad, but the truth is we are worse than we ever imagined. The more you push back on that, the more you push back on experiencing God’s grace. If we miss the reality and the depth of our sin, we miss out on the grace of God. As long as we think I’m not that bad, grace will never seem that good. We usually come to the conclusion that we are not that bad a couple of different ways.”
1. We compare ourselves to others.
2. We weigh the bad against the good.
a. Idleman, Kyle. Grace Is Greater (pp. 25-26). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
b. Point: “If we take the credit to get to Heaven then Jesus sacrifice was not enough – (we in essence discredit what Jesus did for us) and As long as we think I’m not that bad, grace will never seem that good.” (Idleman page 25!)
i. This belief system becomes a major problem – Why – it demeans Jesus and what He did for the world. It takes away His divine mission!
ii. I picked up a new book this week: EXCAVATING THE EVIDENCE FOR JESUS- in Kennedy’s book he opens with these facts about Jesus:
1. Jesus of Nazareth is widely acknowledged as the most important and most famous figure in history!
2. Since the dawn of civilization until the present, no other person has had a more significant impact.
3. The Stony Brook University ranks Jesus as the in number one position of the most information and talked about person on the internet. They also say he most the most influential person to have ever live.
a. Typing “Jesus” into internet search engines can yield approximately 665 billion results – and it is climbing every year!
4. The entire calendar year date system still used today throughout much of the world is even based around the birth and life of Jesus.
5. Archaeology over the last 150 years has not only contributed to our understanding of the historical context of Jesus, the Gospels, and the 1st century world, but many discoveries have directly confirmed the accuracy of the Gospel accounts about his life and historical existence – and new discoveries continue to be uncovered and mysteries untangled.
6. Read other thoughts from book!
T.S. - PAUL CHALLENGES THE CHRISTIANS TO THINK BACK TO HOW THEY CAME TO EMBRACE CHRIST AND EXPERIENCE THEIR “BORN AGAIN” MOMENT. HE THEN RAISES THE SECOND QUESTION BY ASKING SO IF YOU FOUND SALVATION THROUGH FAITH ALONE HOW THEN DO YOU THINK YOU WILL GAIN ETERNAL SANCTIFICATION BY HUMAN EFFORT? THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION to ponder!
II. Paul’s Question 2: Galatians 3: 2-3: “How do you plan on reaching holiness (right standing with God?) - by your own works when it all started with faith and grace?
a. Paul hits them with another question to open their eyes - Galatians 3:2: “Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?” It’s not even logical to think you can change the means to salvation and right relationship with God a different way than you started.
i. Did you get saved by doing works – or by faith?
1. Reality check time! It was by faith not works!
ii. His rhetorical question pointed to the time of their conversions, when they received the Holy Spirit and asked them to recall that moment in time.
1. Bible Knowledge Commentary states, “Thus Paul did not question their salvation but challenged them to consider whether they were saved and received the Spirit by faith or on the basis of works. It was of course by faith, when they heard Paul preach the gospel. As an essentially Gentile church they did not possess the Mosaic Law anyway.”
2. Paul shows that the Law does not bring the grace filled life of freedom but instead it brings a life of bondage and guilt. The law will not mature you in Christ or save you – faith does this through grace.
a. Paul knew what he was talking about!
b. Galatians 3:3: “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”
i. How will you attain your goal (Heaven and right standing with God) by human effort - if it all started with a moment of faith? Will you try to follow 1,000 of laws and regulations like the religious Jews and end up under a curse?
1. Paul - Just like I was – I have been there done that it does not work!
ii. Galatians 3:3. “How will you be sanctified?” NKJV
1. Bible Knowledge Commentary states, “Presupposing the answer that the Galatians became Christians by faith, Paul asked if they were so foolish as to think they could begin the Christian life in one way (by faith) and move on to spiritual maturity in another (by works). This was what the Judaizers promoted (cf. 4:10; 5:2; 6:13), but the means of justification and sanctification were (and are) the same. There was no provision under the Law for the Holy Spirit to do a work of sanctification. The Galatian believers probably thought that keeping the old Law would aid them in their spiritual lives, but it would not.”
iii. Paul earlier in Galatians reminded them that he has already tried this way of life and it did not work so they need to learn from his failures and past mistakes.
1. Paul was so wrapped up in a religious legal mindset that he could not even recognize the divine Gospel when it was presented to him. He was so brainwashed and deceived that he even persecuted those who preached the truth.
2. He reminds them that the Law will not make you more worthy it will only cause bondage and disillusionment with God.
a. It will bring you under a curse not under God’s blessing.
3. Remember the Law and its promoters push human effort over divine faith, grace and mercy.
a. He also points to the fact that no one can ever be good enough to get into Heaven and that is why Jesus came.
i. No one has been able to fulfill all the commandments of the Law. It’s impossible but Jesus came and fulfilled it all He opened up a new way to a right relationship with God.
1. We just have to believe!
b. When Christ died and the curtain was ripped in two in the temple the Holy of Holies – the door was open to all who called on the name of Jesus to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus.
i. This symbolic act – or miracle showed to all people religions that God is not available to everyone – it is only open to those who come to Him through His son Jesus Christ.
ii. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father - except through me.”
1. Works is not the way to Jesus and salvation!
iv. The truth is we so overate ourselves today! Most people think “I am not bad!” They do this by comparing themselves to others and by weighing the bad in their life to the good.
1. Quote: Here’s the quote: “If the biggest sinner you know isn’t you, then you don’t know yourself very well.” Idleman, Kyle. Grace Is Greater (p. 27). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
a. Thoughts from Kyle: My immediate and instinctual response to that quote was, Well, look, I’m a sinner. In fact, I’m a big sinner. But I’m not the biggest sinner I know. But the more I think about that quote, and the more I’m honest with myself and my motives, the more difficulty I have denying it. There was something about that quote that seemed familiar to me. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it until I was rereading the familiar passage of Scripture where Paul identifies himself to Timothy as the chief of sinners: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. (1 Tim. 1:15)
i. Idleman, Kyle. Grace Is Greater (pp. 27-28). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
ii. Think about Jesus and the woman caught in adultery!
2. When we start to think that our salvation or our healing lies within the power of my own works by my hands or words – then we undermine the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as being meaningless and useless. We lean toward believing healing power does not come from His divine sacrifice, touch and or His Word but from my own actions and my own religious work.
a. Trust me “I believe in miracles – we just dedicated Macey – a miracle baby and birth – AJ is a miracle – I have been healed by the Lord in the past on physical stuff – I have seen people healed – but I want to be clear – Jesus is the healer –Healing comes from faith and trusting God to do the miracle! Not from my works or actions!
b. Story of two pastor friends who died of cancer:
i. Leo from Bible College
ii. Dave from Sand Hill Lake Bible Camp
1. I had one pastor friend say about one of my friends who died of cancer – “He did not have enough faith!” I rebuked him because that is placing a person in a religious class system – not enough faith!
c. The Hebrew word “Qavah” translated wait in these verses means to wait for, look for, expect, and hope. “Qavah” is an active word, not a passive one.
i. Boldt, Sue. Held in His Hands: A Miracle Story and Encouragement for Your Healing. Kindle Edition.
1. Sometimes God allows us the waiting to get us closer to Him! That is what I plan on doing through this cancer journey!
T.S. - PAUL CHALLENGES US TO THINK ABOUT OUR SUFFERING AND EVEN CHRIST’S SUFFERING AND ASK, “WAS IT ALL FOR NOTHING!” HE THEN REMINDS THEM OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED BY HIM AND OTHERS IN GALATIA. GOD DID MANY MIRACLES TO SHOW THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL AND ITS MIRACLE WORKING POWER. DID GOD DO THESE MIRACLES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO “HOLY” OR BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH IN JESUS? WAS IT BY WORKS OR GRACE?
III. Paul Question 3: “Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?” Galatians 3:4-5:
a. Galatians 3:5. “On what basis did God perform miracles?” NKJV
i. Think about that question for a moment?
1. Acts 14:3; 8-11: 3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders… 8In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. 9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed 10and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. 11When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!”
2. Paul brings the Galatians back to the reality that God does not perform miracles because they had followed all the rules and regulations of the Law but because they believed and placed their faith and trust in Christ.
a. Declaration: I have placed my faith and trust in Jesus as I walk through this cancer journey – yes I see the shadow of death lurking right over there – but as Psalms 23 tells me – Jesus is my Shepherd – he helps me find green pastures as death lurks off in the shadows – He leads me by quiet waters – he restores my weary soul – he guides me to right standing – soul searching putting places in my heart right with him – and even though right now I walk through the valley of the shadow of death – I will fear no evil – why Jesus is with me – His rod and staff comfort me – they don’t beat me!
3. We all need to remember this lesson.
a. The lesson here is God does miracles for people who have faith and trust in Him. I do not believe he does miracles for people who think that they can do it all by their human effort.
i. In other words, God, I will only heal you if you say this or do that.
b. I don’t believe we can manipulate God like this!
c. The Lord does miracles for those who believe and look to him for genuine help!
T.S. – PAUL REMINDS THE CHRISTIANS IN GALATIA ABOUT ABRAHAM AND HOW HE BECAME A FRIEND OF GOD AND BLESSED BY GOD – IT WAS BECAUSE OF FAITH NOT WORKS OR THE LAW BECAUSE ABRAHAM PRECEDED THE LAW BY 430 YEARS.
IV. “Have you forgot about Abraham?” Galatians 3:5-14:
a. Abraham is called a friend of God and a mighty man of faith because he learned to say to the Lord, “I will!” Faith says, “Yes Lord!” A Relationship with the Lord is rooted in faith – in believing – in putting our trust in Jesus and His sacrifice – it's all about connection – faith makes that connection not works!
i. Texts: Hebrews 11:1-19:
1. Hebrews 11:1-3 (NIV) 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for. 3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
2. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
3. Hebrews 11:8-12 (NIV) 8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he? considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
4. Hebrews 11:13 (NIV) 13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
ii. James 2:20-24:
1. James 2:20-24 (NIV): 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
iii. Abraham’s faith in God is incredible if you know the background of his life. He grew up in an idolatrous culture void of God. He had no bible to instruct him, no precedent to go by in living for God, no fellow believers to confide in. Yet he had the faith to hear God’s voice and the assurance to do what he was instructed to do. Uproot out of his homeland and go to a place he had never been before.
1. Faith – is defined by the Holman Bible Dictionary: FAITH Trusting commitment of one person to another, particularly of a person to God. Faith is the central concept of Christianity. One may be called a Christian only if one has faith.
2. Scripture tells us that Abraham’s faith had an amazing faith and it is what caused him to become a genuine hero of the faith. Faith as stated above is the central concept of Christianity. It’s the key that unlocks the potential of anyone. Abraham was a man of faith not a perfect man. Yes, believe it or not Abraham was not a perfect person by any means but yet he made the faith hall of fame in Hebrews. Why you ask? Because he learned how to say two words to the Lord “I will!”
3. These two words are the two most important words in our language today. To many like the opposite of these words, “I won’t!” These two words are found far to often in the world and yes even in people’s relationship with the Lord. Our society has breed more “I won’t!” then “I will’s!” Let’s explore the Life of Abraham and discover how he was willing to say to Lord “I will!” And we will see how his “I will” made him part of God’s Hall of Fame.
iv. Abraham said, “I will leave my homeland and go where you send me Lord.”
1. (Gen. 12:1-4) 1The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” 4So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
a. Abraham’s faith was rooted in God for him to be willing to leave his home country and go to a place he had never been before.
b. He was willing to follow the call of God even if it required leaving his hometown and country.
c. Abraham took a risk for God by choosing to follow the direction he received from Him.
v. Abraham said, “I will give you my first fruits!”
1. (Gen. 14:17-24): 17After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18Then Melchizedek king of Salem? brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
a. Abraham became a hero of faith because he tithed to the Lord.
i. Who was Melchizedek? See Hebrews 7:1-10 (Jesus some say)
ii. I believe Melchizedek was Jesus Christ who appeared to Abraham after a great battle to show us how Abraham knew what it mean’t to give to God what is God’s.
b. This “I Will” also shows that Abraham knew to tithe to God to be blessed and to let no evil man try to take credit for blessing him financially.
i. He not only tithed to the Lord he refused to have anything to do with evil and the money and possessions of evil men.
ii. The King of Sodom was a reflection of his city and Abraham wanted nothing to do with that city.
c. God’s response to Abraham’s I will was “I will make you a great nation by giving you a son’ (Gen 15:1-4)
vi. Abraham said, “I will give you Lord my son!” (Gen. 22:1-24)
1. I want you to know it takes faith to trust God to be able to give away your family to Him.
2. He knew God would make away for Isaac – He planned on returning with his son alive!
3. Do you trust God to take care of your family like Abraham?
4. God’s response to Abraham was because you said, “I will offer my son then I will offer my son for the world.”
vii. The result of Abraham saying, “I Will” brought the following responses from God which God said, “Because you said I will then I will do the following for you.”
1. I will bless you with land.
2. I will make you a great nation.
3. I will bless you.
4. There was personal blessing
a. Abraham’s name became great. 3 of the world’s largest religions look to Abraham as their father (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam)
5. I will bless others because of you.
6. I will bless them that bless you Abraham
7. I will curse them that curse you.
8. I will bless all the families of the earth because of your acts of faith.
T.S. – PAUL FINISHED OFF HIS QUESTIONS BY POINTING TO WHO THESE GENTILE CONVERTS BELONG TOO. PAUL DOES HELP THE GALATIAN CHRISTIANS REMEMBER WHO THEY REALLY ARE AS A RESULT OF THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST. HE ALSO DEALS WITH THEIR DISTORTED RELIGIOUS CLASS SYSTEMS:
V. Paul Question 4: “Do you think you are better than others – superior to others?”
a. Here is the truth - You are the daughters and the sons of God almighty – don’t forget that!
i. Do you know that because of the life and death of Jesus Christ the Master teacher that you are now sons and daughters of God himself?
1. This is an amazing statement for them to consider -- they are the children of God.
a. Not because of their good works but because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
2. Paul reminds them how they became children of God at the point of salvation – it was not by doing good works but by believing on Jesus Christ and then being baptized.
a. He seeks to jog their rational by telling them that the Great Master came and made the ultimate sacrifice for them therefore they are no longer segregated.
ii. There are no divisions between Jew or Greek – no one is better than the other instead we are all sons and daughters of God and that makes us all related by blood- His blood. – Jesus’ bloodline!
1. Entrance into His family is through faith not by works.
2. You do not have to be Jewish to enter into a father –daughter or son relationship with Abba Father.
a. Just believe in Jesus!
iii. There is no such thing as slave or free men in the Body Christ we are brothers and sisters in Jesus.
iv. Likewise - there is no ranking of males being better than females in the Body Christ we are one in Christ and on the same spiritual plain.
1. My own personal experience in India facing the caste system.
a. When we were in India I became very disturbed during our prayer time because everyone wanted to take my picture either praying for them or shaking their hand. When I asked my fellow native pastor about it he informed my why they were doing that. He stated, “Pastor because you are from America and VIP these people want their picture with you because then they can show others that they have value because you were willing to touch them.” This just blew my mind to think that if I touched someone then they could prove to others that they have value in this life.
2. Acts 2:17 says “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people, Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will dream dreams, Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”
a. Does not sound like a religious class system to me!
b. The worldly religious system always wants to put people into class systems – they want to tell you your worth and rank in society – But in Christ’s family (The Kingdom of God) there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. This means no one as a Christian has the right to discriminate against another person! Also, since you are part of Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises. We are all as believers one in Christ – equal with each other!
Conclusion:
Paul opened up our chapter rebuking the Galatian church for being deceived by an evil spell or spirit. He is just blown away by how quick these Christians have been led away from Jesus to another works related religion which is no Gospel at all.
Paul taught us valuable lessons we need to apply to our faith and grace walk today from this chapter:
• He reminds them to not be deceived by false teachings from others.
• We need to constantly remember where we came from and where we are at right now. We started in faith, so we cannot switch to human effort along the way thinking that this is pleasing to God.
• Do not allow yourself to be bewitched / Hexed/ cast under a spell of deception!
• Have faith and do not fall prey to a works – related religious mindset.
• Remember you are a child of God! And you got there by FAITH and grace!
• So, live by faith!
• And make sure you treat everyone equally no one is better than anyone else because this is what religious works mindsets always do – they create a caste system!
Question: What do we need to know?
Answer: Salvation comes from faith in Jesus and His amazing grace – we cannot earn our salvation or healing by works!
Question: Why do we need to know this?
Answer: So, we don’t fall into the trap of thinking I can earn my way to heaven by doing good works! So I don’t devalue the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and tell grace I do not need you! So I don’t think miracles are brought on by my works or actions.
Question: What do we need to do?
Answer: We need to Believe – trust Jesus and love Jesus because of the gift of faith and grace – this should compel us to do things for the Lord (good works) and to seek to live without sin because of His gift of Holiness and right standing. We need to be wise and know we are saved by Grace – miracles come as a result of grace and faith! Works has nothing to do with it!
Question: Why do we need to do this?
Answer: So, we live in freedom and not bondage – so we help others see that it’s grace and faith alone – so we get the gift of eternal life and that invitation is for everyone – We are all equal in the Kingdom of God!
