Freedom, The Grand Proposition (Part Two)
(Galatians 2:17-21)
Theme: Faith is the SOURCE of justification and the STANDARD by which justified human beings are to live out their lives.
Purpose: What do I want to happen in the hearer when I preach this sermon?
A. Increased knowledge. After I preach this sermon, the hearer should understand the meaning of and be able to competently use the modern term “legalism.”
B. Increased insight. After I preach this sermon, the hearer should be able to:
1. Discern that no human being can be justified by a law of works because of the nature of fallen human beings and because of the nature of any law of works.
2. Discern that the Bible CLEARLY and EMPHATICALLY teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is the source of the justification of a human being as well as the standard upon which a justified person lives out their life of justification.
C. Changed attitude. After I preach this sermon, I want the hearer to determine to grow in faith that Jesus has attained justification for us.
Behavioral
Objective: Concentrate on developing faith in Jesus Christ as the source of their justification and as the standard upon which they live out their new life of justification.
Need to be
Surfaced: Human beings need to know where they are, where they are going and what they must do to get there. When this need surfaces in a religious context it can be the source of untold frustration. Why? Because keeping a list is not the way God views living by faith!
Solution to
be Offered: God has assured the faithful that they are justified by faith in his sight, that they are on their way home to live with him for all eternity, and along the way they are supposed to be God incarnate to a lost and dying world. This is living by faith.
Introduction. (Get attention, surface need, make a contract to deliver a solution.)
A. Illustration: It is an innate characteristic of human beings that they need to know where they are, where they are going and what they need to do to get there.
1. On Monday my wife, and her sister, were going from Houston to Pecos, Texas in my vehicle.
2. Each woman was taking along one infant child.
3. They each spent hours packing personal belongings and baby paraphernalia.
4. Suddenly, my wife realized that neither one of them knew how to get where they wanted to go.
a. The anxiety was apparent.
b. The need for a road map was intense.
c. The relief was immediate when my wife learned that I keep an up-to-date Rand McNally under the passenger seat.
5. As they approached Austin, they wanted to avoid the traffic and so they tried a “shortcut” that they thought they had located on the map.
a. My sister-in-law told my wife to “turn off here.”
b. They drove for several minutes not knowing whether they had made a colossal mistake or were geniuses.
c. The longer they drove along this unfamiliar route the greater the anxiety became.
d. They even contemplated turning around and going back to the “known route” even though they knew it held at least an hour’s delay because of the traffic.
e. Finally, they made it to the other side of Austin and saw a sign that assured them they were heading in the right direction.
f. The relief was so intense that my wife immediately called me on her cell phone just so that I could share the moment with them!
6. What caused such anxiety? What was the source of such relief?
a. It is an innate characteristic of human beings,
b. That they need to know:
(1) Where they are.
(2) Where they are going.
(3) And what they need to do to get there.
B. It is no different in our relationship with God.
1. We want to know where we stand with him—if we’re even mildly perceptive we know intuitively that we are sinners and are out of fellowship with him.
2. We know where we want to go—we want back into relationship with God.
3. We desperately want to know what we need to do to get there.
C. That is why I have chosen to preach this series of sermons from Galatians.
1. I am trying to lay out, as precisely and succinctly as I humanly can, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. I am trying to make a contribution to this community of faith so that we will have a better understanding of:
a. Where we are right now in our relationship with God.
b. Where he wants us to go in our relationship with him.
c. And what we need to do to get there.
I. Review - Paul’s first proposition, 1:11-12.
A. Four-fold:
1. The gospel he preached was not something man made up.
2. The gospel he preached was not something he received from man.
3. The gospel he preached was not something he was taught.
4. But, rather The gospel he preached was something that he received through direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
B. His (ten) arguments and proofs supporting that proposition, 1:13 - 2:14.
1. His remarkable conversion, 1:13-14.
2. His lack of contact with “headquarters” for three years after his conversion, 1:15-17.
3. His minimal contact with the Jerusalem leaders even after three years, 1:18-19.
4. His personal word, under oath, 1:20.
5. His proof of an alibi (he never returned to “headquarters”), 1:21.
6. His lack of personal contact with any Christian Church as a source of his teaching, 1:22-24.
7. The nature and circumstances of his second trip to “Headquarters,” 2:1-2.
a. It was fourteen years later, 2:1.
b. It was not to receive instruction but, rather, to give instruction pursuant to prior revelation, 2:2.
8. His ministry was not influenced by peer pressure, 2:3-6.
9. The independence and validity of his ministry was endorsed by the other apostles, 2:7-10.
10. The independence and validity of his ministry was demonstrated by his willingness to confront error—even in the behavior of the Apostle Peter! 2:11-14.
II. Paul’s Grand Proposition, 2:15-21.
A. Two-fold.
B. Stated in the negative:
1. Compliance with the requirements of a code of rules, deeds and observances is not the SOURCE of justification (i.e., to be made righteous) for any human being, 2:15-16.
2. Compliance with the requirements of a code of rules, deeds and observances is not the STANDARD by which a justified human being (i.e., one who has been made righteous) lives out life upon the earth, 2:17-21.
C. Stated in the positive:
1. A human being is justified (i.e., made righteous, given God’s righteousness) by faith in Jesus Christ and him crucified. Faith is the SOURCE of justification, 2:15-16.
2. A justified human being (i.e., one who has been made righteous) lives out life by faith in the fact that Jesus Christ and him crucified has brought about that person’s justification. Faith is the STANDARD by which a justified person lives, 2:17-21.
D. Paul’s grand proposition will be unpacked (supported, explained, proved) for the remainder of the letter.
1. The proposition is an extremely condensed preview of what will come later in a more fully explained, illustrated and discussed form.
2. For example:
a. You might be thinking, “If law cannot justify, then what was the purpose of the law?”
b. That is EXACTLY the question Paul answers in 3:19ff.
c. Or, you might be thinking, “Is this preacher saying that a person is saved by faith only and that baptism is not necessary?”
d. Paul addresses the role of baptism in the bigger scheme of “justification by faith” in 3:26ff. We’ll discuss it when we get there.
III. Legalism Defined:
A. The specific term is not found in the New Testament.
B. The term is a modern word that is used to describe a very biblical concept.
C. The term describes the error which Paul opposes vehemently in Acts 15 and in his correspondence to the churches of Galatia.
D. As we are using it in this series of sermons, legalism is defined as:
1. Reliance upon,
2. One’s ability to satisfy,
3. The requirements of a code of deeds and observances,
4. In order to attain justification.
IV. Types of Laws:
A. The Bible clearly teaches that there are different “types” of laws.
B. If we are to clearly understand the message of the New Testament we must be able to discern between the different types of laws.
1. Laws of Works:
a. The Law of Moses (the Law of our fathers, the Law of the Jews) was a law of works.
b. Paul calls this the law of sin and death in Romans 8:2.
(1) This is Paul’s description of the principles upon which all laws of works operate.
(2) One sin causes death.
2. The Law of Sin: (How does sin work? What principles does it obey?)
a. Paul discusses this law in Romans 7.
b. The principle he is explaining is that sin enslaves its victim.
c. Once sin gets into a human being the human being is incapable of ever being free of its influence by his or her own volition—God must intervene.
3. The Law of Faith, Romans 3:27.
a. The principles upon which faith operates.
b. Under the law of faith:
(1) When a human being comes to develop faith in Jesus Christ and him crucified,
(2) And properly responds to him in obedient faith which includes baptism,
(3) Then God imputes into that person God’s own righteousness.
c. This law of faith is variously referred to as:
(1) The law of the spirit of life in Christ, Romans 8:2.
(2) The law of liberty, James 1:25, 2:12.
V. Why Legalism Fails to Justify.
A. The Bible CLEARLY and EMPHATICALLY teaches that no human being can be justified (i.e., made righteous) by relying upon one’s ability to satisfy the requirements of a code of deeds and observances.
B. This is true for two reasons:
1. The nature of sinful human beings after sin enters into their experience (Romans 3:23):
a. Sin is something that we DO (an action verb).
b. Sin is something that affects what we become (a passive verb).
2. The nature of any law of works:
a. It demands perfect performance.
b. It condemns the violator on the first violation.
c. It can never make a person righteous—you cannot un-break a law.
C. For these two reasons, human beings are HOPELESSLY trapped in sin.
D. It is IMPOSSIBLE for human beings to save themselves, Matthew 19:25-26.
1. Compliance with the requirements of a code of rules, deeds and observances is not the SOURCE of justification (i.e., to be made righteous) for any human being, 2:15-16.
2. Compliance with the requirements of a code of rules, deeds and observances is not the STANDARD by which a justified human being (i.e., one who has been made righteous) lives out life upon the earth, 2:17-21.
VI. Law Keeping is not the Standard by Which a Justified Human Being Lives out their Justified Life.
A. Proof from Scripture.
1. Romans 1:16-17 ASV For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith. (~O de. di,kaioj evk pi,stewj zh,setaiÅ)
2. Galatians 3:11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;
3. Hebrews 10:38-39.
a. These New Testament writers are quoting Habakkuk 2:4.
b. God’s plan has always been to justify human beings by faith, not by keeping the provisions of a law of works:
(1) Abraham:
(a) He could not have been justified by keeping the Law of Moses. Why?
(b) He died 545 years before the Law of Moses was even given!
(2) David?
(a) He could not have been justified by the Law of Moses? Why?
(b) He didn’t keep it! (He broke at least four of the Big Ten in one criminal episode!)
c. The above two examples support the argument that keeping a law of works is not the SOURCE of justification.
B. But, what are the implications of the second part of our proposition? (Compliance with a code of deeds and observances is not the Standard upon which a justified human being lives out their life of justification?)
1. This can be frustrating! Why?
a. It is an innate characteristic of human beings,
b. That they need to know:
(1) Where they are.
(2) Where they are going.
(3) And what they need to do to get there.
2. Let’s look at an illustration: The Rich Young Ruler, Mark 10:17-21.
a. The story:
(1) As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
(2) 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good-- except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ’Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’"
(3) 20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."
(4) 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
b. The apparent incoherence:
(1) What must I do to go to heaven?
(2) Keep the Law of Moses.
(3) I’ve done that my entire life! (So I’m in, right?)
(4) Uh, OK, let me think of something else for you to do, uh, uh, OK, I got it, here’s something that will really get you—sell all your possessions, give them away to the poor and then become a penniless, despised, itinerant preacher like me!
c. The innate need of human beings to KNOW where they are, where they are going and what they need to do to get there and the seeming incoherent answer can literally cause a spiritual crisis in life of a sincere believer!
(1) Where is selling all your possessions and giving them to the poor ever recorded in the Law of Moses?
(2) How can this answer possibly be fair?
(3) Is this some kind of joke?
d. The actual incoherence explained:
(1) The answer reveals the paradigm of human beings:
(a) Where am I in my relationship with God? Tell me that I am OK in my behavior.
(b) What must I DO in order to get to heaven?
i) Tell me that I have done the “right things,”
ii) In order to insure,
iii) That my soul,
iv) Will go to heaven when I die (the goal has little if anything to do with this life, this body, this creation, this realm, and etc.)
(c) The SOURCE of righteousness is compliance with rules and the STANDARD for living a righteous life is compliance with rules.
i) That is the paradigm out of which the question comes.
ii) When the answer comes out of a different paradigm, that is what causes the apparent incoherence and the resulting frustration.
e. As human beings:
(1) We are asking our questions from our perspective.
(2) God is working his plan from his perspective.
(3) His answers do not always respond directly to our questions.
3. We see a similar phenomenon with the Sermon on the Mount.
a. Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
(1) Then he goes on to say, “They had a law that said they could not murder. You can’t even hate!”
(2) “They couldn’t commit adultery, you can’t even lust!”
b. Matthew 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(1) If a human being analyzes this from a stand point that contends that the SOURCE of righteousness is compliance with rules and the STANDARD for living a righteous life is compliance with rules then the only possible result that I can see is utter madness.
(2) It is humanly unattainable!
C. Let’s look at the story from God’s perspective:
1. A human being approaches God and asks, “What must I do to get to heaven?”
2. God responds:
a. Well, let me see, we’re living under the Mosaic Dispensation, right?
b. Therefore, keep the Law that I gave Moses.
(1) This will demonstrate your faith.
(2) And upon the demonstration of your faith I will impute into you my righteousness.
3. But, that does NOT satisfy the human being.
a. “I’ve done all that since I was a boy”, he says.
b. His answer clearly demonstrates the fact that he wants more out of his religion.
c. Jesus answers him, “If you want to be perfect [a major theme in Matthew - if you want to be like God, if you want to do what God would do in this situation!] go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21.
D. Be Like God!
1. Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.
a. Try to see things from God’s perspective, try and understand God’s paradigm, as he revealed himself in Jesus Christ.
b. He was and is God.
c. But he did not understand that prerogative to give him the right to hold onto that and not share it with others.
d. Therefore, he gave it up so that others might share in his nature.
2. God is trying to get human beings to voluntarily participate in his nature.
3. God is trying to convince heavenly beings the same thing (Ephesians 3:10).
4. That’s why Paul says what he says in our text:
a. Compliance with the requirements of a code of rules, deeds and observances is not the SOURCE of justification (i.e., to be made righteous) for any human being, 2:15-16.
We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
b. Compliance with the requirements of a code of rules, deeds and observances is not the STANDARD by which a justified human being (i.e., one who has been made righteous) lives out life upon the earth, 2:17-21.
But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 21 I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.
E. How does that affect the Woodland Oaks Church of Christ?
1. We’re a congregation of about 300 members.
2. We have an extensive and ever-growing ministry:
a. Two Bible classes and two worship services every week.
b. Women’s Bible Class on Tuesdays September through May.
c. Benevolence program.
d. World Bible School.
e. Vacation Bible School.
f. Special prayer ministry.
g. Small group Bible studies designed for outreach.
h. College age ministry.
i. Youth Ministry.
j. Foreign missions program.
k. Impact Houston Church of Christ.
l. Secret Sisters.
m. Guess who’s coming to dinner.
n. Everyday Discipleship.
o. Not to mention the building and grounds!
3. The human question: Which of these and the other ministries of this church do I have to be involved with in order to get to heaven?
a. At a bare minimum I must come once per week and partake of the Lord’s Supper, right?
b. Surely Bible class is optional, right?
c. What about Sunday nights?
d. Wednesday night has got to be optional given how busy I am!
4. The appropriate question from God’s perspective: What can I do by faith to live out the life of God which has been given to me in Christ Jesus?
a. My presence here and an encouraging word or smile?
b. A cold cup of water passed out on the sidewalk?
c. Etc.
Conclusion. (The purpose of the conclusion is to conclude, not merely to stop.)
A. It is an innate characteristic of human beings that we need to know:
1. Where we are.
2. Where we are going.
3. And what we need to do to get there.
B. The Grand Proposition, Galatians 2:15-21.
1. Stated in the negative:
a. Compliance with the requirements of a code of rules, deeds and observances is not the SOURCE of justification (i.e., to be made righteous) for any human being, 2:15-16.
b. Compliance with the requirements of a code of rules, deeds and observances is not the STANDARD by which a justified human being (i.e., one who has been made righteous) lives out life upon the earth, 2:17-21.
2. Stated in the positive:
a. A human being is justified (i.e., made righteous, given God’s righteousness) by faith in Jesus Christ and him crucified. Faith is the SOURCE of justification, 2:15-16.
b. A justified human being (i.e., one who has been made righteous) lives out life by faith in the fact that Jesus Christ and him crucified has brought about that person’s justification. Faith is the STANDARD by which a justified person lives, 2:17-21.
