When was the last time you had a big argument? Some of you may not be able to remember it, on the other hand, perhaps you had one on the way to church this morning. Arguing is what we do with people when we want them to see our perspective about something we disagree on.
Galatians records one side of a crucial argument between Paul and the Judaizers who are disrupting the churches in Galatia by changing the gospel. This is crucial I say, because if the churches there end up leaving the gospel Paul preached to them, they in effect leave the only hope of salvation that there is. What is at stake here is the eternal life of those Galatian churches. This is a debate that Paul feels he simply must win!
To some degree I think most of us know what this is like. Don’t we all know and love people who have never committed their lives to Christ? Others, though they claim to know the Lord, by their lives and teachings are obviously far from walking in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How frustrating it is to try to reason with people who resist the truth and resent your efforts to help them! But we must try, and we should not underestimate the power of a loving confrontation to restore those who are erring, or a caring exhortation to strengthen those who are weak or weary or just losing sight of the focus of their faith. Galatians is a letter that shows us an example of going after those we love and not sitting by when we see them in spiritual danger. This letter even commands us to do the same. Look at 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. In other words, roll up your sleeves and get involved in helping people who are in spiritual trouble! I would add to that, don’t expect everyone to welcome your attempts to rescue them, but don’t let that stop you from making the attempt. God may just use your words to save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
Let’s look at Galatians. So far Paul has made it clear that no one has the right to tamper with the gospel he preached because he received it directly by revelation through Jesus Christ. Then he offers evidence to support this claim by a look into his own life. He was advancing in Judaism and was a persecutor of the church until Jesus Christ personally appeared to him and called him to preach to Gentiles. Where did this huge change in his life come from? There is no way this change took place without God’s intervention. Secondly, Paul says he didn’t get his gospel from the other apostles, in fact, he had to straighten Peter out one time when Peter was visiting in Antioch and began walking out of step with the truth of the gospel. It was Peter, the apostle from Jerusalem who realigned himself with what Paul said, not Paul who got his gospel from Peter. No, Paul got his gospel message from God not any human source. That gospel is what he faithfully proclaimed. He is shocked that the Galatians could be so quickly turned away from the truth of the gospel. He will do whatever he can to bring them back into line with this truth of the true gospel.
The question comes to mind. What is this truth? Interestingly, the truth of the gospel is simply that we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ who died for our sins, was buried and rose again, not by the law, not by good deeds we do or have done, and not by our own righteousness. Jesus’ sacrifice is for all - and everyone from anywhere that comes to Jesus Christ and receives him as Lord is given the Holy Spirit and adopted into the family of God. The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that salvation is all about his work for us, not our work for him. Salvation is received, not earned. But how does one receive it?
There is only one act mentioned in Galatians 3 that sums up faith and is part of the entry into Christ where we are clothed with Christ. It is not an act you do, but something that is done to you that you receive by faith. It is not in the Law. It is not a work of merit, and it is not a good deed that you do. Again, it is something done to you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Do you know what it is? It is at the end of chapter 3 that we will study today.
Look at Galatians 3:26-28.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
It’s the one specific thing Jesus mentions in the great commission in Matthew 28: 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
As we look at this third chapter of Galatians watch as he builds up to this climactic conclusion: YOU ARE - sons of God, clothed with Christ, all one in Christ Jesus, belong to Christ, Abraham’s offspring, and heirs according to the promise! None of these are granted through works of the Law. All are given by God on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ. They are all received when we are baptized into Christ and clothed with Christ. Not by works of the Law but through faith and baptism into Christ, which are central to the truth of the gospel.
There are three sections contrasting Law and Faith in this chapter:
Verses 1-5 is a personal argument from their experience with the Holy Spirit.
Verses 6-14 is a scriptural argument from the Old Testament
Verses 15-25 is a logical argument about the temporary purpose of the Law.
Finally, there is the grand conclusion about our relationship with God, Christ, one another and Abraham.
Let’s move through this together. Are you open to Galatians? Fasten your Bible belts and let’s go!
3:1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain?
5 Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
Notice the clear contrast between hearing with faith and the works of the Law. When did you receive the Holy Spirit? The truth of the gospel is that you basically did nothing except hear with faith. You can’t finish the work of God by your works of the Law. God has already finished it! Leaning on our own efforts can only botch it up. Unless we are crucified with Christ and have Christ living in us, and are living by faith in the Son of God, we are not walking according to the truth of the gospel.
The power of the Holy Spirit in a Christian is a lot greater than we can even imagine. Paul doesn’t go into it much here, but later in chapter 4-5 and in Romans 8, 2 Cor. 3 and Ephesians 3 he tells us some of the powerful workings of the Holy Spirit within us. Is God still working in our lives by the Holy Spirit today? Of course he is!
The Father continues to supply the Spirit in power and blessing, and this is done by faith and not by the works of the Law. The phrase among you can also be translated within you. These miracles would therefore include wonderful changes within the lives of the Christians, as well as signs and wonders within the church fellowship.
"Do you really believe the miracles in the Bible?" a skeptic asked a new Christian who had been a terrible drinker.
"Of course I do!" the believer replied.
The skeptic laughed. "Do you mean that you really believe that Jesus could turn water into wine?" he asked.
I sure do! In my home He turned wine into food and clothing and furniture!"
(The Bible Exposition Commentary. SP Publications, Inc.)
The point of this section is that these Galatians have received the Holy Spirit by faith in Christ crucified, they must not change course.
Next he presents a case from scripture. Here he argues from the primacy of faith through Abraham and Christ over keeping the Law given through Moses.
6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOU."
9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM."
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
12 However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM."
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--
14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Again the Law and faith are contrasted. Paul asks 6 questions in verses 1-5. In this section, verses 6-14, he gives us 6 quotations from the Old Testament. These quotes are easier to see in the NASV because they always put O.T. quotes in all caps. I think the NKJV puts them in italics. These quotes come from all over the Old Testament.
Here’s the six points in order:
1. Righteousness is credited from God to those of faith like Abraham.
2. This blessing is for all nations, not just Israel.
3. Living under the Law brings a curse because none can perfectly keep it.
4. No one is justified by the Law, but by faith.
5. The Law is not of faith but works.
6. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by his death on the cross where he became a curse for us that we might receive the blessing and promised Spirit through faith.
Notice that section one starts by pointing out Jesus crucified. This section ends with pointing out Jesus crucified. The truth of the gospel is Jesus Christ crucified and what that means to us. Here particularly, is the freedom in Christ from the Law and the blessing of righteousness and the Holy Spirit, by faith in Christ.
Finally, look at the last section of this chapter before the conclusion. This is his logical argument about the purpose of the Law and its temporary nature. This is a very complex argument.
15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it.
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made.
20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.
21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.
22 But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
This says that between when God gave His blessing and promise to Abraham, and the fulfillment of that blessing and promise in Christ, God gave the Law through Moses to shut all men up under sin. The Law doesn’t give us life. The Law doesn’t give us righteousness. The Law doesn’t impart the Holy Spirit to us. God spoke to Abraham a man of faith, and promised to bless all nations through His seed. God sent Jesus Christ, the promised seed of Abraham and through faith in Jesus Christ, God blesses all nations.
God’s covenant with Abraham involved a promise of blessing for all nations.
God’s covenant through Christ involves fulfilling that promise to bless all nations.
The Law came between these to reveal sin, shut up all under sin, keep us in custody until Jesus came and be our tutor to lead us to Christ. Now, that Christ has come, we are no longer under the tutor, the law. It is faith, not works of the Law that saves us.
Look again at Galatians 3:26-28.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
