The Tutor Series

The Tutor

Jeffery Anselmi / General

The Book of Galatians- Standing on Grace / Abrahamic Promise; Law in the NT / Galatians 3:15–29

The law points us to Christ.

INTRODUCTION

• We have to decide how we will live our life; we have to determine what kind of foundation we will build our life upon.

• What drives you?

• What principles will you cling to, even when the world around you seems to be collapsing?

• More importantly, how will you decide to fix the sin problem you (and we all) face?

• We are continuing with our Galatians, Standing on grace series today.

• Paul wrote this letter to the church in Galatia because some of the Pharisees insisted that Paul had not provided the entirety of the good news.

• They said that to be saved, you had to keep the law.

• Thus, immediately in chapter 1, Paul laid out the good news of God’s grace: that Jesus died for our sins.

• In chapter 2, Paul explains that we aren’t saved by the law but by faith in Jesus.

• Jesus took on the curse of the law so that by faith in him, we might be set free (Galatians 3:10–14).

• Paul then demonstrates how his message is not new but predates the law.

• Abraham's promise of righteousness through faith was made before God gave Israel the law (vv. 15–18).

• So grace has always been God’s modus operandi.

• Today, we will go into some deep water, so make sure you have your floaties on as we dive deep today.

• Today's message will help unlock why one cannot simply follow the Ten Commandments to be saved or why one cannot design a Burger King approach to salvation.

• When we think about salvation, we tend to focus on Jesus, which we should do; however, we need to understand some background concerning God’s promise to Abraham so that we can see WHY Jesus is the key component to our salvation.

• Many people misunderstand many points of doctrine because they simply make the jump from the Old Testament Law to Jesus while leaving out a vital piece of information, the promise or covenant God made with Abraham.

• Once we grasp this essential teaching, it will clear up many of the misconceptions we have about the nature of modern-day Israel, as well as millennial views that are tied to our understanding of Israel.

• We will also gain a deeper understanding of WHAT one MUST do to be saved and how baptism is a part of that.

• We will see that the modern formula of JUST asking Jesus into your heart without confession of Jesus, repentance, and baptism will not put us in the position we desire to be in with God.

• As we dive into our message entitled, The Tutor, we will see what the Law of Moses we designed to do.

• So hang with me this morning; I pray that you will learn a great deal and receive some more depth for your faith!

• Let’s begin with Galatians 3:15-18.

Galatians 3:15–18 (NET 2nd ed.)

15 Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, “and to the descendants,” referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” referring to one, who is Christ.

17 What I am saying is this: The law that came 430 years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise.

18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.

SERMON

I. The Law cannot set aside or alter God’s own Covenant.

• Ok, here we go!

• Remember that the Judaizers told these new Christians that Paul was not being forthright with them concerning salvation.

• As we dig into this passage, the core question is why this passage is important to us today.

• You have to understand that the core question is, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED, which is tied to how one becomes a child of Abraham, which would make them heirs to the promise God made to him centuries before.

• Paul will explain what God’s Promise to Abraham has to do with this question.

• So Paul will use an earthly story to illustrate a heavenly reality.

• He will speak of how covenants or wills work in our world.

• In verse 15, he tells us that when a will or testament has been probated, when it is executed, and the inheritance is distributed, no one can set the will or covenant aside, nor can anything be added or subtracted from the will.