A DEFENSE OF JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
Gal 3:1-14
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE GALATIANS
3:1” O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?”
A. It is foolish to know the truth and not use it to benefit yourself.
1. It is foolish to know the truth and not use it because others are persuaded to to believe a lie.
2. It is foolish to turn from the truth of Christ’s crucifixion because someone refuse to believe that His death on the Cross provides salvation.
When you have been taught the truth and have believed the truth, yet turn from the truth to follow false teaching, you are foolish.
1. Jesus remains the one crucified and when we see Him again, He will have the marks of His crucifixion.
2. The crucifixion of Christ is a constant reminder of God’s love and forgiveness.
3. The law brings bondage, but faith in Jesus brings freedom.
V:2. “ This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or
by the hearing of faith?”
Receiving the Holy Spirit is the first act of God’s grace upon out belief in Christ Jesus.
Did we receive the Spirit by the good we did or was it a gift given to us according to God’s divine favor?
a. We received the Spirit by Faith in Jesus.
1. The law points to the righteousness of God and the sinfulness of man.
2. The law cannot save, but it condemns.
3. The Spirit comes by Grace through Faith and not by any works of the law.
V.3:3. “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the
flesh?”
A. The law could not save us and the law cannot bring about perfection.
1. Our salvation and maturity is made effective by Grace through faith.
2. Works does not save, yet are the signs of maturity.
B. Salvation is a response to God’s grace in our lives.
1. The Christian life should reflect a choice to be Christ like.
2. The Christian life should reflect the Spirit’s guidance and repentance.
God takes a life that was broken in the world and makes it whole though faith in Jesus.
3. We come to Christ in our sins and are justified (rendered innocent) because of our sins.
4. We come to Christ imperfect and are made perfect in Christ Jesus.
C. Our focus of Jesus Christ dying on the Cross for our sins, ought to humble us to know that we can do nothing to effect our salvation.
V. 3:4. “Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.”
A. The Christian Church began with suffering of Christ on the Cross.
1. The early Church grew through constant persecutions at the hands of those who held to the law as a means of salvation.
2. The Christian Church today suffers because of the ignorance of those who add works of our human hands and minds with Christ as the means to salvation.
Christian do suffer in the transition from a worldly existence to a Spiritual life in Christ Jesus.
1. We do suffer in the flesh because, while we intend to be like Christ, sin and temptation are always present.
A. Our suffering is in vain if we impose works as a means to perfection in Christ.
B. Suffering is a natural part of our growth in Christ.
E. Salvation is an initial decision to trust God and a life time commitment to Discipleship.
1.Salvation is an election by means of Grace from a sovereign God.
a. Faith in this election moves us to a life of repentance.
2. Salvation once received cannot be lost.
a. However, we must be diligent in our effort to be Christ like.
We labor in our salvation because we are grateful for the Grace that God has given us.
C. It is through the works for the Lord that our faith in the Lord grows.
V.3:5. “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
A. Ministereth=epichooregon= this verb is in the present active form which means He constantly supplies the Spirit freely to believers.
1. Miracles= dumamis= supernatural powers
a. Miracles would include rebirth, regeneration, justification, sanctification and all Spiritual gifts.
B. Christ is constantly at work in us.
1. Every time we sin, the blood of Christ covers that sin.
2. We are constantly being perfected in Christ Jesus.
3. This continuous work is done because of our faith in Christ.
C. The law is dead to rebirth, regeneration, justification and sanctification.
1. The law which cannot save cannot work miracles in us.
THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM
V.3:6. “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
A. Faith was in place well before the Law was given. Gen 15:6
1. The law points to faith.
2. The law reveals the righteousness of God.
3. It is only by faith that we can understand the law.
It is only by the power ministered to us through faith that we can obey the law. ‘
God used Abraham to show us that the evidence of our faith is belief in God’s Word for the fulfillment of future events.
God used Abraham to show us that faith is belief in His Word for things We ourselves will not live to see.
4. There are two parts to Abraham’s faith.
a. Faith that he would have a son.
b. He would not live to see his descendants as numerous as the stars, yet he believed.
V.3:8. “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
A. The promise that God made to Abraham included blessings for all people of the earth, Jews and Gentiles alike.
B. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was included in the promise to Abraham.”
1. Justification of the Gentiles by faith was included in the promise to Abraham.
a. “ In thee all nations” includes all Gentiles
b. God did not chose the law to justify by faith.
c. Faith came before the law.
V.3:9. “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
A. God’s promise to Abraham covers all times and blesses all people
1. God’s promise is full of comfort and refreshment for the guilty throughout all time for all people.
2. God’s promise to Abraham is flowing, first to Abraham then through all time.
3. God’s promise is expansive; it covers all nations.
4. God’s promise is a free gift to all who believe.
5. The blessings of God’s promise is inexhaustible; it’s source is Christ (BS)
THE EFFECT OF THE LAW
V.3:10. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
A. No one can keep the whole law.
If you fail to keep one of the commands under the law, you are guilty of the whole law.
1. The law condemns. Due 27:26
2. Those that hold to the law makes themselves guilty of the law.
3. Those who hold to justification by the law must continue to meet it demands faithfully.
V.3:11. “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
A. The law requires man to continuously work for his salvation.
1. God did not design the law to be the means of justification.
2. The law only works if one never commits a sin. Due 27:26
B. Grace only requires faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
1. Faith was designed for justification.
The righteous finds life in faith. Hab 2:4
V.3:12. “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”
A. The law promises no forgiveness.
1. The law does not rest on faith.
2. The law rests on works. Rom 4:4-5
3. He who does the law, lives by the law. Lev 18:5
4. He who lives by the law is cursed. James 2:10
THE WORK OF CHRIST
V.3:13. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:
for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree”:
A. Christ brought us with a price.
1. The price was his blood.
2. Christ gave His life for the believer.
3. Even though He knew no sin, He became the worst sin for us.
B. On the same day He was executed, His body was buried so the land was not polluted.
1. A criminal was hanged by the tree.
2. He was considered accursed by God. Due 21:22-23
3. The accursed thing was to be moved out of sight.
V.3:14. “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
A. Two purposes are given for Christ redemptive work.
1. Gentiles might receive the blessing given to Abraham.
2. All who believe receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.
B. Salvation and sanctification comes by faith and not by works.
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