Galatians 3
Randy ®
Theme: Salvation is by grace, not works.
2. Because Christ freed us from the law (3-4)
A. The Galatians were justified by faith alone (3:1-5)
B. Abraham was justified by faith alone (3:6-9)
C. The Law cannot justify (3:10-18)
D. The Law points to Christ (3:19-29)
Having shown his gospel came from God not men (1-2), chapters
three and four now prove men are justified by faith in Christ
alone, rather than faith plus keeping the Law.
The Galatians were justified by faith alone (1-5). As on the
day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and in the household of Cornelius
(cf. Acts 10:34-48), the Galatians received the Spirit of God
by faith in the gospel (cf. Romans 10:17). Having begun in
the Spirit, they should have known they could not, now,
perfect themselves by the flesh (3).
Abraham was justified by faith alone (3:6-9). In Genesis
12:3, and chapter 15, God promised Abraham a "seed" which
would become a blessing to him and the whole world. Genesis
15:6 says, "Then he [Abraham] believed in the Lord; and He
[the LORD] reckoned it to him [Abraham] as righteousness."
Since Abraham was justified by faith in this promise well
before the Law ever came, and the promise was extended to "all
nations" (cf. Genesis 12:3), all men are justified by faith in
God's promise of blessing through Abraham's "seed" (Christ),
rather than the Law.
The Law cannot justify (10-18). First, it is impossible for
men to keep the law (10-12). Romans seven gives a good
illustration of the purpose of the law, and its effect on
people (Read Romans 7:7-25). When a person tries to keep one
of God's commandments, the commandment activates his sin
nature, which then opposes God's will (cf. Romans 8:6-8) by
disobeying the command. When a person sees he has disobeyed
a direct command of God, he realizes he has sinned, and
deserve the curse of the Law (Deut. 27:26; cf. James 2:20).
Thus, the purpose of the law is to reveal our sin and
inability to meet God's standards, and point us to Christ. By
hanging on the cross, Christ bore the curse of the Law which
all men deserve (Galatians 3:13-14). This work opens the door
of blessing to Gentiles, to receive the promise of the Spirit
(given to Abraham) through faith.
Next, the Law cannot annul God's promise (15-18). Even in
human covenants, once it is ratified, it cannot be annulled.
God ratified the covenant of promise with Abraham in Genesis
15:7-21. Also, Christ is the "seed" who was the heir of
Abraham's promise (16). For 430 years before the Law came,
men were being justified by faith in Christ (Genesis 46:1-4;
cf. Exodus 12:40). Since God ratified the covenant with
Abraham, since men were justified by faith for 430 years prior
to the Law, and since Christ succeeded the law as the heir of
Abraham's promise, the Law cannot annul God's promise.
Third, the Law points to Christ (19-29). As shown above, the
purpose of the law was to convict men of their sin and
inability to meet God's standards (cf. Romans 7:7 - 8:11).
Since anyone who failed to keep the Law at any of its points
was guilty of breaking the whole Law (Deut. 27:26; cf. James
2:20), and since no one is capable of keeping it, the Law
shuts all men up in their sins, so they will see their need
for justification by faith in Christ (cf. Romans 7:24-25). Now
that Christ has born the curse of the Law which we deserve, by
hanging on a tree (Galatians 3:14-15), all men can be
justified by faith in Christ. Trusting Christ as savior makes
us all one in our standing in Christ, before God. The Law
cannot justify, and points to Christ.
Having shown his gospel came from God not men (1-2), chapters
three and four now prove men are justified by faith in Christ
alone, rather than faith plus keeping the Law.
--
Have you heard Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him
from the dead? Did you know God saves you from hell and
gives you eternal life through faith in this finished work alone,
not your merits (Jn. 3:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-3; Eph. 2:8-10; 2 Thess.
1:8-9)? This is so man cannot boast, and God alone gets the
glory (Eph. 2:8-9).
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