Today’s Sermon Notes: 8-12-2025
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Grace Abounds
A Sermon Series Through the Book of Galatians
“The Righteous Shall Live by Faith”
Galatians 3:1-14
Introduction
Genesis 4:3-7 “In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted?2 And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it.”
Prayer
The Foolishness of Trusting Works Shown In Their Own Lives (vv. 1-5)
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by 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 who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
Ephesians 4:14 “. . . tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” With this same idea in mind, “He is still righteous to keep on forgiving our sins.”
You Cannot Add to the Completed Work of Jesus’ Death on the Cross
There Is No Such Thing As Extra Holy Spirit
The Foolishness of Trusting Works Shown From Scripture (vv. 6-9)
6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
The Curse of the Law (vv. 10-14)
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”[9] 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”
Deuteronomy 28:1-6 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.”
15-19 “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. 16 Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. 17 Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 19 Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.” The blessing and curses come upon a person based upon their faithfully following and obeying God’s Word, or not. So how then does the law become a curse? Paul has already said earlier in 1:9 “. . . If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” A false gospel leaves one cursed.
Matthew 27:36 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Perfection Allows No Exceptions
Genesis 15:5 “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”
Conclusion
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[1] Matthew S. Harmon, Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary, Galatians (Bellingham, Washington, Lexham Academic, 2021) 126.
[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Galatians (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Bible Institute, 1987) 63.
[3] Genesis 3:6
[4] Timothy Keller, Galatians For You (USA; the good book company, 2013) 65.
[5] Perfect passive participle
[6] Keller, 68.
[7] MacArthur, 69.
[8] F. F. Bruce, New International Greek Testament Commentary, Commentary on Galatians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982) 154.
[9] Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 4:3
[10] R.C. Sproul, For Freedom Christ Has Set US Free, Galatians (Sanford, Florida; Ligonier Ministries, 2022) 65.
[11] MacArthue, 78.
[12] MacArthur, 77.
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“The Importance of Preserving the Gospel” Part Two Galatians 2:9b-21
