Drew Boswell

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“The Promise of God That Changes Everything” Galatians 3:15-29

Grace Abounds

A Sermon Series Through the Book of Galatians

“The Promise of God That Changes Everything”

Galatians 3:15-29

Introduction

There is a pattern throughout history of how God brought redemption to pass. He has made multiple covenants with humanity. Adamic covenant, Noahic covenant, Davidic covenant, Mt. Saini covenant, etc. All these covenants are all pointing to the redemption of mankind. Then with Jesus, he announces a new covenant that is made in His blood for the remission of sins.

The covenant that was made with Adam was one of obedience, “If you follow God’s Word you will live eternally and have communion with God; if you break God’s law it means death and you are separated from God (they had to leave the garden).” The second Adam (Jesus)[1] also had to follow the same covenant, but instead of breaking God’s Word, He kept it perfectly. Last week we looked at how we are under a curse because we broke God’s law, and Jesus became the curse for us by taking the wrath of God upon him while on the cross. Paul continues his argument against human effort and how it does not establish or keep a relationship with God.

God’s Promises Are Eternal (vv. 15-18)

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

Paul is arguing that a promise (a covenant) was made to Abraham and to his offspring. He is quoting Genesis 15:5-6 where God was talking about blessing Abraham, but Abraham was concerned that he would have no offspring to pass on the blessing of God to when he died, “And he (God) brought him (Abraham) outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.”

Paul gives an earthly example of people who have contracted, covenanted together – once all the terms are agreed upon, and the contract is signed (ratified), then you can’t change it. No one can back out or change what’s in the covenant – how much more when God gives a promise. He will always keep His end of the promise – it is within His character to do so.

Paul is saying that God’s promise to Abraham does not apply to all of humanity, instead it applies only to one person, that he says is Christ. Through Abraham to his offspring (Jesus) is promised by God to have countless children.[2] When a person places their faith in Christ they become a child of Abraham. Faith is the means to becoming a child of God[3], not following the law.

“By definition, an inheritance is not earned but simply received, and to work for that which is already guaranteed is foolish and unnecessary. Trying to earn the inheritance God promises through faith in His Son is much worse than foolish. To add works of the law to faith in God’s promise is to “nullify the grace of God” and to cause Christ to have “died needlessly” (2:21).”[4]

 So If salvation is by faith, why did God give us the law? (vv. 19-20)

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.

Transgressions

So if God made a promise to Abraham (salvation by faith) that is completed in Christ (faith in Christ as the means of salvation), then why have the law on the middle? Paul gives two reasons, 1) “because of transgressions,” – “the conscious disobeying of definite commandments.” “stepping over the boundary” The law produces transgressions by showing a person their total sinfulness, their inability to please God by his own works, and his need for mercy and grace.

Paul says something similar in Romans 4:15, “For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. . . but where there is no law there is no transgression.”

The law shows man God’s standard, how their sin is an offense to God, and that they stand before God having sinned against their Creator – and that they will be held accountable to God for not keeping the standard. This is why the whole of the Bible is important for people today – Christianity is not about three steps to a better life, how to have a happy marriage, or six ways to move up the ladder at work. Mankind will never seek God’s grace and mercy if they are not made aware of how they have offended God. Why would they seek mercy, if they are not aware that they are sinners?

The purpose of the law was to drive men to despair.

 Intermediaries

And the law was given from a distance, 2) “it was put in place through angels by an intermediary,” – the law came to mankind by an intermediary, not by God directly. It is God’s word, and it originates from Him – but it was delivered by Moses and angels. “The promise of salvation by faith was so precious to the heart of God that He gave it to Abraham in person.”[5]

Today, God also comes directly to every person who will have His Son as Lord and Savior. There would come a day when God would speak directly to people, and not go through angels or prophets – but through His Spirit.

God Speaks Directly to Those Who Have Faith in Jesus.

God’s Promise of Salvation (vv. 21-22)

21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Paul then asks, (v. 21) “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?” contrary means “against” or “opposed to,” Does the law work against, or is it opposed to the promise of salvation by faith? Paul says, “certainly not!” The law cannot give eternal life. If it were possible to have salvation multiple ways then it would make Jesus’ death unnecessary.

The law, “the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin,” – It has locked up, secured on all sides, and gives no means of escape from sin. We have to have be pressed in from all sides, with no means of escaping the reality of our sin, and how we have offended God, with no means to make that right. We have been found guilty, imprisoned with no means of escape, sentenced to death, and driven to despair – and at that point we cry out for grace and mercy.

Romans 7:24 “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

“so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God promises that if a person places their trust in Jesus, that they will not perish because of their sin, their breaking God’s commands, but instead will be given eternal life, forgiveness of their sin.

Salvation is promised to those who believe in Jesus Christ.

 The Effects of the Law Upon A Person (vv. 23-24)

If you live under the law, or you are a follower of Jesus who is tempted to add works to what Jesus has already done on the cross, there are effects upon you (before and after conversion). Before salvation there is bondage that the relationship brings. Paul gives two figures to represent God’s law – the prison and a guardian.

 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

 The law is a prison (that you lock yourself inside)

 Until a person acknowledges his basic sinfulness and inability to perfectly fulfill the demands of God’s law, he will not repent or seek salvation, so “before faith came,” or now that we have it, we are imprisoned until, “faith would be revealed.” We are held captive either to our own ignorance and darkened hearts, or we are imprisoned, by the law itself which shows us our sinfulness.

The law was never intended to replace or be a barrier to faith – the OT Jews could be saved by faith, just as Abraham was. The spiritually minded Jewish person, who sought to love God, and serve Him would have been overwhelmed with a sense of guilt and inadequacy, He wanted to obey, yet knew he could not. Even under that way of living, he could cry out for mercy and have faith in God’s eventual promised Savior.

The problem was that many did not – instead they replaced the intention of the law with manmade traditions, and fooled themselves into thinking they were actually keeping the law. Jesus went after these manmade traditions and the religious leaders hated him for it.

Matthew 5:17-20 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The law is a guardian (that guides you to despair)

 When Paul mentions the law is like a guardian or a guide; it is a reference to a paidagogos. This was a slave employed by Greek or Roman families to supervise young boys for their parents. They taught them, disciplined them, but the role was never permanent. It was a great day for a young man to finally receive his freedom from his paidagogos. Their job was to take care of their charge until adulthood but then the relationship was changed. The sole purpose of the law was to guide people to Jesus.

“Before Christ came, the law of external ritual and ceremony, especially the sacrificial system, pictured the once-for-all, perfect, and effective sacrifice of Christ for the sins of the world. When the perfect Christ comes into the believer’s heart those imperfect pictures of him have no more purpose or significance.”[6]

 The Effects of Faith Upon A Person (vv. 25-26)

Faith Changes Our Relationship With God (v. 25)

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

After salvation the believer enjoys freedom that a relationship with Jesus brings. These false teachers, who insist that you must keep the law, plus following Jesus, remain under the guardian, the guide. But now that faith has come, our relationship with the law changes.

God’s moral standards don’t change, but now that the Holy Spirit lives within the believer, they are them empowered to be obedient to them.[7] The first thing God gives to every believer, when they become a believer in Jesus is Himself – the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Because we are all sons of God, we can approach God, our Abba

Faith Changes Our Relationship With Other Believers (vv. 27-29)

27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

The baptism here is not a water baptism by immersion, but is a picture of immersing yourself into the life of Christ. Like a garment, you wrap yourself, surround yourself with Christ. All believers, without exception, are one with Christ.

In the Roman tradition, “when a youth on attaining manhood, removed the crimson-bordered toga praetexta, the garment of childhood, and put on the toga virilis, the garment of manhood. At that time the young man would take his place among the family councils, taking on the responsibilities of maturity and enjoying the freedom that went with the position of adult sonship.”[8]

Jewish men would wake up every day and say a prayer, thanking God that they had not been born a Greek, nor a slave, nor a woman. Jewish men, according to their beliefs, had certain spiritual privileges/benefits that these three groups did not.[9]

“Paul describes Christ’s death as the means by which the Gentiles (churches in Galatia) received the blessings of Abraham, the promised Spirit was given, and the status of full sonship was procured (child of God). In other words, the time of Christ ushered in something new, which had been promised long ago.”[10] He is not discussing gender roles or a change of how God has ordained the home and church.

Paul has laid out an argument that salvation is by faith alone, and that is true for everyone (Jews, Greeks, slaves, free people, males, and females) Everyone comes to God the same way – salvation is by faith, not following the law. And the benefits are equally the same before God (the presence of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sin, having put on Christ, etc.)

Conclusion

John Bunyan in his book Pilgrim’s Progress, writes:

“As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den, and laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked and saw him open the book, and read therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with lamentable cry, saying “What shall I do?”

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[1] 1 Corinthians 15:45-49; Romans 5:12-21

[2] See also Genesis 17:16 Abraham is not promised may children but one ‘a child.’

[3] In this ancient culture the rights to adopted children were even more secure, “This irrevocable character attached to a will especially where the inheritance of sons was concerned – above all where the inheritance of adopted sons were concerned. . . shows how in the Greek world the rights of an adopted son were even more secure than those of a son by birth.” F. F. Bruce, New International Greek Testament Commentary, Commentary on Galatians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1982) 171.

[4] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Galatians (Chicago, Illinois; Moody Press, 1987) 86.

[5] MacArthur, 87.

[6] MacArthur, 96.

[7] Ephesians 2:10

[8] John Piper & Wayne Grudem, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, A Response to Evangelical Feminism (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Books, 1991) 158.

[9] Piper & Grudem, 158.

[10] Richard Hove, Equality In Christ, Galatians 3:28 and the Gender Dispute (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Books, 1999) 38.

“Who Do You Say I Am” Mark 8:27-9:1

Christ’s Power Over Every Need

The Gospel of Mark Sermon Series

“Who Do You Say That I Am?”

Mark 8:27-9:1

Introduction

The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message” “Alter your course 10 degrees south.”

Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.”

The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south–I am the captain!”

Soon another message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north–I am seaman third class Jones.”

Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: “Alter your course 10 degrees south–I am a battleship.”

Then the reply came “Alter your course 10 degrees north–I am a lighthouse.”

In the midst of our dark and foggy times, all sorts of voices are shouting orders into the night, telling us what to do, how to adjust our lives. Out of the darkness, one voice signals something quite opposite to the rest- -something almost absurd. But the voice happens to be the Light of the World, and we ignore it at our own peril.[1]

God Is Patient With Us As We Take Steps of Faith (vv. 27-30)

And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30 And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

It is in this isolated area, as they are in between crowds, Jesus takes this opportunity to begin teaching the disciples about his journey to the cross, which is about six months away. “It was time that the disciples reveal how much they had been influenced by their environment as well as the direct instruction of Jesus.”[2]

(v. 1) “he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” – and in their response we see a similar list in Mark 6:14-15 “King Herod heard of it, [Jesus going from village to village teaching and healing] for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” The world had their own definition of who Jesus was – today the world defines Jesus as they want Him to be (good man, good teacher).

(v. 29) “But who do you say that I am?” – After all the healings, storms on the sea, casting out demons, feeding of thousands, months and months of hearing Him preach . . . Who is Jesus? Jesus had used the phrases, “he who has an ear let him hear,” and “He who has eyes to see, let him see” . . . They have been with Jesus all this time – Has Jesus been successful in showing them who He is?

It is as though the disciples in that back country are standing at a crossroad. To go down one road leads to a further understanding of God, Jesus, and spiritual growth, but everyone seems to be against them, and there is the pain of bearing a cross.

As they look down the second path the world in support of them, there is applause, there are no problems, no suffering, but Jesus is not there. They have to choose between the world and Jesus – you can’t take both roads at the same time. Jesus patiently waits for the answer.

Peter responds, (v. 29) “You are the Christ”— Jesus does not use the word Messiah “to avoid political complications and a revolutionary movement (see Mark 6:45).”[3] But here, he accepts the title Messiah, and “Peter’s confession revealed real insight into the nature of Christ’s person and mission, but this concept of Jesus’ messiahship was far from being perfect. Peter still had much to learn of Messiah’s suffering, rejection, and death, as the immediately incident reveals.”[4]

(v. 30) “And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.” Jesus does not want them to give a view of Him as the Messiah, because they did not understand and needed further instruction. When they were sent out two-by-two (Mark 6:7-13) they cast out demons, healed the sick and “proclaimed that people should repent.”[5]

Here, they understand that He is the Messiah, as predicted by the Old Testament, but they did not really know what that meant or entailed. Jesus “had not come to establish a political kingdom. His victory would be that of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53.”[6]

Mark shows us in this chapter that everything is a process. Salvation, healing (Mark 8:22-26; the man’s healing took two steps), the growth of the kingdom often takes place in stages.

Following God’s Will Is Not Without Pain (vv. 31-33)

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.[7] 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Jesus again refers to himself as “the Son of Man,” (and in the gospel over 81 times). Son of Man was the preferred title by Jesus because it, unlike the term Messiah, was not full of assumed meanings and would not distract from His God-appointed mission.[8]

But there is an OT background in the person who would come as the Son of Man. Daniel 7:3-14 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

Jesus here makes three predictions, 1. That he must suffer many things, included in that suffering is being rejected by the elders and chief priests, 2. Be killed, 3. After three days be raised from the dead. This secret is now being revealed to the disciples, “And he said this plainly.”

Jesus tells his disciples plainly that to follow Him will be a path of pain and suffering. Jesus has shown himself to be the promised Messiah, and now He is beginning to show them that the Savior must suffer to the point of death – A suffering servant.

For Peter, the Messiah was a symbol of strength, not weakness. In Peter’s mind Jesus represented God, and God could not fail, Jesus would be successful, not lose to the religious leaders. Since Jesus is the Christ, God is with Him! Peter pulls Jesus aside and rebukes him – the same word for silencing a demon earlier.[9]

“Peter’s attempt to dissuade him from going to the cross is the same temptation he had experienced from Satan at the outset of his ministry. Satan offered him the option of using the world’s means of accomplishing his mission. Peter was opposing the divine will.”[10] What Peter doesn’t understand is that if Jesus is to be Christ, then He must endure the cross. That has been the plan from the beginning. Hebrews 9:22 “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

“Peter’s suggestion represented a very real temptation for Jesus – one that must be rejected forcefully. Jesus is demanding that they accept his mission and his demands for discipleship. Even though Peter had Jesus’ best interest at heart, he was being used as an instrument of Satan (not possession).”[11] God’s Word does not change, we must align our thoughts, wishes, feelings, desires to it – not try to move it to our will.

Jesus’ family came earlier to collect Him because they were concerned for him, Mark 3:20-21 “Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” We must be careful, that like Peter and Jesus’ family, we do not let our personal desires for others to cloud the plan that God has for them. We don’t want those we love to suffer or endure heartache, but it may just be the plan God uses to redeem many.

When Peter hears Jesus saying these words, he is horrified, and he allows his own wishes to cloud the truth of Jesus’ words, so Jesus says, “Get behind me, Satan!” – the world does not give the answer to the one big problem we encounter each and every day of our lives – our brokenness because of our sin, and separation from our Creator.

Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

Also, while Jesus explains that the Savior must suffer, but (v. 31) “and after three days rise again,” Jesus is showing the disciples that he knows that there is pain and suffering coming in the days ahead, but also there is life as well.

What Does Jesus’ Suffering Mean For His Followers? (vv. 34-9:1)

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. 9 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Many would rather take the cross out of the picture, remove it from the church steeple. Get rid of the blood and gore, the scourging, spitting, mocking, and clean Jesus up. Make Him safe, just focus on the “love your neighbor,” and “turn the other cheek.” But Jesus says, (v. 34) “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Suffering is not only the destiny of Jesus, but everyone who would be a follower of Christ. Jesus gives two requirements of disciples, (1) denial of self, (2) taking up one’s cross and following Jesus. 1) denying self – “It is the same word used of Peter’s denial of Jesus, and means “let him make himself a stranger” to himself.”[12]

2) “take up his cross” – “When criminals carried their crosses, it showed those who were watching the identity of the one who had authority over the criminal.”[13] By denying oneself, taking up one’s cross and following Jesus, a disciple acknowledges that he is submitting to Jesus’ authority.

In Luke 23:26 Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus’ cross on the Via Dolorosa “And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.”

Our choice, is often like Peter’s; we choose our own self-interest – what works best for me, what I believe to be most beneficial for me. When you become a follower of Jesus you lay that self down and crucify it. You then take up Christ’s will for your life.

You have to lose and deny yourself, “For whoever would save his life will lose it,” and it is in this process of giving your life to Christ, and then having faith in His plan for your life, and seeking to follow His will, that true living is gained.

There is nothing more important than this (daily) decision of being safe and saving yourself from pain, suffering, loss, etc. and the loss of the life that God intends for you to have, “36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” –

Jesus wants everyone to fully understand the cost of being a Christ follower. Luke 14:28 “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” There is pain for the sake of others, we lay our lives down so that others may know who Christ is, and the exchange is our souls, we gain a life of purpose and fulfillment. There is death and sacrifice, but there is also resurrection and eternal life.

Jesus rebukes Peter because there is the temptation to not follow God’s plan. We face the same temptation, and the harder and painful the task, the more we are tempted to avoid it. But to be a follower of Christ, is willingly to face those things head because it is the will of God.

A couple of years ago, it was becoming clear to me that God was calling us from where we were to somewhere else – So we had a family meeting and I began to share this with the family. Their reaction was, “Dad, can’t you just work here, get a job here,” and my response is that “we have to go where God tells us to go.” So, my soon to be senior and incoming freshman high school student, would be moving to a potential new school, my wife would leave a job she loved, and we would go to a church where I would serve as pastor. It would have caused less pain for my family to stay – and I could have got a job in the community – but it would be at the expense of waking away from a calling.

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[1] http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/l/lorship_of_christ.htm

[2] Archibald Thomas Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume 1 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1932) 334.

[3] Robertson, 334.

[4] Frank E. Gaebelein, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1984) 694.

[5] Mark 6:12

[6] Max Anders, Holman New Testament Commentary, Mark (Nashville, Tennessee; Holman Reference, 2000) 135.

[7] Three passion announcements in Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:32-34.

[8] Gaebelein, 695.

[9] Larry W. Hurtado, New Testament Biblical Commentary, Mark (Peabody Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishing, 1989) 137.

[10] Gaebelein, 696.

[11] Anders, 136.

[12] George Arthur Buttrick, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 7 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1953) 770.

[13] Anders, 136.

“The Righteous Shall Live by Faith” Galatians 3:1-14

Grace Abounds

A Sermon Series Through the Book of Galatians

“The Righteous Shall Live by Faith”

Galatians 3:1-14

 Introduction

In Genesis 4:3-7 there is an account of where Cain and Abel brought an offering to the Lord. Cain’s is a works-righteousness offering of grain instead of an animal sacrifice. “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.”

God told them what the acceptable offering so that their sins would be covered, but man has sought, from the beginning, to make himself right with God through his own goodness and merit. Abel’s offering was given in faith (a trusting in God’s prescribed way). Cain rejected the Word of God, and tried to present himself before God the way he thought was good.

Paul had preached to the churches in Galatia the gospel (faith in the work of Christ alone). In that true gospel they had received salvation, the Holy Spirit, and were free from the curse of the law. But somehow, they are being persuaded by false teachers to turn from God’s Word – the gospel given through Paul – to a trying to please God by earning His love by following the law.

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—

(v. 1) “To be foolish is the opposite of wisdom (Romans 1:14), and it highlights a person’s lack of true understanding of a situation or matter.”[1] In the ancient world many believed in the evil eye, and Paul is saying that it seems like someone has put a spell on them – hypnotized them. “The Greek term frequently carried the idea of a wrong attitude of heart, a lack of faith that clouds judgement.”[2] They were not applying what they knew from Paul’s teaching. To be bewitched is put feelings over facts, emotion over clear understanding of truth.

The Galatians had never known the law – they were Gentiles, which shows us how easy it is form humanity, even those who were taught by an apostle to accept the idea of earing God’s favor by works. Even those who have experienced the freedom of God’s grace can be bewitched into sliding toward works based religion. You have the God given resource of Scripture, and when you encounter something (false), you begin to rely upon your whims, impulses, and fallen nature. This the same as Eve’s sin, “it seems good to me.”[3]

Those that profess to follow Jesus are not to live a life on the basis of good-feelings, or our inclinations, but on the revealed truth of God’s Word. If we don’t then we will be . . . 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.”

Paul in his proclamation of the gospel had explained “Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified . . .” The crucifixion of Christ was central to the gospel that Paul preached. 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.” When Paul would preach the gospel, it was focused on the cross – the focus (first) is on what has been done for us. The essence of the gospel is not how to live, but what God has done for us – the action He has taken.

“A Christian is not someone who knows about Jesus, but one who has “seen” Him on the cross.”[4] Paul uses the words, “publicly portrayed “ but it is when we perceive how graphic the cross was and that one such as Jesus would endure that for them. Paul’s teaching gave them a clear and graphic depiction of what Jesus endured on the cross.

“crucified translated[5] indicates that the crucifixion was a historical fact that had continuing results.” 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.” We don’t need to pick up (ceremonies, the law, dietary law, circumcision, etc.) where Jesus’ forgiveness ends, because Jesus’ forgiveness never ends.

You Cannot Add to the Completed Work of Jesus’ Death on the Cross

The Spirit of God is mentioned several times, and Paul is not questioning whether they had or had not received the Spirit of God; he knew they had “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:52. Paul personally saw how God had moved in their lives, and how joyous they were in their salvation. What he is questioning is “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?”

The Spirit of God is the presence of God with a person. How is it that you came to have God’s presence with you? You had been separated from God because of your sin, now He dwells within you. How did this come to be? The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is inseparable from the new birth.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is the final proof (a guarantee) that salvation is by faith, and not by following the law. The Spirit also advances in the life of a Christian (sanctification), He is how we grow in our faith, push sin out of our lives, and grow in our knowledge of Him; “He says that the same Spirit entered your life should be the very same way the Spirit advances in your life.”[6]

There Is No Such Thing As Extra Holy Spirit

“If a person has received eternal salvation through trust in the crucified Christ, received the fulness of the Holy Spirit the same moment he believed, and has the Father’s Spirit-endowed power working within him, how could he hope to enhance that out of his own insignificant human resources by some meritorious effort?”[7]

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.

(v. 6) Paul begins to show from Genesis 15:6 that Abraham, the father is the Hebrew people, that he was made righteous before God by his faith. God made a promise to Abraham, and Abraham believed God. Paul is saying before Abraham did any work of obedience (like offering his son Isaac on the alter), or obeyed any of the laws of God – which came much later, he was already justified because he trusted God.

“The history of salvation for Paul begins with Abraham, to whom the gospel was preached in advance (v. 8), and reaches its climax in Christ. The promise made to Abraham finds its fulfillment in Christ, to whom indeed it primarily referred. But between the promise and the fulfilment there intervened the age of law . . .”[8]

Paul is addressing the question of “what is the gospel, and what is not the gospel?” Abraham is an example of a man who believed God’s promise and was saved. The promise to the Gentiles is the same promise, we are saved by faith – believing God’s promise of salvation through Jesus. It is our faith that makes us a child of Abraham, not a blood line.

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.”

The word of God was given to the Jewish people, but they were to be a blessing to the world by sharing His Word with the world – so the word of God is for all people. (v. 10) 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.

All of mankind stand cursed before God because no one can keep the law. So, (v. 13) “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” To redeem something is to buy it back. Jesus bought us back from the curse, by becoming a curse for us. “He took the full measure, penalty, and consequences of disobedience to the law of God on Himself. He who was free from all sins lived a life of perfect righteousness. Jesus had imputed to Him the sin of His people and came under the curse of God.”[10]

In ancient Judaism a criminal who was executed, usually by stoning, was then tied to a post, a type of tree, where his body would hang until sunset as a visible representation of rejection by God. “It was not that a person became cursed by being hanged on a tree but that he was hanged on tree because he was cursed.”[11]

We get a picture of what the curse looked like while Jesus was on the cross, 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?” Jesus had the filth, vile, and disease of sin – the world’s sin on him (he became sin) and in that He became God forsaken. The Father’s hatred of sin, the wrath of God poured out upon Jesus. The one who kept the word of God, and was worthy of blessings, became the curse for those who had broken God’s law and deserved to be cursed.

“. . . they unwittingly placed themselves under God’s wrath rather than his blessing, because they could not live up to the law and they would not submit to His grace.”[12] When a person responds to Christ’s work on the cross by faith, it is a response to God’s grace and it leads to justification and eternal life.

 Perfection Allows No Exceptions

(v. 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.” In Genesis 15:5 God told Abraham, “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.” Abraham’s children who will be countless, are those that like him, believe (have faith) the Lord and because of that belief with be credited with the righteousness of Christ. When the person is saved, they receive “the promised Spirit.” God comes and lives within in you.

Conclusion

Imagine a friend gave you a luxury villa in Spain. You can go there and live there as often as you wish. Your transportation there is just a phone call away, “please gas us the jet we are going to the villa.” Clothes are provided already packed on the plane. When you arrive all expenses are paid. Your friend has spared no expense and you have absolutely no needs – everything has already been thought of (towels for the beach, an envelope full if tip money) You have gone and come back with your family for years.

Then one day you say to yourself “I think I should pay my way.” So you reach into your wallet and pull out your monopoly money and you start flashing it around as if it could buy anything. You look ridiculous – everyone who sees it is embarrassed for you. You sit outside at the airport waiting for the car to arrive that you said you would pay for this time and it never arrives – they don’t take monopoly money. Isn’t it ridiculous to try and substitute our worthless attempts to earn our way into heaven, and pleasing God – at the expense of leaving Jesus behind, to ignore His gift of grace?

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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] MacArthur, 78.

[12] MacArthur, 77.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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