Sunday, October 17, 2021 PM

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Sunnyside Baptist Church Study in Galatians Josiah DeForest

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Alright, well, as you make your way back to your seats, go ahead and prepare in your
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Bibles to get over to Galatians and our church, our intern,
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Brother Joe is going to come preach for us and I'm looking forward to it a great deal. So, Brother, come give us the word. Faithfulness of God and how
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He's there through every situation is certainly a glorious and wondrous thing to think on that.
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So we'll be in Galatians chapter 3 this evening, Galatians chapter 3. In my time up here in the pulpit on Sunday nights, we've been walking through the epistle to the
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Galatians and thus far the Apostle Paul has been contending for the gospel in his epistle.
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The churches at Galatia have been slowly buying into a false gospel, false doctrine brought to them by Judaizers, false teachers who promoted the idea that one is justified by faith in Christ and by the works of the law.
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According to them, one had to confess Jesus as the Christ, but also needed to follow the law and be circumcised.
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Without the law, one was not right with God, spoke the Judaizers. And Paul knows what is at stake for the
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Galatians. It's getting the gospel right and understanding what it means to be right with God, to be justified by faith alone in Christ alone.
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This has been his objective in the letter, to help the Galatians. And so far the
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Apostle has identified the problem in the beginning of his letter, stating that he marvels that the churches are turning away so soon from him who called you in the face of Christ, turning away from the gospel, therefore turning away from God himself.
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There are those who are troubling the believers who would bring a different gospel, which is no other, a perversion of the true gospel.
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And Paul continues on to defend his gospel and to show it's not according to or dependent on man, but it's one that comes straight from God himself.
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It is confirmed by everyday believers as well as the other apostles of Jesus Christ. And it's a message that calls sinners to faith in Jesus Christ.
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It's been said that Paul's thesis statement of his letter to the Galatians is found in chapter two, verse 16.
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A man is not justified by the works of law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. And yes, indeed, here is
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Paul's point that he strives to make clear so that the churches at Galatia will understand, will believe and hold fast to this spiritual truth, this spiritual reality and not believe the lie brought to them.
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In chapter three, Paul, having thus been playing defense for the gospel, now begins to go on the offensive, taking faith and the law, separating them and showing how
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God has designed each of them and utilizes them in the salvation process. Last time we looked at the first nine verses of chapter three, where Paul examines faith, where Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions about the
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Christian life. He examines the Christian walk to see, does it begin? Does it continue?
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Does God live in his people and work through them? Does the Christian life happen because believers keep the law, because they work hard enough and do enough and live holy lives by their own strength?
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Or is the Christian life centered in faith in Christ? Paul also utilizes the scriptures, the
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Old Testament, to support that faith justifies sinners. His main example is
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Abraham, one who believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Abraham, the patriarch of the
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Israel people. And now in chapter three, verses 10 through 25,
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Paul takes up the law and expertly teaches on it and will show that it does not save, but leads to the one who does, to Christ.
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So let's read now verses 10 through 25. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
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But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident. For the just shall live by faith, yet the law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them.
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Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the
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Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
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Brethren, I speak in the manner of men, though it is only a man's covenant. Yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
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Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He does not say, and to seeds, as of many, but as of one, and to your seed, who is
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Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was 430 years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
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For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
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Verse 19. What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come, to whom the promise was made, and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
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Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God as one. Is the law then against the promises of God?
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Certainly not. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
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But the scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
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But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
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Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
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But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. And this is the word of God.
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Would you pray with me? Heavenly Father, we thank you for tonight.
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We thank you for your loving mercy and your grace, which you shed upon us every day. We thank you,
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Lord, that you deliver us out of all of our adversity and all the trouble we face in this life.
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We thank you for being with us. We thank you for your constant forgiveness in Christ.
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We thank you for granting us the gift of faith and for opening our eyes to see Christ, to see what he's done, to believe him and to trust his work, and to praise you in the good times and in the bad,
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Lord. We thank you for the gift of praise. We ask as we think on your word,
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Lord, that we would remember Christ and rest in your word, rest in what you have said, and believe what you have said, believe your message, and not another message that is brought to us by the world or by our own understanding, but what you have spoken.
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And it's in Christ's name we pray, amen. In verses 10 through 18,
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Paul shows that the law does not save. In verse 9, Paul sums up that those who are of faith are blessed with believing
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Abraham. Those in the camp of faith are blessed. They are saved. They are justified before God in Christ.
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And Paul then moves into law. The apostle will show what it does and what it does not do.
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He writes, for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse. Those in the camp of law, those who would be justified by their own works following the law, are not saved, are not blessed, but rather they are under the curse.
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Paul quotes the Old Testament once more to show this truth. He quotes from Deuteronomy 27, and this passage teaches that anyone who does not perfectly keep the entirety of the law in all areas of life, they are cursed.
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For it says, cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
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Lawbreakers are deserving of this curse, of right punishment, condemnation by a holy
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God. And Paul continues in using the Old Testament to show that no one is justified by the works of the law.
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For that is clear, the just shall live by faith. According to the Old Testament, those who are justified, who are declared just before God, they don't live or cling to the works of the law, but live by faith.
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They are justified by faith. And then Paul states, the law is not of faith.
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And again, quote scripture, the man who does them, that is the works of the law, shall live by them.
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Living by the works of the law does not justify one before God. For no sinner can ever hope to follow the law completely, to live by it.
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And we know in James it says, for whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
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And in separating law and faith, Paul shows that the law is not involved in being justified by faith.
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It's not the just shall live by faith and also by the works of the law. And that's the false statement that the
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Judaizers preached to the Galatians. You are justified by faith and by works.
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Yet we know that no one under the law is justified by the law. For no sinner can, has the ability to keep it by their own strength.
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But everyone under the law, every sinner is under the curse. In Romans it says, now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God.
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Therefore by the deeds of the law, no flesh will be justified in sight. For by the law is the knowledge of sin.
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Yet in the deep riches of God's mercy, the curse is taken away from his people.
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Verse 13, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.
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For it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the
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Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith.
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It's not through the law that the curse is removed, and it's not in following the law, in keeping the works of the law, that the curse is taken away.
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But someone else takes the curse for us, becomes the curse for us. Isaiah tells us, but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.
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The chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. And the
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Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. We're justified by having faith in the one who has become a curse for us, who has bought us with his blood, who has redeemed us.
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Christ was in fact hung on a tree, led outside to be crucified by Gentiles, fulfilling all the prophecies that came beforehand, receiving the full condemnation that his chosen rightfully deserve.
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Paul writes that through Christ, the blessing of Abraham, salvation comes to the Gentile and to the
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Jew. The spirit is given to those who believe, those who have faith in this crucified
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Christ are justified and are saved. Again, Romans tells us, but now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe, for there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
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Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom
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God set forth as a propitiation by his blood through faith to demonstrate his righteousness because in his forbearance,
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God had passed over the sins that were previously committed to demonstrate at that present time, his righteousness, that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
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Now, Paul continues his teaching on the law and in verse 13 or verse 15,
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I'm sorry, he begins with an illustration, brethren, I speak in the manner of men, though it is only a man's covenant.
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Yet, if it is confirmed, no one or nulls or adds to it. So the apostle makes the point that human covenants, when they are established, no one changes, no one adds to them or takes away from them.
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And the promises to bless the nation, promises of salvation, which are given to Abraham and his seed, which
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Paul identifies as a single person as Christ, rather than a group of individuals.
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This is the covenant that was given to Abraham and the law, which which came hundreds of years after this historical event.
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It does not annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
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The law does not change the covenant. It does not change God's promise to bring salvation to the nations through Abraham and ultimately in and through Jesus Christ, who fulfills and completes this covenant.
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And Paul further explains in verse 18, for if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
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I appreciate the words of one commentator speaking on this verse. He says, Paul's point is that an inheritance based on law depends on man's performance, whereas the one granted to Abraham by means of a promise depends on God's power.
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The principles behind the two types of inheritance are incompatible. One is by God's law and man's works, and the other is by God's grace and man's faith.
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Not only that, but the abilities to fulfill the covenants are of an infinitely different order.
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Man cannot succeed in perfectly keeping the law, and God cannot fail in perfectly keeping the promise.
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So in verses 10 through 18, we see that Paul examines the law. He explains that those under it are not blessed, but are cursed, not saved, but under condemnation.
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No sinner can ever hope to keep the law in its entirety, in all areas of life. They cannot continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to live by them.
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The law does not change the covenant made with Abraham, the covenant that promises God's salvation to come to the nations.
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It does not provide another way to be made right with God. The law does not save.
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Rather, it is Christ who saves, who has done the work. With Christ's sacrifice, it is finished, and He has taken upon Himself our sins and our condemnation.
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With Christ's sacrifice, it is finished. It's by faith in Him that we receive the blessing of Abraham, salvation, and we receive the
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Spirit to live in our inner hearts so that we're no longer on our own, but God is with us wherever we go.
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The law does not save. The law, rather, leads to Christ. And we see that's what
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Paul says in verses 19 through 25. Paul goes further in his teaching on the law and speaks on the purpose of the law.
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He knows that that's a question that's going to be asked by others. If the law does not save, if it does not add or take away from the promise made to Abraham, what's the purpose of the law?
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And Paul answers and teaches that the law leads people to Christ. The apostle writes it was added because of transgressions, because of sin it was given.
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The law reveals the sinfulness of the human heart to show fallen humanity how we have not lived holy lives, but rather lawless lives, to make clear the wrongs we have done.
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As we read earlier, by the law is the knowledge of sin. I very much appreciate the illustration used by William Hendrickson.
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The law acts as a magnifying glass. That device does not actually increase the number of dirty spots that defile a garment, but makes them stand out more clearly and reveals many more of them than one is able to see with the naked eye.
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We see that the law makes clear that sinners are sinners. And the law was given till the seed should come.
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The law is not of the promise, as Paul has stated earlier, it is a separate item that leads to the seed, the
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Christ in whom we are saved. The law was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator,
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Paul writes. And we know that from the rest of scripture, indeed, it informs us that God utilized angels in some way in the giving of the law.
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We're not sure of the specific purpose, but we know that angels were involved and it was given through the hand of a mediator, through Moses.
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It was this prophet that received the law and took it to the people of God. But Paul then makes the contrast in his letter, now the mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.
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So what does this mean? God is one, a mediator does not mediate for one only.
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Paul's teaching that the law came through a mediator to the people. It was from God, it is his law created by him, perfect in all its ways, a gift.
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But it was given through a third party, the servant Moses, whereas the promise was made to Abraham by God himself.
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Instead of having a messenger give the good news of salvation, God spoke it directly to Abraham.
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This shows us that the promise of salvation is the main item of God's redemptive plan.
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It's weightier than the law itself, which came hundreds of years after the promise. The promise to Abraham that salvation comes to the
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Jew and to the Gentile in Christ alone by faith alone. This is central to the redemptive plan for it's given by God himself directly.
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And Paul continues his teaching with another question, is the law then against the promises of God?
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If the law is a separate item in the redemptive plan, if it's a separate item, does it contradict the promise?
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Does the law work against the promise given by God? And Paul responds with, certainly not.
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God forbid, may it never be. For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
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And Paul continues, but the scripture has confined all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
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Scripture in which the law is contained and is a part of has locked up the entire world, all sinners, to the truth and to the reality that they cannot save themselves.
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It makes clear sinners are sinners and they are hopeless under sin and under the law, under the curse, having no ability to keep the law so that the way of salvation might be clear as well.
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Scripture speaks truth to sinners. It honestly tells of the problem before it tells of the solution.
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The need for Christ is shown by the law. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
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Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
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The law serves, as Paul illustrates, as a tutor, which during that time was a particular type of slave used in a family, a slave who would take the young boys of the family and instruct them, discipline them, watch over them until they were mature, until they had grown to that point where they were no longer under a tutor.
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So does the law teach sinners, leads us, guides us to the Christ. The law shows us our sins and shows us our need for the one who has taken upon himself the sin of his people.
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We need Christ who has kept the law, who is our only hope and Savior. So by examining chapter three, we see that Paul writes, the law does not save, it leads to Christ.
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So then is the purpose of the law. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul writes, it leads us to Christ.
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It is not against the promise of salvation, which was given by God himself directly, but serves as a tutor, instructing us that we are sinners under the curse of the law, confining us to the truth of the matter rather than having us go astray, believing lies of false security.
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For there is no other way of salvation, no other gospel by which sinners can be saved, but it's only through faith in Christ alone that we are saved, the one who gave himself for us to deliver us from this present evil age, to redeem us from the curse and grant us his righteousness.
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The trouble at the Galatian churches was that believers were starting to turn away from the true gospel.
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They were believing a lie set before them by false teachers. They were believing a gospel that said you're justified by faith and by works, thereby diluting the true gospel and promoting to them a lie.
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And this is Paul's concern that they would believe a lie and turn away from God, turn away from his true message.
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And so Paul contends for the gospel and he shows that it is a gospel by faith in Jesus Christ.
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The law has a different purpose. It does not save us, but it leads us to Christ. And we must keep this matter in mind.
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We must understand the difference between faith and law. We must understand what God designed the law to do.
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We must understand its purpose. Otherwise, if we take these concepts, if we take these items in the salvation process and begin to change them and mix them, or if we believe someone else who comes to us and has mixed them, then we believe a different gospel, one that does not save but is a lie.
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We must remember by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that this is how
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God brings us the salvation of the gospel. He brings us the law and shows us our need for a savior.
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He shows us that we are weak, that we are poor, that we are blind, that we are in need of being rescued, that we cannot save ourselves.
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It leads us to Christ. It leads us to the one who has opened our eyes, who has saved us, who has rescued us from this present evil age.
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And we must let the law lead us to Christ ourselves. And to those who we would talk to, those who we would evangelize, we must remember to introduce them to the law, to show them their need for Christ, to let the law do its job as it was intended to do.
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And this is what we draw from Galatians 3. Would you pray with me? Father, we thank you for this time tonight.
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We thank you for your word. We thank you for the truth of the gospel, Lord, in which we see the glory of Christ.
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We thank you, Lord, that you have been kind to us and that you have shed your grace upon us in your mercy. We thank you,
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Lord, that you have been kind to us. And we thank you once more for Jesus Christ.