Bible Study - Freedom - Personal Checklist - Galatians 3 - July 10, 2011

Bible Study – Freedom – Personal Checklist – July 10, 2011
This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Freedom: Making it Personal.”
Our scripture is Galatians 3:1-3, 10-14, 19-26.

Grace versus legalism are issues the church has debated over the years. Grace does not give a Christian the right to do whatever he/she chooses to do that is contrary to GOD, it guarantees his/her citizenship in heaven and the opportunity to approach GOD and call HIM FATHER. GOD in HIS wisdom knew that Christians will not live the perfect life until they see JESUS or HE returns. Therefore, HE gives them grace. Grace is unmerited favor. Grave cannot be earned. It is a free gift which comes with salvation.

So why did GOD give us the Ten Commandments when HE knew that people cannot keep them to the letter or Spirit of the Law? In JESUS’ day, some religious people prided themselves in keeping the law and commandments. JESUS took their pride of keeping the law and commandants to a higher level when HE said if a person so much as looked upon a woman with lust in his heart, he had committed adultery or hate was equivalent to murder. What a person harbors in his/her heart is of equivalent value to GOD as what he/she does outwardly. When the heart is in right standing with GOD, his/her actions will honor GOD.

Let’s consider faith/grace versus legalism/law. Living by faith equals Spiritual freedom whereas living by the law equals bondage. I think of the law as a big bolder resting on a person’s head forcing him/her to obey it and all the rules that go along with it. There is no freedom. The law is static and rigid. A person can never be justified by strictly obeying the law. The law is rigid and does not forgive. It is static and has no provision to forgive even when just a small part of it is broken. A person can say to the law, “But please forgive me, I will never break it again.” The law says, “No, you have broken me therefore you are guilty.”

The law becomes the master of those who follow the law. CHRIST said in Matthew 5:17 - 17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Who is your master - the law or CHRIST?

The law is static and rigid whereas faith in CHRIST is dynamic. A person cannot build a relationship with the law but he/she can build a relationship with GOD through CHRIST. GOD gives grace to all who accept CHRIST as their SAVIOR. Grace does not abandon the law but it reveals a Christians walk and thought life. The law highlights areas where Christians need to confess and areas that need attention to help with gown and mature Spiritually. The HOLY SPIRIT within will help those who yield their will to GOD and seek to grow and mature Spiritually through their relationship with CHRIST. The law cannot forgive whereas the shed blood of CHRIST forgives, cleanses, set those who have faith in HIM free from the bondage of sin, justifies them before GOD and makes them righteous. This is something that is impossible for the law to do.

The Apostle Paul was writing to the Galatians. He does not mince words. He began his letter by addressing the problems in their church in Galatians 1:6-7: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the ONE WHO called you by the grace of CHRIST and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of CHRIST.

What was going on in Galatia? The Judaizers had moved into Galatia. They were telling the Gentiles that in order for them to become fully saved, they had to also be circumcised and obey the Jewish laws and commandments.

This issue had come up during Paul’s early ministry to the Gentiles and a council convened in Jerusalem to discuss the conversion of non-Jews to Christianity. The Council endorsed Paul’s gospel of grace. We must keep in mind that Paul was trained as a Pharisee under the tutor-ledge of famous Jewish teacher Gamaliel. Paul was very upset with the Christians in Galatia. Let’s explore.

Let’s read Galatians 3:1-3:
Justification through Faith
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has hypnotized you,[1] before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed[2] as crucified? 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?[3] 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?[4]

Paul’s frustration was very evident in our scripture when he addressed the Galatians Christians as “foolish.” He wanted to shock them into realizing that they had been duped and deceived. They knew the truth of salvation by faith in CHRIST but now they embraced a false gospel. Paul asked them questions in an effort to get them to realize what they had done. Did they receive salvation by obeying the law or by faith in CHRIST? Did they think after they received CHRIST by faith that the law would perfect them? NO!!! It was impossible for the law to do anything to help you obediently live each day. The law has no power; it is the HOLY SPIRIT within that gives a Christian the power to live obediently. A Christian is grafted into the vine of CHRIST and HIS nourishment and vitality flows from HIM to Christians who are the branches. It is the HOLY SPIRIT living in you that leads and guides you each moment of your daily life. How stupid can you be!!! Ignorance is one thing but stupidity is another. You have been blinded, led astray and don’t even realize it but you have taught and know the true gospel.

Let’s read Galatians 3:4-9: (Background for continuity and leads into verse 10.)
4 Did you suffer so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God[5] supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?[6]6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,[7] 7 so understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed in you.[8] 9 So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.[9]

Let’s read Galatians 3: 10-14:
Law and Promise
10 For all who [rely on]* the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law.[10] 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.[11] 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.[12] 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.[13] 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Paul used Old Testament scripture to make his point that a person cannot obey the law well enough for him/her to be acceptable to GOD. GOD demands perfection and one blemish cannot be repaired by continuing to observe the law once broken.

The operative words are “does not continue doing everything.” The law has no power. The only power of the law is in the hands of those who enforce the law, religious leaders on earth, a person’s conscience and GOD. The law itself is designed to give those under the law guidelines to know when they are not measuring up to GOD’S standard. However, once any portion of that standard is broken then the law does not provide forgiveness. Living by the law does not require faith, it requires the human will. The human will is faulty and weak. GOD knew that and provided eternal salvation through faith in CHRIST for all who believe in HIM through forgiveness and grace. GOD imputed righteousness to Abraham because of his faith and not by observing the law, ceremonies or rituals.

The Jewish Talmud speaks of four (4) modes of capital punishment – Stoning, burning, beheading and strangling. Once the convicted criminal had been executed, the corpse would be placed on a piece of timber (tree) to show that justice had been carried out. The Jewish court accused JESUS of blasphemy, which was punishable by death. The Roman method of capital punishment was crucifixion on a cross (tree/timber). CHRIST was crucified on a piece of timber, the cross. According to Jewish law CHRIST was cursed. Yet, CHRIST was sinless and innocent. HE became cursed for the sins of mankind. HE gave HIS life for all who would believe in HIM by faith. Paul makes this clear in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us (Christians), so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Let’s read Galatians 3:15-18:
15 Brothers, I’m using a human illustration.[14] No one sets aside even a human covenant that has been ratified, or makes additions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but and to your seed,[15] referring to one, who is Christ. 17 And I say this: the law, which came 430 years later, does not revoke a covenant that was previously ratified by God,[16] so as to cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

In verse 16, Paul used the “his seed”, which is singular. The “Seed” To which Paul was referring was CHRIST. CHRIST’S earthly heritage is from Abraham.

The promise was given directly to Abraham by GOD not through a mediator. The promise of salvation through faith in CHRIST was for Jews, Gentiles and all people who come to HIM. The law convicts of sin but also imprisons all who live under the law. It holds them hostage with no provision to escape. If the law could bring salvation there would be no need for CHRIST. Faith in CHRIST brings forgiveness for all sins past, present, future, eternal life, and rebirth into GOD’S family, citizenship in heaven and grace. This was sealed by the promise GOD made to Abraham. In essence, all Christians are descendants of Abraham.

Let’s read Galatians 3:19-26:
The Purpose of the Law19 Why the law then? It was added because of transgressions (sins) until the Seed (JESUS) to whom the promise was made would come. [The law]* was ordered (by GOD) through angels by means of a mediator (Moses). 20 Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one (GOD is ONE and ordered that the law be given to apply to all people. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD, therefore all of mankind needs a SAVIOR. The law has NO power to save only to show that a person needs salvation.) . 21 (Since GOD ordered the law,) Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life (redeem from the consequences of sin and eternal death, make a person righteous and have the power to provide the miracle of rebirth), then righteousness would certainly be by the law. 22 But the Scripture (The law) has imprisoned everything under sin’s power,[17] so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith (in CHRIST) was revealed (After HIS life, death, resurrection and ascension which confirmed that HE was the promised Messiah.). 24 The law, then, was our guardian[18] until Christ, so that we could be justified (just-as-if-I-never-sinned) by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,[19] 26 for you are all sons of God through faith (The miracle of rebirth) in Christ Jesus. (Spiritual Son-ship/Daughter-ship can only come through the miracle of rebirth as the result of faith in CHRIST and never by trying to obey the law.)

Paul posed the question, “If GOD’S intent was for salvation to come only through faith in CHRIST (The Seed) why did GOD add the law? The law was a place holder for those who looked forward, by faith, to the coming on the Promised Messiah and the cross. Since, JESUS gave HIS life upon the cross Christians have looked back, by faith, to the cross. The law was added to reveal to all people GOD’S ideal for them - Those who were looking forward to the cross, as well as, those looking back to the cross. Faith is the requirement – faith to the coming of the Messiah and faith that the Messiah has come and fulfilled HIS mission of conquering sin and death through HIS shed blood. The proof is HIS resurrection – Mission accomplished!!!

The law was HIS way of revealing to humans how much all humans fall short of meeting HIS ideal of perfection. In JESUS day, some people implied that they kept the law but JESUS revealed a deeper knowledge of GOD’S measure of keeping the law. There is the letter of the law and the Spirit of the law. As stated earlier, JESUS said if a man lusts after a woman it is the same as adultery or if you hate a person, it is the same a murder.

The more a person tries to live by the law the more he/she sees how far short he/she misses the mark. As Christians get to know GOD more through CHRIST, the more they see how much they miss the mark and how much they need CHRIST and grace.

CHRIST frees Christians from the bondage of the law. CHRIST did not come to do away with the law but to fulfill the law. HE lived the perfect sinless life which made HIM the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind. All Christians were bought with a price and made free from sin and death through HIS shed blood.

How do we know that CHRIST paid the price for our sins in full? GOD raised HIM from the dead. HE conquered death which is the consequences of sin. HE lives and so do all who believe in HIM. Rejoice in your salvation and freedom in CHRIST. You are free to obediently serve a risen SAVIOR and a caring, awesome, loving GOD. To all who believe GOD gives grace to live each day so they will know that HE loves them and desires for them to run the race of life and cross the finish line to have HIM waiting to say “Well Done Good and Faithful Servant. Enter into heaven for eternity.”

Hebrews 11:1 – 40: (Makes for interesting reading regarding those who practiced faith, including Abraham.)