Can't Get Past the Evidence

Introduction

President Ronald Reagan was a deeply faithful and very funny man. He once shared that he was unable to understand atheists in this world of so much beauty. He said he had an unholy desire to invite some atheists to a dinner and then serve them the most fabulous gourmet dinner that had ever been concocted. Then after dinner, ask them if there was a cook.

In this beautiful place in which we live, we can’t get past the evidence that does God exist. However, not only does He exists, but He has a plan for every person that has breath. The Jews were stuck in a rut of rituals and religion. They believed that the law was the way to their salvation. However, Paul, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, reminded them of the evidence that showed believing in faith was the only way to a relationship with God. He reminded them of Abraham and the promise he recieved, the progression of that promise, the peace that came with that promise and how we can profit from that promise.

Galatians 3:6–9 NIV84

6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Promise (vs. 6)

This passage parallels Genesis 15:1-6

Genesis 15:1–6 NIV84

1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” 2 But Abram said, “O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” 4 Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

The Consideration of the Past

Paul took the story of Father Abraham and linked it to his past. There is much to learn from the faith of our spiritual fathers and mothers. We should become students of people from the Old Testament as well as those spiritual leaders that helped bring us to faith in Jesus. Deuteronomy 32:7

Deuteronomy 32:7 NIV84

7 Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.

Paul is also making a connection with the Galatians. He is finding common ground with these folks and in doing so he gets an ear to what he has to say. In considering the past, he is showing the concept of believing.

The Concept of Believing

Abraham had believed and trusted God’s word. In turn, God accepted that faith and trust from Abraham which put him in right standing with God. Abraham accepted the word of God as indeed God’s word and not something made up or man-made. This is just another reminder to me that we can trust the word of God and it is reliable.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV84

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

The Bible says that because “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

The Credit of Righteousness

Righteousness is that doctrine concerning the way which mankind can attain a state approved by God. The problem is that sin blocks our righteousness and we had to have some kind of atonement. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave, He became our atonement and by believing in Him and trusting Him with our hearts, we are made righteous. The credit of righteousness is the beautiful reminder that when a sinner trusts Christ, righteousness is put in his or her account and sins longer are put in that account. Furthermore, the record of sins is always clean before God. God’s intentions have always been to justify all who would have faith. The history of Israel is the history of God seeking to fulfill this intention. Paul hammers this point further in several places. For further study I would recommend reading Romans 4. For our study right now, I would like to call to your attention Romans 4:20-21 in speaking about Abraham.

Romans 4:20–21 NIV84

20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

We see the progression of Abraham’s faith in his understanding, what it means for believers, and those who are called his spiritual children.

The Progression (vs. 7)

Part of the Christian life is simply coming to know that God has done and how He continually blesses those whom He calls His.

The Progression of Understanding

Paul implores us in Galatians 3:7, because of Abraham’s example of faith, to understand. The Greek word here means to come to know or to learn to know. There is so much we can come to know about our Lord! Abraham came to know more and more about his Lord and that He is true to His promises. Can you imagine what Abraham thought of God’s promise to him?

Genesis 15:5 NIV84

5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Abraham lived in the age of promise. He heard the promise of God and believed.

The Progression of Believing

Abraham was called by God to leave his homeland in Mesopotamia and journey by divine direction to another land where he and his descendants would receive unsurpassed blessings. In obedience and belief he travelled to Canaan, where he led a nomadic existence for the rest of his life. Shortly after his arrival there, when he was still childless, God promised him that his offspring would out number the stars in the night sky. Nothing could seem more impossible, yet Abraham believed.

Now we have the same opportunity to believe as Abraham believed. God does not change. His promises then are just as true as His promises now.

Abraham anticipated the Gospel. Genesis 12:3

Genesis 12:3 NIV84

3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

The Gospel was preached to Abraham in advance and reaches its climax in Christ. The promise made to Abraham reaches its fulfillment in Christ. Look at what Jesus said:

John 8:56 NIV84

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

Let’s look at the progression of being children.

The Progression of Being Children

As Christians, our spiritual ancestry can be traced to Abraham and his faith. The Jews traced their physical descent to Abraham. In fact we see evidence of this in John 8:33

John 8:33 NIV84

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

However, Paul is stressing here that we are spiritual descendants. Scripture recorded the promise of God, which conveyed to Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed in his offspring. Abraham had a faith that was fastened upon the word and promise of God. Paul did the same. You and I can also do the same! We as people of faith not only share in the promise of being sons and daughters of Abraham, but we also share the promise of being blessed just as Abraham was promised. That gives me peace on multiple levels!

The Peace (vs. 8-9)

Galatians 3:8–9 NIV84

8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The Peace of Scripture

The first level of peace I see is the peace of Scripture. There is something incredibly soothing about the Word of God. We can trust it. We can count on it to be reliable. We can read it and receive peace from its words of comfort. When we see the words “scripture foresaw,” we can understand that the Word of God proclaimed exactly what God would do and further prove its reliability and trustworthiness. That gives me great peace! No wonder the early church leaders could declare in Acts 12:24

Acts 12:24 NIV84

24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread.

Our Scripture gives us great peace. We also receive the peace of justification.

The Peace of Justification

Justification is the theological term that describes us being free and being made righteous before God. When we are justified by faith, we made right with God through Christ and given the Holy Spirit to guide us as we go forward. John Stott wrote, “Everybody who receives the Spirit is justified and everyone who is justified receives the Spirit.” I am also reminded that through justification, I do not have to worry if I am getting the law right to insure my righteousness. Romans 5:1

Romans 5:1 NIV84

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

This gives us the peace of the Gospel!

The Peace of the Gospel

In Galatians 3:8, the phrase “announced the Gospel” means to promise the glad tidings beforehand. Do you remember when in the Christmas Story when the angels spoke to the shepherds? Luke 2:10

Luke 2:10 NIV84

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

This parallels what was said to Abraham hundreds of years earlier. From the line of Abraham, Jesus comes into this world in the promise that “all nations will be blessed through you.” Do you have the peace of the Gospel yet? All nations includes you and me! As a result, we have the peace of living in faith!

The Peace of Living in Faith

Isn’t our God good? He gives us all this to provide for us a life of peace while living a life of faith! The Gospel is Christ crucified, His finished work on the cross. Whenever the Christ is preached on the cross, the Gospel is preached. That can come through a sermon or even better, it can come through a life. This leads us to the profit we gain.

The Profit

Galatians 3:9 NIV84

9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

A Life of Blessing

Do you want a lift of blessing? The word for faith in this last verse is pistis. It means the conviction of the truth of anything. The tense in which we have it in this verse is active. In other words, those that have this faith have an ongoing faith that does not end. It is a lifetime of faith which means a lifetime of blessing. Psalm 116:2

Psalm 116:2 NIV84

2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

A life of blessing leads to a life of purpose.

A Life of Purpose

Do you get up each day with a purpose? I sure hope so! When you understand this passage, you have more reason than ever. Do you have a purpose statement?

Paul had one: Colossians 2:2-3

Colossians 2:2–3 NIV84

2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

A life of blessing and a life of purpose will give us a life of giving.

A Life of Giving

The Gospel cannot be something that we keep to ourselves. The overflow of the Gospel we have received should cause us to serve others and continuously share the Gospel.

Philippians 2:3 NIV84

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

1 Peter 4:10 NIV84

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

How are you doing with that? If you can’t get past the evidence, then the truth of the Gospel should be living in you and through you so that others will come to know the truth of the Gospel as well!