Faith or Faithfulness?

Intro

Galatians 3:1-9

My family during Christmas is crazy. We would go to like seven different houses over the course of two days. Crazy exhausting. Then, I got married, and found Bethany’s family traditions way less. Their Christmas tradition was eat, open presents, and go see a movie. I loved it! I entered into a new family, and everything changed.

Entrance into the family of God has a door. There is a deadbolt, and the handle. You cannot open the door unless both are unlocked.

Main Idea: There are 2 keys to the family of God: Our faith and God’s faithfulness.

Faith is not a new topic. He already spoke on what faith looks like in us spiritually. Galatians 2:20. I live by faith. He was born a Jew, but he lives by faith. Paul moves from the spiritual to the logical. Greek people. Logical.

Key #1: our faith

Exp. Verse 1. Foolish. Appeals to their intellect. So confused like someone used magic on them. “Before your eyes” is simply that Jesus’ crucifixion was explained. Purpose of the cross of Christ was overstated. This is what we brought to you.

Ill. Christian getting ready for school. We have to leave in 20 minutes, I have told him to get dressed. He is dancing in the bathroom. Logically, doesn’t make sense. Paul said that logically we came to you with the truth of the cross of Christ. Lessening the need for the cross.

Question #1: Verse 2. What Spirit? Holy Spirit. How did you receive it? Because you worked hard? No. By hearing with faith. Let’s ask another way, “Hey Gentiles, who didn’t grow up with the law, did you receive the HS by obeying the law?”

App. Do you believe you receive the HS when you are only good? No. Believers have the HS. What’s the answer? Faith.

Question #2: Verse 3. Ask another way, the HS brought salvation. Did the HS leave you alone to work out your salvation alone? More specifically, is the HS one so the law can complete you?

App. They were attracted to being “perfected by the flesh.” So are we. We love to think that it is us that is doing the growing. Through faith, we receive HS. Then the HS sanctifies us. Grows us.

Question #3: Verse 4. They must have suffered persecution at the hands of others. If they renounced the gospel, then the suffering would be in vain. Why suffer for Christ if salvation can be attained by works?

App. Suffering is only in vain if the gospel is not in it. Adam and Jacque. Roberts family.

Question #4: Verses 5-6. Does the Spirit perform miracles because you keep the law? Here’s the word again, faith. Many prosperity gospel preachers use this verse. Actually means the opposite. By saying you need more faith is on par with saying do more.

Exp. Paul finally reaches his thesis in verse 6. Abraham believed, and he was given righteousness. It was not Abraham’s faithfulness; it was his faith.

Transition: Why is Paul talking about Abraham to Gentiles?

Key #2: God’s faithfulness

Exp. Verse 7. This sentence changes everything. Sons of Abraham have been the Jews. Bloodline. Those of faith. Think about how heinous this is. Before, blood of Abraham so you need to do the works of the law. Now, son of Abraham because you have faith. Affront to Jews because it was their family. Paul says difference is life and death. What’s this mean? We are a part of the family. Paul says, “know this.”

Exp. So, our faith is one key, but the next verse helps us understand God’s faithfulness. Verse 8. Genesis 12:3. God knew. Made a promise to Abraham. Abraham saw this as a good promise. If it was good for him, it was good for us.

Ill. His promise was good then, and really good later. Like wanting a garden. God blessed you with one, and then gave them to others later. God’s promises have immediate impact on us, but they are used for a greater purpose later.

Christ - Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. Jesus ushers in the new covenant and sends the HS to the “sons of Abraham.” If God was faithful to fulfill the promise to Abraham, then we can rest assured he will be faithful for us.

Pietist - If you are lonely, know that there is a people for you to belong. A new family of faith. The key of God’s faithfulness is always open, but the key to your faith can be turned today.

Cultural Transformation - We must be a people of faith. Do you trust because you want to or do you try and trust because you know you’re supposed to? We can only be faithful if we first have faith.

What do we have faith in?

Salvation

Suffering

Sanctification

We have faith because he is faithful!

Conclusion

(bow heads) Unsure of what God is doing in your life. Pray with palms up.