Justified By Faith: “Dismantling the House Rules” Gal. 2:15-21

Intro:

Review from last week:

MAP- Where is Galatia

Chapter 1: Don’t desert the only gospel that turns Sinners into Saints (1:6)

Paul is concerned that the people are deserting the gospel

The Gospel that Paul is preaching is not man made, it is not the traditions of his father, or the popular demand.

Chapter 2: Relying on anything other than Jesus nullifies the purpose of His grace (the Cross)

The Gospel is not to be changed by slippery spies of slavery that try to add something to Jesus and His work on the Cross.

The Gospel is worth the confrontation of those who are not walking in step with it

standing continually in the wrong

separating/withdrawing out of fear

Sommoning others astray to a different gospel (hypocrisy)

distrust, scepticism

Gossip, slander, mistrust, division

Speaking the truth in love, keeping current, attacking the problem not the person, act, don’t react

Last Sunday the Pastors and deacons met with the goal of pursuing unity in this very area, but it did not go the way that we wanted it to. Please continue to pray for us. If you or anyone has questions, please ask a Pastor or Damon

Outline:

Past, Present, and Future: “Justified by Faith” (vs. 15-16)

Nullifying Grace: “Crucified with Christ” (vs. 17-21)

Summary of the Chapter: “Relying on anything other than Jesus nullifies the purpose of His grace (the Cross)

Memory verse of the Chapter: Galatians 2:21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

Illustration:

Prayer:

Past, Present, and Future: “Justified by Faith” (vs. 15-16)

Present (v. 15)

We ourselves (Paul and Peter) are Jews by birth

and not Gentile sinners- connecting to what was said before this. Some believe this is a continuation of the thought and quote before.

Paul and Peter share the experience of being a Jew who believes in Jesus- the struggles of “Are we Jews? Jewish Christians? or Christians?” (NIVAC, 117).

circumcised= covenant people, being clean and ready to worship God.

Yet we (Paul, Peter, those in Galatia) know: “eidotes” perf, act, part, nom, mas, pl to know

that a person is not justified- First time used! “dikaioutai” pres, pass, ind, 3rd, sg to be or become judicially indicated as having complied with the requirements of the law (of God).

Just as if I never sinned, Just as if I had always obeyed.”

“To be declared righteous. The opposite is ‘to condmen’” (BKC).

“To be justified is to be acceptable for fellowship with God” (Keller, Galatians for You, 58).

“To ‘justify’ in the Bible means…to declare… of a man on trial, that he is not liable to any penalty, but is entitled to all the privilieges due to those who have kept the law. Justifying is the act of a ajudge pronouncing the opposite sentence to condemnation- that of acquittal and legal immunity” (J.I. Packer, God’s Words, 139-140).

by works of the law- “works” done by me, separating from gentiles when he eats.

but through

faith in Jesus christ- “faith” in what has been done for me.

Past or Future (v. 16)

So we also believed in Christ Jesus- “episteusamen” aor, act, ind, 1st, pl, to trust in Jesus

in order to be justified by faith in Christ- “dikaiwthwmen” aor, pass, subj, 1st, pl

and not by works of the law

Because-

by works of the law

no one will be justified- “dikaiwth-eh-stai” fut, pass, ind, 3rd, sg, to be or become judiciallly vindicated as having complied with the requirements of the law of God

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

You have not, are not, nor will you ever be justified by works of the law.

How about you, have you been justified by faith in Jesus? Has there been a point in your life where you recognized it is not about what you can do to earn a spot with God but about what has been done for you on the cross that gives you a spot with God?

“J”ustification starts with a “J”. No one can be justified if they do not start with “J”esus and what He has done for us. I find this a topic that is applicable all the time, but especially as we remember those who laid down their lives in battle to give us the freedoms we enjoy today.

Maybe you are building your case before God with all the things that you have or have not done.

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

Oaky Pastor Jeremy, but have you not just made the gospel purely theologyical? What about practical?

Transitional phrase:

Nullifying Grace: “Crucified with Christ” (vs. 17-21)

Two “If” statments (vs. 17-18)

But if- “our and we”- a shared experience, some of you may be wondering about the “What if” result…

in our endeavor- “z-eh-tountes” pres, act, part, nom, mas, pl to try to get or reach something one desires

to be justified in Christ- “dikaiwth-eh-nai” aor, pass, inf. declared righteous

we too were found to be sinners- double emphasis on “we, ourselves”

is Christ then a servant of sin?

Certainly not!- the two greek words that people are the most familiar with, “m-eh genoito”

Life in Christ is not life in sin…life in Christ is life in the Spirit” (NIVAC, 123).

For if- change to “I”, personal refelction/responsibility

I rebuild- “palin oikodomw” pres, act ind, 1st, sg, to make something by combining materials and parts

what I tore down- “katelusa” aor, act, ind, 1st, sg to level (destroy)

I prove myself to be a transgressor- I presently demonstrate that I am the “parabat-eh-n”, the violator, the person who goes beyond or oversteps a moral bouandary or limit, not Jesus!

Remember the context: Paul has confrtonted Peter for being out of step with the Gospel. Peter was returning to the Law as a way of being “acceptable”. This is a pattern in Peter’s life, even after returning to fishing, major part of the church in Jerusalem, the Apostle to the Jews, the vision, preaching to Cornelius, in Jersualem, we see him yet again struggle with going back to what he knows or what he is familiar with.

In all of this, the gospel did not change, the message of Jesus for both Jew and Gentile does not change! Jesus is not the transgressor, Peter was. Peter was seeking to pick up the pieces of a shattered house that was demolished by the gospel.

Past and present (vs. 19-20)

For through the law

I died to the law- aor, “For I (double emphasis) through the law, to the law died”- there is no way that I could keep it! The law shouts my need for a saviour!

so that I might live to God- “z-eh-sw” aor, act, subj wow, what a statement

I have been crucified with Christ- “sunestaurwmai” perf, pass, ind, 1st, sg, to be crucified together, union with Christ.

It is not longer I who live- “zw” pres, act, ind, 1st, sg to live

But Christ who lives in me- “z-eh” pres, act, ind 3rd, sg, to live

And the life I now live- “zw” pres, act, ind, 1st, sg, to live

in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God- “zw” pres, act, ind, 1st, sg, to live

who loved me- “agap-eh-santos” aor, act, part, gen, mas, sg to have a great affection or care for or loyalty towards.

gave himself for me- “paradontos” aor act, part, gen, mas, sg, to sacrifice, to endure the loss of someone or something

Did you hear the tension here? From, “It is no longer I who live”, to “and the life I now live”. We often err to far to one side:

“It is no longer I who live”- Let go and let God

“The life I now live”- I have to chose to live right through the holy Spirit and self-control

What is the key to both…

Grace of God (v. 21)

I do not nullify the grace of God- well what do you mean Paul…

for if righteousness where through the law

Righteousness- “dikaiosun-eh” noun, righteousness (state) a status of legal rectitude that satisfies the moral requirements of God’s Character

Justified- “dikaioutai” verb, to be or become judicially indicated as having complied with the requirements of the law (of God).

You are justified because of righteousness

You are righteous because of justification

Is one a declared state (justified) based off of the actions that go you there (righteousness)

then Christ died for no purpose- we cannot combine grace and merit (oil and water).

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Read the section from page 60, Keller.

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

Transitional phrase:

Summary of the Chapter:

Memory verse of the Chapter

Discussion Starters:

How would you explain “justification by faith” to someone who has never been to church before (Keller, 63)?

What might is sound/look like to “live to God” this week ?

In what ways am I seeking to rebuild what the Gospel has torn down?

Song: In Christ Alone my hope is found, He is my light my strength, my song.

Next Week’s Sermon: Gal 3:1-9 “Who has bewitched you?”

Benediction/Looking ahead: INVITE PEOPLE TO THE CAFE