The Needed Gift
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”
8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
Introduction:
We have been marching through Exodus, and since they are on their way out I thought it created a good breaking spot as we jump into the Christmas season.
Our focus is obviously going to be the birth and arrival of Christ.
The journey to Christ coming has a lot of threads we can follow leading to something amazing about His arrival.
One of those threads to follow is the Law.
? How can the law be a thread that leads us to the hope of Christ’s arrival?
The law shows us the need for fulfillment.
The Law is a directional arrow that throughout history has pointed forward to Christ.
When Paul wrote to the Galatians he wrote concerning the problems the Galatian believers were having with the Judaiziers.
They were going around, after Christ had ascended, trying to reach those who had placed their faith in Jesus that they needed to add to their faith the law.
They were getting people to trust what they were doing for their salvation instead of believing in Christ and trusting His teachings.
Even if they didn’t have great success they were at least muddying up the waters of salvation enough that the church of Galatia, and others, were finding it difficult to navigate through Jesus’ teachings and the law.
Paul’s letter explains the law and grace very well.
In chapter 3 he makes the connection from the law to Jesus.
In chapter 3 verses 15-18 Paul states:
A Promise Given (15-18)
A Promise Given (15-18)
15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.
16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
Verse 15 issues the proper instituting of a legal document.
It provides an example for the creation of a covenant.
It is making a distinction between what God deems legal an binding with how even humans when you create a binding document, it should be adhered to.
Example:
Growing up i’m sure each and every one of our parents, dad’s specifically were keen on teaching an important lesson that should be a universal principal.
Your word is your bond!
If you say you’re going to do something, then do it.
Or don’t say it at all.
There were many times when I wanted to quit things in my life; but my dad reminded me that I made a commitment.
If I were to quit I would be going back on my word and letting down those who were depending on me.
It is a principal that teaches what trust in others is.
When someone doesn’t stick to their word, then they can’t be trusted.
Often when someone is trustworthy in the little things, then the big things aren’t a big deal.
They have proven themselves trustworthy.
When man gives a contract it is to be held up by the standard of truth and to be trustworthy.
Man is sinful and fails.
God isn’t sinful and is always trustworthy.
He upholds everything He says!
When comparing the 2 different contracts think of how much more binding the contract would be from the Lord compared to man’s.
God’s contract makes sense, especially how Paul is talking about the law.
He says how “concrete” it is or binding.
15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.
Man-made covenants cannot be annulled, added to, or ratified.
What is annulled?
Annulled: Made void; abrogated. - Noah Webster 1828
Ratified: Confirmed; sanctioned; made valid. - Noah Webster 1828
There are no man-made contracts that could be made void just because someone wanted to be.
The principal is the same on the other side.
No contract could be introduced and immediately have credibility and authority, just because they said so.
Think of it like this.
What did it take for the Declaration of Independence to be an document that has authority for everyone in our nation?
If Jefferson wanted the declaration of independence to be automatically the most powerful and authoritative document for the new nation, it would take more than just writing it!
He had to submit the draught to the continental congress.
The congress had to vote and agree to adopt all that was written in Jefferson’s declaration.
Which they did on July 4th 1776.
It is supposed that those who signed it hadn’t done so until August though.
Think of it from a different position.
God’s position.
In the scheme of History, this was an historical moment; but it was just a blip on God’s plan.
A document was agreed upon by heads of colonies to become a nation, free to worship God without any oversight and control from a government.
Under God, not the tyranny of man.
There is no way you or I here and now can change that document or it’s authority by ourselves.
God’s document’s are much more permanent than any documents mankind has come up with for authority over peoples lives.
16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.
God made promises.
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
He promised Abram:
To make him a great nation.
To make his name great.
To bless the world through him.
When God says what He will do, He is going to do it.
He doesn’t need an vote from a committee for what He says to be authoritative.
It is authority.
The authority of His promise for a blessing to the whole world spoke about a specific person.
It wasn’t many of Abram’s offsprings, He was targeting one specifically.
Jesus Christ.
Abram was promised that Christ would come through His family and bless the whole world.
That blessing is recieved by their faith in Christ, because of it they are given righteousness.
The promise may have pointed forward to Christ’s coming; but how does that make sense knowing that God instituted the Law?
17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.
18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
God didn’t remove the promise given to Abram that the world can be righteous through Jesus.
It didn’t void the promise.
It fulfilled it.
Here is the twist for us to think about.
The law doesn't offer an inheritance.
The faith to believe and do as the promise requests gives an inheritance.
Why?
Romans gives us a little insight for this point.
11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,
12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
verse 13 really states the point.
13 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
Abraham’s faith provided the righteousness needed to receive the promise.
Verses 14-17 explain verse 13 and illustrate perfectly what Paul wrote in Galatians.
14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.
15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,
17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
(explain these verses in light of Abraham’s faith bringing the promise and righteousness).
Paul explains the correlation of the promise coming by faith and illustrating that the sign of one's salvation is the Holy Spirit and the inheritance is heaven because of being adopted by Jesus.
Abraham was given the promise and that promise was received by faith instead of through the keeping of the law.
The inheritance comes because heirs inherit what is their parents, which we can receive through the promise.
Transition:
We are missing some of the standards for this promise and the inheritance.
We are given:
Rules (19-22)
Rules (19-22)
What is the need or point for the law if the inheritance comes through faith?
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.
20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
What is a transgression?
Lexham Theological Wordbook παράβασις
It refers to a violation of a given law.
This denotes sin as violation or transgression of a given law, with the imagery being crossing over a boundary
Because of sin or a violation of God’s perfection we have to know what the lines in the sand are.
Illustration:
When your growing up you don’t automatically know all the rules that your home has or society for that matter.
As you grow you begin to learn where the lines are, that you shouldn’t cross.
God gave the law to Moses so all the world would know where the lines are!
Back to the question: Why the law?
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
The law deemed everything imprisoned under sin.
Which is not good news.
If we are to live according to the law we are reminded each year that righteousness is unachievable.
This is something that Paul highlighted a litter earlier in his letter to Galatia.
21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
We aren’t able to achieve righteousness by keeping the law; which points out the obvious:
We need more.
This failure of being able to keep the law gives us hope for what God promised through Abraham.
We are provided with that hope as told in Galatians 3:22
22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
We are given the fulfillment of that hope and the reason why we celebrate Christmas.
The promise came for those who have faith can become the children of promise.
Which makes us:
Heirs of the Promise (23-29)
Heirs of the Promise (23-29)
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
Jesus brought freedom.
The teacher was the law and we were bound to keeping it because of our faith in what God set up to cover our sins....for a year.
Our faith in God's law kept us safe; but we were bound to it, without faith in it we were lost and didn’t inherit the blessing God promised Abram.
But faith in Christ gave us that inheritance.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
Faith in Jesus brought inheritance as His adopted children.
Which provides us with what we don't deserve and have not earned.
Why does He care so much, how can He give so much from His vault of wealth?
He made you and loves you and nothing will stop Him from having a relationship with His creation.
He protects you, provides for you, and even makes it possible to be in His perfect presence even though you’re not perfect.
We are added into His family through the power of His blood.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
There are no prejudices everyone has the opportunity to believe in Jesus.
Your life will be sealed by the Holy Spirit as a robe or cloak!
You must be properly clothed to enter the Kings presence.
Put on Christ by faith, believe His authority to forgive your sin!
Faith is the key to Christmas.
29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
As a believer you become a child of the promise given to Abraham.
Because of that heritage you inherit heaven and your connection to the creator is restored.
Conclusion:
Because Jesus came to the world every man, woman, and child can rejoice since the free gift of God's grace has finally arrived.
He provides the opportunity for faith in Him
Instituting a new covenant between God and man.
Not nullifying the Law; but building upon its principal teaching: Romans 3:10
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
Christmas was that fulfillment to remove the law as a means of righteousness.
Especially considering the law revealed to us that it was impossible to keep.
It would’ve created the desire for what was lacking with a promise.
The security is because of an inheritance, promised in Jesus’ fulfillment of the law.
We needed Him to come, and He did.
The whole world recognizes Christmas and we celebrate it with the giving of gifts that reminds us of the greatest gift.
What it cost, who it was for, and how to accept it.
- Pray
