The Basis for Justification
Notes
Transcript
I. Welcome & Opening Prayer
I. Welcome & Opening Prayer
Turn to Gal. 2… v.15
**Pitch missionary coming Wednesday**
!! Open in Prayer !!
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II. Introduction 🎤
II. Introduction 🎤
A lot of people struggle throughout their lives... wondering if they are good enough...
⚖️do they MEASURE UP?⚖️
OLDER CHILDREN—STRUGGLE W/ ACCEPTANCE
ADULTS OFTEN DON’T HAVE IT PERFECT EITHER
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PEOPLE WANT to BE ACCEPTED—LONG for FRIENDSHIP/CONNECTION—
— FREQUENTLY DON’T FEEL GOOD ENOUGH…
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Focus: 📸THIS CAN AFFECT RELATIONSHIP W/ GOD TOO—EVEN for the CHRISTIAN📸
AM I GOOD ENOUGH?
DO I DO ENOUGH?
IS GOD HAPPY W/ ME?
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Answer, Good News: IN CHRIST—YOU SHOULDN’T BE PLAGUED W/ INSECURITIES…
TODAY WE’LL SEE WHY
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Transition ➡ Read Passage,, GAL. CH. 2… V.15-21
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III. Passage Reading:
III. Passage Reading:
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!
18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Church this is God’s Word for us this morning…
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IV. Context Recap: Gospel Authority 📍
IV. Context Recap: Gospel Authority 📍
LOTS of TIME AWAY…
Larger Context: PAUL DEFENDING HIS GOSPEL— “GOD’S GOSPEL” — HEAVEN-SENT
Last Text: GOSPEL DOESN’T GET AUTHORITY from PEOPLE…
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Recap: PAUL REBUKING PETER!
Recap: PAUL REBUKING PETER!
ENJOYING TABLE FELLOWSHIP ((UNCLEAN FOODS)) W/ GENTILES
CHANGED BEHAVIOR WHEN JEWS CAME
Problem: SENT MESSAGE: FAITH = NOT ENOUGH,, ABIDE BY JEWISH DISTINCTIVES…
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Conclusion:
Conclusion:
HAVING GENTILES LIVE LIKE JEWS??
YOU LIVE LIKE a GENTILE, THOUGH a JEW!
Idea: Gospel-truth precedes and stands above human authority.
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Transition ➡ TEXT PICKS UP — RIGHT on HEELS of THAT EXCHANGE…
CLARIFIES WHY THESE THINGS MATTERED SO MUCH…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 15-16
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V. Passage Exposition: Galatians 2:15-21 🔍
V. Passage Exposition: Galatians 2:15-21 🔍
Thought 1: Even Jews Justified Through Faith (v15-16) ⚖️
Thought 1: Even Jews Justified Through Faith (v15-16) ⚖️
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;
16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Context: PAUL SPEAKING to PETER—NOT GALATIANS “WE” = JEWS
are NOT: GENTILE “SINNERS”
IN COVENANT W/ GOD (THROUGH ABRAHAM & GOD’S ELECTION of ISRAEL)
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Important Truth: JEWISH ETHNICITY NEVER ENOUGH— MUST BE JEW INWARDLY…
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
JEWISH HERITAGE = PRIVILEGE—NOT SITTING BACK, KICKING UP FEET…
Conclusion: BORN INTO COVENANT = NOT ENOUGH — EVEN JEWS ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH.
=> THEY DON’T HAVE IT ANY BETTER—THEY STILL NEEDED JESUS!
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Defining Justification:
Defining Justification:
(3x) “JUSTIFIED” in V16 ALONE!
FORENSIC (COURTROOM) TERM:
ACQUITTED
DECLARED RIGHTEOUS/JUST
“NOT GUILTY”
Summary: HEAVENLY COURTROOM//GOD as JUDGE—FREED from GUILT
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Means of Justification:
Means of Justification:
PAUL CONCLUDES: JEW & GENTILE BOTH = JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH in JESUS CHRIST...
MOR THAN JUST “BELIEF”
A PERSONAL LIVING TRUST
**NOT WORKS of the LAW** — OBEYING the LAW of MOSES
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Galatian Context:
Galatian Context:
JUDAIZERS TROUBLING CHURCHES—REQUIRING CIRCUMCISION
Answer: BOTH JEW & GENTILE = JUSTIFIED THROUGH FAITH
(v16b) APOSTLES THEMSELVES BELIEVED to BE JUSTIFIED!
**Exhort: 📢ALL ARE SINNERS in NEED of SAME SAVIOR**
JEW
GENTILE
FAMOUS PERSON
the NOBODY
ALL ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH CHRIST— HE is the WAY, TRUTH, LIFE…
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Exhort: 📢 NO ONE = JUSTIFIED,, BY WHAT THEY BRING to TABLE
**BUT BY WHAT CHRIST BRINGS**
NOT SAVED BY OUR WORKS
BUT BY CHRIST’S PERFECT WORK.
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Justification = Passive Concept:
Justification = Passive Concept:
Clarifier: NOTICE THAT “JUSTIFIED” = PASSIVE VERB — YOU RECEIVE, NOT ACT.
**YOU CANNOT JUSTIFY YOURSELF**
Baseball Illustration:
I HIT the BALL = ACTIVE
I AM HIT BY the BALL = PASSIVE
DO // RECEIVE
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ONLY the JUDGE CAN OFFICIALLY DECLARE “NOT GUILTY!”
Takeaway: 🎒Salvation is not something I do,,
it’s something I receive that Christ has already done. 🎒
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Transition ➡ THIS in MIND— APOSTLE HAS a FURTHER CLARIFIER…
LOOK / ME @ VS. 17-18
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Thought 2: Christ, a Servant of Sin? No Way! (v17-18) 🚫
Thought 2: Christ, a Servant of Sin? No Way! (v17-18) 🚫
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!
18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor.
VERSES HAVE PUZZLED SCHOLARS— 2 PREDOMINANT VIEWS…
(v17) BEING FOUND as a “SINNER” — MEANING GENTILE… FROM JEWISH PERSPECTIVE…
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Argument: JUSTIFIED in CHRIST — NO LONGER KEEPING the LAW — LAWLESS?!?!
CHRIST a SERVANT of SIN?? = PROMOTING SIN/LAWLESSNESS??
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Connection: EVEN TODAY—SOME CHRISTIANS STRUGGLE W/ GRACE
RESORT to LEGALISM
IF… CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN SINS—PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE—
— WHAT’S the INCENTIVE to LIVE UPRIGHTLY??
**WE’LL SEE MORE ON THIS SHORTLY**
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Answer:
CIRCUMCISION, SABBATH, FOOD LAWS (JEWISH DISTINCTIVES) AREN’T SIN ISSUES— LAW = FULFILLED in CHRIST
CHRIST NOT ENABLING SIN.
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(v18) ON the CONTRARY— IF PAUL REBUILT WHAT HE TORE DOWN (NECESSITY of LAW) HE’D BE a TRANSGRESSOR —
—PROCLAIMING a FALSE GOSPEL!
**JUDAIZERS CONCERNED W/ LAW-KEEPING WERE GREATER SINNERS DESPITE BEING “RIGHTEOUS”
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Transition ➡ PAUL WILL FURTHER EXPLAIN— HE’S DIED to LEGALISTIC WAY of LIVING…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 19-20
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Thought 3: Dead to Law, Alive to God (v19-20) ⚰️🌱
Thought 3: Dead to Law, Alive to God (v19-20) ⚰️🌱
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
LAW = NOT REQUIRED for JUSTIFICATION — PAUL DIED to the LAW
Meaning: NO LONGER ESTABLISHES RELATIONSHIP W GOD… BASED UPON WHAT HE’D DONE…
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Formerly: Phil. 3:4-6
Formerly: Phil. 3:4-6
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Conclusion: Perfect Background & Zealous Pursuit
GAIN COUNTED as LOSS— RUBBISH!
HE WAS DEVOUT… AND HE WAS DEVOUTLY WRONG.
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DIED “to the” LAW — THROUGH the LAW…
Focus: LAW BRINGS DEATH—CONVICTION of SIN…
**NO ONE COULD KEEP IT—HENCE the SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM**
Illustration: Safety Harness//TRAMPOLINE—HE KNEW YOU’D FALL**
LAW REVEALS OUR NEED… IT DOES NOT JUSTIFY.
LEGALISM = BLIND to PERSONAL SIN
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LAW DOESN’T SAVE—CHRIST SAVES… PAUL = DEAD to the LAW
**NOW HE LIVES to GOD**
Exhort: 📢 GRACE DOESN’T ENABLE SIN—📢 IT EMPOWERS OBEDIENCE from the HEART.
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(v20) PAUL = CRUCIFIED W/ CHRIST… NOW CHRIST LIVES WITHIN… LIFE NOW LIVED BY FAITH…
OLD ME (IN ADAM) = DEAD, BURIED, GONE…
NEW ME (IN CHRIST) = ALIVE & WELL
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Answer: LEGALISTS WORRY ABOUT ANTINOMIANISM…
… BUT CHRIST GIVES NEW LIFE.
SHAPING DESIRES
A LIFE LIVED for GOD
CHRIST LIVING IN & THROUGH ME
NEW COVENANT HOPE: STONY HEART REPLACED W/ HEART of FLESH
**WE SIMPLY NOT WORK FROM ACCEPTANCE...NOT FOR IT.**
Great News: You no longer need to live under the shadow of the law that constantly screams “not good enough.”
CHRIST WAS GOOD ENOUGH.
I AM “IN CHRIST”
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(v20B) LIFE NOW LIVED BY FAITH in SON of GOD…
WHO LOVED ME
WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.
Language study: “GAVE HIMSELF” MEANS ENTRUSTED/HANDED OVER/BETRAYED
BECAUSE HE LOVED ME
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Exhort: 📢NEVER MOVING BEYOND…
“JESUS LOVES ME...THIS I KNOW… FOR the BIBLE TELLS ME SO.”📢
“JESUS LOVES YOU” ISN’T JUST CATCHY PHRASE— BUT the VERY FOUNDATION of OUR HOPE!!
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Transition ➡ TO CLOSE— PAUL HAS a SUMMARY THOUGHT…
LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 21…
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Thought 4: The Purpose of the Cross (v21) ✝️/Gospel Invitation
Thought 4: The Purpose of the Cross (v21) ✝️/Gospel Invitation
21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
IF WE BELIEVE WE’RE RIGHTEOUS/JUSTIFIED THROUGH WHAT WE BRING…
… THEN WE NULLIFY/MAKE USELESS GOD’S GRACE...
=> => YOU DON’T NEED GRACE IF YOU’RE SIMPLY BEING REWARDED FOR WHAT YOU DESERVE…
Takeaway: 🎒IF YOU COULD HAVE MADE IT ALONE—CHRIST DIED for NO PURPOSE...🎒
WHY WOULD HE BOTHER???
**NO NEED for ATONEMENT … UNLESS WE NEEDED FORGIVEN**
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Depravity of Man:
Depravity of Man:
SCRIPTURE PRESENTS ALL THROUGHOUT—MANKIND = SINFUL, REBELLING AGAINST CREATOR…
NARRATIVES PRESENT IMPERFECT CHARACTERS
TEACHING PORTIONS TELL US WE’RE SINFUL
WE’RE BORN SINNERS—SINFUL CONDITION… LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY....
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The Solution:
The Solution:
Good News: MORE to the STORY—CHRIST CAME to DIE for SINNERS
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
IF WE COULD HAVE SAVED OURSELVES—CHRIST WOULDN’T HAVE HAD to COME & DIE…
=> BUT WHEN WE COULDN’T SAVE OURSELVES—CHRIST DID COME & DIE…
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A Test for Understanding the Gospel:
A Test for Understanding the Gospel:
Question: STANDING @ ENTRANCE to HEAVEN— “WHY SHOULD GOD LET YOU INTO HIS ETERNAL ABODE?”
.......…
WHY?
.......…
Alistair Begg— “ANSWERING in FIRST PERSON” — MISSED IT ENTIRELY.
“BECAUSE I”
WAS a GOOD PERSON
WENT to CHURCH
DID MANY GOOD THINGS
ETC.
ANSWER MUST COME in “THIRD-PERSON” — BECAUSE HE.…
BECAUSE CHRIST LIVED a PERFECT & SINLESS LIFE
& GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR ME…
& WAS RAISED
AND I PUT MY TRUST FULLY in HIM— CAST MY LOT W/ HIM
SAVING YOURSELF ISN’T GOOD NEWS
BUT BEING SAVED WHEN YOU WERE UTTERLY HELPLESS SOLELY BY the WORK of ANOTHER…
,… THAT’S GOOD NEWS…
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Invitation: IF YOU ANSWERED the QUESTION WRONG — YOU CAN PUT YOUR TRUST in CHRIST TODAY— & BE SAVED BY HIS WORK & MERIT…
TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE…
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Transition ➡ FOR the BELIEVER…
APOSTLE = REMINDING US
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VI. Application:
VI. Application:
Passage Idea: Justification comes not through works, but through faith in Christ alone.
IF WE COULD HAVE MADE IT ON OUR OWN—CHRIST WOULDN’T HAVE HAD to COME & DIE…
BUT HE DID—THAT WE MIGHT BE SAVED & HAVE HOPE…
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MENTIONED in INTRODUCTION— PEOPLE CAN STRUGGLE W/ INSECURITIES…
AM I GOOD ENOUGH?
DO I DO ENOUGH?
IS GOD HAPPY W/ ME?
Answer: CHRIST WAS GOOD ENOUGH — HE DID ENOUGH— FATHER WAS PLEASED W/ HIM
PUTTING YOUR TRUST in HIM—YOU RECEIVE HIS STANDING…
SALVATION DOESN’T HINGE UPON YOUR OBEDIENCE, BUT CHRIST’S
SALVATION = SECURE in CHRIST—NOT YOUR OWN DOING.
Exhort: YOU AREN’T LOVED BECAUSE YOU’RE LOVABLE,,
… BUT BECAUSE GOD is LOVE
—THAT is UNCHANGING.
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Takeaway:🎒 NOW—WE WORK FROM ACCEPTANCE… NOT FOR ACCEPTANCE. 🎒
PREACH GOSPEL to OURSELVES DAILY— REMEMBERING “I DON’T DESERVE THIS...”
**DOESN’T LEAD to LAWLESSNESS**
NEWNESS of LIFE — CHRIST LIVING in ME…
FORGIVEN: LIVING FOR GOD.
IN CHRIST: LIVING for the ONE WHO GAVE HIMSELF for ME…
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Conclusion:
Conclusion:
ALL MY STRIVING — “BIG THANK YOU!” to GOD
ALL MY WORKS = FRUIT of a CHANGED LIFE…
… NOT the ROOT of MY SALVATION…
MY ONLY HOPE is in CHRIST
& HIS PERFECT WORK… AMEN?
!! Close in Prayer !!
