Questions about Justification
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Attention Getting:
The Boston Globe, which carries a daily column designed to answer readers' queries, listed the top ten unanswerable questions. Here's one: "I am nine years of age and have a cat that eats regularly and needs to go on a diet. He also eats mice when he is out. How many calories in a mouse?"
Sunshine Magazine
Textual Segment:
Paul focuses on the heart of the matter. The Galatians were originally saved by faith, not by law. Therefore, grace is superior to the law.
He asks 5 questions surrounding their experiences of being justified, Spirit-filled, and blessed. He makes them think about how they went from darkness to light and comes back to the central theme of it happened by faith, not by works of the flesh
Relational Segment:
We too have been justified by faith. In spite of the centuries which have passed, there is no better way. In fact, there is no other way. That is part of what upsets Paul so much.
Paul questions the Experience of the Galatians?
Paul begins his hard hitting questioning of the Galatians.
Paul begins his hard hitting questioning of the Galatians.
Paul begins his hard hitting questioning of the Galatioans.
Paul begins his hard hitting questioning of the Galatioans.
1st Question: Who bewitched you?
1st Question: Who bewitched you?
Who bewitched you?
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
He calls them foolish and asks who bewitched them.
They had fallen under the spell of the Judaizers.
There was no way they could have reached that conclusion logically.
Jesus’ Crucifixion wasn’t enough to the Judaizers.
they had to add works to it.
Paul had clearly preached Jesus and Him crucified.
Yet the Galatians who had heard it and believed it, were being turned by their enchantments.
Why do people want to complicate the gospel? What example of adding to the gospel have you encountered?
We do this in several areas.
financially- Dave Ramsey often deals with matters where people get in trouble because simple principles were left for more “sophisticated” plans which led to ruin.
Health- Doctors tell us exercise and eat right. How’s that working for us?
Spiritually-
We don’t want to miss out on what someone is offering
We are prejudiced sometimes to accept the “new thing”
2nd Question: Did you receive the Spirit by works or by faith? (v. 2)
2nd Question: Did you receive the Spirit by works or by faith? (v. 2)
This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
Galatians
Paul goes back to their salvation and subsequent baptism with the Holy Spirit.
He asks which brought the Spirit?
works of the Law
Keeping OT Law
Keeping Jewish tradition
hearing of faith
From where does faith come?
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:
They were save by faith!
They received the Spirit by faith!
3rd Question: Are you foolish?
3rd Question: Are you foolish?
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
Are you foolish?
Having started by by Spirit you turn now to the flesh.
Having started by by Spirit you turn now by flesh.
They began by the Spirit
they heeded God’s call by faith
This brought justification
Are they now being perfected by flesh
He questions their sanity!
Having been justified by faith, why would they now think works of the flesh would help them grow?
If works can’t save us, why would anyone think works can make us perfect?
4th Question: Have you suffered in vain?
4th Question: Have you suffered in vain?
Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
Have you suffered in vain?
Don’t let what you experienced in Christ be in vain.
Perhaps they had endured great afflictions due to becoming Christians.
Paul questions why they would suffer and now turn to works of the flesh.
5th Question: Did you receive gifts by works of flesh or by faith?
5th Question: Did you receive gifts by works of flesh or by faith?
Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
The miracles, gifts, and ministry of the Spirit was gained by faith not works.
Their present experience in the Spirit was by faith not works.
“supplies” - ministereth in KJV. Means to bestow liberally, to lavish, to supply abundantly.
The riches of God were bestowed generously by faith not works!
2. Paul Explains Justification by Faith
2. Paul Explains Justification by Faith
The gift of the Spirit and His mighty work in and among them depended solely upon faith in Christ.
A. Abraham was justified by faith
A. Abraham was justified by faith
just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.
B. The Law Brings a Curse
B. The Law Brings a Curse
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Conclusion:
Conclusion: