Sermon Tone Analysis

Cliffhanger

A man is hanging by his fingers off a cliff, he is dangling there and cry’s “Can anyone help me” much to his amazement he hears a voice from above, “Yes I can, but you must let go first!”

The man is astonished at such an answer.

The man cries out again, “If I let go I will fall” and the heavenly voice from above says “I’ll catch you!” the man was silent for a time considering his options and replied “Is there anyone else up there who can help me.”

Man has a hard time trusting God’s plan of salvation.

A plan that is based on faith, the way that Abraham was justified, the way it said it other times in the O.T. and throughout the N.T. that faith is the only way to be justified.

God’s grand plan to save man was not by works, not by law, but by faith.

Faith trusts God and let’s go even when it does not make any sense.

It is simple and may even seem scary letting go of the rope of knowledge, rope of science, rope of works, rope of merit, rope of charity, not that those ropes are bad but they cannot save man.

Simple faith, faith like a child, faith the size of a mustard seed can get you off that cliff and into the safety of the Savior’s arms.

The Galatians started in the spirit after hearing the truth but now people are coming telling them they need the Law and Christ, that they can have heaven and a relationship with God through clinging to the rope of good works.

Paul in his argument tonight is clearly going to show the reason for the law beyond revealing sin.

I. Purpose was to prepare way for Jesus

Gal3:23

Gal3:25-26

Before faith all were in custody under the law.

That being said the Law was the tutor to lead us to Christ, but let me give you some help with Paul’s illustration.

Gr

Roman and Greek culture there were many slaves, some very well educated and they were made the child-guardian who would take the children to school, watch over them, maybe help teach them and even discipline, but they were not the teacher.

They were the one to show the way to the teacher.

The slave (guardian-tutor) was not the child’s father, he did not give life to the child, just as the law did not give life to the Jews it regulated their, just as the guardian lead and regulated the life of the child.

(Slide) Paul’s illustration shows us a couple of things about the law.

(Slide) Jews were not born through the law, but brought up by it.

- Jews were born into a covenant then learned about relationship by the law, so they were brought up by the law to know God, but the law is not of faith (v.12)

(Slide) The works of the guardian (tutor) was to prepare the child for maturity- once the child under the care of the guardian (tutor) became of age he no longer needed the guardian.

The work of the guardian was the prepare the child for manhood, for maturity, the reason for the law was to prepare the people, the nation of Israel for the coming, for the maturity that is only found in the promised seed to Abraham, that being Jesus Christ and that by faith.

The ultimate goal of God’s grand plan to save sinful man who was made aware of sin because of the law was Jesus.

The law demanded perfect adherence and reminded the people they needed a Savior.

Shut up, kept in custody so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ would be later revealed.

Shut up, kept captive, kept in custody because of sin and the law revealing sin.

Jesus told man that from Moses on down with all the prophets they were speaking of things concerning Him!

(Slide) A good example of a poor choice - Rich young ruler Mt19:16ff (very briefly give the story; oh he kept the law with one exception covetousness and pride, and they go hand in hand and he missed out on salvation and the kingdom of God.

The commandments (the law) brought the youngman to Christ, which is exactly what should happen; but the youngman was not willing to let go of the cliff, the rope of self worth, self riches, self-righteousness and he did not get eternal life.

The Law, the guardian, the tutor fulfilled its purpose when the Savior came.

Still the nation missed it and God had to destroy the temple and scatter the people.

No more ability to follow the law since there was no temple, no alter, no priesthood, no sacrifice, for all those things were found in Christ and He is available to all, Jew or Gentile by faith.

Those who believe become son’s of God.

Wiersbe says (Slide) “The law cannot change the promise, the the law is not greater than the promise.

But the Law is not contrary to the promise, they work together to bring sinners to the Savior.”

II.

The Law and the Promise

Gal3:27

With the promise being fulfilled, the seed of Abraham came to fruition in Christ Jesus.

The nation of Israel was called to move out of childhood to Adulthood.

The long period of preparation, many generations was over.

Oh don’t discount the Law there is a certain glory to it.

There is a greater glory in the grace freely given by and only found in Christ.

(Slide) The Law could/would reveal sin

(Slide) The Law could control behavior

(Slide) The Law could not do what Christ could do, reconcile a sinner to God

(Slide) Something to think about: The Law could not justify the guilty sinner.

THe law

God will not justify a guilty sinner.

Then we have Paul who says God justifies the ungodly?

Solomon asked God to condemn the wicked

1Kng8:32

Is there anything wrong with the request?

Don’t we want justice?

God does, for God is just for God is holy.

The real problem is when measured by God’s holiness none of us measure up.

ROm3:2

That was a quote from Psm14:1-3

It is only though faith in Christ Jesus that sinful man can be justified and declared righteous before God.

(Slide) The Law could not give a person a oneness with God.

The Law put a wall between man and God; from holy place to most holy place the place of God’s presence.

But faith, faith in Christ Jesus brings us into Christ

(Slide) Under the law we were “sons of God” but under Christ Jesus, clothed in Christ we are “children of God” - the old children’s clothes taken off and an adult clothes put on.

In the Rome/Greek culture the toga identified the person as a man.

It also means man sized responsibilities.

Put away our dirty, filthy garments, are rags that were crimson stained with sin and put on the robe of righteousness

Filthy garments to righteous garments that look like this, but see before getting there as an adult, you are responsible for putting them on.

Unity, see unity as the body of Christ happens when we are all clothed in CHrist we then can be one.

Gal3:

We are all one in Christ Jesus.

There is no sliding scale on placement in Christ.

No social economic or political place in Christ, ethnicity does not matter, for we are all one in Christ.

Oh you are still who you are, but who you are does not weigh in when it comes to being a Christian.

Liberal, conservative, Democrat or Republican; CEO or BUM, slave or free, it does not matter, God’s free gift of justification by faith.

His gift of grace is found in Christ Jesus and Christ is available to all.

That brings us to last thing on the law for tonight.

(Slide) The Law could never make us heirs of God

Remember the promise to Abraham was not nullified by the Law, for the promise included the gift, the gift received by faith and he law was not of faith.

That is CHRIST! and if we are in Christ then we are Abraham’s Seed (spiritually speaking) we are recipients of the promise; recipients of the blessings

How do we wrap up this passage, wrap it up together?

The lessons and teaching in the O.T. were not just for the JEws and then, it is for our learning today too.

Hope, to give them hope, to give us hope today

1Cor10:

An example and instruction so we do not fall.

Our Christian life should have a greater wonder, a greater meaning, a greater thanksgiving when we realize what we have in Christ.

Justified by faith not by the law of works.

We are heirs of the promise and co heirs with Christ.

We are not just a son of God we are children of God, adult children clothed in God’s righteousness!

Christian assurance is found in justification by faith in Christ Jesus!

(Lead to invitation/encouragement)