Galatians 3:1-14

Introduction

My name is Nathan

Last time I was here I taught Hebrew words of Praise.

Now Andrew asked me to teach exposition-ally… well Im a Bible college teacher so I am excited when someone tells me that!!!

Gal 3:1-14

Lets Pray....

Note - Paul has spent the last two chapter defeding his authroity on what he is about to say next in this section....

what a build up that is...

What you got to know is. 2 things.....

1.what sanctification is ....

explain....

2. the law in this passage speaks to good deeds other than Jesus we we think makes us more righteous.

the works of the law in the section are also called the flesh.... (v.2 &3)

the law then means good deeds that we do in the flesh...

The law can be ....

I dont listen to secular music

I only watch christian and pg rated movies

I read my Bible every day....

So the Galatians started to do good deeds that caused them to act like they are holier

and when you think 1 good deed make you more righteous.... then you got to do more good deeds… and more…

and says

James 2:10 NKJV

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

so one failure of the law = the penalty of the whole law.

so just one failure means your guilty of the whole law.

Then the law (good deeds) can cause you (and some of you may feel this way)....

to feel guilty, or depressed because of what you have done wrong.

to be anxious, afraid, and because you cant measure up

to be confused and upset because you are not who you want to be

What Jesus did was lived the perfect life we could not live.... to free us

Some of you here need freedom from the law....

to feel guilty, or depressed because of what you have done wrong.

to be anxious, afraid, and because you cant measure up

to be confused and upset because you are not who you want to be

You will be full of joy because it doesn't matter what you have done wrong or will do

it is God perfecting us?

You will be at peace because you know Jesus is righteous and is the only one you can measure up to the standard of Heaven.

You will be sanctified/perfected to be who God wants you to be

This means there is a perfect you that God is wanting to create in you...

The problem is that laws keep us from being perfected....

either the law is making you guilty

or you think you are better than someone else because you keep the law better.

(so you think others are guilty, depressed, anxious, afriad, consued,

Jesus gives us freedom from the law.... this is what this passage is about...

This section is meant to impact you for freedom… whether you are ....

a Jew - this section will impact you for freedom

a Christian - this section will impact you for Freedom

a non believing Gentile - this section will impact you for freedom

So I titled this message:

FOR FREEDOM

the law in this passage speaks to good deeds other than Jesus we we think makes us more righteous.

by the way - the law can sound intense so anytime I read “law” and I think good deeds

because when good things become

So good

for example:

The law can be ....

I dont listen to secular music (good for you)

I dont listen to secular music because its satanic and I dont think its glorifing to God if we do. (Danger)

So the Galatians started to do good deeds that caused them to act like they are holier

Remeber when you think a good deed make you more righteous you put yourself under the law… then you got to do more good deeds… and more…

then you will be guilty when you fail....

This is what happened in Galatia...

CONFRONTATION FOR FREEDOM (v.1-4)

Galatians 3:1 AMP

O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified?

Galatians 3:1–4 AMP

1 O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] 3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)—if it really is to no purpose and in vain?

Gal 3:

Galatians 3:1–5 AMP

1 O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? 2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] 3 Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing (to no purpose)—if it really is to no purpose and in vain? 5 Then does He Who supplies you with His marvelous [Holy] Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among you do so on [the grounds of your doing] what the Law demands, or because of your believing in and adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message that you heard?

Galata

Galatians 3:2–3 AMP

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?] Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [your new life spiritually] with the [Holy] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [by dependence] on the flesh?

Galatians 3:2–3 NKJV

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?—Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 3:1

This section teaches us 5 things

Christ was not angry with the sinner, Christ was angry with those who thought they were better then others because they obey the law.

1. We can be tricked into thinking we are made right by the law (v.1)

you may think you are not easily tricked however....

majority of Christians fall into this trick for a short time or for a long time....

because the trick starts out sounding so righteous....

2. The Galatians Paul is writing witnessed Jesus crucifixion (v.1)

A lot of scholars say that they didn't actually see Jesus but that when Paul preached to them he clearly portrayed Christ crucified before them..

However I do think that it is possible that the Galatians he was writing to were Jews and when Jesus was crucified it was during the time of passover so they would have been in Jerusalem to at least have a glimpse of Jesus’ crucifixion.

3. We receive the Spirit by Faith (v.2)

This means

Faith is a receiving thing .. there is no work

because of faith we receive the perfect work of Jesus and are saved … so....

To freely receive is the opposite of working for something so...

when you work for your own salvation ... you reject Jesus

when you work for your own sanctification.... you reject the Spirit.

Now the Galatians like so many had faith in Jesus for salvation..... but at some point they thought they were perfected by what they do..... and so they rejected the Spirit of God.

This is why Paul says you

4. Our Salvation is started by the Spirit & is perfected by the Spirit (v.3)

As Paul said you begun by receiving.... so then continue receiving..

well neither can good deeds (law) perfect you.. it is still by God’s grace...

As Paul said you begun by receiving then continue receiving..

you do not freely receive righteous from God at first ....and then you have to work for it...

you begun by receiving then continue receiving..

Fun fact there is no action you can do in the flesh that is good enough for God.

God did not want your works in the beginning and God does not want the works of your flesh now..

There is no action you can do that will ever make you more righteous, or holy....

Every work God ever wants is only found in Jesus!

The only thing you can do is receive...

5. The Galatians Paul is writing to has been persecuted (v.4)

Imagine someone persecuting you for trusting in Jesus and then your pastor says all that persecution is meaningless because your good deeds was done in your flesh....

So this was the confrontation of Paul to Galatia … here is Pauls explanation in two points....

TRUTH 1: We are perfected by faith. (v.5-9)

POINT #1 - Our Freedom is By Faith In Jesus! (v.5-9)

Galatians 3:

Truth 1: We are not perfect by the Law. (v.1-5)

Galatians 3:5–7 AMP

5 Then does He Who supplies you with His marvelous [Holy] Spirit and works powerfully and miraculously among you do so on [the grounds of your doing] what the Law demands, or because of your believing in and adhering to and trusting in and relying on the message that you heard? 6 Thus Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account and credited as righteousness (as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action). 7 Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham.

This section teaches us 3 things

1. God supplies His Spirit & works miracles through those of faith not of the law (v.5)

2. Because Abraham had faith those who have faith are the real sons of Abraham (v.6-7)

3. In Gen it says that God would justify Gentiles by Faith (v.8-9)

Galatians 3:6–7 AMP

6 Thus Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account and credited as righteousness (as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action). 7 Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham.

Galatians 3:6–9 AMP

6 Thus Abraham believed in and adhered to and trusted in and relied on God, and it was reckoned and placed to his account and credited as righteousness (as conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action). 7 Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify (declare righteous, put in right standing with Himself) the Gentiles in consequence of faith, proclaimed the Gospel [foretelling the glad tidings of a Savior long beforehand] to Abraham in the promise, saying, In you shall all the nations [of the earth] be blessed. 9 So then, those who are people of faith are blessed and made happy and favored by God [as partners in fellowship] with the believing and trusting Abraham.

Galatitans 3:6-9

Galatians 3:8–9 NLT

8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

This section teaches us 3 things

1. God supplies His Spirit and works miracles through those of faith not of the law (v.5)

Let that sink in.... what a truth....

Do you want God’s Spirit? Do you want God to work miracles (Gk: Dynomis - powers) through you?

Well there is no good deed you can do .... you can only receive

That is why James says you have not because you ask not ().

Bible says you have not because you ask not ().

Just like you ask for your sins to be forgiven.... you can ask for God’s Spirit, and for God to work powerfully among you!

By the way just think what does God have for you that you do not have because you havent asked Him yet...

2. Because Abraham had faith, those who have faith are the real sons of Abraham (v.6-7)

Now from this section all the way to the end of he is using Abraham as an example…

so

now by Paul saying this

he would piss off the Jews, because the Jews pride themselves in being sons of Abraham and of keeping the Law.

but Paul just said real sons of Abraham are of faith and not of the law (flesh)

For statements like this… this book Galatians is known for being divisive to the Jews...

however this book actually is intended to free the Jews from the law.

but if you keep the law then this book is divisive against you.

3. According to , means that God would justify Gentiles by Faith (v.8-9)

The Jews thought that meant that the Gentiles would be justified by the law..and thats how they would be blessed...

but Paul says wrong we are justified by faith not by flesh (law).

but Paul says wrong we are justified by faith not by flesh (law).

POINT # 2 - We are not Free by the Law (v.10-12)

Galatians 3:10–11 AMP

10 And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them. 11 Now it is evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall live.

Galatians 3:10 AMP

10 And all who depend on the Law [who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the Law of rituals] are under a curse and doomed to disappointment and destruction, for it is written in the Scriptures, Cursed (accursed, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment) be everyone who does not continue to abide (live and remain) by all the precepts and commands written in the Book of the Law and to practice them.

Galatians 3:12 NKJV

12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

Gal

This section teaches us 3 things:

1. If you live by the Law you are under the curse of the Law (v.10, 12)

James 2:10 NKJV

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

so 1 failure of the law = the penalty of the whole law.

If you

Which leads us too...

2. To God no one is justified by the law (v.11)

it doesn't matter how large the charity or how small the lie is we are not justified by the law.

the issue is that people have recieved Christ by faith but then try to perfect themselves by the law flesh..

What God wants is for us to receive Christ by faith and to receive the Spirit by living in Faith.

3. The Law is not of faith (v.12)

You live either by faith or by the law.

You live either by faith or of the law

Remember there is a curse to whoever does not keep the law 100%

Remember there is a curse to whoever does not keep the law 100%

What God wants is for us to receive Christ by faith and to receive the Spirit by living in Faith.

Christ was not angry with the sinner, Christ was angry with those who thought they were better then others because they obey the law.

SOLUTION (v.13-14)

Galatians 3:13 AMP

13 Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified);

Galatians 3:14 NIrV

14 Christ Jesus set us free so that the blessing given to Abraham would come to non-Jews through Christ. He did it so that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit by believing in Christ.

This section teaches us 3 things: What Jesus did, How Jesus did it & Why Jesus did it.

Galatians 3:10–14 NKJV

10 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.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 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”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

1. What did Jesus do? Redeem us from the curse of the law (v.13)

Explain Redemption

Jesus paid the price of death of the law for you!

Jesus became the curse of the law for us!

Jesus had no sin... he was perfect .....

and he took our sin he took our imperfection

I cant imagine what that would be like…

Jesus did not deserve to be forsaken by God we were!

thats why Jesus said “ my God my God why have you forsaken me” —

that is a love we cant understand…

now people have died for others before...

but imagine dying for the guilty… (explain)

You were guilty and Jesus was innocent and He took your death sentence! All you have to do is accept it....

Explain redemption

So why would you go back to the law/flesh? - your a failure at the law anyways!!!!

Especially because the Spirit will do a far better job perfecting you then the law (your flesh can)

Just like you deny the deity and authority of Jesus by working for your own salvation you deny the deity /authority of the Spirit when you work for your own sanctification.

Good thing God’s real followers trust Jesus for Salvation and trust the Spirit for their Sanctification

This is relationship over religion, this is Spirit over Self-righteousness.

Jesus became a curse for us

2. How did Jesus do it? Hung on a tree. (v.14)

Deuteronomy 21:23 NLT

23 the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God. In this way, you will prevent the defilement of the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession.

- was written 1600 BC and was part of the law....

Jesus lived the perfection and the curse of the law.

3. Why did Jesus do it? For the blessing of Abraham to be given to Gentiles (v.14)

Notice how the cursing in verse 13 has turned into a blessing in verse 14.

What is the blessing of Abraham?

Look at

Genesis 12:3 NKJV

3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

That mystery blessing in written approx 1600 years before Christ is officially solved in

Look at verse 14 - it is the promise of the Spirit through Faith.

Christ was not angry with the sinner, Christ was angry with those who thought they were better then others because they obey the law.

Conclusion

The law has no place for a Christian’ salvation or for sanctification..

because when you as a Christian think something you do makes you more righteous you compare yourself to Jesus

… and you dont match up.... God wants none of your flesh.

When you as a Christian think something you do makes you more righteous you compare yourself to Jesus… and you dont match up.... God wants none of your flesh.

Wrong!

In fact when Jesus was on earth there was one group Jesus was angry with it was the saduucees and pharisees who though they were righteous because they were faithful to service, to worship, to read the word....

In fact when Jesus was on earth there was one group Jesus was angry with it was the saduucees and pharisees who though they were righteous because they were faithful to service, to worship, to read the word....

Jesus flipped their tables.... while he hung out with the sinners

If you think your righteous because you dont cuss, party, or because you go to church, and pray, and read the Bible …

then Jesus is not as angry with the cussing, parting, party animal as he is with you… because you think you are better then them....

then Jesus is not as angry with the cussing, parting, party animal as he is with you… because you think you are better then them....

you must repent from the righteousness you thought you gained for yourself.

Personally we are to live by faith/spirit to justify and perfect us.

Relationally we are to live not like we are holier or better than others… or even like others are holier than me..

It doesn't matter if you are a pastor, a criminal, or grew up in the church… our righteousness comes only from Jesus

It doesn't matter if you are a pastor, a criminal, or grew up in the church… our righteousness comes only from Jesus

nothing you do or someone does makes you more righteous.

God wants your relationship not your fleshly righteousness....

We got to surrender our righteousness for the righteousness of Christ.

Do you live by the righteousness of Christ?

If you do you will find freedom.

You will be sanctified/perfected to be who God wants you to be

You will be full of joy because it doesn't matter what you have done wrong or will do

You will be at peace because you know Jesus is righteous and holy enough to bring us to Heaven?

You will be at peace because you know Jesus is righteous and is the only one you can measure up to the standard of Heaven.

You will be sanctified/perfected to be who God wants you to be

You will be sanctified/perfected to be who God wants you to be

You can be free from the law that binds you...

PRAYER

If you are guilty by the law and you need Jesus to free you from the law

If you are guilty of judging other people by the law - repent

Matthew 7:2 NKJV

2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.