Galatians (6)

Bewitched

Bewitched Arguments for Justification by Faith

Arguments for Justification by Faith

This begins the doctrinal section

Chapters 3–4 are doctrinal, for in them Paul explains the relationship between law and grace. Three words that are repeated frequently are faith (fourteen times), law (nineteen times) and promise (eleven times). Paul presents arguments, in each chapter, seeking to prove that salvation is by grace, through faith, apart from the works of the Law.

The galatians were bewitched by the judaizers.

If any thig n turns ou from setting your hope in Christ alone for salvation it is satanic the work of the devil.

They thought they had become learned and understood the way of salvation better but in fact they were just under a curse.

THe devil operates by blindness and he uses all manner of things to blind people to the simple truth of God's message

2Co_4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Who has bewitched you?” he asks,

if anything that leads a man to trust in his own works it should be hated as the incantations of a witch.

“Who has bewitched you?” It is a dangerous state, it is a devilish snare to be brought into—to be led to trust anything else but Christ.

It is a strange thing that those who have seen Christ should ever go back to these things

So Paul lays it out with no stone unturned in the next two chapters as the reasons why it cannot be the law it is CHrist alone or we are without hope.

Personal argument

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Jezabel simon the sorcerer witch with saul bewitched the people it is a form of manipulation to get people to do detrimental things by which they stand to gain.

It was the Judaizers that bewitched them.

Witchcraft, the exercise or invocation of alleged supernatural powers to control people or events

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?

You need to learn to identify them. Who is it that is trying to get you to disobey God ?

They do six things manipulation

They try to get you to disobey God vs 1

If someone is trying to get you to violate the pure truth of the scriptures that is witchcraft. And if you go along and think it will be ok to disobey God you are bewitched.

Take credit for what God does vs 2

It is not you you are not great God is great. THey flattery you and puff you up

They take advantage of your lack of experience. ( fool knows but does not do) Vs 3

A fool knows the truth but he does not practice the truth. They took advantage of these inexperienced christians. Manipulate you when you are gullible. They can see when you do not live up to what you believe and swoop in.

They try to get you to mix works and faith vs 3

(you trust God for your spiritual life but not your daily life)

You do not need only God you also need me and my system.

They operate off of fear

He that believeth on the name of the Lord Jesus christ shall still be saved

They try to minimize your salvation experience vs 4

They try to get you to make your own miracle vs 5

Simon said give me this power by money

They were foolish in their decision to give them ear.

By trying to follow the law. To make sure they were saved and by keeping the holy days to try to earn favor with God they became disobedient.

They were disobedient by trying to be obedient.

Obedience to the truth for salvation is faith to trust to rest in the free gift

Anything else is disobedience.

Ist that good you just rest in what God did for you

Well I am kind of nervous trust me. Well I am also going to do this that is showing disobedience to trusting christ.

Imagine if a man is on an airplane and the plane will eventually go down running out of gas throw him a parachute put this one it will save you. HE puts it on but says there is more to be done maybe I can go check the engines. But to do that he has to take the parachute off. The more scared he is the more tightly he should cling to the parachute.

Listen all our hope is tied up into what Christ did.

IF it is not true we are without hope and of all men most miserable.

Who bewitched you to take off the parachute?

Than he goes on to say

before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

They saw God the Son (v. 1)

It was “Christ and Him crucified” that Paul had preached in Galatia, and with such effectiveness that the people could almost see Jesus crucified for them on the cross.

evidently set forth means “publicly portrayed, or announced on a poster.”

Just as we put important information on a poster and display it in a public place,

Paul openly presented Christ to the Galatians, with great emphasis on His death for sinners on the cross. They heard this truth, believed it, and obeyed it; and as a result, were born into the family of God.

How I taught it so plainly so vividly so that you could almost see it like you were there.

I showed you how he did because of you and for you.

They received God the Holy Spirit (vv. 2–4)

This only would I learn of you,

Answer this question tell me this let me understand what you are thinking?

Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

When the holy spirit came into you when you were born again was it because you did something special ?

Or because you had faith and believed ?

It is important that we understand the work of the Spirit in salvation and Christian living. The Holy Spirit convicts the lost sinner and reveals Christ to him (). The sinner can resist the Spirit () or yield to the Spirit and trust Jesus Christ. When the sinner believes in Christ, he is then born of the Spirit () and receives new life. He is also baptized by the Spirit so that he becomes a part of the spiritual body of Christ (). The believer is sealed by the Spirit () as a guarantee that he will one day share in the glory of Christ.

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

This is a great verse to show that you are saved by grace and you are kept by faith.

People that do not believe in eternal security do not believe this verse.

It was grace a free gift.

Suppose you are out in the ocean on a cruise ship. And you way out and you get knocked off the boat you can swim and you are trying to tread water

And a motor boat comes by big motor boat speed boat. And the guy jumps out of the boat and does the backstroke and the australian crawl dn the breast stroke says this is how you do it gets back in the boat

Or what if he circles you and reads you a book about swimming and how to stay safe swimming and how to glide through the water

Blub blub

What if he reaches out grabs you pulls you into the boat and towels you off and on the way back to sore he throws you out because you are not sitting in the boat right?

You do not need and example you do not need instructions you need a savior.

You are not saved by works and you are not kept by works.

What can you add to the the work of christ what did he not do so you need to do.

You just have to get on the boat.

People say if they are saved they will change the bible even says that yes but the change is not what makes them saved it is not what ensures their place in heaven.

“You have begun in the Spirit,” writes Paul. “Nothing need be added! Walk in the Spirit and you will grow in the Lord.”

Gal_5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The more they worked the more paul doubted

He doubted their salvation but not the guy that was living in fornication.

Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

Pauls uses the word suffered as experienced some times or allow

Have you experienced so many things in vain?” The argument from Christian experience was a wise one with which to begin, because Paul had been with them when they had trusted Christ

Was that in vain if it be in vain was it worthless if it is worthless to trust christ if you also need circumcision ?

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

They experienced miracles from God the Father (v. 5)

The He in this verse refers to the Father as the One who ministers the Spirit and “worketh miracles among [them].”

The same Holy Spirit who came into the believer at conversion continues to work in him and through him so that the whole body is built up (see ; ).

The Father continues to supply the Spirit in power and blessing, and this is done by faith and not by the works of the Law.

These miracles would therefore include wonderful changes within the lives of the Christians, as well as signs and wonders within the church fellowship.

“Do you really believe the miracles in the Bible?” a skeptic asked a new Christian who had been a terrible drinker.

“Of course I do!” the believer replied.

The skeptic laughed. “Do you mean that you really believe that Jesus could turn water into wine?” he asked.

“I sure do! In my home He turned wine into food and clothing and furniture!”

The change the miracles that the Lord has done changing you perfecting you was it by works or faith ?

Let me ask you the miracles of overcoming sin that the Lord has done in your spiritual life was it by works or faith?

It comes when you stop fighting and yield to God through submission resting in him.

Scriptural Argument

Paul turns now from subjective experience to the objective evidence of the Word of God.

We never judge the Scriptures by our experience; we test our experience by the Word of God.

In the first section, Paul asked six questions; in this section

he will quote six Old Testament statements to prove that salvation is by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law.

Since the Judaizers wanted to take the believers back into the Law, Paul quotes the Law! And, since they magnified the place of Abraham in their religion, Paul uses Abraham as one of his witnesses!

Abraham was counted righteous by faith (vv. 6–7)

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

People try to remove faith from salvation you cannot do that old testament or new testament you get saved by trusting what god told you and doing that.

Believing God build a boat it is going to rain don't believe it ok die

Offer a lamb dont need to ok don't know what to tell you

Dip in the river no ok keep your leprosy

Can't remove faith and you cant remove the work of christ on the cross you cant remove the blood.

OT saints abraham's bosom till the blood was applied than he led captivity captive

Why did not go to heaven when died because no one can get there without the blood of christ.

No one will get there without faith.

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.

And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Counted and accounted mean imputed

Like when you add money to a jail account.

the same as imputed in

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

“to put to one’s account.” When the sinner trusts Christ, God’s righteousness is put to his account.

More than this, the believer’s sins are no longer put to his account (see ).

This means that the record is always clean before God, and therefore the believer can never be brought into judgment for his sins.

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

The Jewish people were very proud of their relationship with Abraham.

The trouble was, they thought that this relationship guaranteed them eternal salvation.

John the Baptist warned them that their physical descent did not guarantee spiritual life (). And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Jesus made a clear distinction between “Abraham’s seed” physically and “Abraham’s children” spiritually ().

Some people today still imagine that salvation is inherited. Because mother and father were godly people, the children are automatically saved. But this is not true. It has well been said, “God has no grandchildren.”

This salvation is for the Gentiles (vv. 8–9)

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Prophecy scripture foreseeing and the scripture preached in the beginning who is that talking about?

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.

The word heathen means gentiles

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

When you read God’s great covenant with Abraham in , you discover that many different blessings were promised—some personal, some national and political, and some universal and spiritual.

Certainly God did make Abraham’s name great; he is revered not only by Jews, but also by Christians,, and many others. God did multiply his descendants, and God did bless those who blessed Abraham.

He also judged those who cursed his descendants (Egypt, Babylon, and Rome are cases in point).

But the greatest blessings that God sent through Abraham and the Jewish nation have to do with our eternal salvation. Jesus Christ is that promised “`Seed,” through whom all the nations have been blessed

This salvation is by faith, not Law (vv. 10–12)

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Deu 27:26 Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.

You can't keep the whole law

It is so much and no matter how hard you try you will always fail some were.

And no matter how hard you try you will never be able to say I am righeous.

The law is not a cafeteria

It is a chain when on link is broken the whole chain is broken.

People think they can get to heaven by being good you can't be good

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

It is a curse

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Here he quotes habakuk

We do not live by what we do

I have often heard people say i wish there was a list that if I did this I could know

There is a list and you can't keep it.Humans broke the list when it was only do not eat that tree.

The just live by faith in God

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Some one says it takes faith to keep the law the law requires obedience not faith.

Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.

Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

Law says, “Do and live!” but grace says, “Believe and live!”

No one can get saved by works based righteous only faith based.

THe reason people do not feel guilty is they have no law they make up their morality.

This salvation comes through Christ (vv. 13–14)

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Here he summarizes everything he has been trying to say

Jesus redeemed us from that curse by being made a curse for us

Quotes deuteronomy

Deu 21:22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

Deu 21:23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

2Co_5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The Jews did not crucify criminals; they stoned them to death. But in cases of shameful violation of the Law, the body was hung on a tree and exposed for all to see. This was a great humiliation, because the Jewish people were very careful in their treatment of a dead body. After the body had been exposed for a time, it was taken down and buried

He bore our curse on the tree

1Pe_2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

how could these Judaizers ever convince the Galatian Christians that the way of Law was better than the way of grace?

Why would any believer deliberately want to choose bondage instead of liberty?

You would not unless you were bewitched

“to cast a spell, to fascinate.”

What is there about legalism that can so fascinate the Christian that he will turn from grace to Law?

For one thing, legalism appeals to the flesh. The flesh loves to be “religious”—to obey laws, to observe holy occasions, even to fast

nothing is wrong with obedience, fasting, or solemn times of spiritual worship, provided that the Holy Spirit does the motivating and the empowering. The flesh loves to boast about its religious achievements—how many prayers were offered, or how many gifts were given (see ; ).

Another Thing about legalism that fascinates people is the appeal to the senses.

Instead of worshiping God “in spirit and in truth” (),

the legalist invents his own system that satisfies his senses. He cannot walk by faith; he has to walk by sight and hearing and tasting and smelling and feeling.

The person who depends on religion can measure himself and compare himself with others. This is another fascination to legalism.

But the true believer measures himself with Christ, not other Christians ().

the legalist constantly boasts about his achievements and his converts ().

the fascination to the Law, but it is only bait that leads to a trap; and once the believer takes the bait, he finds himself in bondage.

Far better to take God at His Word and rest on His grace. We were saved “by grace, through faith” and we must live “by grace, through faith.” This is the way to blessing. The other way is the way to bondage.