GALATIANS 3:6-14

“BLESSED OR CURSED”

HAVING APPEALED TO THE GALATIAN’S XIAN EXPERIENCE, PAUL NOW DIRECTS THEIR ATTENTION TO THE WITNESS OF THE SCRIPTURES.

HIS ARGUMENT IS THAT THE SCRIPTURES SPEAK OF WHAT HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THEM TO REALIZE. HE IS REPEATEDLY TELLING THE GALATIANS THAT FAITH, NOT WORKS, IS THE MEANS OF GAINING A RIGHT STANDING BEFORE GOD.

AND HE BEGINS THAT WITH A TESTIMONY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONCERNING THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM IN VS 6-9 THEN FOLLOWS IT UP WITH A STATEMENT CONCERNING THE CURSE OF THE LAW IN VS 10-14.

SO IN VS 6-9 WE SEE THE JUSTIFICATION OF ABRAHAM: JUSTIFICATION IS THE ACT OF GOD WHEREBY HE DECLARES THE BELIEVING SINNER RIGHTEOUS IN JESUS CHRIST.

THE ARGUMENT HERE WOULD GET THE ATTENTION OF THE JUDAIZERS BECAUSE IT WAS THE CUSTOM OF THE RABBIS TO SETTLE THEIR CONTROVERSIES BY WHAT THEY FOUND IN ABRAHAM’S LIFE STORY.

THE REASON ABRAHAM HAS SO MUCH CLOUT IS THAT GOD USED ABRAHAM TO BRING ABOUT THE JEWISH NATION. HE WAS HIGHLY RESPECTED BY ALL JEWS AS THE FOUNDER OF THE RACE AND WAS LOOKED UPON BY THEM AS A RIGHTEOUS MAN AND WAS CONSIDERED BETTER THAN ALL OTHERS.

PAUL AFFIRMS THAT THIS PATRIARCH WAS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH AND ARGUES FROM THIS THAT ONLY THOSE OF LIKE FAITH PARTICIPATE WITH HIM IN YAHWEH’S BLESSINGS.

PAUL IS COMPARING THE EXPERIENCE OF ABRAHAM WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF THE GALATIANS WHICH ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME. EACH OF THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH GOD CONFIRM EACH OTHER.

PAUL USES THE ABRAHAM STORY TO MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS: (1) ABRAHAM’S RIGHTEOUS STANDING BEFORE GOD OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE INSTITUTION OF CIRCUMCISION AND THE LAW GIVEN TO MOSES. (2) ABRAHAM’S RIGHTEOUS STANDING BEFORE GOD WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GRACIOUS DECLARATION OF GOD, IN ACCEPTANCE OF ABRAHAM’S BELIEF. SO THE TYPICAL JEW IS TO BE VIEWED AS ONE WHO RECEIVED HIS PLACE IN SACRED HISTORY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH!

V6 CONCLUDES THAT CONTRARY TO THE JUDAIZERS VIEWS, THE TRUE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM MUST BE THOSE WHO ENTER INTO PEACE WITH GOD IN THE SAME WAY AS ABRAHAM, WHICH IS STATED IN VS7.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible B. The Argument from Scripture (3:6–18)

Paul’s utilization of the Abraham story is basically designed to make two major points: (1) Abraham’s righteous standing before God occurred prior to the institution of circumcision and the Mosaic law; (2) Abraham’s righteous standing before God was made possible through a gracious declaration of God, in acceptance of Abraham’s belief. Thus, the prototypical Jew is to be viewed as one who received his place in sacred history by grace through faith!

ABRAHAM’S EXAMPLE OF EFFECTIVE FAITH IS SHOWN IN GOD JUSTIFYING HIM; AND THIS …RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS… OCCURRED BEFORE THE CIRCUMCISION WAS INSTITUTED AND EVEN CENTURIES BEFORE REVEALING THE LAW. THE OLD COVENANT, AS WELL AS THE NEW, HAS FAITH IN THE PROMISE OF GOD AS ITS FUNCTIONING ELEMENT.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible B. The Argument from Scripture (3:6–18)

Using a quotation from Genesis 15:6 (LXX), Paul recites what he believed to be the most explicit statement concerning God’s means for justifying humankind: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (v. 6).

SO PAUL POINTS BACK TO ABRAHAM AS A WITNESS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH. REMEMBER, ABRAHAM IS THE FOUNDING FATHER OF THE JEWISH RACE; LIVING LONG BEFORE MOSES INTRODUCED THE LAW. ABRAHAM’S FAITH IS SEEN AS A READINESS TO SURRENDER WITHOUT RESERVATION TO THE WORD OF THE LORD, REGARDLESS OF HOW INCREDIBLE IT SEEMED.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible B. The Argument from Scripture (3:6–18)

On the basis of the proposition in verse 6 Paul concludes that, contrary to Judaizing views, the true children of Abraham must be those who enter into peace with God in the same way as Abraham (v. 7). Abraham becomes the prime example of the effectiveness of faith since his justification occurred prior to the ceremonial rite of circumcision, and centuries before the revealing of the law (see Gal. 3:17). The old covenant, as well as the new, has faith in the promise of God as its operative element

GOD INVITED ABRAHAM TO BELIEVE THAT HE WOULD GIVE HIM MANY DESCENDANTS AND MAKE HIM A GREAT NATION. THIS WAS A HUGE LEAP OF FAITH, BECAUSE BOTH ABRAHAM AND HIS WIFE WERE OLD AND CHILDLESS. AND WITH THAT BEING THE CASE THEN HOW COULD HE HAVE DESCENDANTS? BUT ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD;

READ

DO THE GALATIANS SEE WHAT PAUL IS SAYING? THAT IS; BEING RIGHT WITH GOD DOES NOT COME FROM KEEPING THE LAW. THERE WAS NO LAW IN ABRAHAM’S TIME. NOR DOES IT COME FROM CIRCUMCISION.

ABRAHAM WAS RIGHT WITH GOD BEFORE HE WAS CIRCUMCISED. SO WHERE DOES RIGHTEOUSNESS COME FROM? IT IS GOD’S GIFT TO US WHEN WE REPENT OF OUR SINS AND BELIEVE IN HIM

GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO BE SAVED THROUGH FAITH. HE CALLED ABRAHAM TO BE THE FATHER OF A NATION, SO THAT HE COULD BLESS ALL THE NATIONS THROUGH HIM. FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST ARE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM, NOT BECAUSE THEY BELONG TO HIS RACE, BUT BECAUSE THEY SHARE HIS FAITH.

The Bible Guide Abraham Shows the Importance of Faith (3:6–9)

Paul brings Abraham as a witness to the importance of faith. Abraham, after all, is the founding father of the Jewish race—living long before Moses introduced the law.

God invited Abraham to believe that he would give him many descendants and make him a great nation. This was a mighty leap of faith, because both Abraham and his wife were old and childless. But Abraham believed God, and his faith was ‘credited to him as righteousness’ (Genesis 15:6).

Do the Galatians see what Paul is saying? Being right with God doesn’t come from keeping the law. There was no law in Abraham’s time. Nor does it come from circumcision. Abraham was right with God before he was circumcised. So where does righteousness come from? It is God’s gift to us when we believe in him.

God wants everyone to be saved through faith. He called Abraham to be the father of a nation, so that he could bless all the nations through him. God’s people are the children of Abraham, not because they belong to his race, but because they share his faith.

IF WE LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS WORD RECKONED; IT MEANS TO CREDIT OR CHARGE SOMETHING TO ONE’S ACCOUNT. THE THOUGHT IS THAT GOD ACCEPTED ABRAHAM’S FAITH AS EQUIVALENT TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

SO ABRAHAM ENTERED INTO HIS PARTICULAR BLESSING BY REALIZING THAT HE COULD DO NOTHING FOR HIMSELF, CONFESSING TO GOD, COUNTING ON GOD TO DO WHAT HE COULD NOT AND IT WAS THIS ATTITUDE ALONE IS WHAT IS ‘RIGHT STANDING’ WITH GOD. BECAUSE ANY OTHER ATTITUDE IS STUBBORN PRIDE AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THIS THOUGHT IS DEVELOPED MORE FULLY IN WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A FEW VERSES OF AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ CHAPTER 4 THIS WEEK FOR YOUR QUIET TIME WITH THE LORD.

NOW THIS CHAPTER HAS 25 VERSES; SO IF YOU WILL READ 5 VERSES EACH DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY YOU WILL READ THE ENTIRE CHAPTER. BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT TONIGHT OR MONDAY THAT YOU READ THE ENTIRE CHAPTER FIRST THEN BREAK IT DOWN THE REST OF THE WEEK.

TURN WITHE ME TO READ 4:1-8

SO PAUL LAID DOWN HIS BASIC FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH AND NOW HE WILL SHOW THE RELEVANCE OF ABRAHAM’S EXPERIENCE TO THE GALATIAN’S EXPERIENCE.

MOST LIKELY A MAJORITY OF THE READERS OF THIS LETTER WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT AS PAUL WAS. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WHETHER THE GALATIANS WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE O.T. OR NOT, THE O.T. AND THE O.T. ALONE, WAS THE BIBLE OF THE FIRST CENTURY NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

WHEN TEXT OF SCRIPTURE WHERE USED IT WAS FROM THE O.T. AND ADDING INCIDENTS AND SAYINGS FROM THE LIFE OF JESUS TO SHOW HOW JESUS FULFILLED THESE O.T. SCRIPTURES.

READ VS 7-9

SO PAUL SHOWS THAT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM CAN ACTUALLY BE CALLED THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM. …ARE OF FAITH…MEANS BELIEVERS. BELIEVE, LIKE ABRAHAM, COMMIT THEMSELVES TO GOD; THESE AND THESE ONLY.

AND THE …SONS OF ABRAHAM…ARE SPIRITUAL DESCENDANTS. REMEMBER THE JUDAIZERS TAUGHT THAT TO BECOME ‘SONS OF ABRAHAM’ (HEIRS OF THE PROMISE) THEY HAD TO BE CIRCUMCISED, TO BECOME JEWS.

PAUL TAUGHT THAT CIRCUMCISION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT, THAT SPIRITUAL KINSHIP, NOT PHYSICAL DESCENT, IS THE DETERMINING FACTOR.

AND SINCE KINSHIP WITH ABRAHAM DEPENDS ON FAITH, THE PROMISE GIVEN TO HIM AND HIS DESCENDANTS CAN BE SHARED BY BELIEVING GENTILES; WHICH PAUL CONFIRMS IN VS8 SAYING THIS IS THE TEACHING OF THE SCRIPTURES.

THE STATEMENT IS THAT JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN GOD’S RULE OF ACTION IS FOR EVERY AGE. WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY IS THAT ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOU…(ABRAHAM)

SO WE CAN SHARE IN ABRAHAM’S BLESSING BY JOINING ABRAHAM’S FAMILY. GOD’S BLESSING OF ABRAHAM IS EXTENDED TO OTHERS THROUGH ABRAHAM. NOT MOHAMMED OR BUDDHA, OR OPRAH OR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OR YOUR FINANCES OR YOUR STRENGTH OR OUR CHURCH AND MOST ASSUREDLY NOT THROUGH ME. IT ONLY COMES THROUGH ABRAHAM.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO BE A MAN OR WOMAN OF FAITH LIKE ABRAHAM? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE A CHRIST-FOCUSED FAITH. WE WOULD BE MISTAKEN TO MAKE ABRAHAM INTO A DIVINE BEING OR HAVING SOME HIGHER POWER.

WHAT IT MEANT FOR ABRAHAM TO BELIEVE IN GOD WHO HAD SPOKEN A VERY SPECIFIC WORD TO HIM, A WORD OF PROMISE. BUT NOW, IN THESE LAST DAYS, GOD HAS SPOKEN TO US THROUGH HIS SON.

…IN THESE LAST DAYS HAS SPOKEN TO US IN HIS SON, WHOM HE APPOINTED HEIR OF ALL THINGS, THROUGH WHOM ALSO HE MADE THE WORLD…

JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO HAS DIED AND WAS RAISED AND NOW SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD AND WILL ONE DAY RETURN TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD; AND IT IS JESUS IN WHOM ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE BOTH YES AND AMEN. AND SO TO BE A PERSON OF FAITH, AND AS A RESULT A CHILD OF ABRAHAM, IS TO LIVE A LIFE OF FAITH THAT IS FOCUSED ON ALL THAT GOD HAS PROMISED TO DO FOR US AND FOR THE WORLD IN HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.

SO WHEN WE EXERCISE THE SAME FAITH AS ABRAHAM WE ARE JUSTIFIED AND ARE A TRUE FOLLOWER AND A CHILD OF GOD. THIS IS FAITH FOR SALVATION, RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD AND GODLY CHARACTER.

GOD DEALS WITH ALL PERSONS ON THE SAME MORAL BASIS. GOD IS NOT INFLUENCED WITH A PERSON’S STATUS, WEALTH, ETC.

VS8 IS PAUL’S ANSWER TO THE FALSE ASSUMPTION OF THE JUDAIZERS.

AS A RESULT OF GOD FORESEEING THAT HE WOULD JUSTIFY THE GENTILES BY FAITH ANNOUNCED THE GOSPEL TO ABRAHAM, A MESSAGE THAT WAS TO BE RECEIVED BY FAITH.

WHAT WAS THIS GOOD NEWS ANNOUNCED TO ABRAHAM? THAT SOME DAY THE SAVIOR WOULD ARISE OUT OF HIS NATION ISRAEL, AND THAT THE GENTILES WOULD BE SAVED THROUGH HIM AS ABRAHAM WAS SAVED.

AND AS A RESULT, JESUS SAID IN …YOUR FATHER ABRAHAM REJOICED TO SEE MY DAY, AND HE SAW IT AND WAS GLAD...

ABRAHAM WAS TO BECOME THE PATTERN TO ALL WHO WOULD FOLLOW, AND HOW EVERY SINNER, JEW OR GENTILE MUST RECEIVE SALVATION. AND THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, ITS MEANING IS THAT GOD’S WAY, THAT IS SALVATION THROUGH FAITH, REMAINS THIS WAY FOR ALL TIME.

IN OTHER WORDS; A PERSON IS JUSTIFIED BY FAITH ALONE, AS ANNOUNCED TO ABRAHAM BEFORE HE WAS CIRCUMCISED, THEREFORE, CIRCUMCISION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF SALVATION.

READ VS 10-12

SALVATION COULD NEVER COME BY OBEDIENCE TO LAW BECAUSE THE LAW BRINGS A CURSE, NOT A BLESSING. YOU SEE, THE COVENANT MADE WITH ABRAHAM WAS NOT MADE BY MAN. IT WAS MADE BY GOD. THEREFORE THE LAW COULD NOT ABOLISH IT. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE LAW IS NOT ABLE TO BRING ABOUT THE PROMISE MADE TO ABRAHAM.

THAT INASMUCH AS IT IS IN ABRAHAM THAT ALL NATIONS WERE TO BE BLESSED, THIS COULD ONLY HAPPEN WITH CIRCUMCISION.

AGAIN, PAUL ASSERTS THE FACT THAT THE JUSTIFICATION OF ABRAHAM CAME FROM GOD THROUGH FAITH AND THAT IT WILL THROUGH THE SAME FAITH THAT THE GENTILES BECOME SPIRITUAL CHILDREN.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LAW WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY WAY TO REVEAL SIN AND THAT MAN WAS POWERLESS TO OVERCOME SIN WITHOUT FAITH IN GOD.

…BECAUSE BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT; FOR THROUGH THE LAW COMES THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN…

…WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN? IS THE LAW SIN? MAY IT NEVER BE! ON THE CONTRARY, I WOULD NOT HAVE COME TO KNOW SIN EXCEPT THROUGH THE LAW; FOR I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT COVETING IF THE LAW HAD NOT SAID, YOU SHALL NOT COVET…

WARREN WIERSBE WRITES…NOBODY COULD EVER LIVE ‘BY LAW’ BECAUSE THE LAW KILLS AND SHOWS THE SINNER HE IS GUILTY BEFORE GOD...

NOBODY COULD EVER

THE LAW WAS TO REVEAL TO US THAT WE ARE SINNERS AND WERE GIVEN TO LEAD US TO CHRIST, IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. FOR THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST THE MIRACLE OF BEING MADE ONE WITH HIM, THEN WE ALL BECOME THE SONS OF GOD.

WHAT PAUL IS TRYING TO HAMMER HOME FOR THE GALATIANS AND US TODAY IS THAT HE WANTS US TO ENJOY A RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE, FREEDOM AND LIFE BY FAITH IN CHRIST.

TO GO BACK TO THE LAW IS TO LOSE EVERYTHING EXCITING THAT THE XIAN CAN EXPERIENCE IN DAILY FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD. THE LAW CANNOT GIVE LIFE, AND IT CANNOT GIVE LIBERTY. SO WHY, THEN GO BACK INTO THE LAW?

WELL VS 13-14 SUMMARIZE FOR US ALL THAT PAUL HAS BEEN SAYING IN THIS SECTION.

DOES THE LAW PUT SINNERS UNDER A CURSE?

THEN CHRIST HAS REDEEMED US FROM THAT CURSE!

DO YOU WANT THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM? IT COMES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

DO YOU WANT THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT, BUT YOU ARE A GENTILE? THIS GIFT IS GIVEN THROUGH CHRIST TO THE GENTILES!

ALL THAT WE NEED IS FOUND IN CHRIST! THERE IS NO REASON TO GO BACK TO MOSES.

PAUL QUOTES …FOR HE WHO IS HANGED IS ACCURSED OF GOD...

HERE IS THE THING. 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 HUMILIATING TO THE JEWS BECAUSE THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE VERY CAREFUL IN THIER TREATMENT OF A DEAD BODY. AFTER THE BODY HAD BEEN EXPOSED FOR A TIME, IT WAS TAKEN DOWN AND BURIED.

TELLS US…HE HANGED THE KING OF Ai ON A TREE UNTILE EVING; AND AT SUNSET JOSHUA GAVE COMMAND AND THEY TOOK HIS BODY DOWN FROM THE TREE… AND IN

IT SAYS…SO AFTERWARD JOSHUA STRUCK THEM AND PUT THEM TO DEATH, AND HE HANGED THEM ON FIVE TREES; AND THEY HUNG ON THE TREES UNTIL EVENING...

NOW, PAUL’S REFERENCE TO A ‘TREE’ RELATES TO THE CROSS ON WHICH JESUS DIED. SAYS…AND HE HIMSELF BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE CROSS, THAT WE MIGHT DIE TO SIN AND LIVE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS; FOR BY HIS WOUNDS YOU WERE HEALED...

JESUS WAS NOT STONED AND THEN HIS DEAD BODY EXPOSED; NO, HE WAS NAILED ALIVE TO A TREE AND LEFT THERE TO DIE. BUT BY DOING SO HE BORE THE CURSE OF THE LAW SO THAT THE BELIEVER IS NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW AND ITS CURSE.

THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM…(JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH AND THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT) IS NOW OURS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

IN THE NASB THE SECOND WORD IN VS13 IS…REDEEMED. THIS MEANS TO PURCHASE A SLAVE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SETTING HIM FREE.

THE AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION SAYS…CHRIST PURCHASED OUR FREEDOM FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW...

LISTEN AND HEAR WHAT I AM ABOUT TO SAY; BY SHEDDING HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS, JESUS PURCHASED US THAT WE MIGHT BE SET FREE.

TELLS US…AND ACCORDING TO THE LAW, ONE MAY ALMOST SAY, ALL THINGS ARE CLEANSED WITH BLOOD, AND WITHOUT SHEDDING OF BLOOD THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS...

REMEMBER JUDAIZERS WANTED SLAVERY BUT CHRIST DIED TO SET THEM FREE. SALVATION IS NOT EXCHANGING ONE FORM OF BONDAGE FOR ANOTHER. SALVATION IS BEING SET FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN AND THE LAW INTO THE FREEDOM OF GOD’S GRACE THROUGH CHRIST.

SO THE BIG QUESTION IS; HOW COULD ANYONE WHO IS A TRUE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST BE CONVINCED THAT THE LAW WAS BETTER THAN GRACE?

WHAT IS THERE ABOUT LEGALISM THAT CAN FASCINATE THE TRUE XIAN TO TURN FROM GRACE TO LAW?

WELL, LEGALISM APPEALS TO THE FLESH: THE FLESH LOVES TO BE RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL. TO OBEY LAWS, TO OBSERVE HOLY OCCASIONS, OR EVEN FAST. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE FINE 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, HOW MANY GIFTS WERE GIVEN, OR HOW MUCH TIME DOING RELIGIOUS THINGS.

NOT ONLY DOES THE FLESH LOVE ATTENTION BUT ITS LEGALISM APPEALS TO THE SENSES. INSTEAD OF WORSHIPING THE LORD, ‘IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH’, THE LEGALIST INVENTS THEIR OWN SYSTEM THAT SATISFIES THEIR SENSES.

SUCH AS NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK BY FAITH BUT NEEDING TO WALK BY SIGHT, AND HEARING AND TASTING, AND SMELLING, AND FEELING.

YES, TRUE SPIRITUAL WORSHIP DOES NOT DENY THESE SENSED BUT IT MUST BE THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT DRIVES THESE AND NOT THE FLESH THAT DRIVES THESE SENSES.

THE PERSON WHO DEPENDS ON RELIGION CAN MEASURE THEMSELVES AND COMPARE THEMSELF WITH OTHERS. THIS IS ANOTHER DRIVING FORCE OF LEGALISM.

BUT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN; THE TRUE BELIEVER AND FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST MEASURES THEMSELF WITH CHRIST, NOT OTHER XIANS.

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR PRIDE IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFESTYLE OF A CHRISTIAN WHO LIVES BY GRACE; BUT THE LEGALIST CONSTANTLY BOASTS ABOUT ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONVERTS.

FRIENDS, BECOMING A BELIEVING FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST WE SHOULD BE LIKE ABRAHAM IN THAT WE WILL NEED TO GO, WE WILL NEED TO LEAVE AND WE WILL NEED TO SEEK.

GOD’S FIRST WORDS TO ABRHAM WAS ‘GO.’ WE TO MUST GO, GO OUT FROM THE WORLD IN ORDER TO BE SET APART FOR GOD, NO LONGER CONFORMED TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD.

WE ALSO NEED TO LEAVE; WE NEED TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO THE LIFE WE HAVE IMAGINED FOR OURSELVES; THE COMFORTS, THE PERKS, THE BENEFITS. INSTEAD IT WILL MEAN GOING WITH JESUS OUTSIDE THE CAMP TO BEAR THE DISAPPROVAL THAT JESUS ENDURED.

BUT WE WILL ONLY GO AND LEAVE IF WE ARE SEEKING A BETTER FUTURE FROM GOD. ABRAHAM LIVED A LIFE AS A NOMAD BECAUSE HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY THAT HAS FOUNDATIONS, WHOSE DESIGNER AND BUILDER IS GOD. ()

SO YOU AND I NEED TO HAVE OUR HEARTS SET ON THE JOURNEY, NOT SETTLING DOWN AS THOUGH THIS PLACE WERE LASTING FOREVER.

…FOR HERE WE DO NOT HAVE A LASTING CITY, BUT WE ARE SEEKING THE CITY WHICH IS TO COME...

THAT IS THE BELIEVERS HOPE, A CITY THAT IS TO COME. NOT SIMPLY GOING TO HEAVEN WHEN WE DIE BUT TO INHABIT A REAL CITY THAT WILL BE THE FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S BLESSING TO ABRAHAM.

TURN WITH ME TO

READ VS 1-8, THEN 22:3-5; 17

SO THE QUESTION FOR US THIS MORNING IS...

DO YOU WANT TO THE CURSE OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST SO THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH?

PRAY: