Galatians # 7 Gal 3-9 thru 3-14
Turn with me to GALATIANS 3, and we’re going to pick up where we left off last time.
I) GAL 3:9-10
A) In (V 9) Paul says, “So then they, which be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
1) In (V 7) Paul says, “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.”
(a) We are the children of Abraham. And because we are the children of Abraham we are also partakers of the Abrahamic Covenant, sometimes referred to as the Blessing of Abraham. (GAL 3:14)
2) In (GEN 12:3) God told Abraham that he would bless those that bless him and curse those that curse him.
(a) This is part of the Blessing of Abraham and it belongs to all those that are of the family of God, those that have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
(b) When He says that He would bless those that bless us, He’s saying that anytime someone does something good to you; God will bless them for it.
3) But He also says in this same V that He would curse those that curse you.
(a) This spiritual law is also in operation. If someone does something evil or wrong to you that same thing is going to come upon them.
B) Back in (GAL 3:9) The KJV says, “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.”
1) The word “Faithful” would be better translated “BELIEVING.”
2) The NIV translation does an excellent job translating this V, it says, “So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”
II) Let’s read GAL 3:10 again.
A) In this V Paul is telling us that the curse will come upon all those that you not keep the Law in its entirety.
1) What is the CURSE OF THE LAW?
(a) In (DEUT 28) the 1st part of the chapter is the Blessings of Abraham, but the last ½ is the CURSE OF THE LAW, which is POVERTY, SICKNESS, and DEATH.
B) GAL 3:11-12
1) The NIV words (V 10) like this, “Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
(a) No one is able to keep the Law in its entirety, so the Law can justify no one.
(i) The Law could make someone righteous, but no one could keep it in its entirety.
(ii) If you break the Law in 1 point, then you’re guilty of the whole Law. And open the door for the curse of the Law to come upon you.
(b) In (V 11) Paul makes it clear how to be justified. He says, “The Just shall line by faith.”
(i) Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only thing that is going to make a person justified.
2) Let me ask you this. Didn’t James say, “Abraham was justified by his works?”
(a) Yes he did.
3) (James 2:21) Says, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” KJV
(a) That was a work.
(b) There’s 2 ways to look at this. 1st Abraham’s work did not justify him before God; it justified him before man. People need to see our faith in God so they can glorify God.
(i) Jesus said in (Matthew 5:16) “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” KJV
(c) But the 2nd way to look at this goes along with something that James also said in (JAMES 2:26) “Faith without works is dead.”
(i) Because you have faith in God you’re going to do what God says, because you know that if you do what God says it will always work out for the best.
(ii) If you don’t put works with your faith, you really don’t have faith.
(iii) In other words because you believe God you’re going to do what He says.
III) GAL 3:13-14
A) The 1st part of (V 13) says that Christ has redeemed us from the Curse of the Law.
1) What was the curse of the Law?
(a) Poverty, sickness, and spiritual death.
2) How did Jesus take this from us?
(a) By being made a curse for us.
B) Jesus took the curse for us.
1) Since He was absolute righteousness, He had to become guilty of sin.
(a) He never sinned, but our sins were placed on Him.
2) Since He was the picture of God’s health, He had to become Sickness.
3) Since He had the Riches of Heaven, He had to lay aside those riches and become poverty for us.
4) And since He was truly alive unto God, He had to die for us.
(a) Jesus paid the price of sin for us so that we wouldn’t have to.
C) Why did Jesus do it?
1) GAL 3:14
(a) Jesus paid the price for us so that we could have the blessing of Abraham. (DEUT 28)
(b) Instead of POVERTY we could have PROSPERITY.
(c) Instead of SICKNESS we could have DIVINE HEALTH.
(d) Instead of SPIRITUAL DEATH we could have SPIRITUAL LIFE.
2) The last ½ of (V 14) Says, “That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
3) Salvation, the Promises of God and the Blessings of Abraham come through Faith in God.
Galatians#7 Gal 3:9-3:14.docx
WOLCC Thursday 4/10/97