The Bewitching
The Gospel Lens • Sermon • Submitted
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· 20 viewsA person becomes a Christian (follower and believer in Jesus Christ) by accepting the redemptive work of the cross by faith. We bank our whole existence and future on the truth of God's Word. Then we struggle to live our lives in that same faith that saved us in the first place. What steps do you need to take to become a person that walks by faith for "the righteous shall live by faith."
Notes
Transcript
One of the golden rules of leadership is delegation. Delegation is not dictation.
“Delegation is the multiplication of effort through the empowerment of others to achieve a common goal and vision.”
A good leader says, “I will do only what I can do.” Delegation keeps the leader focused on the vision while empowering others in the mission. God empowers us in much the same way. We can do certain things, but there are certain things that only God can do.
Last week, we learned one of the things we cannot do, which is justifying ourselves before God. Justification is the work of God alone. All we can do is receive it by faith.
When we take on the work of justification we assume the place and work of God. Our work for the Lord come after we receive his work of justification from our sins. God’s work of justification allows us to live by faith.
The gospel is the redemptive work of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ to reconcile humanity back into a loving relationship with God.
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Many Christians struggle to accept and live in the simplicity of the gospel, which leads to Paul's argument in chapter three.
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
In this chapter, Paul poses five rhetorical questions to help us understand that the same Spirit with the power to save and justify is the same Spirit by which we live.
5 Rhetorical Questions:
Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth (KJV)?
to deceive with black magic
Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, does the flesh now perfect you?
Did you suffer so many things in vain, if indeed it was in vain?
Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?
“Understanding the faith that saved us allows us to live by faith in the Spirit.”
The Gospel of Faith
The Gospel of Faith
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Faith has always been the gospel message.
Faith has always been the gospel message.
Even through the promise of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
God uses faith to justify the ungodly.
God uses faith to justify the ungodly.
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
God revealed his love, mercy, and grace to sinners through the death of his Son Jesus Christ.
We choose the receive God’s love, mercy, and grace through faith in Christ Jesus.
God justifies the ungodly through faith in the righteousness of of his Son Jesus.
God indwells and empowers the believers through the promised Spirit.
We receive the blessing of the Spirit through faith.
We receive the blessing of the Spirit through faith.
14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
The Curse of the Law
The Curse of the Law
The law reveals the curse but cannot save.
The law reveals the curse but cannot save.
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Your good is never good enough.
Your good will never remove the curse of the law.
Jesus delivers us from the curse of the law.
Jesus delivers us from the curse of the law.
12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
The Righteous shall live by faith.
The Righteous shall live by faith.
Cited in both the Old and the New Testament.
4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
The most significant lesson that Jesus taught his disciples was to walk by faith. Jesus knew that would be impossible to please God if they couldn’t or wouldn’t live by faith. And just like many of us, the disciples were confused on what a walk of faith really looked like. So, I want to give you 3 practical steps to get you started walking by faith.
What does it practically look like to live by faith?
What does it practically look like to live by faith?
Build your faith by hearing and heading God's Word. (Romans 10:14)
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Core Value: Bible Believers, "Submitting to the authority of the Bible for all life and practice."
How much is your life a reflection of the truths and principles of the Bible?
What thoughts do I need to adjust to having a biblical worldview?
2. Believe that God is who he says he is and does what he says. (Hebrews 11:6, James 1:5-8)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Core Value: God Pleaser, "Trusting God with every aspect of our lives as we join him in his work.
How much do you depend on yourself versus how much you depend on God?
What situation do you need to relinquish control and place back in the hands of God?
Live in the expectation of God-sized miracles. (Mark 9:21-24)
21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
Pray in faith and expectation that your Heavenly Father will do more than you could ever dream or imagine.
3. Live under the guidance and authority of the Spirit of God.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Are you content with the life you can make, or would you rather live in the miracles of God?
What is the Spirit leading you to do? (There is usually some fear to overcome or some mountain to climb.)
When will you begin to follow the Spirit with your whole heart?
