Untitled Sermon (8)

If you grew up in church for any amount of time you most likely learned a song that got stuck in your head for days on end. It was the song “Father Abraham.” You probably learned in in some VBS or Sunday School class. Do you remember how that song goes?

“Father Abraham, had many sons...

Had many sons, had father Abraham,

I am one of them, and so are you,

So, Let’s just praise the Lord...”

It’s a simple little song…so simple that I would bet that many of you wont be able to take your Sunday afternoon nap today because you lay down and it’ll be stuck in your head on loop...

But even though it’s a simple little song, that doesnt mean that it doesnt contain some seriously deep truth. You see, this song teaches us exactly what Paul is trying to help this church in Galatia understand. You see, years before Paul wrote this letter to the church in Galatia, he had preached the gospel of grace to them…and they believed it! And in that moment, they were saved, sanctified, and secured. They were transferred from the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of Christ—not by works of the law—but through faith in Christ.

But as it often happens…these new Christians began to have some doubts. At some point the church in Galatia began to doubt the sufficiency of Christ’s completed work. They began to say things like, “Yes…what Christ did was absolutely necessary …but surely I have to do something to earn it right?” I mean Christ’s obedience is well and good, but surely we have to be obedient too right? I mean, what about all those laws God gave? If we are saved purely by grace through faith—if our salvation isnt based on our performance—then why did God go through so much trouble to give all those laws in the OT?

Listen…these are good questions. They arent just questions that the church in Galatia wrestled with…these are questions that we wrestle with...

Maybe you have been here the entire time we have been studying though this book and youve heard me preach every week on how salvation is by faith grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone…and maybe you have been silently wondering to yourself…Well yea, I know that’s what baptists teach…but is it really true? I mean, what about the Old Testament? Werent people saved by their works back then? And if we are just saved by faith, then why does God give so many commands if they really arent what qualify us to get to heaven? If the gospel is true—then why did God even give us His Law in the first place?

You ever asked yourself that question?

Well, if you have…Galatians 3:15-29 is for you...

You see, what we find in this passage this morning is that the purpose of God’s Law is to point us toward our need in the gospel and make us dependent upon His promises—which is the gospel.

AGAIN: Here is how the Law and the Gospel relate:

The Purpose of God’s Law is to point us toward our need in the Gospel and make us dependent upon God’s Promises—which is the gospel.

Paul shows us this first by telling us that God’s Promise (or Covenant) to Abraham…which came first, wasnt nullified by the Law—which was given through Moses nearly

Galatians 3:15 ESV

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified.

Paul begins by using an illustration…even man-made covenants arent changeable…once two people establish a “will” they are legally bound to that contract no matter what happens afterwards. Nothing can legally change that contract or that promise. Why does Paul say this? It’s because he wants the church in Galatia to understand that when God made his promises to Abraham, that they werent canceled out by his Law that he later established through Moses.

Dont let me loose you here…I know that’s wordy stuff…but just follow what Paul writes,

Galatians 3:15–18 ESV

15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

I know this is wordy…but just follow Paul’s logic...

First, v.16 God made promises to Abraham…what were those promises?

Genesis 12:1–3 ESV

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.”

Genesis 15:1–6 ESV

1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

The promise was made to Abraham and his offspring…who is Christ as Paul says...

Some translations use the word “seed” instead of offspring...

This word points us back to Genesis 3:15, where God promises to provide an offspring of Eve that would crush the head of Satan...

Throughout the rest of the story of the Old Testament, that “seed” gets narrower and narrower…its like a telescope that zooms in closer and closer....

It starts with the promise of a seed…could be anyone

Then it moves to Abrahams Family…so not any family…but Abraham’s family

Then it moves to the tribe of Judah…not any of the 12 tribes…just the tribe of Judah

Then it moves to King David’s family, so not any family in the tribe of Judah…just from David’s lineage...

then it moves to the one…Christ.

So God’s promise…all along was that he would send an offspring of Abraham who would bless all who would believe through him. God’s promise was the gospel…that sinners can be forgiven and set free through faith in Christ Jesus.

And then…the law came…

v. 17: You see Paul knew that people would wonder that since the law came after the Promise that it had changed how someone received the promise.

“Well, I know it was given to Abraham by a promise…but God must have changed his mind…and that’s why he gave the law.”

But Paul’s point in this passage is simply this…God didnt change his mind when he gave the law through Moses 430 years after he made a covenant with Abraham.

Paul says it clearly in v. 18...

Galatians 3:18 ESV

18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

This is the message of the gospel…it is a promise that God made to send One who would save sinners and set them through faith…and that one is Christ.

What this means for us is this: God’s blessing of salvation and justification does not come not through our performance…but through His promises...

Therefore God doesn't justify anyone by what they do or dont do…he justifies purely by his grace. His promise of salvation cant be earned…it must be recieved as a gift, by faith. Therefore, since you didnt earn your justification…it means you cant lose it.

SO REST in what Christ has done...It’s good news…it means that you dont have to worry about where you stand with God…you stand secure that what Christ did for you was enough...

When Satan and self remind you of sin…you remind him that you have been saved…not through your performance…but through God’s promise...

You see, when God made His promise to Abraham way back in Genesis 15:1-6 the passage we read early…Abraham asks a natural question…

Genesis 15:8 ESV

8 But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”

—>“Oh God…how can i be sure that you are going to keep your word?”

Abraham needed assurance…and God wasnt bothered by his request...

So to give Abraham assurance, God makes a covenant with Abraham...

God tells Abraham to get a cow, a goat, a ram, a dove, and a pigeon…he commanded Abraham to cut them in two and set them oppositte to each other…forming an center aisle down the middle of the divided animals…This is weird to us…but in Abraham’s time…this would have been the common way for covenants to be signed. Two parties would make promises to each other…and then walk through the middle of these divided animals…It was a vivid way for the two parties to communicate to each other that they would rather be cut up and cut off rather than break their agreement.

but what is interesting about the Covenant with Abraham is that Abraham never walks between the halves...

Instead…Genesis tells us that Abraham did absolutely nothing…in fact He feel asleep!

What Genesis tells us is that God Himself is the only one who passes through the animals…Abraham never does...

And whats the point?

The point is that God was communicating that his promises were in no way dependent upon Abraham, but only on His faithfulness! He would accomplish all that was neccessary to bless Abraham. He would fulfill his promises no matter what conditions changed. God was saying to Abraham…and to us... I would rather die than not keep my promise toward you…and you know what…that’s exactly what he would go on to do...

The ironic thing is…God did die to keep his promises toward us...

You see on the last night of Jesus’ life…God proved how committed he was to keeping his promise. As Jesus sat their at the table with his disciples…He was trying to explain to them this truth…That God always keeps his promises…no matter what…he was showing them that their was nothing that He was unwilling to do to keep his promises that he had made.

And so he took bread and he broke it…and he said…this is my body which is broken for you…take this and eat in remembrance of me.

And then he took a cup of wine…and held it up…and said…this wine represents the blood of my covenant…theres that word again…its as if Jesus is saying…this wine represents the blood of my promise which is poured out for you…take this and drink in Remembrance of me...

Dont you see it Christian? There is nothing that God is unwilling to do to keep his promise toward you…This is good news…its news that we can find hope in…and it’s good news that we can share with others...

Our world needs this message today…will you share it?

But not just our world…you need this message today....

You see, Father Abraham, had many sons…had many sons had Father Abraham…I am one of them…ARE YOU? You can be this morning…if you believe on Christ to save you…Would you believe that this morning?

If you will believe that…there’s only one response...

It’s to just praise the Lord...