Freedom to Live in Faith

The Galatians were tempted to believe a variation of the gospel, which we’ve said is no gospel at all. Paul addresses on of these variations called legalism. There were a group of people called Judaizers who taught that you must adopt Jewish customs and practices in order to be saved. Legalism says, “I earned this.” When you swing the pendulum from legalism you get free grace, which says, “I can do whatever I want.” Free grace turns Christianity into fire insurance. Neither is the gospel. Once again, Paul sets out to point people back to Jesus. To point them to FAITH!!

Big Idea: The Law could not bring a blessing. It could not justify. For the condition of justification is faith; and the Law has nothing to do with faith. Its standpoint was entirely different—that of works.

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 3)

3 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 4 Did you experience, so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard—6 just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness?,7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you., 9 Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.LAW AND PROMISE 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed., 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith., 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them., 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree., 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.

In the Greek NT, a form of the word Faith is used 9 times in these 14 verses!

Paul is going well out of his way to express the fact that faith is essential to salvation!

Paul shows that he is no playing games here by twice using the word foolish to describe those who would start their journey by being Justified by grace and think that they could finish it through their works.

Justified - Just as if I’d Never sinned.

This is an easy way to know that it cant be done by us. We still sin and do so often!

Paul speaks to the fact that when we try to Justify ourselves through our works, we do so in vain. Solomon also learned this concept. Seeking to do what the world calls good is always vain!

There is none righteous, not even one!

Your best is filthy rags before God.

To live a life that is pleasing to God, we must then WALK BY FAITH!

1. Venture out on Faith

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

A. Venture means - “to dare, to risk, to undertake.”

But when we begin the venture of faith, we have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

B. When we begin to live by faith, God sends blessings we never dreamed possible. Miracles begin to happen.

C. Courage is needed to accept the challenge.

2. Value of Faith

Ephesians 6:16 - In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

A. Faith is valuable because it pleases God.

Christian Standard Bible (Hebrews Chapter 11)

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

B. Faith is the means by which we receive salvation. (Ephesians 2:8)

C. Faith brings healing, financial help, and numerous other blessings.

Woman with the blood issues. (Matthew 9:20-22)

When the woman who was bleeding for 12 years comes to the crowd and she reaches for the edge or the hem of his garment why does she do that?

We would say it is because it was the lowest part to grab.

Dr. ______ says no that is a direct reference to Numbers 15:37, which says that Jewish men and women must have tassels on the edge of their garments. It is also a reference to Deut. 22:12 which says make tassels with 4 corners, but the real reference is Mal. 4:2 which says that the messiah will come with healing in his wings. The work wings there is the Hebrew word Kanah, which is the same word as corner or hem.

So the Hebrew people believe that when the Messiah comes he will have healing in his Kanah, His tassels/corners.

So the mind blowing picture of this woman's faith is seen in that without saying a word she says, “You are the Messiah!”

What does Jesus then says to the women when she touched his garment?

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 9

22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” he said. “Your faith has saved you.”, And the woman was made well from that moment.

D. Faith keeps us steadfast and secure and helps us to resist Satan.

3. Vision of Faith

Hebrews 12:2 - Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”

A. Vision is the ability “to direct the eyes to discern, distinguish, discover.”

B. Faith fosters a positive outlook.

Remember, “the substance of things hoped for!”

When you walk in faith expecting to see God move, you are going to have a much more positive outlook!

C. The vision of faith discovers otherwise unseen possibilities and opportunities.

Faith sends missionaries around the world to preach the gospel to 3rd world countries!

Faith sees the potential of someone to be a servant of Christ, not how much they can give or add to the church.

D. Faith also causes us to share out confidence that God will keep His promises.

Story of Mark with Bryson Primrose.

Faith believes that God wants to SAVE EVERYONE, and that there is not one person on this earth that God want to go to Hell and so I am then going to be faithful to share His story.

4. Victory of Faith

1 John 5:4 - because everyone who has been bor of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.

A. Faith always brings the victory. Our finite powers are linked to God’s infinite resources.

Where I reach my limits, I remember that I served an unlimited God!

When I run out of power I remember that I serve an all powerful God!

B. Recognizing victories strengthens one’s own faith.

When I am struggling with defeat in my life, I remember that the God of victory wants to fight my battles for me!

C. Sharing our victories inspires the faith of others. Faith is Contagious.

And When others See you and I being faithful through the good and bad times, they are encouraged to press on! FAITH IS CONTAGIOUS!!!

D. God should always be praised and glorified, for He deserves our continual praise. (Hebrews 13:15)

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 13

15 Therefore, through him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Application

There is only one way to be saved. We are justified, sanctified and glorified in the sight of God in one way - by grace through faith in Christ alone.

No one can ever be justified in the sight of God through works of the law, and yet many having started their Christian life by grace through faith and yet seek to continue their Christian walk by reverting back to legalism and trying to live by the law, instead of living by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

At our salvation we were imputed with Christ's righteousness and we received the indwelling life of Christ (the new life in Christ). This was so that we could live FOR Him and TO Him each day by grace through faith, for the just shall live by faith.