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The Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity
Salvation by Faith
September 2, 2007
TEXT: NKJ Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it
is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.
16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to
seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. 17 And
this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot
annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should
make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no
longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 What purpose then
does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should
come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the
hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is
one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there
had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have
been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the
promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Today’s lesson requires a little explaining to understand what Paul is teaching
us—we begin with the meaning of verse 15—it is seen more clearly in the NIV
translation
NIV Galatians 3:15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as
no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established,
so it is in this case.
Paul begins with the example referring to a man’s last will and testament—if it
is legally established when the man dies—no one can change it—it is written—it
is done—those named in the man’s will—will receive whatever the man wrote in the
document—it is a gift—an expanded version of this teaching occurs in the Book of
Hebrews
NKJ Hebrews 9:16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be
the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead,
since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
Therefore Christ had to die for us to inherit eternal life—Paul expanded his
explanation in his letter to the Romans
NKJ Romans 8:8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you
are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in
you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if
Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to
your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren,
we are debtors -- not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if
you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of
bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry
out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we
are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified
together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Returning to our consideration of the concept of a man’s last will and testament
to God’s promise to Abraham—let’s look at the Promise in God’s Word—this is the
promise God made to Abraham on the mountain right after Abraham took Isaac and
was willing to offer him as a sacrifice—just as God instructed him
NKJ Genesis 22:18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
because you have obeyed My voice."
Now Paul’s explanation of the promise in our text
TEXT: NKJ Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises
made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your
Seed," who is Christ.
God promised Abraham the grace of forgiveness and the blessing of salvation—but
this was nothing new—God has always promised His grace to His people—from the
beginning—from Adam and Eve’s fall into sin—all the way through to Judgment
Day—consider the promise made to Adam and Eve when he told the devil he would be
crushed
NKJ Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between
your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His
heel."
Paul understood that we are saved by God’s grace and that our salvation is by
faith—a gift from a loving God—Paul taught us that it has always been that way
NKJ Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also
for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to
faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
From faith to faith—from the faith in the Old Testament that the Savior would
come—to the faith in the New Testament that the Savior has come—He lived His
perfect life—He was arrested, tried, and crucified—and He was resurrected in
victory over death and the devil—just as God promised—and His victory was our
victory—we know that by our faith
Paul was instructing the Galatians about the proper understanding of the Gospel
message—there were false teachers insisting that the works of the Law were the
way to salvation—Paul wants everyone—including us—to know that salvation is a
gift—listen to Paul’s discussion of the Law in our text
TEXT: NKJ Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises
made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your
Seed," who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred
and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by
God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.
The Law came centuries after God made His promise to Abraham—if the Law was
necessary for salvation—Abraham and all of those before the exodus would
perish—they could not be justified—because the Law did not exist
Paul was speaking to men who were so caught up in the Law—that they ignored the
Word of God—they had their own earthly interpretation of the Law—and their own
interpretation gave them power and authority over the Jews—they were not about
to give up that authority easily
Whether or not their forefathers had the Law—had knowledge of the Law—or were
living prior to the giving of the Law—Paul explains that they had to hear and
understand the Gospel message of faith and God’s promise—or they were condemned
in their sins
God’s grace and the free gift of grace, mercy, and faith—override any attempts
to live in accordance with the Law in an attempt to obtain favor in the eyes of
God—that’s Paul’s message—if it is God’s last testament to man—and Christ was
crucified and died—and our inheritance is eternal life—no man can change what
God has written
NKJ Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not!
For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly
righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all
under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who
believe.
The Law and the covenant with Abraham both came form God—they do not
contradict—but instead they work in harmony—God gave the Law to guide His people
until Christ came to defeat death on our behalf—Christ also gave us
understanding of the forgiveness of those sins
NKJ Luke 6:37 " Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you
shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
The Law was given to guide God’s people—Paul understood that and he explained in
beautifully in his letter to the Romans
NKJ Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the
contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not
have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
I’ll paraphrase the rest of that discussion for the sake of brevity—but strongly
urge you to read it on your own in the near future—Paul is saying that the Law
helps us understand what sin is—but the Jews—having the Law—made up human
interpretations of the Law—and a man could convince himself that the Law was
being complied with—but it wasn’t—attempting to live in accordance with the Law
could make a man feel secure when there was no security—leading to a lack of
asking forgiveness—leading to death
The Law serves a purpose—but that purpose is not to achieve salvation—one sin
convicts us to death—it is by grace that we are saved!
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!