What’s the Difference Between the Old & New Testaments? Galatians 3

Grace Approach: ÷Üñéò A First-Century Greeting (Gal.1:3) Favor, Gift, Liberality, Generosity, an Expression of kindness (Rom.2:4) Gratifying, Pleasure, Joy! Galatians 1:6 “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;”

Works Approach Romans 4:4 (NASB-U) “Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.” Galatians 3:12 (NASB-U) However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "He who practices them shall live by them."

Works Approach “Every good deed has a certain quantity of merit attached to it, while every evil deed incurrs a corresponding portion of demerit; the final judgement represents a weighing out of the merits & demerits acquired by a man during the course of his lifetime, and this is often represented by the weighing of the scales; if the good deeds outweigh the bad, then the man is judged righteous, and may enter into blessedness; but if the bad deeds predominate, then gahenna [HELL] is his portion.” Jewish Rabbis of Paul’s Day

Plan A: Works Approach

Galatians 3:10 (NASB-U) For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them." Deut. 6:5 (NASB-U) "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Plan B: Grace Approach Galatians 3:13 (NASB-U) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"—

Plan B: Grace Approach Galatians 3:13 (NASB-U) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"— Plan A (works) or B (Grace) – NOT BOTH: Gal. 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified

Plan B: Grace Approach Galatians 3:13 (NASB-U) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"— Plan A (works) or B (Grace) – NOT BOTH: Gal. 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified New Testament is False? God is Fickle?

God is Consistent: It’s Always Been Plan B (Grace) The Old Testament teaches Plan B (3:11) Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith.“ (quoted by Paul from Hab. 2:4)

God is Consistent: It’s Always Been Plan B (Grace) The Old Testament teaches Plan B (3:11) Abe was Justified by Plan B (3:6-9) [6] Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. [7] Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. [8] The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you." [9] So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

God is Consistent: It’s Always Been Plan B (Grace) The Old Testament teaches Plan B (3:11) Abe was Justified by Plan B (3:6-9) God Promises Abraham Believes God Declares Abraham righteous.

God is Consistent: It’s Always Been Plan B (Grace) 1. God Promises to Provide. 2. We Believe in it. 3. God Declares Us righteous. 

God is Consistent: It’s Always Been Plan B (Grace) The Old Testament teaches Plan B (3:11) Abe was Justified by Plan B (3:6-9) The Law Appeared Much Later!! (3:15-18) 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… 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…

God is Consistent: It’s Always Been Plan B (Grace) The Old Testament teaches Plan B (3:11) Abe was Justified by Plan B (3:6-9) The Law Appeared Much Later!! (3:15-18) The Law Teaches Plan B (3:19-24) It Leads Us to Christ (v19a,24) Why the Law then? … the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

God is Consistent: It’s Always Been Plan B (Grace) The Old Testament teaches Plan B (3:11) Abe was Justified by Plan B (3:6-9) The Law Appeared Much Later!! (3:15-18) The Law Teaches Plan B (3:19-24) It Leads Us to Christ (3:24) By Pointing Out Our Failures (3:21-22) Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

God is Consistent: It’s Always Been Plan B (Grace) The Old Testament teaches Plan B (3:11) Abe was Justified by Plan B (3:6-9) The Law Appeared Much Later!! (3:15-18) The Law Teaches Plan B (3:19-24) It Leads Us to Christ (3:24) By Pointing Out Our Failures (3:21-22) Driving Us to Faith in Christ (3:22b-24) But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Why the Law then? … the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

For Christians: But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor! Galatians 3:25 No Need to Justify Yourself Anymore!! Real Honesty is Possible Now!

For Christians: But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor! Galatians 3:25 No Need to Justify Yourself Anymore!! Real Honesty is Possible Now! No Fear of God’s Punishment!

For Christians: But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor! Galatians 3:25 No Need to Justify Yourself Anymore!! Real Honesty is Possible Now! No Fear of God’s Punishment! Romans 8:31-35 “What can we ever say to such wonderful things as these? If God is on our side, who can ever be against us? [32] Since he did not spare even his own Son for us but gave him up for us all, won't he also surely give us everything else? [33] Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? Will God? No! He is the one who has forgiven us and given us right standing with himself. [34] Who then will condemn us? Will Christ? No! For he is the one who died for us and came back to life again for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us there in heaven. [35] Who then can ever keep Christ's love from us? When we have trouble or calamity, when we are hunted down or destroyed, is it because he doesn't love us anymore? And if we are hungry or penniless or in danger or threatened with death, has God deserted us?”

For Christians: But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor! Galatians 3:25 No Need to Justify Yourself Anymore!! Real Honesty is Possible Now! No Fear of God’s Punishment! A God-Focused, not a Law-Focused Lifestle

For Christians: But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor! Galatians 3:25

Terms of Grace: Propitiation Justification Reconciliation Sanctification Ressurection Glorification

Pattern God Promises Abraham Believes God Declares Abraham righteous.

Why the Law?? Galatians 3:24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. We are naturally deceived about our capabilities. Under-estimate God’s goodness Over-estimate our goodness