1. GALATIANS Title: The Old Testament teaches salvation by faith apart from works of the law Text: Galatians 3:1-14 Galatians 3:6 (NIV84) 6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” By: Pastor Micah Adamson October 22, 2017
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2. Galatians and Martin Luther:
Martin Luther’s biggest temptation to a false gospel came from the guilt of his own sinfulness.
The solution is to remember the good news of the gospel found in both the OT and NT of the Bible!
We are justified/declared righteous by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone!
The true gospel not only saves us, it brings glory to God for the goodness of His grace!

3. Galatians Review:
Galatians 1-2 = Revelation: Argues for salvation by faith from Paul’s past experience
Galatians 3-4 = Justification: Argues for justification by faith from the Galatian’s past experience and the OT
Galatians 5-6 = Sanctification: Commends faith in Jesus for the Galatians’ present and future struggle against sin

4. Galatians 3:1-14 Outline:
Galatians 3:1-5: The Galatians’ experience shows that we are justified by faith alone.
Galatians 3:6-9: The story of Abraham shows that we are justified by faith alone.
Galatians 3:10-14: The law and the prophets show that we are justified by faith alone.

5. Running Start: Galatians 2:15-21 (NIV84) - Paul’s message to Peter
15 “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
17 “If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
Gal. 2:16 = Paul introduces justification by faith either by observing the law or trusting Jesus.
Justification = “declare righteous” not “make righteous” (Luke 7:29, Rom. 3:4).

6. Galatians 3:1-5 (NIV84) - The Galatians’ experience shows that we are justified by faith alone.
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered [or experienced] (NLT, NIV2011) so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Gal. 3:2, 5 = Paul is still talking about faith [alone] apart from observing the law.
Paul’s Six Rhetorical questions cover just two topics: Being tricked and the way that they received the Holy Spirit.

7. The Galatians received the Holy Spirit and experienced miracles through faith in Jesus during Paul’s first mission trip
Acts 13: Pisidian Antioch
Filled with Holy Spirit
Acts 14: Iconium
Miracles
Acts 14: Lystra
Acts 14: Derby
Successful Ministry

8. Acts 13:16-41: The sermon Paul preached in Pisidian Antioch in Galatia
Genesis-Joshua:
Abraham, Exodus, Conquest
Judges – 2 Samuel:
Judges, Kings, David
2 Samuel – Malachi:
Prophets, Habakkuk
Matthew – John:
Jesus the fulfillment of the Abraham, David, and Prophets

9. Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV84) The story of Abraham shows that we are justified by faith alone.
6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” [Gen. 15:6]
7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” [Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18] 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Gal. 3:8 = Paul is still talking about justification by faith, using Abraham as the prime example.

10. Genesis 11-25: Abraham’s Story
Abraham displayed his faith by his actions lots of times in Genesis 11-25:
Abraham’s actions also often showed that he was struggling to trust God too:
God’s repeated His promise to Abraham over and over throughout the story:
Paul argues that Abraham was justified by faith since Genesis 15 comes before Genesis 17 or 22.

11. Galatians 3:10-14 (NIV84) The law and the prophets show that we are justified by faith alone.
10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” [Deut. 27:26] 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” [Hab. 2:4] 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” [Lev. 18:5] 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 hung on a tree.” [Deut. 21:23] 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit [Gen. 12:3; 18:18; 22:18].
Gal. 3:11 = Paul is still talking about justification by faith [alone] not by observing the law.

12. Conclusion: False teachers want to fool you and the devil wants to bewitch you. Don’t fall for it!
Your own experience of starting your spiritual life by faith in Christ should teach you that believing in Jesus is the secret to continuing to live the new life you have in Jesus.
If you are tempted to doubt that believing God’s promise in Jesus is enough to save you, remember Abraham.
If you are tempted to believe that you need to do anything in order to save yourself, remember that the law came after the promise.