1. Galatians the Freedom Letter 3:25-4:7 11-6-11

2. 25) But after (the) faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

3. 28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29) And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

4. Gal 4 1) Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2) but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3) Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

5. 4) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6. 6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7) Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

7. To be under a law-works relationship to God means…. Slave Bondage Under guardians and stewards Children Separation

8. To be under faith-promise relationship to God means… Sons One in Christ Abraham’s seed Of the promise Heir Redeemed Adopted Sons, where we can say “Papa”

9. With all this though, some still want to be back under the shadow, back under the law, the elements of this world. They think they are close to God but according to scripture that is a lie! Heb 7:19)“for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

10. Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Gal 2:19) For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. If you choose to Live under the law and not die to the law through faith in Christ, this is what you can expect:

11. 2 Cor 2:7) But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, (ten commandments) was glorious, 8) how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9) For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. You will exchange something glorious, for something that is fading. Also what you thought would produce life, will instead produce death and condemnation!

12. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. Rom 5:20) Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, Sin will be your master, its power over you will increase and so will its frequency!

13. Heb 10 1) For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

14. Rom 7:5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. You will exchange the very image for a shadow. You will not be perfect. The sin that dwells in you will inflame and produce death for you. You will forfeit the new way of the Spirit for something inferior.

15. Rom 7:8) But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. 9) I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10) And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. You will find a torrential flood of sin being produced in you. You will die, yet in the process you will look holy but you will be deceived and the law will kill you.

16. What is worse is that you will not be able to draw near to God for; Hebrews 7:18-19 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

17. The better hope? Gal 3:13) Christ has 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”), 14) that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

18. 22) But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Questions/comments

20. Galatians the Freedom Letter 3:25-4:7 11-13-11

21. Today we are going to learn about 6 Blessings of the faith/righteousness way as opposed to Law/righteousness way. First a quick review of what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh…. 1. It could not nullify the promise Gal 3:17) 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.

22. 2. It could not do away with or add anything to the promise Gal 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. 18) For if the inheritance is of the law, it no longer is of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

23. 3. It cannot give life Gal 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. 4. It cannot make us sons, or heirs, or make us righteous in anyway. Gal 3:6) just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7) Therefore know that only those who are of (the) faith (not of the law) are sons of Abraham.

24. 8) And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9) So then those who are of (the) faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

25. 10) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11) But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

26. The six blessings #1 we learned last week We are no longer under a tutor #2 Sonship with God, without a cause, through faith. Gal 3:26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Rom 3:24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

27. Let’s look at 4 phrases in Gal 3:26 For = is always an explanation word from something before 25) But after (the) faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Believers are not under the tutor because they are of something different. The New covenant.

28. Heb 1) GOD, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, Contrast 2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

29. Heb 7:11) Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12) For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

30. “you are all”= meaning the church, as opposed to the “we” of 23 and 24 which is primarily mentioning Jews or proselytes. This implies “no separation” which means the law has faded away. You cannot have Jews and Gentiles as one under the law, because the dividing wall of separation still stands Eph 2:14! 3. “Sons”= a much more endearing term than children. Children is a fact of birth. “Sons” in Middle Eastern culture meant position/relationship/dignity!

31. “by the Faith”= Faith alone does nothing, it must have an object. That object is Jesus Christ through faith in His blood a propitiation (Rom 3:25). What is the object of your faith? You =(some law method) or Jesus! # 3 The Spirit of God is residing in you. Gal 3:27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Faith in Christ = baptism in the Holy Spirit

32. Just some notes to remember How do you get into Christ’s body? Gal 3:26) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:22) But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Gal 3:2) This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

33. Faith in Christ means… Son Heir Abraham’s seed Baptized in Christ One in Christ Luke 3:16) John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.