Galatians Part III
The following are my notes from Galatians 2:14 through Galatians 3:15
Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
Paul here explains in detail what Peter was doing wrong—–HE WAS MIXING LAW & GRACE!!!!!!!
Our churches today will talk about unconditional love, but what happens once you join? YOU BEGIN TO HEAR OF ALL THE CONDITIONS.
Paul also tells us exactly what justifies us—-THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST—-not faith IN.
Verses 17 & 18 talk about building again the things which I destroyed——FIRST WHAT HAVE YOU DESTROYED? SEEKING TO BE JUSTIFIED—–IF I SEEK TO BE JUSTIFIED I WILL ONLY FIND DISAPPOINTMENT BECAUSE I WILL SEE MY TRANSGRESSIONS.
OR I CAN SEE MYSELF AS DEAD TO THE LAW THAT I MIGHT LIVE UNTO GOD. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF AS DEAD TO THE LAW—THROUGH GRACE.
"Titus 2:11-12
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
12 It teaches us to say ""No"" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, "
I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. AND SO IS EVERYONE ELSE.
VERSE 21 CLEARLY SAYS ANY OTHER WAY TO THINK WILL FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD. IT WON’T STOP IT, BUT IT WILL FRUSTRATE IT. HIS GRACE HAS ITS WORK FOR US HERE ON EARTH AS WELL AS WHAT COMES NEXT.
How can Christ be dead in vain?
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Now the word "OBEY" here simply means to believe. And the phrase "that ye should not obey the truth is not even in the original.
Paul was reminding them in this verse that the Gospel is centered in the crucifixion. In what Christ did for ALL MEN.
Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"
We were made in God’s image—Obviously that image has to do with his Spirit because God is Spirit. Now our problem is we have identified ourselves with our flesh and the law tells us our IDENTITY in the flesh is a failure. SO, THE QUESTION IS: HOW CAN WE TAKE HOLD OF THIS SPIRIT WITHIN?
SHALL WE TAKE HOLD (RECEIVE) BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW? OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? DO WE GET THIS GOOD FEELING WE HAVE BY LAW? OR BY BELIEVING WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE?
HIS FAITH REVEALS IN US THE SPIRIT OF GOD—GOING BACK TO THE LAW IS DESCRIBED BY PAUL TO NOTHING LESS THEN FOOLISHNESS.
Galatians 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
The suffering that Paul was talking about here is a suffering that comes from legalists when you proclaim the Gospel of Grace & peace. THEY JUST CAN’T ACCEPT THAT MAN IS FREE FROM LAW, AND YOU WILL SUFFER THEIR JUDGMENT AND CONDEMNATION.
Galatians3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham."
Just how faithful was Abraham? He is held in high esteem in these verses above, but if his faith was so powerful why then did the law have to come after him? And just what does it mean that “God would justify the heathen through FAITH?
I AGREE THAT OUR JUSTIFICATION COMES FROM FAITH AND THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON WHO EVER LIVED THAT HAD THAT KIND OF FAITH……CAN YOU GUESS WHO THAT WAS?????
Galatians3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
HOW MANY WHO SERVE THE LAW ARE UNDER A CURSE? AS MANY AS SERVE THE LAW.
WHY ARE YOU UNDER A CURSE? BECAUSE YOU CAN’T DO ALL THE THINGS IT REQUIRES. HOW MANY PEOPLE TODAY WHO ATTEND ORGANIZED RELIGION ARE LIVING UP TO WHAT THEY ARE TAUGHT THEY MUST DO TO BE OK WITH GOD?
WHY HAVE SO MANY GOOD PEOPLE LEFT THE CHURCH? DID THEY LEAVE THE CHURCH OR DID THEY LEAVE THE CURSE?
Now if you place yourself under the law, how much of it are you to follow? ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW.
AM I SAYING THERE SHOULDN’T BE RULES IN THE CHURCH? ABSOLUTELY NOT, BUT THE RULES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO DO WITH YOUR ACCEPTANCE BY GOD.
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them."
THERE IS A BIG DISCREPANCY BETWEEN WHAT IS IN THE SIGHT OF MEN, AND WHAT IS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. LAW AND FAITH DO NOT MIX.
IF YOU CHOOSE THE LAW YOU WILL ALIENATE YOURSELF FROM GOD AND YOU SENSE THE CURSE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD WILL NOT LEAVE YOU THERE—HE DIDN’T LEAVE PETER, HE DIDN’T LEAVE PAUL, HE WON’T LEAVE ANY OF US.
Who does Christ Redeem?
Galatians3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
I GUESS THE QUESTION FOR US IS: WHO DID HE REDEEM FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW?
DID HE REDEEM THOSE WHO COULD KEEP THE LAW? (were there any?)
OR DID HE REDEEM THOSE WHO COULDN’T KEEP THE LAW? (Isn’t that all of us?)
AND I ASK YOU: WHAT FAITH GUARANTEES US THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT?
We don’t add to the covenant or take away!
Galatians 3:15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
THE COVENANT IS ABOUT WHAT GOD DID THROUGH JESUS REDEEMING THE WICKED.
WE CAN NOT DISANNUL IT—-NO ONE HAS THE POWER TO SAY NO TO GOD.
WE ALSO CAN NOT ADD TO IT ANYTHING—–WE DON’T ADD OUR FAITH TO HIS FAITH TO GET THE PROMISE.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE—THIS COVENANT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED.
STAY TUNED FOR MORE.
Cliff
I never tire of reading the Gospel as you have presented here!
It is the only thing in this life that will set people free to be free.
THANKS!
Peace
Geo
I hope with all my heart that everyone on the planet can understand what you’ve said here, and will awaken to the Life that is within us, and all around us!
Nothing frustrates me more than the Christians who cling to their self made righteousness, and insist that their connectedness to God is due to something THEY have done, said, thought… Fortunately, self-righteousness will eventually fail us, and the reality of our inadequacies will overwhelm us. In the midst of our anguish, we will have no choice but to let go of ourselves, and trust the Faith of Jesus. It is His faith that redeems us, not ours (as Paul so clearly states).
Continue to look forward to the day when the wheat (our pure, holy souls) will be separated from the chaff (our tainted earthly flesh) and we will enjoy complete connectedness to our Father, unencumbered by our worldliness.
One of the great things about my new part-time job at the hospital is their commitment to what they call C.A.R.E.. Those letters stand for the following:
C = Courtesy
A = Attitude
R = Respect
E = Enthusiasm
Everyone at the hospital are strongly encouraged to treat every person they come in contact with as a person of great value regardless of what their circumstances are. Needless to say I fit in quite well because my core belief is that Christ loves everyone the same regardless of their circumstances or belief system.
I strive to live my life by the FAITH OF CHRIST because it is His unwaivering faith in mankind that allows me to live by the above principles even when my own faith is weak.
I only wish the entire world (especially organized religion) could embrace such principles for everyone they meet.
Cliff I truly need this fellowship here at bold grace what you write helps me see who I truly am in Christ.I so wish that could have fellowship with others here in where I live.Paul said in Herbrews to have fellowship with one another but in the gospel of what Jesus Christ did for all not in what we have to do or don’t do.This is sure place of true fellowship.
I know you will bring joy and peace to many where you work the gospel will come shining threw in all you do.
I pray that someday that I would have a chance to fellowship with all here at Bold Grace.
Love in Christ Dan
Dan, I also look foward to the day we can meet face to face. You have been such an encourager to all of us and even though I have never seen your face I picture a very kind and loving individual. Godspeed my friend.
Hey Dan, aren’t you in southwestern Michigan? If so, you and Cliff are only a few hours apart.
Cliff,
Thanks for posting your notes. I am really enjoying reading them. If your sermons reflected these notes, it’s a wonder you made it in organized Christianity for as long as you did, you heretic, you!
Keep up the great work here. I look forward to reading more of your notes.
Jason
Jason, For many years I just preached a lot about love but the last three years I preached my heart out on this gospel of grace and peace. I guess I knew down deep that eventually I wouldn’t be accepted but I never felt more alive in the pulpit as when I was preaching this great gospel in it’s fullest. Believe me when I say the notes only reflect a small part of the passion in which I preached and felt during those three years. I wish I could have continued but I finally had to realize that people that have been in organized religion all of their lives are just not ready for this new wine. Thanks for your kind words.