Why We Don’t Need The Law

Galatians 3:23-29

May 18, 2014

I realize I have put you in a difficult dilemma since you have been

Getting these sermons from Galatians about every other week.

It is difficult to keep a train of thought throughout a theological discussion

When there are so many breaks and interruptions taken in it.

But tonight we ask for the grace of God to bring our minds back to this discussion and help us to fully understand all that He would teach us.

As you know the Galatians were being attacked by legalists.

The Judaizers had swept in to Galatia and were convincing the Galatians

To get circumcised in order to be pleasing to God.

No doubt with Old Testament in hand

They were showing these Gentile converts that it was necessary

For them to come under the Law in order to please God.

And because the Galatians wanted to be pleasing to God

They were falling into the trap.

And if I might say so bluntly, the reason people so easily fall into the trap of legalism is because they do not understand the truth of Scripture.

That was certainly the Galatians problem:

Galatians 3:1 “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?”

It was the Galatians gullible ignorance

That had opened the door for their deception.

And I must admit I find this to be true any time I run into legalism.

• Scripture crushes legalism

• Scripture clearly refutes it

But when people do not put in the work to understand the truth,

They are open to a legalist with a few Bible verses and the result is captivity.

The Galatians were told to get under the Law.

Tonight I want to show you why we don’t need the Law.

Now, I do need to preface that statement, even as we explain it.

First off it is important to understand that the Law is not bad.

Romans 7:7-12 “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”

Paul was direct in that passage that the Law is good.

But even that statement must be understood.

Paul wrote to Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:8-11 “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”

There Paul says it is good, but only “if one uses it lawfully”

In other words the Law is perfect if kept within its intended purpose.

When the Law is used as God intended for it to be used, it is perfect.

When people begin to use it outside of God’s design, it is disastrous.

And Paul even spelled out that purpose.

Namely that the Law is for sinners, not for the righteous.

And that is even what Paul showed us last time we studied Galatians.

Galatians 3:19 “Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.”

The Law came to show sinners their sin.

When used in that purpose, it is effective and vitally important.

One could even argue that one of the main problems of gospel presentations today is the lack of “law” in our preaching.

How do we ever expect sinners to come face to face with their sin, be convicted of their coming judgment, and brought to the threshold of repentance without it?

• The prosperity gospel doesn’t lead men to repentance

• The social gospel doesn’t lead men to repentance

• The ever popular “abundant life” offer doesn’t lead men to repentance

But preaching the law does.

It confronts, it convicts, it condemns

The law leaves sinners looking for forgiveness.

When used in that purpose it is glorious.

But when you take the Law and try to throw it on the back of a righteous person, the point is completely missed and disaster follows.

That is why it is important that you and I have full understanding of what God’s purpose is for the Law and why we are no longer under it.

In the passage tonight Paul will clearly show you

Why you are no longer under the Law.

• Paul will show you why you don’t have to keep the dietary restrictions…

• Paul will show you why you don’t have to worship on Saturday…

• Paul will show you why you don’t have to let the hair grow long on your temples…

Paul will show you why you don’t need the Law.

There are two main points, which we will expound on a little more.

#1 THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW

Galatians 3:23-24

I read those two verses, but I really even want to back up a little into some of the previous verses to help you understand the purpose of the Law.

If you understand the purpose of a tool, then you know if you need it or not.

And in the verses we are going to look at,

We can see three things the Law does really well.

The first we’ve discussed, but lets hit it quickly.

1) THE LAW IS A MIRROR (19, 22)

I want to back up and read these two verses

Because I want to remind you exactly what the Law came to do.

Galatians 3:19 “Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.”

You understand the point.

Paul was clear in Romans 7 (which we already read) that he wouldn’t even have known about coveting if the Law had not said not to covet.

The Law came to show sinners their sin.

Paul would go on to say in Galatians:

Galatians 3:22 “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.”

In short, the Law came to expose.

James 1:22-25 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

The law is a mirror.

It comes, as we said, to show sinners their sin.

Let me show you another purpose of the Law.

2) THE LAW IS A PRISON (23)

“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.”

Now there is an interesting statement.

“we were kept in custody under the Law”

The timing of this incarceration is important.

“before faith came”

In other words, before we were saved.

Before we presented faith to God and He presented righteousness to us.

While we were still in our sin, Paul says,

“we were kept in custody under the Law”

And we can really gain a couple of insights from this analogy.

First let’s just think about prison for a second.

Someone commits a crime, and they are put in prison.

WHY DO WE PUT THEM IN PRISON?

• Punishment

• Reform

• Protection

• We put them there so that they will not do it again.

• We put them there to learn from their mistakes.

• We put them there so that when they are released they will not do it again.

Well the Law did the same thing.

The Law was a constant reminder, a constant corrector.

The Law was always on your back.

You may remember how Peter spoke of the Law during the debate

When the Judaizers wanted the Gentiles to come under it.

Acts 15:10 “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?”

Peter saw it as “a yoke”

And “a yoke” that he had been unable to bear.

The Law was not easy

It was a constant burden on the back

And incidentally this wasn’t just true for Jews.

Jews had the written Law of God.

Gentiles had God’s moral law written on their heart.

Romans 2:14-15 “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,”

That is what we commonly refer to as the conscience.

It is the guilt you feel when you do something that you know is wrong.

People all over the world, who may never have owned a Bible,

Still know that certain things are wrong.

They are condemned in their heart

They are condemned in their conscience

And that is a prison

• There is no relief from it

• There is no hiding from it

• It is a constant task master

We even see the duration of the prison stay

“kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.”

There is only one thing that grants freedom from that prison, and it is faith.

(Namely faith in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and righteousness)

AND SO YOU OBVIOUSLY SEE WHAT PRISON TEACHES A MAN

He is guilty

He is dangerous

He needs righteousness

That is what the Law did.

It was a mirror exposing sin

It was a prison incarcerating sinners

3) THE LAW IS A TUTOR (24)

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”

We already mentioned that one of the purposes of prison is reform.

It is meant to teach a person how to avoid further prison stays.

And that is implied here.

After a few years in prison, it ought to send you looking

For the righteousness that keeps you out.

But there is even more implied here than just that.

Paul said “the Law has become our tutor”

When we think of a “tutor” we think of some volunteer who stays after school and helps us get a better grasp on something we are studying.

But that is not what Paul is referring to.

“tutor” translates PAIDAGOGOS (pie-da-go-gos)

And that was a title of an official position.

In Paul’s culture a Paidagogos was not a teacher.

The Paidagogos was a slave.

The primary function of that slave was to raise a child until they came of age.

• The Paidagogos made sure the child made it to school

• The Paidagogos had full authority to discipline the child

• The Paidagogos was an authoritative guide who made sure that when the child became an adult, he or she was a good one.

In short, this “tutor” had a very real and specific goal in mind for the child,

And would not stop until the child reached the mark.

If it took instruction, or discipline, or extra training,

The tutor provided it to make sure that the child did not miss the mark.

And Paul says, that is precisely what the Law was.

It was our Paidagogos, meant to make sure we reached the mark.

WHAT WAS THE MARK?

Faith in Christ

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.”

When you think about it, that is very similar

To the work many of us do as parents.

We want to do whatever it takes to make sure our children

Come to the point where they place their faith in Christ.

Throw in all the discipline, instruction, correction, and encouragement –

It all comes with the same goal in mind.

That was the Law.

And those were its purposes.

• The Law is a mirror exposing our sin

• The Law is a prison incarcerating sinners under that sin

• The Law is a tutor driving sinners to faith in Christ

That means that anyone who has yet to reach the mark is still in need of it.

It is a perfect tool for sinners.

So, the Purpose of the Law

#2 THE PASSING OF THE LAW

Galatians 3:25-29

After giving a detailed description of the purpose of the Law,

Paul now wastes no time telling you that it is no longer needed.

And in these final verses, there are three reasons that are clearly seen

As to why we no longer need the Law.

1) THE PURPOSE WAS REALIZED (25-27)

If the purpose of the Law was to lead us to faith in Christ,

Then obviously the point is behind us.

(25-26) “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

In the Roman culture it was called:

Toga Virilis – it was when a Roman boy came of age and became a man.

In Jewish culture it is:

Bar Mitzvah

It is when a boy became a man.

It was a celebrated day, because he was no longer under his tutor.

And that is Paul’s point.

The purpose has been realized.

We have arrived.

And what did we arrive at?

“you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus”

• We are no longer servants, we are sons

• We are no longer prisoners, we are sons

We have fully arrived.

And once we are sons there is no more need for a tutor.

And so the first answer you have to someone

Who wants to throw you back under the Law is:

“I am a son of God, why would I act like a slave?”

We “are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

And then a great doctrinal statement.

(27) “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

This is a great verse, and one that deserves some explanation.

We often talk about the benefit of being in Christ.

But this verse answers the question, “HOW DOES ONE GET IN CHRIST?”

And the answer “you were baptized into Christ”

Now you can already hear them can’t you?

Ah ha! See I told you that water baptism was required for a person to be saved.

Now hold on for just a second.

Think for just a moment what this entire chapter has been about.

This whole chapter has been about obtaining the blessing of God

And Paul has said repeatedly that the promise is obtained by faith.

To spend this whole chapter down playing works and promoting faith and then all of a sudden to introduce a work like baptism as a necessary requirement for salvation would obviously blow his whole chapter apart.

We have to ask the question

“WHAT IS THIS BAPTISM PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT?”

Or which baptism is Paul referring to?

Matthew 3:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

John actually mentioned 3 different baptisms right there.

• Baptism in water – (which John tells us the purpose of – repentance)

• Baptism in the Holy Spirit

• Baptism in fire

The next verse explains the fire baptism:

Matthew 3:12 “His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Obviously in the context of the passage, fire is judgment.

So we have water baptism which equals repentance

And we have fire baptism which equals judgment

The only one left is Holy Spirit baptism.

This must be salvation.

1 Peter 3:21 “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

There Peter also says that baptism saves you

(similar to what Paul is saying here in Galatians)

But Peter also qualifies the statement.

“not the removal of dirt from the flesh” – (i.e. the water)

No, the baptism Peter is talking about is

“an appeal to God for a good conscience”

Why would someone appeal to God for a good conscience?

Because they have been under the prison of the Law remember,

And they are condemned.

And under that condemnation that appeal to God for forgiveness.

So obviously being “baptized into Christ”

Is much more than getting in the water.

Romans 6:3-7 “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.”

Now look at that passage for just a second.

Any mention of water at all? No

What was mentioned?

Death – burial – resurrection

To the extent that sin might be done away with in our lives.

What Paul is referring to there is FAR SUPERIOR

To anything you can accomplish by getting in the water.

• Paul is talking about complete death to self

• Paul is talking about complete denial of self

• Paul is talking about that appeal for a good conscience

And this is what it means to be “baptized into Christ”

You don’t get into Christ by getting in the water

You don’t get into Christ by walking an aisle

You don’t get into Christ by praying a prayer

You get into Christ when you die to self and trust in His death on your account

And then are raised by His new life (i.e. the Holy Spirit)

That is baptism of the Holy Spirit and that is how you get in Christ.

And when that happens you are “clothed” with Christ.

In other words, you are covered by Him.

His righteousness is credited to you,

And when God looks on you, He sees Him.

And Paul’s point here in Galatians is that once you have reached that point, WHY WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE LAW?

The purpose of the Law is already realized at that point.

Let me show you another reason the Law has passed

The Purpose was Realized

2) THE PARTITION WAS REMOVED (28)

In verse 26 Paul said “you are all sons of God”

Here we get our second “you are” statement.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for YOU ARE ALL ONE in Christ Jesus.”

As I mentioned earlier, the Law was a mirror.

It came to expose.

And one of the things it obviously revealed is

Who was and who was not righteous.

It was a divider

It was a partition

It revealed who God’s people were and who His people were not

But since we came to Christ and were made sons of God,

What we used to be absolutely does not matter.

We are “clothed” with Christ.

It doesn’t matter what we used to be, now we are all righteous,

And it doesn’t matter what the Law would say.

And so whatever dividing line you would draw, whether that be racial, economic, or gender, is absolutely irrelevant.

We don’t need the Law separating us, Christ has already united us.

“You are all one”

Ephesians 2:11-18 “Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands — remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”

• We don’t need a tutor, we are already sons

• We don’t need a revealer, we are already one

The Purpose was Realized The Partition was Removed

3) THE PROMISE WAS RECEIVED (29)

Here is the third “you are” statement.

“And if you belong to Christ then YOU ARE Abraham’s descendants, HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE.”

Remember that promise we talked about earlier in the chapter.

How the promise was made to Abraham and to his seed (Christ)

Well, if we are in Christ, then the promise is ours.

And that is Paul’s reasoning.

Why would you run to the Law at this point?

• Do you need a mirror to show you what sin is? No

• Do you need a prison to make you want righteousness? No

• Do you need a tutor to lead you to faith? No

You already have all those things.

To put it plainly,

THE LAW IS A TOOL THAT IS NO LONGER NEEDED ON YOU

• You already found Christ

• You already found faith

• You already have the promise

• You are already an heir

You are already perfectly pleasing to God

And made an heir of His perfect kingdom.

The Law cannot improve upon that.

And so the Law is passed.

People who now try to throw you back under the Law

Do so because they do not understand the purpose of the Law

Or the effect of what Christ did.

And I hope then you can see, not only how unnecessary the Law is for you now, but also how foolish it would be to return to it.

And that has also been part of Paul’s point during this chapter.

LEGALISM IS STUPID!

Let me leave you with one final passage.

Matthew 9:14-17 “Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. “But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. “Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

Did you hear their legalistic appeal?

Why don’t they fast?

And Jesus said, because that would be dumb and pointless.

• Would you put unshrunk cloth on an old garment?

• Would you put new wine into old skins?

What they were suggesting had no purpose or place.

And that is true for legalism.

The goal is faith in Christ,

Because that is how we become righteous and an heir of God.

The Law is a great tool to lead us to faith in Christ,

But once we get there, we no longer need it.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 19:1-38

May 18, 2014

 

Throughout the ages, God has preserved one story

 

As very real snapshot of judgment.

Sodom and Gomorrah has become the pinnacle picture of God’s judgment,

Even really more so than the great flood.

While it is true that the flood killed far more people than were killed here,

 

God has promised that He will not flood the earth again.

2 Peter 3:5-7 “For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”

 

So while the flood was greater in scope,

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is a better picture

Of what is coming upon this world in the final judgment of God.

That is why God has chosen to preserve this example throughout the ages.

 

Jesus referenced them:

Matthew 11:23-24 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. “Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

 

Jude referenced them:

Jude 7 “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”

 

Peter referenced them:

2 Peter 2:6 “He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;”

And what Peter wrote really seems to be the main thrust of God’s purpose

 

In preserving this story.

God made them “an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter.”

 

Now last time we met we heard the Lord revealing to Abraham

How He was about to destroy Sodom.

 

And you remember the purpose.

Genesis 18:17-19 “The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”

 

God was destroying Sodom for her sin and

He wanted to make sure Abraham knew about it.

Why?

Because after all the grace that Abraham had received it was important that

He still understand the importance of righteousness.

 

It was important that Abraham teach his children and grandchildren

The importance of righteousness.

 

And to help Abraham drive his point home to his descendants,

God would provide him with an unforgettable illustration.

 

After this event, Abraham could easily say,

“Be righteous, you don’t want to end up like Sodom and Gomorrah!”

That was the point.

W

ell, now it’s time to examine the story.

One of the most sudden and severe judgments recorded in the Bible, and as we look at it please let there be no doubt as to what God thinks of sin.

AND LET’S ALSO SEE THE DANGERS OF DABBLING IN IT.

 

There are 3 main points I want you to see here about Sodom,

And we’re going to have to break a couple of them down a little more.

#1 THE LEVEL OF THEIR INIQUITY

Genesis 19:1-11

 

Now obviously that is not a kid friendly story.

It is a level of sin and iniquity and depravity that is quite frankly shocking to us.

(and being that we live in America, that is really saying something)

 

We see the level of their iniquity in three ways.

1) THEIR UNSAFE CITY (1-3)

 

You notice of course that the two angelic messengers who had just dined with Abraham and Sarah have now made their way into Sodom.

 

They find Lot “sitting in the gate of Sodom”

This indicates that Lot had reached a certain level of prominence in the city. He was an elder or judge of sorts.

 

When you read that passage about the virtuous woman in Proverbs,

It speaks of her husband:

Proverbs 31:23 “Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.”

Lot was this type of man.

 

And this indicates to us that Lot was not just some insignificant,

Anonymous bystander in Sodom.

 

He was one in high position and esteem.

That even means to some degree

He is partly to blame for the condition of Sodom.

You cannot see the corruption of a society

And allow the leaders of that society to remain innocent.

 

Now it is true that Scripture refers to Lot as a righteous man in 2 Peter who felt his righteous soul tormented by the sin of that city.

 

He may have hated the sin,

But yet it is obvious he wasn’t doing anything to stop it.

At the very least he was tolerating it.

He was turning a blind eye and deaf ear to the corruption around him.

 

I’ve always loved a quote by Martin Luther:

“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is more flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”

(sited in: MacArthur, John; The Truth War, Fighting for Certainty in an Age of Deception; [Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN; 2007] pg. 26)

 

That is certainly a depiction of Lot.

 

He was a righteous man, in the sense that God had declared him righteous,

But Lot was also a compromising man and that does not speak highly of him.

 

And yet Lot meets these angels at the gate and instantly knows there is more to them than meets the eye, for “he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground.”

 

And you notice that Lot has some advice for the angels.

(2-3) “And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said however, “No, but we shall spend the night in the square.” Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.”

 

Now this is far more than hospitality.

 

The fact (as you will see) is that the square was an unsafe place to be.

And that speaks volumes of the city.

It wasn’t safe to be out in it.

We know of places like that even in the U.S. it was a vile city.

 

We also see the level of Sodom’s iniquity in:

2) THEIR UNBELIEVABLE REQUEST (4-9)

 

Before these angelic men could even go to bed, the men of Sodom surrounded the house and asked for those men to be sent outside so that they could have homosexual relations with them.

News must have traveled fast…

 

And how defiled was this place that the first sign of new blood and this is the first thing they can think of?

That is absolutely unbelievable.

 

We live in a nation where homosexual acceptance is definitely on the rise,

And yet we don’t even see this type of behavior yet.

 

And if that doesn’t shock you, then Lot’s answer surely will.

(6-8) “But Lot went out to them at the doorway, and shut the door behind him, and said, “Please, my brothers, do not act wickedly. “Now behold, I have two daughters who have not had relations with man; please let me bring them out to you, and do to them whatever you like; only do nothing to these men, inasmuch as they have come under the shelter of my roof.”

 

I think it’s safe to say that this is not a “Father’s Day Sermon”.

• That is an unthinkable solution!

• How about trusting God, Lot?

• How about praying?

His solution is unbelievable.

 

And yet, even that is not acceptable to men of Sodom.

(9) “But they said, “Stand aside.” Furthermore, they said, “This one came in as an alien, and already he is acting like a judge; now we will treat you worse than them.” So they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door.”

 

They didn’t like Lot’s offer, and did you notice

They accused him of judging them.

Lot had said, “do not act wickedly”

They didn’t appreciate him equating their homosexuality with wickedness

And so they cried, “Judge Not!”

(That’s not too far off America is it?)

 

The level of iniquity in Sodom is staggering.

 

Seen in their Unsafe City and in their Unbelievable Request

3) THEIR UNENDING SEARCH (10-11)

And that really takes the cake.

 

You’d think after being struck with blindness they would have at least

Figured out they were outmanned and given it up.

You would think it would say, “they wearied themselves trying to find their homes”

But no! Even though blind they still wanted their sin,

 

And they literally wore themselves out groping for Lot’s door in the dark.

That is a love of sin.

They won’t give it up even in the midst of judgment.

 

The level of Sodom’s iniquity is off the charts.

I think we can agree that this is

Not the type of place that anyone would desire to live.

 

And that brings a good question.

WHY DID PEOPLE LIVE THERE?

 

First, the Level of their Iniquity

#2 THE LURE OF THEIR LUXURY

Genesis 19:12-26

 

Often times in the Scripture we read about the dangers of the world.

The world (and particularly it’s riches or comforts or pleasures)

Are a dangerous trap that many fall in.

 

Love of the world can prevent salvation:

Matthew 19:21-22 “Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.”

 

Matthew 13:22 “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

 

Love of the world can secure judgment:

James 5:2 “Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.”

 

James 5:5 “You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.”

 

And even in a believer, love of the world can shipwreck your faith.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

 

2 Timothy 4:10 “for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;”

And that is why a believer must always be

 

On guard against loving the world.

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

 

Paul told Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”

 

And I think you get the point.

 

We live in a fallen world system.

• It is a world that calls good, evil and evil, good.

• It is a world that substitutes light for darkness.

• It is a world that loves and craves sin.

 

But, it is a world that can be very alluring,

And this is dangerous.

No picture in the Bible proves that more

Than this one of Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

For here we have a vile place on the brink of destruction,

And yet notice how difficult it is to get people to leave.

 

There was an undeniable lure to living in Sodom, let me show it to you.

 

It is seen in:

1) THE SCOFFING OF LOT’S CHILDREN (12-14)

 

Now Lot’s family consisted of:

• His wife

• His sons

• His daughters and their future husbands

 

We don’t know what his son’s response was, but it is apparent that

It was something similar to that of his son-in-laws.

And his son-in-law’s response is so very telling of the mindset of their day.

 

The angels are very straightforward with Lot as to what is coming.

“we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before the LORD that the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”

 

Their advice was that Lot should bring any of his loved ones out of that city.

Certain destruction is at hand…

The building is on fire (If you will)

Get your loved ones out before it is too late.

 

And when Lot went to warn his sons-in-law, notice their reaction.

“But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting.”

Now that doesn’t mean that Lot was being comical…

That doesn’t even imply that Lot was being unclear…

 

Rather it means that in their mind, the destruction of Sodom

Was neither warranted or possible.

They didn’t think it could happen.

The concept that Lot was proposing was so foreign to their expectation

That it seemed to them to be unbelievable.

 

Probably the best way I can describe it would be

The Pre 911 mindset of the United States.

 

For a time in the 80’s and 90’s America really did begin to feel invincible.

• Vietnam had become a memory

• Reagan really seemed to back down the Soviet Union

• Bush had silenced Middle Eastern threats

• We watched live as the Patriot missile shot down all attempts to attack the US

 

And from a military standpoint who would launch an attack on the US?

Our military was superior

Our economy was superior

Our intelligence was superior

 

If someone had come to us on September 10 and said

Someone is about to take out the World Trade Centers

We would have had a hard time taking them serious.

 

That was the mindset of Lot’s sons-in-law.

In their mind Sodom was just fine and was totally secure.

They had been lured to sleep by the prosperity of their city.

 

Listen: Just because things seem secure does not mean that they are.

 

As we read earlier:

1 Timothy 6:17 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”

 

We also see the Lure of their Luxury in:

2) THE SLUGGISHNESS OF LOT (15-22)

 

Again the angles warn Lot.

It is obvious that his sons and his sons-in-law aren’t interested.

It is probable that his wife and daughters weren’t interested either,

But Lot would have had authority over them to make them do as he wished.

 

But notice Lot’s response:

(16) “But he hesitated. So the men seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.”

Lot hesitated.

 

He was having trouble leaving the comforts of his life behind.

 

It is reminiscent of the warning Jesus gave to those alive in the end times:

Matthew 24:15-21 “Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. “Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. “Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. “But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! “But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. “For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.”

 

Don’t hang around, the house is coming down – FLEE

But Lot hesitated and so the angel physically removed him.

 

And that is not all.

In verse 17 the angels tell Lot to flee to the mountains for refuge,

 

But notice Lot’s answer:

(18-20) “But Lot said to them, “Oh no, my lords! “Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die; now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved.”

 

WHY WOULD LOT SAY THAT?

I’ll tell you why – he was soft.

He had grown accustomed to the luxuries of Sodom

And was therefore unprepared for the command to flee.

 

I’m not suggesting that we should all turn in to some sort of “Doomsday Preppers”, but you do understand that the mindset that the luxury you now enjoy will always be there is a foolish mindset.

 

The comforts of Sodom had made Lot soft

And so leaving the city was a very difficult thing.

 

It was vile, it was wicked, and yet Lot had learned

To overlook the wickedness and enjoy the luxury.

 

This willingness to grow comfortable with sin

Nearly caused Lot to partake in its judgment.

 

• Can you see the need for us to continually have the world washed off of us?

• Can you see why we must continually allow Jesus to wash our feet?

• Can you see why we must be “transformed by the renewing of our mind”?

• Can you see why we must be constantly discerning of the truth?

 

Lot had grown comfortable and it nearly destroyed him.

You see the Lure of Sodom’s luxury in

 

The scoffing of his sons-in-law, The sluggishness of Lot

3) THE SORROW OF LOT’S WIFE (23-26)

 

Well here, the fire actually falls.

It was a fire fall, picturesque of

What will come upon this whole world in much greater fashion.

 

2 Peter 3:10 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”

 

Sodom was destroyed in an instant.

But notice the strange occurrence:

 

(26) “But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

 

WHY DID SHE LOOK BACK?

• Obviously she missed the place…

• Obviously she mourned its fall…

• She loved Sodom and resented being taken away…

Even now, with fire falling from heaven…

 

Even now, Lot’s wife could not quit longing for Sodom.

Sodom had won her heart.

• She loved it

• She loved its sin

• She loved its pleasures

• And even in the midst of judgment she did not want to let it go.

 

That is one of the best illustrations of lost today who may know the truth about judgment, and yet choose to love their sin anyway.

 

In fact, Jesus used her as tragic example:

Luke 17:26-33 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. “Remember Lot’s wife. “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.”

 

Could there be a clearer warning than this?

 

As a pinnacle example of the type of person who loves the world even to their own destruction, Jesus uttered just three sobering words:

“Remember Lot’s wife”

 

Sodom had infiltrated the hearts of Lot’s family.

• His children thought Sodom INVINCIBLE

• His wife thought Sodom DESIRABLE

• Even Lot thought leaving Sodom was REGRETTABLE

 

Do you see the dangers of the world?

It is a trap

Its luxuries are meant to lull you to sleep

It is full of bait meant to ensure your judgment

 

Do not love the world, it is a sinking ship, and it will take you down with it

 

The Level of Sodom’s Iniquity The Lure of Sodom’s Luxury

#3 THE LINGERING OF THEIR LEGACY

Genesis 19:27-38

 

It may have indeed been tough to get Lot of out of Sodom,

It was even tougher to get Sodom out of Lot.

 

For here, we find Lot delivered.

Oddly enough, now in the mountains where he once said he could not go.

 

And then again we find one of the most embarrassing

And awful incidents recorded in the Bible.

 

Lot’s daughters each take turns getting him drunk

And conceiving a child through him.

 

WHERE DID THEY LEARN SUCH BEHAVIOR?

• Maybe from a dad who was willing to push them to an angry mob?

• Maybe from a society with no morals?

• Maybe from future husbands who ignored truth?

• Maybe from a mother who loved sin?

 

The point was that even though Lot was spared the fire,

He was not spared the fallout.

Living in Sodom and growing comfortable with sin

Had consequences that could not be avoided.

The Israelites would continually be plagued by the Ammonites & Moabites.

 

Paul said it well when talking about the man

Who was sleeping with his father’s wife:

 

1 Corinthians 5:1-6 “It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?”

 

Don’t assume that tolerance and comfort with sin

Comes without consequence.

It does not.

 

Let me say it again – the world is a dangerous thing

Loving the world not only puts you in risk of judgment,

But produces the risk of lingering effects.

 

1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

 

Obviously Lot was in over his head.

 

But one more thing I want to show you this morning.

Let me show you the subtlety by which this all came about.

 

We have our vile spots in America today.

• Whether that be the Los Vegas Strip

• Or Bourbon Street in New Orleans

• Or Padre Island during Spring Break

 

Obviously we know better than to go to such places.

Hopefully none of us would have moved to Sodom while in such conditions.

But can I remind you how this all started?

 

Genesis 13:8-11 “So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.”Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere — this was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah — like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other.”

 

Lot made his decision based solely on the flesh.

Abraham made his decision based on faith.

 

Do you see how easy this begins?

• Lot wasn’t looking for immorality…

• Lot wasn’t looking for homosexuality…

But Lot wasn’t looking for the Lord either…

 

Lot was looking for water and prosperity.

 

1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

That warning seems much more real now doesn’t it?

 

WHAT YOU SEEK TODAY IS WHAT YOU WILL INHERIT TOMORROW

Seeking worldly comforts and pleasures landed Lot in Sodom.

Seeking God’s presence and blessing landed Abram in Canaan.

Be careful what you are chasing.

 

1 Timothy 6:11 “But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”

 

Worldliness is not to be messed with.

IT WAS A DECISION THAT LOT NEVER FULLY RECOVERED FROM.

 

If you will remember, this story is for a purpose.

 

2 Peter 2:6 “He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;”

 

• If you don’t think righteousness is important to God, read Genesis 19.

• If you don’t think God judges sin, read Genesis 19.

• If you don’t think the world is dangerous, read Genesis 19.

 

This is such an important story because it reminds us

What God does to people who choose to live ungodly lives.

 

BE WARNED

Why We Can Be Saved

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

April 20, 2014

 

Well we are here once again on an Easter morning

Remembering the most amazing event in all of human history.

 

We come every Lord’s Day, but especially this one

To remember the sacrifice of the Lord and His resurrection from the dead.

 

And this morning as we remember this wonderful event

We are simply going to examine one verse of Scripture.

 

I don’t ordinarily like to study just one verse, but I think it is fitting today to do so.

 

This one verse clearly depicts WHY we can be saved.

 

This is obviously important for you and I to understand.

 

If I go out to the streets of Spur tomorrow and ask various people, “How can we be saved?”

 

• Some would say, “Believe in Jesus”

• Some would say, “Believe and be baptized”

• Some would say, “You need to do good works”

 

Now obviously there is a right and wrong answer to that question.

We believe that man is saved “by grace through faith”

 

But that is just the answer to HOW to be saved.

This morning I want you to understand WHY we can be saved.

Those debates may seek to answer the question as to how salvation occurs

But none of them answer the question as to why salvation can occur.

 

• For if the crucifixion and the resurrection do not occur, then it doesn’t matter if you have faith or not.

 

• If the crucifixion and the resurrection do not occur, then it doesn’t matter if you’ve been baptized or not.

 

• If the crucifixion and the resurrection do not occur, then it doesn’t matter how many prayers you recite, how many dollars you give, how many miles you walk…

 

• If the crucifixion and the resurrection do not occur, then it doesn’t matter what you do, you cannot be saved.

 

People may argue the means by which we enter God’s salvation,

But one thing is for sure, none of those means even matter

If Christ did not die and rise again.

 

This morning I want to show you why salvation is even possible.

 

Now before we get into our text, it is important for you to understand

WHY SALVATION IS NECESSARY.

 

It really all started back in the Garden of Eden.

God created this world and said that it was good.

 

However Satan tempted Adam and Eve

And they chose to transgress the commandment of God.

 

Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden and sin was upon us.

 

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned”

 

That verse clearly depicts not only the sin of Adam,

But the contagious reality of Adam’s sin.

 

We are all literally chips right off the old block.

And when given the opportunity

We all follow right in the footsteps of our father Adam.

 

We all sin.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

 

Now this may not seem like such a big deal to our world today, but it is.

 

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

 

The reality is that sinners are under God’s wrath.

 

Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

 

And so the picture is hopefully forming in your mind.

Humanity was in the worst possible predicament.

We have sinned, and our sin has angered the Creator of this world.

 

Furthermore His need for holy justice

Requires that payment for that iniquity be made

And this payment is nothing less than eternity in hell.

 

Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;”

 

By now the problem has become clear.

God requires perfect righteousness.

Anything short of perfect righteousness requires payment in hell.

 

So man has two problems.

• The Presence of Sin which God judges

• The Absence of Righteousness which God requires.

 

The only possible way for man to be saved

Is if somehow he could have his sin paid for without having to go to hell

And righteousness given to him so that he could go to heaven.

 

Apart from that, it doesn’t matter how much faith he has,

Or how many times he is baptized.

 

And that is the reason for the cross and resurrection.

 

This morning I just want to take you through

What has quickly become my favorite verse in the entire Bible.

 

• No verse gives me more hope…

• No verse give me more satisfaction…

• No verse produces more gratitude in me…

• No verse produces more wonder in me…

Than 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

And this morning I just want to take you through

5 important realities about this verse.

 

#1 THE PERSONALITIES

2 Corinthians 5:21

 

The verse starts out in rather vague fashion.

“He made Him”

 

Well obviously we are in need of a little context here

To determine who “He” is and who “Him” is.

 

All you really need is the preceding verse:

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

 

• The “He” then in the verse is obviously God.

• The “Him” in the verse is obviously Christ.

 

Paul is saying “God made Christ”

 

And even before we get into exactly why this was special

And what exactly it was that God did in Christ.

I first want you to fully understand who the CATALYST for all this was.

 

Whatever occurs here in verse 21,

It is important for you to understand that God was the reason it occurred.

• The idea was God’s…

• The motivation was God’s…

• The desire was God’s…

 

This did not originate in the mind or heart of man.

1 Corinthians 2:9 “but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

 

This plan of salvation was all God’s doing.

 

And His motivation is clear:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

 

Is God grieved over sinners? Yes

Genesis 6:5-6 “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

 

Is God angry at sinners? Yes

Psalms 7:11 “God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day.”

 

Or as the KJV says, “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”

 

But in spite of His grief and anger, God still chooses to love sinners.

 

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

It is nothing short of the magnificent love of God that instigated salvation.

Man didn’t do it, God did it.

“He made Him”

 

Incidentally, Christ was also a willing accomplice

He wasn’t forced to save against His will.

 

Philippians 2:5-8 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

 

Christ willingly forsook His place in Heaven

That He might come and humble Himself and die upon a cross.

 

No man thought this up

No man made Him do it

Love was the motive

God designed it, and Christ volunteered

 

You have to understand the Personalities who are responsible.

#2 THE PURITY

2 Corinthians 5:21

 

“He made Him who knew no sin”

 

And this is very important piece of the puzzle.

 

We mentioned earlier that the only possible way for mankind to avoid hell and enter heaven is if somehow his sin could be removed and he could obtain righteousness.

 

The question is then raised: Who has righteousness that we might try to obtain it from them?

 

• If you want diamonds you go to a jeweler…

• If you want to money you go to a bank…

• If you want an education you go to college…

• If you want medicine you go to a doctor…

 

But if you want righteousness where do you go to get it?

 

It is imperative that you and I find one

Who possesses no sin and perfect righteousness.

 

THAT IS PRECISELY WHO CHRIST IS.

According to Paul, Jesus Christ “knew no sin”

 

The writer of Hebrews said:

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

 

And if you won’t take his word for it,

Then listen to the voice of God the Father.

 

Matthew 3:16-17 “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

 

And again:

Matthew 17:5 “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

 

What we are talking about when we talk about Jesus Christ

Is absolute perfection.

 

He never sinned, not even once.

• He never broke a single command.

• He never had an evil thought.

• He never sinned in His anger

• He never had a lustful thought

• He never held bitterness in His heart

• He never coveted someone else’s possession

• He never blamed God

• He never cursed God

• He never did anything that was even close to sinful in the eyes of God

 

When God looked at the man Jesus Christ, God saw nothing against Him.

 

He was in fact the perfect, spotless, completely innocent Son of God.

 

And for the first time the earth not only had an example of perfect righteousness, but also a place to find it.

 

He would be the righteousness broker for all of humanity.

It is exclusive to Him

 

He “knew no sin”

 

The Personalities, The Purity

#3 THE PROPITIATION

2 Corinthians 5:21

 

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin”

 

Propitiation is a word that means “APPEASEMENT”

 

And this is precisely what Christ did before God.

Jesus Christ appeased God’s wrath on sin.

 

1 John 2:2 “and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”

 

It is Jesus Christ who was in fact this “propitiation for our sins”

 

In some way He appeased the wrath of God

In some way He satisfied the holiness of God

 

The question is: “HOW DID HE DO IT?”

 

That is the answer Paul gives here.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin”

 

Now first let me tell you what that does not mean.

It does not mean that Christ became a sinner on the cross.

 

The previous phrase “who knew no sin”

Completely rules that possibility out.

Christ did not become a sinner.

He remained pure and sinless throughout His life and death.

 

We even have testimony of this from the one who died next to Him.

The thief on the cross boldly stating that this man has done nothing worthy of death.

 

Christ did not become a sinner.

 

Others have suggested in some weird way that Christ became the embodiment of sin.

 

That in some sort of strange occurrence

He actually became the persona of sin itself.

This is also is not what Paul was talking about.

 

WHAT DOES PAUL MEAN?

 

The answer was given centuries earlier by the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 53:1-6 “Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”

 

And this is precisely what Paul is referencing.

The One who was totally pure and sinless in every way

Actually took upon Himself the sin of God’s people.

 

He bore our sin.

 

He was sinless, He was pure,

And yet He was treated as though He was a sinner.

 

• When you look at the suffering of the cross…

• When you look at the torment…

• When you look at the grief…

 

That is what God’s justice demanded should happen to you and I.

 

It was the punishment for sin.

But God took the sinless pure Savior and imputed our sin to Him.

 

1 Peter 2:24 “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”

 

This mystery is what occurred on the cross.

This phenomenon is how Christ became the propitiation for our sins.

 

He took the fall for sin He did not commit

 

And this wrath is clearly seen in the crucifixion account.

(Not just the wrath of Rome, but the wrath of God)

 

Matthew 27:45-46 “Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”

 

The sixth hour is 12 noon.

You will recall that Christ crucifixion began on the third hour which is 9am

 

From 9 to noon man dished out the worst possible torment

That humanity could devise.

The cross was a cruel and torturous death

 

But at noon the strangest thing happened.

“darkness fell” for three hours.

 

WHY?

Because this was God pouring out His wrath on sin.

 

Zephaniah 1:14-15 “Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness,”

 

It is this wrath of God which was being poured out on Christ.

And when the three hours was over Christ cried

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

 

Christ was paying for sin He did not commit

He was the propitiation

 

The Personalities, The Purity, The Propitiation

#4 THE PARDONED

2 Corinthians 5:21

 

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,”

 

Now this is important.

We ask the question, “Whose sin did Christ pay for?”

 

The traditional answer is “everybody’s”

“He paid for every body’s sin on the cross”

 

But be careful.

You can’t make that argument from this text.

 

Let’s look at the two verses here again.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

When you read verse 20 you see two distinct groups emerge.

You have “we”

And you have “you”

 

• “We” are those who are “ambassadors for Christ”

• “We” are those whom God is making an appeal through

 

• “You” are those who are not reconciled to God, but need to be.

 

So we have “we” and we have “you”

 

And then in verse 21 Paul says “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on [“our” or “your”] behalf,”

 

Do you see it?

Paul says Christ was made sin on “our” behalf.

The same group that is now ambassadors and who are now making an appeal.

 

Christ paid for the sin of the redeemed.

Christ paid for the sin of those who would be His.

 

And here is why you need to see that.

• If you do not come to Christ…

• If you are not reconciled to God through Him…

 

Then your sin will also be paid for,

But guess who will pay for it – YOU

 

Revelation 21:8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

If Christ had paid for everyone’s sin on the cross,

Then there would be no need for these people to then be paying for it again.

 

The reality is that Christ fully and totally and permanently

Atoned for those who are His on the cross.

 

It was the sin of the redeemed that He took.

It was the sin of those who are reconciled to God through Him

That He bore.

 

Christ did that on our behalf.

What Christ did was to actually and fully pardon His children.

 

He paid for my sin

He was treated as though He did what I did.

 

• All my times of rebellion…

• All my foolish choices…

• All my fleshly indulgences…

• All my worldly desires…

• All my carnal deeds…

 

Christ was punished as though He did them and not me.

He bore my sin on the cross so that I could be pardoned.

 

And this is obviously a wonderful truth.

But it is NOT ALL of the truth yet.

 

That is only half of the equation.

Humanity has two problems.

 

1) The Presence of Sin (just saw that one taken care of)

2) The Absence of Righteousness

 

Look at the final truth of this verse.

 

#5 THE PURPOSE

2 Corinthians 5:21

 

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

 

It was in fact the trade of the century.

 

He was treated as though He committed my sin

And I am now treated as though I fulfilled His righteousness.

 

He became sin

We become righteous

 

Now again, Christ did not become a sinner on the cross, He was merely treated as though He was.

 

And I am not now perfectly righteous, I am merely treated as though I am.

 

And now when I read verses like “You shall be holy as I am holy”

Or “You shall be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect”

 

I no longer have to hang my head in shame.

Because of what Christ did in bearing my sin and sharing His righteousness, I am now viewed as holy. I am now treated as perfect.

 

AND FRIENDS, THAT IS WHY WE CAN BE SAVED.

 

• Yes I believe we come to Christ by faith alone,

• But my faith isn’t even the reason I can be saved.

 

The reason I can be saved is because Jesus Christ

Bore my sin and offered His righteousness to me in return.

 

Without that all the faith in the world would not save you.

It is all about what Christ did.

 

And incidentally, just so you will know His work was EFFECTIVE.

That is why we are here this morning.

 

Romans 4:25 “He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”

 

We understand that He was “delivered over because of our transgressions”

He certainly wasn’t delivered over because of His transgressions – He had none.

 

It was our sin that brought about His death on the cross.

 

So why was He raised?

“because of our justification”

 

His resurrection did not justify us – His death did that.

His resurrection proved that His death was successful.

His resurrection proved that we had been justified.

 

Had Christ claimed to take our sin and then died and stayed dead,

We would forever wonder if His sacrifice worked.

 

What if He had some secret sin?

What if He had some carnal thought?

What if He only paid for His own sin and not mine?

 

We know that wasn’t the case because He rose from the dead.

The resurrection validates the cross.

 

When we sing “He Arose! He Arose! Hallelujah Christ Arose!”

 

In effect we are singing “The Cross Worked! The Cross Worked! Hallelujah the Cross Worked!”

 

And that is the truth of the gospel message.

Christ died that we might live.

 

And to that I only give you Paul’s invitation.

 

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

 

By reason of sin humanity is separated from God.

And there is but one way to be reconciled

And that is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

He paid a debt He did not owe

So that we could receive a benefit we did not deserve.

 

“we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

 

• Come to Christ, place your faith in His atoning work.

• Trust in Him as your only means of salvation and submit your life to God.

 

For when you do, Christ’s righteousness is also credited to you

And you can enjoy fellowship with the Father.

 

I don’t know how to explain it any clearer than that,

It is the gospel message of God and it demands not only your faith,

But also your worship.

 

That is what today is all about.

 

“Where the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

 

Growing Sarah’s Faith

Genesis 18:1-15

April 27, 2013

 

Well most recently we have been studying the life of Abraham

And how God used Abraham as a model picture of salvation.

 

We have seen grace in his life

We have seen faith in his life

And most recently we have watched as God began to grow that faith.

 

Well this morning Abraham gets a bit of a break

Because we get to see God do a little work on Sarah’s faith.

 

By now you probably realize that

Abraham wasn’t the only one who was chosen.

 

Sarah was also chosen by God.

• God wouldn’t let Pharaoh CORRUPT her

• God wouldn’t let Hagar REPLACE her

• God wouldn’t let Abraham RETIRE her

 

And while Sarah’s selection has been understood from the beginning,

It was really made clear in the last chapter.

 

Genesis 17:15-19 “Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. “I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.”

 

It was obvious that God was choosing Sarah.

 

We talked about how it was peculiar that God would choose Abraham.

Abraham was an idolater, a worldly man and a barren man.

 

But you should know that it is just as peculiar that God would choose Sarah

To be the woman through whom His grace would flow.

 

For not only was Sarah also pagan and barren, but in addition, Sarah didn’t always exhibit the best qualities for a woman to mother a nation.

 

If you will remember Sarah could be a little difficult.

Whose idea was the whole Hagar affair?

That was Sarah’s idea.

 

And when it didn’t work out as planned, do you remember Sarah’s response?

Genesis 16:5 “And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done me be upon you. I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

 

Now admit it guys, that is precisely the type of woman

You like to spend time with.

 

The type of woman that gives you her idea, expects you to take it,

And then when it doesn’t work, blames it all on you.

But that was Sarah

 

Beyond that, Sarah also had a touch of bitterness.

In the chapter we are studying this morning, after God makes the promise of a child, notice her response:

 

(12) “Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

 

Do you detect the bitterness?

 

There may have been a time when she thought God would do it,

But now she is old and admittedly is a woman with no “pleasure”

 

So Sarah is old, barren, bitter, and at times a little head strong.

That is NOT the type of woman we would choose to be the mother of a nation.

 

SO WHY DID GOD CHOOSE HER?

Grace

 

In case you haven’t realized it yet,

God loves to use the unusable.

 

Remember the famous missionary of the New Testament?

Acts 9:10-15 “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;”

 

Saul (whom you know as Paul) wasn’t exactly missionary material.

• Saul wasn’t a Gentile

• Saul wasn’t a compassionate man

• Saul didn’t even like Jesus

 

And yet God saw a prime candidate.

 

Later even Paul would say:

1 Timothy 1:12-16 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”

 

Paul was chosen specifically because he wasn’t useable.

 

And of course you realize that was true for all of us.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.”

 

Sarah didn’t look like a prime candidate to you and I,

But she was precisely the type of person God was looking for.

 

Anyone could use Hagar to start a nation, only God could use Sarah.

 

But in order for God to use Sarah, Sarah needed to have faith.

 

Hebrews 11:11-12 “By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.”

 

Scripture reveals that Sarah conceived “by faith”

And so it is faith that God must teach her.

 

The first 15 verses of chapter 18 reveal God teaching Sarah that faith.

 

It is important for you to realize that Sarah didn’t have that faith yet.

 

It is not far-fetched to assume that Sarah did have a measure of faith,

After all she was still living with Abraham in this land of Canaan.

 

But we know Sarah’s faith is not yet strong enough.

She looked to Hagar to fulfill the promise, not God.

 

But God wants to use Sarah and so her faith must grow.

 

Here we find the event that caused Sarah’s faith to skyrocket.

It was a simple revelation about her God and also about herself.

 

And through it God would grow Sarah’s faith to the point

Where she could conceive and become the mother of a nation.

Now the first 8 verses of this chapter really just form the setting.

 

It begins with three visitors arriving before Abraham.

(1-5) “Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When he lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth, and said, “My Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please do not pass Your servant by. “Please let a little water be brought and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree; and I will bring a piece of bread, that you may refresh yourselves; after that you may go on, since you have visited your servant.” And they said, “So do, as you have said.”

 

Now we don’t know the purpose for this visit.

It is true that through this visit God will grow Sarah’s faith

And God will teach Abraham the value of righteousness.

 

Certainly those are valid points, but beyond that, the reason for this visit is not given.

 

But it is not far-fetched to assume that God simply liked Abraham’s company.

The New Testament calls Abraham the friend of God.

 

And I don’t have a problem in the world with seeing this visit initially

As nothing more than God fellowshipping with His child.

 

And I hope you understand that reality.

God does delight in fellowship with you.

He likes to spend time with His children.

 

That is both simple and yet profound.

It puts you and me in a special category for sure.

 

But here God comes to visit Abraham.

And we don’t know if Abraham initially recognizes this as God, but he will.

 

At the very least Abraham has learned to be a hospitable man

And that hospitality is paying off.

 

Hebrews 13:1-2 “Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

 

After all Jesus said when you do it for the least of these, you do it for Me.

And if you want special fellowship with Jesus,

Hospitality may just be the best way to have it.

 

That is certainly true here.

Abraham is hospitable, compassionate, humble, and genuine.

He pleads with these men to stay and they do.

 

I particularly like the meal portion of this visit.

(6-8) “So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Quickly, prepare three measures of fine flour, knead it and make bread cakes.” Abraham also ran to the herd, and took a tender and choice calf and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. He took curds and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and placed it before them; and he was standing by them under the tree as they ate.”

 

I especially like the “Quickly” part.

(It’s no big deal, just go whip up some homemade bread)

 

Obviously Abraham and Sarah went to a great deal of trouble

To make their guests feel welcome.

By way of contrast these guests won’t get nearly as nice a welcome in Sodom.

 

But Abraham and Sarah are practicing great hospitality.

And you’ll notice that Abraham did not eat with them but rather stood by them.

 

Abraham was the waiter.

 

This story encompasses every aspect of service and humility and hospitality.

If one wanted to study what hospitality looked like

This story would be a good place to start.

 

But for the point of the chapter, that is really just the setting to get to the point.

 

It is the after dinner conversation that Moses is particularly interested in.

For in this conversation God is going to work on Sarah.

 

And I want to break it down a little this morning.

 

6 things we can see here.

#1 THE PROMISE

Genesis 18:9-10

 

(9) “Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “There, in the tent.”

 

Now of course this was God.

He knew where Sarah was.

 

But you know what was going on, He was getting Sarah’s attention.

At the very least Sarah would have wanted to know

What they thought about the meal.

 

But if you hear your name mentioned you automatically perk up.

Now Sarah is a listener.

 

And here is the promise.

(10) “He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him.”

 

Now put that in perspective please.

• It had been at least 23 years since Abraham broke the news to Sarah that they were moving to Canaan to become a great nation.

 

• It had been at least 13 years since that whole Hagar – Ishmael incident.

 

There may have been a time when Sarah thought she was going to have children, but time had caused reality to set in.

 

How long are you supposed to wait?

 

Well, that time is here.

It is finally time.

 

I don’t know if Sarah just wasn’t old enough before,

But God has finally reached the time when He desires to work the miracle.

And so He comes states the promise specifically.

 

I’ll be back in a year and when I come back I’ll meet Isaac face to face.

 

The Promise

#2 THE PROBLEM

Genesis 18:11

 

Certainly by now we are aware of this detail,

But Moses makes sure you and I realize that the promise which was just made to Sarah was a little on the impossible side.

 

2 main things stood in her way of having a son.

• One is that she has always been barren

• And two is that even if she were not barren, she is now too old

 

Even fertile women, don’t have babies at her age.

 

This promise that God is making is humanly impossible.

It cannot happen by human means.

 

It falls in the category of absurd

It falls in the category of illogical

By human standards it is not going to happen

 

And might I remind you that many of God’s promises

Fall directly in this category?

 

God is not looking for you to believe what you see,

He’s asking you to walk by faith.

 

This promise will require walking by faith.

 

And here is why.

I think it’s probably safe to say that at this point in their life Abraham and Sarah have probably stopped trying to have children.

 

At this point in their life I would doubt that intimacy

Between the two is really a regularity.

 

You can imagine that to some extent to even go and try to conceive again would probably make you feel a little silly.

 

The point is that this is no logical promise.

It is a promise in spite of obvious difficulty.

 

The Promise, the Problem

#3 THE PESSIMIST

Genesis 18:12

 

Now we have a part of the story that we can relate to.

Sarah laughed

 

• No she didn’t bust out laughing – this wasn’t funny

• She laughed to herself in doubt and disbelief.

 

“After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”

 

As we mentioned earlier,

• You can detect a little bitterness there…

• You can detect a sore spot…

• You can certainly detect doubt…

 

Sarah doesn’t think this is going to happen

And she laughs to herself

IT IS CLEAR THAT SHE DOESN’T BELIEVE.

 

And if she doesn’t believe she will never conceive,

Most likely because she will never try.

It is pessimism

 

And this we can all identify with.

I think we’d all be lying if we didn’t admit to having a little Thomas in us.

The very world we live in makes us a little cynical

 

Every where we look someone is offering us something too good to be true.

But when we take it, it often is.

 

And when we talk about doubting,

I don’t know that a person in this room can say, “that’s not me”.

 

It certainly was Sarah.

 

The Promise, The Problem, The Pessimist

#4 THE PECULIARITY

Genesis 18:13

 

As I studied this chapter,

This was the verse that really seemed to make a dent on my heart.

 

You’d think it would be the next verse,

Which really forms the point of the text, but for me it was this verse.

 

God looks square at Abraham and says, “Why did Sarah laugh..?”

 

I hope you ponder that for a moment.

• God just spoke words of sober truth.

• God just made a gracious promise

 

And Sarah laughed – doubted what He said.

 

And you can see that God is dead serious when He asked why.

Can you feel the disappointment in God?

Can you feel the frustration that came over Him?

 

Let me put it to you this way:

A LACK OF FAITH IS PECULIAR TO GOD

 

God knows who He is

God knows what He is capable of

God knows how faithful He is

And it is peculiar to Him that His creation so often doesn’t

 

How it must puzzle Him to see humanity doubt what He says.

• Has He ever lied before?

• Has He ever broken a promise before?

• Has He ever not been able to do what He said?

• Does He commonly fail?

• Is He routinely too weak?

 

What reason does Sarah have to doubt God now?

Her lack of faith is peculiar to God.

 

And incidentally this never changes.

 

In the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 6:28 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,”

 

When the disciples were in the storm

Matthew 8:26 “He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.”

When Peter sank on the water:

Matthew 14:31 “Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

 

When the disciples forgot the bread

Matthew 16:8-9 “But Jesus, aware of this, said, “You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread? “Do you not yet understand or remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets full you picked up?”

 

A lack of faith is always peculiar to God.

Mark 6:6 “And He wondered at their unbelief.”

 

I suppose it would make more sense if He routinely broke His word,

But He doesn’t.

 

He has always done what He says He’ll do.

And so a lack of faith must feel like a betrayal to Him.

 

What Sarah did cut God deep.

 

The Promise, the Problem, the Pessimist, The Peculiarity

#5 THE PROPOSITION

Genesis 18:14

 

Here comes the truth that really sets apart the chapter.

It is that propositional truth that God wants Sarah to ponder.

 

“Is anything too difficult for the LORD?

 

Now make sure you understand that He DID NOT SAY,

“Is anything too difficult for you…”

 

There are people who think that is what God meant.

You’ve all heard that misapplied verse out of 1 Corinthians.

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

 

And people often say, “I know God won’t put more on me than I can handle.”

 

That is, “He won’t allow anything that is too difficult for me.”

 

YEAH RIGHT!

That verse says He won’t let you be tempted to sin, more than you can resist,

But life is full of things too difficult to handle.

 

That is the point.

If God never put anything too difficult for you in your life

Then you’d never have to trust Him.

The point is that there are all sorts of things too difficult for you.

 

The question is, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?”

 

I had a teacher in college that talked about being in the military and being asked to take charge of a group of soldiers for an assignment.

 

He looked over the group and asked, “Does anybody in this group think they are tough enough to whip me?”

 

One man raised his hand and said, “Yes sire, I believe I can whip you.”

He told that man, “You come up here”

That man came forward and my teacher told him, “You’re second in command, does anybody out there think they can whip both of us?”

 

Look, we aren’t looking for what you can handle,

We are talking about what God can handle.

 

• Do you really suppose old age to be a problem too big for God?

• Do you really suppose a closed womb to be a problem too big for God?

 

That’s what God is asking Sarah.

Sarah, you are laughing like I can’t do it.

Is that really what you think?

 

Well you and I know that we serve a God without limits.

 

Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”

 

That means your ability to dream is more limited than God’s power.

You can’t even imagine as much as He can do.

 

There is nothing too difficult for God.

“At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

 

God is promising to do it.

 

The Promise, the Problem, the Pessimist, the Peculiarity, the Proposition

#6 THE POINT

Genesis 18:15

 

And again this is just like us.

“Sarah denied it however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

 

I guess in one sense Sarah was telling the truth

Since the Scripture says she laughed to herself.

But God sees the heart and He heard it loud and clear.

Now what does this passage teach us?

 

It shows us two things.

1) Sarah had a lack of faith

2) Sarah didn’t realize it

 

God just forced Sarah to look in the mirror.

He just forced her to see that her faith was not yet what it had to be.

 

She doubted God’s power and she didn’t even realize it.

 

And friends that is just like us as well.

It is certainly like the children of Israel.

 

We often fancy ourselves to be people who believe God,

And the reality is we have far more doubt than we even realize.

 

We are all prone to be pessimists like Thomas or Sarah

We are all prone to let a little delay cause us to think God isn’t coming

 

Sarah didn’t like it when God revealed to her that she didn’t believe,

But she didn’t, and she needed to know it.

 

But let me tell you this.

SARAH WOULD NEVER DOUBT AGAIN.

 

Sarah is about to go to Abraham and conceive Isaac…

 

Hebrews 11:11 “By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”

 

And after Isaac is born and Ishmael starts to mock him,

Sarah will understand and ask Abraham to send Ishmael away.

 

Abraham won’t want to, he will vacillate, but not Sarah.

Sarah is firm.

 

And in chapter 22 when God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac,

You won’t find Sarah running up the mountain trying to stop it.

(like the TV show suggested)

 

Sarah had small faith, but when God showed it to her,

She kissed it good-bye.

 

AND THAT IS HOW FAITH GROWS.

 

Over and over Jesus showed the disciples how little their faith was,

And He did it so that next time their faith might be stronger.

 

Well my guess is you have a list of failures

Where your faith wasn’t strong enough too. (I certainly do)

Those are painful moments…

• I don’t always like to look in the mirror…

• Sometimes I even argue with God like Sarah did…

 

But the point behind those failures and times when God exposes you

Is that you recognize that you are what God says you are

And that you grow from that knowledge.

 

That is also what Sarah did.

God showed her that she had weak faith,

And she allowed her faith to grow as a result.

 

This is what He asks of you.

WHY?

 

Because He still has things He desires to do in and through your life,

But it will require faith to accomplish it.

 

So learn from your moments of confrontation as well.

Maybe your faith was weak, just let it grow so that it doesn’t stay weak.

 

We’ve all been like Peter and been punched in the stomach

By the reality of how little our faith actually is.

 

The goal is to return and not to let our faith stay little.

We are called to trust God.

 

After all, is anything too difficult for Him?

 

Achieving the Blessing

Galatians 3:6-14

April 13, 2014

 

Well, you know we are studying through the book of Galatians

And it is a letter with a very distinct theme.

It is a letter written to refute legalism and to secure freedom in Christ.

 

And Paul has wasted no time exposing this vicious deception

And shaming the Galatians for entertaining it.

 

In fact last week Paul called them “foolish”

They had believed that which they never should have believed.

 

They were believing that the way to now please God

Was through the works of the Law, namely circumcision.

 

And to that Paul asked a series of questions meant to cause them

To analyze the truth of the situation more accurately.

 

How did you get the Spirit? Works or Faith

So if it started with faith, why would it finish with works?

 

And the point was that you didn’t earn salvation through works

And you don’t perfect salvation through works.

 

God does all that He does in your life on the basis of faith, not merit.

 

And tonight we take the next step and understand why this matters.

 

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE REALITY OF BLESSING.

Is that not what we want?

 

When we really get honest, we want to please God

Because we want the blessing of God to be on our lives.

 

And so, the legalistic thought is, if I’ll just do enough good then God will be pleased and God will bless me.

 

Is that really how it works?

• You know, go to church enough…

• Read my Bible enough…

• Pray enough…

• Give enough…

• Don’t cuss, steal, lie, or cheat…

 

And if I keep that sort of basic code then God will be pleased

And the result will be blessing in my life.

 

But by now you should realize that this is a backward thought.

Let me ask you a few questions:

 

What was the greatest blessing God ever gave you?

-Salvation

 

Did He give that in response to your good behavior?

-No

 

He blessed you with salvation

When your behavior was as bad as it ever was.

 

He blessed you with your greatest blessing

When your works were at an all time low.

 

Romans 5:7-8 “For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

What did you do that prompted that blessing?

-Faith

 

Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”

 

So if God gives His greatest blessing in response to faith,

In what manner will He give the lesser blessings?

 

And you see what Paul is talking about.

 

We are not knocking works – works are important

But you must understand that the blessings of God

Are not given in response to works,

They are given in response to faith.

 

And Paul is continuing to drive that point home to the Galatians here.

 

And to do that Paul pulls out his favorite Old Testament example.

(Hopefully because of our study in Genesis, you can see why)

 

But Paul’s favorite Old Testament example is none other than Abraham.

 

And Abraham is a wonderful example,

Not only because his life clearly depicts the salvation of God,

But because the argument Paul is facing is in regard to Judaism

And Abraham is the father of the Jews.

 

So tonight let’s further emphasize that God works in regard to faith,

Not works, and see this in the life of Abraham.

 

3 things in our text.

#1 THE BLESSING OF FAITH

Galatians 3:6-9

 

Now again, we know what it was that the Galatians wanted.

They wanted the blessing of God

 

They wanted God’s favor on their lives.

 

Galatians 3:5 “So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

 

They were after God’s blessings in their lives.

 

And they wanted it so badly that they were willing to be circumcised

And come under the Law in order to have it.

 

And this idea of circumcision came from the Judaizers.

They were the ones who came in and told the Galatians

That circumcision was the means by which you obtain God’s blessing.

 

NOW WHERE WOULD THEY HAVE GOTTEN SUCH A THOUGHT?

(We looked at it this morning)

 

Genesis 17:9-11 “God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. “And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.”

 

Well that command was clear enough.

And you’ll remember from our study this morning that anyone who did not obey that command was to be cut off from the people of God.

 

I mean, from a Bible stand point

It sure seems like the Judaizers have a strong point.

 

After all, if circumcision was required of Abraham, why wouldn’t it be required of the Galatians?

 

Let me tell you why.

Because the Judaizers were quoting the wrong Scripture.

 

(Can that actually happen? – Of course it can. This is the danger of studying Scripture out of context and then pulling it to fit your argument or desire)

 

We studied this just this morning

But let me hit it again briefly to make sure you fully grasp it.

 

Genesis 17 had nothing to do with

The promise of blessing that God had for Abraham.

Genesis 17 revealed the sign and the seal of the covenant,

Which was circumcision.

 

But if you study that chapter you will NOT find where God says, “If you don’t do this, then I’m changing My mind and the promise is off.”

 

God didn’t say that, because this chapter

Was not about Abraham earning God’s blessing.

 

If the Judaizers wanted to read Scripture that pertained to

Being blessed by God they should have read chapter 15.

 

Which is what Paul quotes here.

Genesis 15:1-6 “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, ” Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.” Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

 

This is the chapter where Abraham pleased God

This is the chapter where God gave Abraham the greatest blessing

 

And what prompted God to do that?

Abraham’s faith.

 

ABRAM DID RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSING

BUT HE RECEIVED IT THROUGH FAITH, NOT WORKS!

 

So if you want to receive the blessing of Abraham,

You don’t do it through works.

 

(7) “Therefore be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.”

 

And I hope you pick up on the slam Paul just put on the Judaizers.

Those men claim to be Jews…

They claim to be sons of Abraham…

 

But the true sons of Abraham are those who are like him,

And Abraham was not a man of works, Abraham was a man of faith.

 

Romans 4:7-12 “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.” Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.”

 

Abraham was saved by faith, not works,

So you don’t become a child of Abraham by works.

You become a child of Abraham by faith.

 

Consider Abraham’s life.

Hebrews 11:8-10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

 

Hebrews 11:17-19 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.”

 

Abraham was a man of faith.

This is what it means to be like Abraham.

We see that.

 

And then we see that it is not just Jews who can be children 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.”

 

God told Abraham that more than just Jews would share in his blessing.

“All the nations will be blessed in you”

(A promise made in Genesis 12:3 – also before circumcision)

 

Not just Israel, everyone can share in your blessing.

 

HOW?

(9) “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”

 

And so I hope you see the point.

 

There was a promised blessing to Abraham and his descendants.

But this promise was never restricted to the circumcised.

 

This promise was to anyone who pleased God the same way Abraham did,

AND THAT WAS THROUGH FAITH.

 

Abraham didn’t please God by works.

If you’ll remember Abraham had some pretty questionable works.

Abraham pleased God with faith.

 

And it is those who follow the example of Abraham

Who are really his children and who share in his blessing.

 

AND DO YOU SEE WHAT THE JUDAIZERS WERE DOING?

 

They were piecing Scriptures together, out of context,

And using them to make a very convincing argument about legalism.

 

It really baffles me today when someone so boldly asserts

That works are required for salvation.

 

And sure, but picking verses here and there,

They can even make a pretty convincing argument.

 

But you can’t study Scripture as a whole in context

And make any argument at all.

 

When people do this, I just want to ask:

• “Have you never read Romans 4?”

• “Have you never read Galatians?”

• “Have you never read the entire life of Abraham?”

 

Scripture is so clear that salvation is totally by faith,

The only possible way you can add works to it

Is by quoting verses out of context and applying them

In a way in which God did not intend.

 

I mean, show my one person in the Bible

Who was saved because of something they did.

No one was

 

And the blessings of God don’t come that way either.

Faith brings the blessing.

 

The Blessing of Faith

#2 THE CURSE OF THE LAW

Galatians 3:10-12

 

Here is an often forgotten reality

When it comes to offering people a blessing.

 

The Galatians wanted God’s blessing…

The Judaizers said it comes through obeying the Law…

 

REALLY?

The Law was a source of blessing?

Hmm

 

Not according to Paul.

(10) “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.”

 

Deuteronomy 27:26 “Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’”

 

Just listen to the Law

 

Deuteronomy 28:15 “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:”

 

Deuteronomy 28:45 “So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you.”

 

Deuteronomy 28:58-68 “If you are not careful to observe all the words of this law which are written in this book, to fear this honored and awesome name, the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring extraordinary plagues on you and your descendants, even severe and lasting plagues, and miserable and chronic sicknesses. “He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. “Also every sickness and every plague which, not written in the book of this law, the LORD will bring on you until you are destroyed. “Then you shall be left few in number, whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, because you did not obey the LORD your God. “It shall come about that as the LORD delighted over you to prosper you, and multiply you, so the LORD will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it. “Moreover, the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; and there you shall serve other gods, wood and stone, which you or your fathers have not known. “Among those nations you shall find no rest, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul. “So your life shall hang in doubt before you; and you will be in dread night and day, and shall have no assurance of your life. “In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you will see. “The LORD will bring you back to Egypt in ships, by the way about which I spoke to you, ‘You will never see it again!’ And there you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer.”

 

Well that sounds pleasant doesn’t it?

That sure sounds like the path to blessing…

 

WRONG!

That is a threat – that is a curse waiting to happen

There was no blessing there.

 

Now it is true that perfect obedience to the Law did offer blessing.

But may I stress the word “PERFECT” obedience.

If you failed the Law at any one point

You were no longer under the blessing, now you were under the curse.

 

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”

 

You break one command and you are a law breaker

And there goes the blessing, here comes the curse.

 

If you think the Law is your ticket to pleasing God and obtaining His blessing you are greatly mistaken.

 

Do you not remember the veil?

Do you not remember the YEARLY sacrifices?

Do you not remember the countless restitutions?

 

The Law did not usher men into blessing,

It ushered men into condemnation and a curse.

 

The Law didn’t save anyone

(11) “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

 

Here Paul pulls out another Old Testament passage.

If the Law only brought condemnation, then what brought justification?

 

That’s easy – faith.

It was faith that brought justification to Abraham,

And that was true for everyone.

 

Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.”

 

(Incidentally, that was the verse that broke Martin Luther)

 

The Old Testament teaches that righteous men were righteous

Not because of their flawless observance of the Law,

But because of their faith in God.

 

They never pleased God with works, it was always by faith.

 

Do you remember what a thug Moses could be?

Do you remember the heinous sins of David?

IT WASN’T THEIR WORKS, IT WAS THEIR FAITH

 

Hebrews 11:32-39 “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith”

 

IT WAS FAITH THAT BROUGHT THEM THE BLESSING

 

TIMEOUT

What about that often used statement:

“Obedience brings blessing, disobedience brings a curse”?

 

Isn’t that clearly seen in the Old Testament?

Yes, but it is not in regard to pleasing God.

 

Obedience brings blessing in the sense that

Doing what is right has favorable results.

 

God’s commands are perfect,

And obeying them does yield positive results.

 

Breaking His commands does bring negative consequences.

 

But it is never your works that usher in God’s blessing, it is your faith.

 

And notice Paul’s next point:

(12) “However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”

 

Now there is a unique statement.

“the Law is not of faith”

 

WHAT DOES HE MEAN?

Well, he quotes Leviticus 18:5

 

Leviticus 18:5 “So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD.”

 

There is no faith involved there.

Why?

 

Because there is no expectation for God to do anything.

The burden of the Law does not fall on God – it falls on you.

 

Seeking to keep the Law is trusting in your own abilities, not God’s

 

When you seek to justify yourself or usher in the blessing through works,

You are putting the entire burden squarely on your back.

 

You are saying, “I’ll take care of it…”

But the one who does not work, and instead trusts God for righteousness, puts the entire burden on the back of God.

 

One is trusting in self

The other is trusting in God

 

And only one of those receives the blessing

And the righteousness of God.

 

And so the question to the Galatians is obvious.

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON BEING BLESSED IF THE BLESSING IS BASED ON FAITH, BUT YOU PERSIST IN WORKS?

 

The Law won’t bring you a blessing, it only brings a curse.

 

The Blessing of Faith – The Curse of the Law

#3 THE REDEMPTION OF CHRIST

Galatians 3:13-14

 

Now here is where the gospel message of salvation comes in.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law”

 

That is to say that Christ bought us back

Christ paid off our debt

 

WHAT WERE WE UNDER?

Not just the Law, but “the curse of the Law”

(as Gentiles the Law was written on our hearts and our consciences condemned us)

 

Why were we under such a curse?

Because we had not kept it perfectly.

 

You break one command and you are guilty and the curse is here.

 

But Christ “redeemed us from the curse”

 

He bought us out of it.

HOW?

 

By “becoming a curse for us”

 

In other words, He took our curse upon Himself.

 

And that is clearly seen:

“for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”

 

The crucifixion itself was in and of itself a divine curse.

Christ died upon a cross because He was taking our curse.

 

 

The entire curse of the Law…

• All the plagues…

• All the judgments…

 

Christ took them all.

He bore our curse.

 

Colossians 2:13-14 “When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

 

WHY?

(14) “in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

 

Christ took the curse so we could get the what?

“the blessing of Abraham”

 

And “the promise of the Spirit”

 

And it all comes “through faith”

Faith in what He did

Faith in His success

 

We put the burden on Christ, not our own back.

He told us to come to Him if we were weak and heavy laden

And He would give us rest.

 

And the point is simple,

We are NOT now trying to get a blessing through works.

 

We are seeking the blessing through the work of Christ.

We are betting everything on Him.

(Not only our salvation, but also our blessings in life)

 

AND SO WE SEEK THE BLESSING THROUGH FAITH

 

When someone throws over your head this legalistic mindset

That you must do something to earn God’s favor and be pleasing to Him.

They are simply following in the foot steps of their fathers the Judaizers.

But it is not the truth.

 

The Galatians were contemplating trying to please God

By coming under the Law, and Paul says, “That is foolish”

 

No one ever pleased God by coming under the Law.

Anyone who thinks that, obviously hasn’t read the Bible.

The Law is a killer…

The Law is a condemner…

The Law is a curse bringer…

Don’t run to the Law as a means of obtaining blessing.

 

Christ set us free from the Law by becoming a curse.

 

If you want the blessing…

If you want to be pleasing to God…

Then pursue it the only way it works, by faith.

 

And tonight that is all I want to ask you to do.

I want to ask you to trust God.

 

Trust that what Jesus did was successful.

Trust that if you never did another good thing, Jesus did enough.

Trust that what He did can and will save you, apart from your help.

 

Now I’m not advocating a license to sin

And I’m not advocating a freedom from righteous living

 

We know the truth about such things.

I am merely encouraging you not to trust in those things.

 

Trust in what Christ did

As all you’ll ever need to be pleasing to the Father.

And when you give God that kind of faith,

The blessing of Abraham is yours.

 

God blessed Abraham because of his faith, not his works

And the same is true for you.

 

So, you foolish Galatians, quit thinking you need a circumcision appointment.

Quite thinking you need to go do something to please God.

 

What Jesus did is enough.

And the blessing is yours if you will simply trust that.

 

YOU ARE BLESSED

Galatians 3:9 “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”