Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Did you wonder what the passage was about?
• Some parts of the Bible are easier to understand
• Some parts of the Bible are more difficult to understand
• Some ask if the passage is out of date?
• It is not out of date - it is bang up to date!
• It needs to be preached in many churches
• Example of survey results
• The church of Galatia had been infiltrated
• Many Jews had believed...
• ...but wanted to add Jewish tradition (e.g. circumcision and the Mosaic law)
• Not "faith plus"
• The Bible teaches "faith alone"
• Rom 3:6, 3:10 - we have all sinned and fallen short
• How can we be justified and made right in the sight of God?
• In the finished work of Christ
• By faith in Christ
• John 3:16
• The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord
• Salvation is a free gift received in faith
• Faith
• Will produce good works
• Will result in a holy life
• Doctrinal section
• Chapter 1-2: Paul defending his position as an apostle
• Chapter 3: Reviews the Scriptures
• The Old Testament - Abraham believed God, consider Leviticus, Deut, Habbakuk
• There is only one message in the Bible
• Previously: 3:1-5 - a strong rebuke issued by Paul
• v1 - Who has bewitched you?
• v2 - How did your Christian life begin?
• v3-4 – How did they continue in their Christian life?
• v5 - How did the Holy Spirit work in their Christian life?
• Now: v6 - straight to the Scriptures

Not your background but faith (v6-9)

• v6 - The Jewish people placed great importance in their father Abraham
• They considered themselves the children of Abraham
• They were the children of God
• Paul points out that Abraham believed God
• He was initially a pagan man called from the Ur of the Chaldeans
• He believed God and went
• God made promises to Abraham
• Abraham wonder how this would be accomplished
• He had faith in God - 14 years before he was ever circumcised!
• Abraham was made right with God simply by faith
• People are made right with God by faith
• John 8:32-44
• Following your family religion or tradition - does not save
• v32 - The truth shall set you free
• v33 - They were offended are being told they were in bondage
• v34 - They were in bondage to sin
• v37 - They did not receive God's word
• v39 - They considered themselves Abraham's children and not God's children
• v41 - They cast aspersions on Jesus' birth
• v43 - They were not able to listen to His word
• Do you list to God's words?
• v44 - The devil was their father
• The Jews were holding onto their religion
• Christianity brings a gospel promise - believe in Jesus Christ and you shall be saved
• Simple
• Profound
• Have you believed?
• v7 - Only those who have faith are children of Abraham
• v8 - The Scriptures state the Gentiles will believe
• They 'preach'
• cf John 8:56 - Abraham saw the day of Christ
• Example at Mount Moriah
• v9 - Those who believe are of the worldwide Church
• Application: not about our background but our faith in Jesus Christ
• Not just a Christian ethic but trusting in Him

Not the deeds of the law but Christ (v10-14)

• Consider last weeks sermon [on the fall]
• v10 - All are guilty, all have sinned
• The law was given to show us how sinful we really are
• Yes, it would act as a restraint as well
• God requires perfection
• God's curse and hatred is toward sin
• If you break one area of the law, you break all the law
• v11 - Habbakuk - the just shall live by faith
• v13 - Jesus took our sin and curse to the cross ...
• v14 - that the blessing of Abraham and God may come upon us
• Application: faith alone

A certain promise (v15-18)

• We cannot trust politicians - examples
• We live in uncertain times
• Our health is uncertain - example
• We can trust God
• The covenant promises of God
• v15 - Consider man's binding covenants - consider God's binding covenants
• v16 - God promised Abraham
• There would be a single seed - Christ
• v17 - Christ
• This was the first promise
• This was the first covenant
• v18 - An inheritance in law, is not of promise
• But God gave inheritance by promise
• Example
• Application: we live in turbulent times but we can depend on Christ