Wednesday in the Word with Krisan Marotta Krisan Marotta

The Law teaches valuable lessons that prepare us for faith and keep us from evil. But, after the Messiah came, we graduated from the protective custody of the Law. All of us receive justification by the same path: faith in Jesus Christ.







Review







In the first two chapters, Paul defended his authority and his gospel. He argued he did not invent the gospel nor did he learn it from any other human being. Instead, he received it through revelation from Jesus Christ. He was called and given authority by Jesus to preach the gospel. The other apostles confirmed he preached the same gospel.







Five Arguments







In Galatians 3:1-4:31, the apostle details five persuasive arguments for justification by faith alone.









* Galatians 3:2-5—argues from experience. Did you receive the Spirit because you got your act together and finally started keeping the law? Or because you heard the gospel — that Jesus died in your place — and believed it? You received the Spirit because you have faith.







* Galatians 3:6-14—argues from the plain declaration of Scripture. From the beginning, justification came through faith. God promised He would bless all those who have faith like Abraham.







* Galatians 3:15-22—appeals to common sense. God made a promise to Abraham, but the Law is a deal which came later. The deal does not nullify the promise. God gave the Law to teach us we are sinful.



* Galatians 3:23-4:11 explains the purpose of the Law.











* Galatians 4:12-20—argues from his relationship to them.







* Galatians 4:21-31—uses a story from biblical history as an illustration.









Passage







23Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.  - Galatians 3:23-29









* The phrase "before faith came" (3:23) refers to before Jesus came. Note the parallel in 3:24 "until Christ came."







* Before Jesus came and explained the gospel clearly, we were in protective custody ("held captive" 3 3:23) under the law. The rules fenced us in, teaching us what is right and wrong.







* The Greek word "guardian" (3:24) is a kind of tutor or "learning enforcer," something like a drill instructor breaking in new military recruits.







* The Law teaches valuable lessons that prepare us for faith, point us in the right direction, and keep us from evil.







* After the Messiah came, we graduated from the protective custody of the Law. All of us (both Jew and Gentile) are children of God through faith.







* To put on Christ or clothe myself with Christ is to define my identify as one of his followers. The ceremony of baptism symbolizes that I have made that decision.







* All of us come to faith the same way. The path to faith is the same for Jew, Gentile, male, female, slave and free.







* If you have faith in Christ, then you are a child of Abraham and stand to inherit the promised blessing from God.

Paul argues the Law, which was a deal, does not nullify the promise given to Abraham. In a deal, two parties agree to certain obligations. But a promise is made by one party unconditionally.







Review







Chapter 1: Paul introduced the two of his major themes: 1) his apostolic authority and, 2) the gospel of justification by faith alone. Paul claimed you can recognize the true gospel by its substance (grace based on the cross of Jesus Christ); its source (divine revelation).







Chapter 2: Paul argued that the gospel he preaches is not man-made, but he received it through revelation from Jesus Christ. He reviewed his biography to prove that he had no chance to learn the gospel from the other human beings. Yet the other apostles confirmed he preached the same gospel.







Outline 3:1-4:31







In Galatians 3:1-4:31, the apostle details five persuasive arguments for justification by faith alone.









* 3:2-5—argues from experience







* 3:6-14—argues Scripture confirms experience







* 3:15-22—appeals to common sense



* 3:23-4:11 explains the purpose of the Law











* 4:12-20—argues from his relationship to them







* 4:21-31—uses a story from biblical history as an illustration









Passage







15To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.  -Galatians 3:15-18









* 3:15-18—Paul argues that the law, which is a deal, does not annual God's promise to Abraham.







* 3:19-22—Paul asks and answers two questions: Why the Law (3:19)? Is the law contrary to the promises of God (3:21)?







* A deal requires at least two parties. Both parties agree to certain responsibilities and consequences for failure (e.g. contracts).







* A promise requires only one party. One party pledges to do something regardless (e.g. marriage vows).







* A covenant is a promise, not a deal.







* In a unilateral covenant, a greater party commits to fulfill promises to a lesser party unconditionally.







* In a bilateral covenant, two equal parties commit to fulfill promises to each other unconditionally.







* 3:15—Once a covenant is made, it cannot be altered.







* 3:16—God made a promise to Abraham and his descendants. But not all of Abraham's biological children inherit the promise. Only those who have faith like Abraham inherit the promise.







* 3:17—First God made a promise to Abraham. Later He made a deal with the children of Israel. The deal does not nullify the promise. The promise still stands.







* 3:18—If we inherit the promise by keeping the law, it is no longer a promise. It would be a deal. God did not make a deal with Abraham. He made a promise.









19Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

In Galatians 3, Paul begins a series of five arguments for justification by faith. In the first two, Paul argues from experience and from the plain teaching of Scripture.







Review







Chapter 1: Paul introduced the two of his major themes: 1) his apostolic authority and, 2) the gospel of justification by faith alone. Paul claimed you can recognize the true gospel by its substance (grace based on the cross of Jesus Christ) and its source (divine revelation).







Chapter 2: Paul argued that the gospel he preaches is not manmade, but he received it through revelation from Jesus Christ. He reviewed his biography to prove that he had no chance to learn the gospel from the other human beings. Yet the other apostles confirmed he preached the same gospel.







Outline 3:1-4:31







In Galatians 3:1-4:31, the apostle details five persuasive arguments for justification by faith alone.









* 3:2-5—argues from their experience







* 3:6-14—argues Scripture confirms their experience







* 3:15-22—appeals to common sense



* 3:23-4:11 explains the purpose of the Law











* 4:12-20—argues from his relationship to them







* 4:21-31—uses a story from biblical history as an illustration









Passage







1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— -Galatians 3:1-5









* The issue under debate is whether the cross of Christ is enough to save us or whether we must also keep the Law.







* Paul's first argument: Examine your own experience. Ow what basis did God give you the Holy Spirit (the sign and seal of God's acceptance of you)?







* Did God give you the Spirit because of your outstanding, exemplary life and your ability to keep the law? Or did He give you the Spirit because you recognized your sinfulness and put your trust in the finished work of Christ?







* If God performed the miracle of giving you the Spirit, why are you now seeking a mark made by human hands (circumcision)? 







* Paul argues God granted them the Spirit first. Any changes in their lifestyle, including obedience to the Law, came after the Spirit.







* If you were justified because of faith, how can you be so foolish as to think your ability to keep the law will sanctify you?









6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. -Galatians 3:6-9









* Second argument: Scripture confirms your experience.







* The Judaizers claimed Jesus, who came after Moses, could not nullify the law of Moses because Moses came first.







* Paul point to Abraham, who came before Moses.

Paul includes rebuking Peter as part of his defense. Paul could rebuke Peter because they had the same view of the gospel. This incident serves two purposes: 1) it furthers Paul’s claim that he and the apostles teach the same gospel; and 2) it introduces this issue of whether gentile believers must keep the law.







Review







Paul wrote this letter around 49 AD, about 15 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus to churches he founded during his first missionary journey. After Paul left, the Judaizers began teaching the Galatians they must keep the law to be fully Christian. Paul wrote this letter in response.







Paul opens his letter by defending his authority and his gospel. He argues you can recognize the true gospel by its source and its substance. Its source is divine revelation from God. Its substance is a complete understanding of the cross of Jesus Christ.







Paul defends his trustworthiness. He argues they can have utter confidence in the message he preached to them because he received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Further, his message is the same as the other apostles.







This event probably occurred around 48 AD before the Council of Jerusalem.







Passage







11But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” - Galatians 2:11-14







For each apostle, we'll ask three questions: What did he do? Why did he do it? What resulted from his actions?









* Cephas is Peter's Aramaic name.







* The men "from James" are Judaizers from Jerusalem.







* James need not agree with them. In the same way, we might same we had visitors from John MacArthur's church. John MacArthur may never have met them.







* Before these Judaizers came, Paul, Barnabas and Peter were sharing meals with Gentile believers. After the Judaizers came, Peter stopped socializing with Gentiles and many Jews joined him in this behavior.







* We know Peter believed Gentiles are also saved by faith (Acts 10:34-35).







* Peter still believed the gospel, but he failed to practice it.







* Paul makes his rebuke public because the truth of the gospel is at stake and this is a public debate.







* Peter's actions make it appear he sides with the Judaizers when, in fact, he does not.







* We are not explicitly told that Peter repented, but it is implied.







* Paul could rebuke Peter because they believed the same gospel.







* Paul argues: If Jews have the freedom to live like Gentiles, then why pressure Gentiles to live like Jews? If you, a Jew, come to God by faith, then how can you pressure the Gentiles to please God by keeping the law?









15We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Fourteen years after his conversion, Paul went to Jerusalem to consult with the other apostles. They added nothing to his understanding and gave him the right hand of fellowship.







Review







Paul wrote this letter around 49 AD, about 15 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus to churches he founded during his first missionary journey. After Paul left, the Judaizers began teaching the Galatians they must keep the law to be fully Christian. Paul wrote this letter in response.







Paul opens his letter by defending his authority and his gospel. He argues you can recognize the true gospel by its source and its substance. Its source is divine revelation from God. Its substance is a complete understanding of the cross of Jesus Christ.







Paul defends his trustworthiness. He argues they can have utter confidence in the message he preached to them because he received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.







That raises a new question: how we know Paul's gospel is the same as the other apostles?







Passage







1Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—5to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8(for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. -Galatians 2:1-10









* Paul went to Jerusalem because of a revelation.







* Paul is referring to Acts 11: 27-30 (not Acts 15). Paul wrote this letter before the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).







* The revelation is probably the prediction of famine by Agabus (Acts 11:28).







* Paul meets with Peter, James and John in private.







* Paul notes two significant things result from this meeting: Titus was not circumcised (2:3-5) and the other apostles did not change Paul's gospel (2:6-10).







* Paul taught the cross of Christ is sufficient for salvation. The Judaizers said, belief alone is not enough, everyone must also keep the Law.







* Titus was a test case for the two competing gospels. Titus gives Peter, James, and John a chance to act on which gospel is true.







* The leaders of the church in Jerusalem do not compel Titus to be circumcised. Not only that, they wholeheartedly approve of Paul's teaching.







* We can verify the message of Christianity through many messengers and testifying miracles.

Paul argues he received his gospel first-hand as a revelation from the risen Lord. His lack of contact with the other apostles proves the divine origin of his understanding.







Review







Paul wrote this letter around 49 AD, about 15 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus to churches he founded during his first missionary journey. After Paul left, the Judaizers taught the Galatians they must keep the law to be fully Christian. Paul wrote this letter in response.







Paul opens his letter by defending his authority and his gospel. He argues you can recognize the true gospel by its source and its substance. Its source is divine revelation from God. It substance is a complete understanding of the cross of Jesus Christ.







Paul continues defending his trustworthiness. He argues they can have utter confidence in the message he preached to them because he received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.







Outline









* Galatians 1:11-12—he states his point that his gospel has divine origin. Then he supports it with what happened:



* Galatians 1:13-14—before his conversion;







* Galatians 1:15-16—at his conversion;







* Galatians 1:16-24—after his conversion.













Passage







11For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.—Galatians 1:11-12









* Galatians 1:11-12 state Paul's main point in this section.







* God revealed himself to his prophets and apostles.







* This truth we believe came from God miraculously.







* No human created it.







* Therefore, the gospel is trustworthy.









13For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.—Galatians 1:13-14









* Before his conversion, Paul had everything the Galatians are attracted to now.







* Before his conversion, Paul kept the law better than almost anyone alive. But it did not make him pleasing to God. It made him a murderer.









15But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;—Galatians 1:15-16









* Notice the pronoun shift (I persecuted, I was zealous ... but God called me).







* At his conversion, everything changed.







* God chose Paul to be an apostle before Paul even had a chance to keep the law.







* Paul contributed nothing to God's gracious calling.







* The story of Paul's conversion in Acts 9:1-15.









16was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20(In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!