Galatians 3:10-14

Fools! Paul painted the perfect picture of Christ's work of the gospel in them. It was a spiritual work. He suggests the Galatians are under a delusion to think that something spiritual can be perfected through the works of the flesh. Anyone who tries to live this way is cursed. The alternative? Christ became a curse for us so we can receive the Spirit in faith. Paul gives us the example of Abraham and how faith is credited to those who have faith.

The word justified occurs 5x in these verses as Paul applies the fact our position before Christ is as if I died and was judged on the cross with Christ, but also we are seen by God today as if I lived the life the Christ did. Justified = Just-as-if I died in Christ and Just-as-if I lived His life. This is why we need to stop trusting in our moral efforts and trust in the work of Christ.

Clash of the Titans! One of the most astonishing scenes in all of the new testament is presented when Paul confronts Peter to his face in front of the church. Out of fearing man Peter had simply stopped acting in accordance with his convictions. This message addresses how unity is breached when we elevate other identities above that of Christians.

Traditions that become non-negotiables create legalism. Thus far Paul is laying groundwork to fight for freedom by defending his calling and expresses his concern now that his work for a fruitful ministry is being threatened because the Galatians are being pulled back into following unnecessary traditions. Spies against freedom have infiltrated Paul's ministry, but they will have to contend with the litmus test of Titus, the divine revelation given Paul and the agreement to Paul's position by the great pillars of the early church.

What was the pre-Christian Paul like? He was a superman of Jews. He was zealous in pursuit of moral righteousness and a violent persecutor of the church. What changed him? He affirms it wasn't because of personal enlightenment, intellectual reasoning or reflection. The gospel was received and God set him apart as an apostle (what is an apostle?). This is perhaps the greatest testimony in the history of the church.

Is Paul Angry? The tone immediately suggests his hatred for the false gospel that is reversing the work he did in building the gospel into the Galatian believers. You have been rescued! Christ's work as your substitute satisfied any debt you owed and to add anything else to the effort (works) is to be suggest more is needed and God doesn't take 2 payments. Any other truth being presented to you should be damned.

Hebrews 12:12-17

Hebrews 12:5-11

Hebrews 12:1-4