3. THE SPIRITUAL IS GREATER THAN THE PHYSICAL

a) You have a spiritual baptism – 1Cor 12:13, Col 2:12, Rom 6:4, Eph 4:5.

i. Your baptism today identifies you with Christ, it places you into Christ and into his death by the Spirit – Rom 6:3-11.

ii. You can’t see or feel this baptism, you have to believe it. You can see and feel water baptism, but what does it do for you? – 1Cor 1:17.

b) You have a spiritual circumcision – Col 2:11-13, Rom 6, Gal 2:19-21.

i. You can’t see or feel this circumcision, you have to believe it. You can see and feel physical circumcision, but what does it do for you? – Gal 5:2

c) You have a spiritual communion with Christ and his body – Gal 3:27-28, Col 3:8-11,15, Rom 12:5, 1Cor 12:12-13, Eph 4:4-5.

ii. Your communion today is with Christ, being made one with the other members of Christ, all being partakers of Christ – 1Cor 10:16-17.

iii. You can’t see or feel this communion, you have to believe it. You can see, feel, and taste the ritual know as communion in the church, but what does it do? Does it give you a communion with Christ and his body? – 1Cor 8:8.

d) You have been given all spiritual blessings in Christ – Eph 1:3,7,18, 2:6-7, 3:8.

i. These are spiritual blessings (1Cor 6:11, Rom 8:29-30, Eph 1:3-8)

ii. You can’t see or feel these blessings. You can see, feel, and use physical riches, but what is the end of them? – Rev 18:1-17, Mark 4:19, 10:23, 1Tim 6:17.

4. THE CONTEXT OF 1CORINTHIANS 12:31

a) Paul is teaching in this chapter that there are many members with different spiritual gifts in the body and all are important – 1Cor 12:4, 12-14, 24-25.

b) The Corinthians had division issues (1:11-17, 3:3-7, 8,10, 11:17-31) They likely had divisions over the spiritual gifts and who was most important.

c) Paul reminds them that we are one body – 1Cor 12:12-13,27. And that the gifts had a purpose – 1Cor 12:4,7, 14:12.

d) He tells them to covet the best gifts, but there is a more excellent way than having supernatural gifts – 12:31.

5. MORE EXCELLENT THAN SPIRITUAL GIFTS

a) The more excellent way is charity. Without it the Corinthians spiritual gifts would not profit – 1Cor 13:1-7.

b) The more excellent way is knowledge and understanding with charity – 1Cor 8:1, 13:8-9.

c) When you grow up, you no longer need a parent because you should be mature enough to provide for yourself – 1Cor 13:11.

d) When you understand in part you can provide some value, but when you know fully you can be more effective not needing teaching from others – 1Cor 13:12.

e) Above all, charity – 1Cor 16:14, Col 3:14, 1Thess 1:3-4.

f) Spiritual gifts are pointless if they do not edify or profit others – 1Cor 14:1-20.

g) Spiritual gifts were given for the purpose of edifying and building the church until it came in the full knowledge of doctrine – 1Cor 13:8-10, Eph 4:11-16, 2Tim 3:16-17

h) Charity is more excellent than spiritual gifts because without it they do not profit.

i) Complete knowledge with understanding is more excellent than spiritual gifts because I can freely know and use my knowledge to minister and live by and not be dependent on a supernatural gift

MORE EXCELLENT WAY

1Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1. WE WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT

a) This phrase comes from 2Cor 5:7 and is said in the contexts of awaiting our glorified body – Rom 8:22-25.

b) We learn from Hebrews 11:1 that faith is the substance and evidence of things hoped for, but not seen, not faith itself, but what one’s faith is in (the Word of God) – Heb 11:3.

c) The phrase “seeing is believing” is not what we live according to, but rather, “hearing the Word of God is believing” – Rom 10:17, Eph 1:13

d) This is a more excellent mind set – 2Cor 4:15-18, Rom 8:18, Col 3:1-4.

2. WE ARE TO WALK AFTER THE SPIRIT, NOT AFTER THE FLESH

a) We are to walk in the Spirit not fulfilling our flesh – Rom 8:1-5, Gal 5:16-21.

b) The flesh = carnal, earthly, after the natural man - Rom 8:6-7,15:27, 1Cor 3:1-4.

c) Fulfilling the desire of your flesh or being carnal is not necessarily a sin, it’s when you walk according to that.

d) Walking according to your flesh does not always mean blatant wickedness – Rom 1:3, 15:27, 2Cor 5:16, 10:3

e) You can do religious things in your flesh and not be walking in the Spirit– Col 2:16-23.

f) Walking after the Spirit means walking according to the word of God – Eph 5:18-20, Col 3:16, 1Thess 2:13, 2Tim 3:16-17.

g) The Spirit and the Word have connection in scripture - 2Samuel 23:2, Isa 59:21, Micah 2:7, Zech 7:12, 1Cor 2:13, Eph 6:17.

h) Having Gods Words written down so that you can read them, understand them, believe them, be filled with them, walk according to them, is more excellent than having an experience, living according to a feeling, or waiting for God to give you a “fresh word” – Neh 8:8, Rom 2:17-18, Eph 3:4, Col 4:16, 1Thess 5:27, 1Tim 4:13, Rev 1:3.

3. PAUL’S DOCTRINE OF COMMUNION

a) Key verse when dealing with these passages – 1Cor 10:17,23-24, 11:17-22, 33-34.

b) Paul is dealing with idolatry in the 1Cor 10 passage – vs 14-22…..2Cor 6:14-18.

c) 1Cor 10:16-17 – To me it is clear that Paul is simply saying our communion is with Christ body, which we are all partakers of because of the blood Christ shed.

d) Cup can mean portion – Psalms 11:6,16:5, Matt 20:22-23, Luke 22:42, John 18:11, Rev 14:10, 16:19, 17:4, 18:6,

e) Paul contrast the cup of the Lord with the cup of devils….. is there a Devils supper? It’s a metaphor just like the “the Lord’s table” here.

f) Our cup (portion) and bread is the body of Christ – our common union – 1Cor 10:17.

g) The one body doctrine is purely Pauline (Rom 12:4-5,1Cor 10:17,12:12-13,20, Eph 2:16, 4:4, Col 3:15) – And that is what Paul is dealing with here with the meats offered to idols… vs 24 and 32-33.

h) 1Cor 11 if you read the context, you would not conclude that Paul is instituting an ordinance/ritual to be observed in the Church – 1Cor 11:17-22, 33-34.

i) There were divisions in the Corinth – vs 17-19 (1Cor 1:10-13, James 2:1-4, Gal 2:11-14) Remember – 1Cor 10:17,24,32.

j) It was a meal and they were not sharing, or waiting, or practicing their communion in the body of Christ – 1Cor 11:20-22.

k) 1Cor 11:23 – Paul received this from the Lord, not MMLJ. “The same night he was betrayed” (The Bible talks more about this topic than the cup and bread). He took bread….

l) 1Cor 11:24-25 – Take eat… Is not what the Corinthians were doing – Act 20:35.

m) 1Cor 11:26 – By drinking an ounce of grape juice and a little cracker?.... Or by sharing with those who may be poor, servants, different, because you are both members one of another in the body of Christ? – Rom 12:5

n) 1Cor 11:27-29 – Are you worthy of the Lord? Are you able to examine yourself and find perfection? Were you not guilty already – Rom 3:19… Paul could be dealing with those who are not believers because they are not partakers of Christ body. (Closed communion)

o) “Damnation” Does not mean eternal judgment – Matt 23:33, Mark 3:29.

p) More from Paul – Rom 13:2, 14:23, 1Tim 5:12, 1Cor 3:13-15.

q) The issue here is clearly stated in verse 29 – “Not discerning the Lord’s body”

r) 1Cor 11:30 – Because they are hungry, going without, starvation.

s) 1Cor 11:31-32 – It’s better to judge yourselves now than have Christ judge you and you suffer loss because you didn’t build upon the foundation properly.

t) 1Cor 11:33-34 – It’s a meal, and you need to tarry for each other so that everyone gets a portion. Paul will deal with it further in person.

u) My conclusion is that it is hard to get from this that we are to perform a ritual of eating unleavened crackers and grape juice to shew the Lords death. 4. DEALING WITH COMMON OBJECTIONS AND WRONG TEACHINGS

a) Clear teachings make the hard passages easier.

b) Concerning damnation, if you are in Christ, you are saved – Eph 1:13, 1Cor 6:11,15:1-4, Rom 4:23-5:1

c) Concerning food and drink, it does not commend us to God – 1Cor 8:8, Rom 14:17.

d) If you make it the Passover – Rom 6:14, Col 2:14,16.

e) Eating Christ body and drinking his blood is done by coming to Christ and believing on him – John 6:35,47-58 - Not by eating bread and drinking grape juice and it actually turning into Christ literal blood and body as the Catholics teach.

f) Maybe it’s possible that the Jews/Corinthians were keeping the Passover. If so, the doctrine remains that Pauls point is that we have a communion in the body of Christ and not that we should be keeping the Passover.

5. APPLICATION

a) We should Glory in the cross, not treat it as a condemning thing – Gal 6:14

b) We should not have respect of persons among the body and should seek to meet other’s needs – 1Cor 10:24, 13:5, Phil 2:4-5.

c) Eating and drinking cannot save you or make you right with God – 1Cor 8:8, Rom 14:20

d) It’s okay to celebrate our communion in the blood and body of Christ in remembrance of Christ.

COMMUNION IS PAULINE

a) The word communion appears 3 times in your Bible – 1Cor 10:16, 2Cor 6:14, 2Cor 13:14.

b) Communion, Lord’s supper, Lord’s table – Only found in Paul’s epistles – 1Cor 10:16,21, 11:20.

c) Paul says the most about this topic – Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 22:22-25, Luke 22:15-22, 1Cor 10:16-17,21, 11:20-34.

d) John doesn’t mention it, yet writes the most about the night Jesus was betrayed – John 13-19

2. A CLOSER LOOK

a) What is happening in the upper room?.... The Passover – Matt 26:17-26, Mark 14:12-22, Luke 22:7-20, John 13:1

b) The Passover in the OT – Exo 12:1-21, 43-51, Lev 23:5-8, Num 9:1-14, 2Chron 30.

c) Exodus 12:14,45 & 48 are not our pattern today – Rom 6:14, Col 2:14,3:10-11, Gal 5:6, 6:15.

d) Jesus and the disciples were keeping this Passover – John 13:1, Matt 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:79.

e) Two cups in Luke 22:17, 20 - “after supper” – Point being that they were eating the Passover, which was a meal and there was more than one cup…. Not how churches do things today?

f) Jesus was instituting something new……the New Testament – Matt 26:28, 14:24, 22:20.

g) His blood was shed for the New Testament – Isaiah 53, Heb 9 & 10, 1Peter 1:2, 1John 1:7.

h) He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets – Luke 24:44, 10:1.

3. WHY I DON’T WATER BAPTIZE

a) Because I understand the above and know that the word baptism does not mean dunked in water… thus the phrase “Baptized with water – Mark 1:8

b) For the same reason I don’t do sacrifices or teach circumcision – Its Jewish and taught in the law and profits nothing – Rom 6:14, Gal 3:10.

c) Because I understand Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles – Act 22;21, Rom 11:13, Eph 3:8. And was given the revelation of the mystery and dispensation of the grace of God – Eph 3:1-5, Col 1:25-27, Rom 16:25, 2Tim 1:8-11, Gal 1:11-12.

d) As our apostle, Paul writes about water baptism once, and says he was not sent to water baptize – 1Cor 1:11-17. And says that we should follow him as he follows Christ – 1Cor 11:1.

e) Water baptism can make the cross of Christ of none affect – 1Cor 1:17, 2Cor 11:3 – “Church of Christ, Catholics, Baptist” ……. Eph 2:8-9, 1Cor 12:12-14,27, 2Cor 5:17, 2Tim 3:10-12,

f) Paul teaches that we are baptized into Christ by the Spirit and identified with Christ death – 1Cor 12:13, Gal 3:26-29, Rom 6:3-4, Col 2:12, Eph 4:5.

g) Understanding Paul wasn’t sent to water baptize (1Cor 1:17), Paul doesn’t teach that we should be water baptizing/baptized with water (nowhere), we are not under the law (Rom 6:14), Paul teaches there is one baptism (Eph 4:5 – Into Christ by the Spirit) Therefore, I see no need to be baptized, or to baptize anyone with water – 2Cor 5:17.

4. DEALING WITH COMMON OBJECTIONS AND WRONG TEACHINGS

a) Paul water baptized…… but Jesus didn’t (John 4:1-2) – Paul did baptize at Corinth – Acts 18:7-11…. but later said he was glad it was only a few – 1Cor 1:12-17. Acts 16:15, 32-33, 19:1-7 are all debatable. Paul also circumcised – Acts 16:1-4. Kept a Jewish vow – Acts 21:19-28. Spoke in tongues – 1Cor 14:18(19). Handles serpents? – Acts 28:1-6.

b) Paul was water baptized – Before he was given the mystery and by a Jew – Acts 9:17-18, 22:11-16, 1Cor 1:17.

c) Jesus was baptized - Rom 15:8, Matt 3:13-16 – You can’t follow Jesus in baptism.

d) Jesus commanded to water baptize in the great commission….. and said its necessary for salvation? – Mar 16:15-16. An that signs would follow – Mark 16:17-18. And to teach the law – Matt 28:20 (5:17-20,23:1-3). And gave power to remit sins – John 20:22-23.

e) Baptism replaced circumcision…… Scripture reference please? – Paul would not allow circumcision to be taught as necessary for salvation – Act 15:1-6, Gal 2:1-5, 5:1-3… Nor would he have for salvation. Paul also says we are circumcised with Christ just like we are buried with him in baptism – Col 2:11-12

f) Baptism is a symbol of Christ death and resurrection? – This is the misconception. Paul teaches that your baptism into Christ is real and happened to you, there is no symbol necessary….. Maybe standing strong on the doctrine and being zealous of good work is a better symbol? – 1Tim 3:15, Titus 2:14, Phil 2:15-16.

5. APPLICATION

a) Trust the cross work of Christ alone for your salvation and completion and not any works of your flesh – Rom 4:4-5,23-5:1,

b) Understand God gave further revelation after MMLK – Acts 2:1-4, Acts 26:15-17, 1Tim 1:16, Rom 16:25, Eph 3:3

c) Don’t let any man beguile you or make the cross of Christ of none affect for you – Col 2:9-3:4.

d) When talking to others, a good question to ask is “What does water baptism do”.

WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT BAPTISM

Ephesians 4:4-5 There is…..one baptism.

1. WHICH ONE?

a) Before we talk about this issue we need to understand several things first.

1) There is more than just water baptism in the Bible– Matt 3:11, 20:17-23, Heb 6:2, Heb 9:10.

2) The word “baptized” or “baptism” does not mean being immersed into water – An act, experience, or ordeal by which one is purified, sanctified, initiated, or named…. Immersed, submersion.

3) Water baptism did not begin with John or the NT – John 1:25, Heb 9:10 – Exo 29:4, Lev 8:6, Num 19, Psalm 51:7.

b) A failure to not understand the above is the reason for a lot of the controversy surrounding this topic.

c) I believe every Christian needs to be baptized… Eph 4:3-6 the question is with which baptism? – Heb 9:10? Mark 1:4? Matt 3:11? Matt 20:23? 1Cor 12:13?

2. CLARIFYING THE BAPTISMS

a) There are 3 things that are present at every baptism. 1)A baptizer. 2)Something to be baptized with/into (Identified with). 3)A purpose for the baptism.

b) OT washings – Heb 9:10 – Baptizers = Moses/Priest/clean person. Baptizing with = Water. For the purpose of = Purification/cleansing – Exo 30:17-21, Lev 8:6, 15:1-13, 17:15-16, Num 8:5-7, 19:14-21, Deut 23:10-11, 2Kings 5:9-10,

c) Johns baptism – Matt 3:2 – Baptizer = John the Baptist – Baptizing with = Water. For the purpose of = remission of sins/purification – Matt 3:5-6, Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, John 3:23-26. To identify the Christ – Matt 3:3, John 1:25-37. To identify true Israel – Matt 3:7-13, 21:23-27. To prepare the way of the Lord – Isaiah 35:8, John 1:19-23, Mark 1:2-3, Isaiah 40:3, Mal 3:1. Priest had to be washed – Exo 30:17-21 – Israel would be a kingdom of priest – Exo 19:5-6, 1Peter 2:9.

d) Jesus Baptisms:

1) Mark 1:9 – Baptizer = John the Baptist. Matt 3:13, Mark 1:9. Baptized with = Water – Matt 3:16. For the purpose of = Fulfilling all righteousness – Matt 3:13-16, 5:17-18, Luke 2:21, Isaiah 53:12, 2Cor 5:21.

2) Luke 12:50 - Baptizer = Jesus/God/unbelieving Jews – John 10:17-18, Phil 2:7-8, Matt 26:39-42, Act 2:36, 3:14-15. Baptized with = Sufferings/Death – Matt 20:20-23, Luke 24:26, Acts 3:18, Luke 9:30, John 19:28. For the purpose of = Fulfilling the prophets/dying for sins – Luke 24:44, John 19:30, Heb 2:9, 10:10…. Later revealed that he was a ransom for all – 2Cor 2:7-8, 1Tim 2:6.

1. JAMES FAITH AND WORKS

a) The audience of the book of James is clearly stated in James 1:1. This means that the book was likely written after Acts 8:1.

b) There is controversy over who and when the book was written, but most attribute it to “James, the brother of Jesus” – Acts 12:17, Gal 1:9, 2:9.

c) James has an emphasis on performing righteousness – 1:16, 19-20, 22,25. 2:8-13

2. JAMES 2

a) James 2:14 – James asks two questions here:

i. What is the profit of faith without works? - Matt 7:21-27

ii. Can faith save him? Noah, Moses, Israel, …..

iii. Paul says yes – Rom 3:22-26, 4:23-5:1, Gal 2:16, 3:11,

b) James 2:15-16 – James gives an example – just because you say something it doesn’t make it come to pass. You have to take action – Luke 3:10-11, 1John 3:17-18

c) James 2:17 – James answers his own question – faith alone is dead.

i. Paul says it is to him that works not – Rom 4:5, Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5.

d) James 2:18-19 - “Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works” – This is why people say James was written later and that he is correcting Paul, or clearing up what Paul has said. I believe James is still ignorant of Paul’s message

i. James says to show your faith without works…. which is not possible if your faith is in a covenant – John 14:15-21, 15:8-14, Matt 28:18-20, 5:18-20, 23:1-3, Neh 8:4-8, Mal 2:7.

ii. James is writing to people who believe in one god “Deut 6:4” but there is more information that you have to believe to be saved – John 20:30-31, Rom 4:24-25.

e) James 2:20-24 – James says you are vain if you believe faith without works justifies you.

i. Verse 21 – Abraham justified by works? – Genesis 22:16-17, 26:5, John 8:39-40. What did Abraham believe – Gal 3:8, Heb 11:17-19.

ii. Verse 22-23 – Faith wrought with his works and fulfilled Gen 15:6. (Paul says it is just by faith (Gal 3:6, Rom 4:3,22)

iii. Verse 24 – James concludes that one is justified by works and faith.

f) James 2:25 – Even Rahab was justified by works (Joshua 2, Heb 11:31)

g) James 2:26 is James conclusion - Another comparison made, your faith without works is like your body without the spirit…. dead.

3. JAMES VS PAUL - RIGHTLY DIVIDED

a) James and Paul seem to contradict. This was Luther’s dilemma who said James was an “Epistle of straw” and struggled with it’s canonicity because of this contradiction.

b) The traditional view is that James is explaining that you didn’t really have faith if there are no works shown – Matt 7:16-21. But James says “justified” by works. I believe James wrote this epistle ignorant of Paul.

c) They both use Abraham as example, but point to two different times in his life – Paul = Gen 15. James = Gen 22.

d) This is resolved by rightly dividing and placing the books in their proper context – James is writing to the 12 tribes of Israel (James 1:1). Paul is writing to the Body of Christ (Rom 1:7, 12:5).

e) What is believed?

i. Abraham – Believed that he would have a seed and that many nations would come from him and be blessed – Gen 15, 17, but later God required something of him to test him – Gen 22:1

ii. James believed that Jesus was the Christ that fulfilled the prophecies – John 20:30-31, 28:18-20.

iii. Paul believed that Jesus was the Christ and that he died for your sins and resurrected that you may have eternal life – Rom 4:24-25, 1Cor 15:1-4.

f) Today, our faith is not in simply a promise or a covenant, but in the cross work of Christ who did all the work necessary for your justification – Rom 5:1.

GALATIANS 4

a) Galatians 4:1-6 – Paul makes a comparison between a child and son.

i. Under the law we are children – Told what to do, no freedom “under tutors and governors”

ii. Christ redeeming work delivered us from the law – Eph 2:12-18, Col 2:9-23, Gal 3:10-13

iii. We are now sons, no longer under the tutors or bondage, but under liberty – Gal 5:1, 13, 2Cor 3:17.

b) Galatians 4:7-11 – Being a son makes us a joint-heir with Christ – Rom 8:14-17, Eph 3:6

i. Verse 9 - If you are now a son and known of God, why do you want to go back to being in bondage?

ii. Paul was afraid of them because maybe they didn’t understand or believe the gospel of grace as they were turning again to the law.

c) Galatians 4:12-20 – Paul would have the Galatians be as he….” walking by faith and with zeal”

i. Paul speaks of the blessedness they had “preached through infirmity of the flesh….. ye would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me”

ii. Zeal is good if it is used with knowledge – Rom 10:2-4, Titus 2:14

iii. Paul is their father in the gospel (1Cor 4:15) and he wants to be assured the they understand the gospel of grace and are trusting in Christ for their completeness (vs 19-21)

d) Galatians 4:21-23 – Those of you who want to be under the law, do you not hear it? – Gal 3:10,12

i. Two sons:

• One by a bondmaid and after the flesh – Gen 16:1-4.

• One by the freewoman and after the Spirit – Gen 21:1-5

e) Galatians 4:24-25 – “Which things are an allegory” – What Paul is saying here he makes clear is “Allegorized, figurative, to gain understanding, not literal”

i. “Two covenants, one from mount Sinai, which is Agar” – This is the law, the one that brings bondage, it is weak and beggarly – Gal 4:9, Rom 14:1-2, 8:3.

ii. Verse 25 – Agar = Mount Sinai in Arabia (The law Exodus 19).

iii. Answers to Jerusalem which now is and is in bondage with her children – Ishmael was born of a bondwoman making him also in bondage. Jerusalem on earth was under the law in bondage still – Acts 15:5, 1Tim 1:6-7.

f) Galatians 4:26-27 – Jerusalem which is above is free, just as we are under Grace.

i. “Which is the mother of us all’ – This is Sarah – Gen 17:15-16,19 – Just like Abraham is the “father of us all” – Abraham = Faith, Sarah = grace, because she did not deserve a child, and she could not produce a child of her own effort and strength.

ii. Like Abraham, Sarah was given a promise of being a mother of “many nations” and “a seed (singular)” – Just like he did with Abraham, Paul is using Sarah as an example of grace to use and how we receive spiritual blessings by promise and in Christ, not of the law - Rom 4:16-17, Gal 3:16

iii. Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1 in verse 27 which I believe is a verse about Sarah who was barren but more children than those who are not barren.

g) Galatians 4:28-5:1 – “Now we” – Paul is telling you the point of all this, if you are confused by the previous verses you can know what Paul is saying because he tells us.

i. Verse 28 – We are children of promise – Rom 8:14-17, Eph 3:6.

ii. Verse 29 – Ishmael persecuted Isaac – Gen 21:9 – “Even so it is now” - Jews persecuting the Galatians for not keeping the law.

iii. Verse 30 – “What saith the scripture” – Gen 21:10 – Paul’s point is that we are not under law – Rom 3:28, 6:14, 7:4-7, Eph 2:15.

iv. Verse 31 – That we are not under the law is clear here “So then” We are children of Sarah who represent grace and not the bondwoman who represent the law.

v. Galatians 5:1 – Stand fast in your liberty and don’t put yourself back under the law. You do not need it in Christ because you are a son (mature) and can walk by faith – Gal 3:11

h) Conclusion – We are not under the law, we are children of promise and free.

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace: to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.

1. CONTEXT OF GALATIANS 3

a) Galatians 1:1-5 – Pauls intro

b) Galatians 1:6-10 – Pauls rebuke of the Galatians (what follows in the rest of this chapter and chapter 2 is in response to the Galatians being removed from grace and putting themselves back under the law)

c) Galatians 1:11-2:10 – Paul defends his apostleship and gospel

d) Galatians 2:11-15 – Paul rebukes Peter for not walking according to grace among the gentiles

e) Galatians 2:16-21 – Paul explains how we are justified by grace apart from law

2. GALATIANS 3

a) Gal 3:1-5 – Paul again rebukes the Galatians here and calls them foolish (verse 1 and 3)

i. Paul asks the Galatians how they received the Spirit? – By faith – Eph 1:13, 2Cor 1:22, 5:5.

ii. Are we then made perfect by the law? No, we walk in the Spirit also – Rom 8:1-5, Gal 5:25.

b) Gal 3:6-9 – Abraham had righteousness imputed by faith – Gen 15:6.

i. Those that are of faith are children of Abraham – Rom 4:16-17a.

ii. Being saved through faith is not the mystery – Heb 11, Hab 2:4.

iii. The gospel preached to Abraham was “In the shall all nations be blessed”

iv. “Blessed” – Because they are justified, forgiven – Rom 4:6-10

c) Gal 3:10-14 – If you are under the law, you are under its curse – Deut 27:26

i. Christ took the curse for us and redeemed us from the curse of the law – Deut 21:23, Rom 8:3, 2Cor 5:21, Col 2:14.

ii. “Blessing” = Imputed righteousness (Rom 4:6-8, 20-25). “Promise” = The Spirit (vs 14, Eph 1:13)

d) Gal 3:15-18 – When we make a promise or covenant, we understand that we can’t go back and take it away, or add something to it. The same is true with the promise to Abraham.

i. The promise was made with Abraham – Gen 12:1-3, 15:1-6, 17:1-6 and Paul says that it was fulfilled in Christ. We are blessed today through Christ, Abrahams seed. (Gen 17:3-6)

ii. The Law was added 430 years later and can’t disannul the promise to Abraham.

iii. “Inheritance” – This is where people mess up and make us Israel and inheriting their promises (Land, possess the gates of our enemies, Nation above the nations) Context is “How did you receive the Spirit” – Rom 8:16-17, Eph 1:13-14 – That is the inheritance – Rom 15:27, Eph 3:6.

iv. We cannot forget that more covenants were made with Israel – Deut 5:2-3, Jer 31:31-34

e) Gal 3:19-22 – Christ was the end of the Law for righteousness – Rom 10:4 – Even Israel has to have faith in Christ – John 20:30-31 Rom 9-11. The New Covenant could not be established until Christ came and died – Heb 9:16. The same is true of the Mystery – 1Cor 2:6-8.

i. The Law was added because of sin – Rom 3:19-20, 5:20.

ii. Paul is not saying that Christ did away with the law – Isaiah 2:1-4, Micah 4:1-3, Matt 5:17 – Rom 10:4

iii. The law is good/righteous – Rom 7:10-12…. But can’t produce righteousness in your flesh – Rom 8:2-4

f) Gal 3:23-25 – The law is a schoolmaster – 1Tim 1:8-9

g) Gal 3:26-29 – Children of God by faith – (compare 1John 3:10, 5:2).

i. Baptized into the body of Christ where there is neither Jew nor Greek – 1Cor 12:13.

ii. Abrahams seed (spiritually) because you are in Christ (Abrahams seed) and heirs through him – Eph 3:6, Titus 3:7. Pauls point in chapter 3 is not that we replace Israel, but that we are children of God by faith, made perfect by faith, receive the promise of righteousness and the Spirit by faith, and not by the law.

1.THE CONTEXT OF ROMANS 4

a) This chapter is where Paul uses Abraham as an example for us today. Before we get into this chapter we need to understand its context.

i. Romans 1:1-17 – Introduction.

ii. Romans 1:18-32 – Gentiles pronounced sinners, given over to a reprobate mind.

iii. Romans 2 – Jews are also sinners and have broken the law, a true Jew is one who is born a Jew and keeps the law

iv. Romans 3:1-20 – All men are sinners.

v. Romans 3:21-31 – Justified by faith in Christ blood apart from the law, no difference between Jew or Gentile.

b) Paul is introducing us to the gospel of grace and how we are justified freely by grace through faith and not of works. 2. ROMANS CHAPTER 4

a) Romans 4:1-5 – What did Abraham find? What saith the scripture – Gen 15:6 – Paul here in the first 5 verses states that Abraham was justified by his faith apart from any works

b) Romans 4:6-8 – David states that those who are forgiven are blessed, which is true. Paul then asks the question on who gets this blessing, and how do they get it? – vs 9-10

c) Paul shows from the scripture that Abraham received righteousness before he was circumcised – Vs 10-12 – And that he is the Father not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who walk according to the faith that Abraham had “before” he was given circumcision – Vs 12.

d) Romans 4:13-15 – The promise was given before the Law (Gens 15:4-6, 17:3-6)

e) Romans 4:16 – Therefore – because Abraham had righteousness imputed to him and was given the promise before the Law shows that it is of faith, that it might be by grace, that the promise might be sure.

i. What is the promise here? A land? No. A mighty nation? No. Possess the gates of our enemies? No. Righteousness (Rom 3:22) The Spirit (Gal 3:14, Eph 1:13).

ii. Abraham is the “Father of us all" because he is the Father of the circumcision in the flesh (which was obvious - vs 16) – Exo 3:16, Josh 24:1-3, Isa 41:8, 51. Paul is making the point that he is also the Father spiritually of those who have faith even if they are not circumcised – Rom 4:16-17a.

f) Rom 4:17-21 – Paul here makes the point that Abraham believed in the true God. It’s not just faith in anything, but faith in the true God and what he has said – Rom 10:17, Rom 4:3, Gal 3:6, Gen 15:6.

i. According to that which was spoken – Abraham did not believe the gospel that we believe today because that wasn’t spoken to him. What was spoken was “So shall thy seed be” – Gen 15:4-5.

g) Rom 4:22 – Abraham had righteousness imputed because of his faith.

h) “Now” – Paul brings us back to present day because there was a difference in the message given to Abraham and the message given to Paul.

i) Rom 4:23-24a – It was written not just for Abraham, but for us too, so that we could know that God can impute righteousness by faith alone, apart from works.

j) Rom 4:24-25 – We also have righteousness imputed “if we believe” – Not if we work, keep the law, get baptized, go to church, tithe, accept Jesus, ask Jesus into our heart, but…… If we believe on him that raised up Jesus from the dead (John 2:19, 5:26, 10:17-18, Acts 16:30-31).

k) Rom 4:25 – This is the gospel we believe today – Rom 5:8-10 1Cor 15:1-4, Gal 2:20.