Village Church Annandale (Sydney) sermons

Today we start with the academic question – in Galatians 3:19

 19What, then, was the purpose of the law? 

A promise had been given to Abraham back in Genesis. But the law came later in Exodus.

The answer to the question is:

It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. 

Where there is no law, there is no sin. It's the presence of the law that makes us conscious of our sin and need for God's grace.

Galatians 3:19 Why, then, was the law given? It was added for the sake of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was put into effect through angels by means of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not just for one person alone, but God is one. 21 Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin’s power, so that the promise might be given on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 

On Monday we looked at the key verse for the first part of Galatians 3. 

Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 

And the point was… having started with the spirit don’t be fooled/bewitched into trying to attain your goal by human effort. And Paul in the chapter says, don't do that. And he gives five reasons not to do that. 

1. Because of your personal experience. 

2. Because Abraham (the gentile) believed and it was credited as righteousness.

3. Because all who rely on observing the law are under a curse.

4. BecauseChrist redeems us - so that by faith we might receive the promise of the spirit. 

5. Because God’s covenant with Abraham can’t be set aside. 

Having examined the first three of those arguments yesterday, today we examine the last two of those arguments.

Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed. 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. 14 The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.

15 Brothers and sisters, I’m using a human illustration. No one sets aside or makes additions to a validated human will. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say “and to seeds,” as though referring to many, but referring to one, and to your seed, who is Christ. 17 My point is this: The law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously established by God and thus cancel the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise; but God has graciously given it to Abraham through the promise.

Yesterday we looked at the key verse for the first part of Galatians 3. 

Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 

And the point was… having started with the spirit don’t be fooled/bewitched into trying to attain your goal by human effort. And Paul in the chapter says, don't do that. And he gives five reasons not to do that. 

1. Because of your personal experience. 

2. Because Abraham (the gentile) believed and it was credited as righteousness.

3. Because all who rely on observing the law are under a curse.

4. BecauseChrist redeems us - so that by faith we might receive the promise of the spirit. 

5. Because God’s covenant with Abraham can’t be set aside. 

Today we examine the first three of those arguments.

Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 4 

Did you experience so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard— 6 just like Abraham who believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness 7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. 9  Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith. For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written,  Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed. 11  Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because  the righteous will live by faith.

There is the strong contrast between the Spirit and human effort/the flesh.

Human effort/ or the work of the flesh - is whatever we do without the Holy Spirit. 

The false teachers are urging observance of the law - saying mere faith in Christ does not take away sin or appeal God’s wrath or justify us.

They say 'In order to get these benefits we must not only believe in christ but also keep the law, be circumcised and keep the festivals.' 

Paul says - no - by doing those things - you are actually provoking God’ wrath, and piling up sin against you.

You have left the Spirit and gone back to human effort - and this strategy is doomed.

Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now finishing by the flesh? 

Many of us like to be right, and many times this brings a level of confidence to us that feels good. But there's a difference between being right in our own eyes, and being right in God's eyes. Galatians 2 tackles the question, "How is it possible for us to be right before God?" Join us as Jon Kwan opens up Galatians 2 to show us the freedom God's answer brings to this question at Village Church.

The Apostle Paul loves the church in Galatia. So he talks clearly to them. He reminds them that it was through seeing Jesus Christ crucified (by hearing the message of the gospel) that they received the spirit. It was not by being obedient to the law.

There's a warning here for us. For if the Galatians could be so bewitched, then it's possible for us to be led astray as well.

Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 

Today in focus is the whole question of how do we read words in the bible. In what sense are they directed to us? Here the Apostle Paul says 'You Foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?' (Galatians 3:1) But with what tone should we read these words? And how should we see these words as applying to us as modern readers today?

Today we are concluding a little two part series based on a work from John Piper, 'When Leaders Disagree', coming out of Galatians 2.

The first three points canvassed yesterday were:

1 Great Saints go astray – both sons of thunder and sons of encouragement

2 Ministry is made up of many judgment calls and we will have to learn to disagree on some things without rancor or bitterness or resentment
3 Every strength has its corresponding weakness and we are all vulnerable

The last three points from John Piper that we focus on today are:

4 Therefore we need each other’s different strengths and mustn’t envy one another but rather give thanks for God’s wisdom.
5 Past experiences and past usefulness are no guarantee of future obedience.  Successful Christian living is made of vigilance and constant prayer.
6 The cause of God will triumph through all the weaknesses and failures of his people.  Our defeats are temporary and the celebration of our enemies is brief.

In his treatment on Galatians 2, John Piper has six concluding remarks about disagreements among Christian leaders that I found helpful when I first read them years ago. As I studied them again today, I found them helpful again, so thought I would reshare them here.

Today we focus on the first three:

1. Great Saints Go Astray

2. The Reality of Judgment Calls
3. The Vulnerability of "Sons of Encouragement"

A link to John Piper's article:
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/barnabas-the-weakness-of-a-great-leader