John Lloyd - Faith Walking
/Free in Christ: Study of Galatians
Living by Faith brings Great Freedom
Galatians 3:1-14
November 4, 2018
Journeying through Galatians, we learned that we are not saved into the kingdom of God by our moral efforts and good works, but through trusting in Jesus Christ and His gospel. We are not only saved by the gospel but we grow by the gospel when it’s applied, by faith, to every area of our life. Living by the gospel frees us from anything hindering us from God.
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And 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.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
Memory Verse: Galatians 3:11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Big Idea: Living by faith leads to salvation, keeps us free and brings great freedom!
I. Beware of false substitutes of living by faith.
Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.
Three words that keep us on track: Crucified, Crucified, Crucified
a. Question of initiation: Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
b. Question of completion: Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
c. Question of persecution: Galatians 3:4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
d. Question of miracles: Galatians 3:5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith.
“Accepting the Gospel means abandoning our old approach for acceptance by God.” Timothy Keller
Lord help me abandon my old pattern of finding acceptance by God. Living by faith brings great freedom!
II. Living by faith began with Abraham and continues on in me.
Galatians 3:6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Genesis 15:6, John 8:56, Gal. 3:7-9)
How are we made right with God? Look at Abraham! How do we live by faith? Study Abraham!
A. Beware of functional saviors.
Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
“If I am getting angry what is it that I think I need so much? What is being withheld that I think I must have it in order to be complete, to have hope, to be a person of worth? Comfort, control, and approval are functional saviors. When they are blocked, we get bitter.” Timothy Keller (See questions 4&7)
“Today’s anger becomes tomorrow’s bitterness. Bitterness is anger turned inward.” Stephen Viars
Lord help me to replace my functional saviors with Jesus Christ as my savior. Free me from me!
B. Living by faith reverses the curse and brings God’s blessing.
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— (Isaiah 53:6, I Peter 2:24, Acts 4:12)
Jesus took my curse upon himself! (Galatians 2:20, 3:2)
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Galatians 3:14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Living by faith in Christ is how we got here. It is how we grow. It is how we will endure persecution/trials, and experience God’s power to finish strong.
Living by faith brings great freedom!
Spiritual Growth Questions for the week of November 4th
Opener: In what areas of your life are you tempted to earn God’s favor by your good actions? What were you putting your trust in besides God?
1. Read Galatians 3:1-14. Describe in your own words what is happening here. Why is this important?
2. Read Galatians 3:1-5. Write out the five questions asked in this passage. Why is it effective to ask questions to determine where someone is at with the Lord? Why are these questions asked?
3. Twice Paul calls the Galatian Christians “foolish” (3:1,3). In what sense is it foolish to add works to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
4. Think of a sin that you regularly commit. What are you worshipping more than Jesus that causes you to decide to disobey him? How will you replace the false savior with your true savior when you are tempted?
5. Read Galatians 3:6-9. How does Paul use Abraham as an example of faith instead of keeping the law? How are we similar to Abraham?
6. Read Galatians 3:10-14. Why do you think Paul uses the words “curse” and “cursed” so often in this passage? Why is there a curse hanging over those who try to rely on observing the law? How is it helpful to re-depict Jesus becoming a curse in dealing with functional saviors? (Reread Galatians 2:20, 3:1, 3:13)
7. Consider a battle with anger/ or any sin. If I am getting angry, what is it that I think I need so much? What is being withheld that I think I must have it in order to be complete, to have hope and to be a person of worth? Discuss how you would identify the functional savior and re-depict Jesus in your battle with anger/any sin?
8. Read Galatians 3:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:21, I Peter 3:18. How does Jesus becoming a curse for you and crediting His righteousness to you change the way we as Christians see ourselves? Our walk with God?
9. What truth of this passage excites you the most today? Why?