Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim
Proving Justification by Faith
Gal 3:6-18
6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as
righteousness. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who
are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing
that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, {saying} "All the nations
shall be blessed in you." 9 So then those who
are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. 10 For as many as
are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for
it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things
written in the book of the law, to perform them." 11 Now that no
one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous
man shall live by faith." 12 However, the Law is not of faith; on
the contrary, "He who practices them shall live by them." 13 Christ
redeemed us
from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is
written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"-- 14 in order that in
Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so
that we might receive the promise
of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human
relations: even though it is {only} a man's covenant,
yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions
to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham
and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as {referring} to
many, but {rather} to one, "And to your seed," that is,
Christ. 17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred
and thirty years later, does not invalidate a
covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18
For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer
based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a
promise. (NAS)
1. Proof from the Patriarch.
2. Proof from the Percepts.
3. Proof from the Promises.
1. Proof from the Patriarch. V 6-9
A. An Argument that is . . Sure. v 6-7
6 Even so Abraham believed God, and it was
reckoned to him as righteousness. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those
who are of faith who are sons of Abraham
B. An Argument that is . . Scriptural. v 8
8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would
justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to
Abraham, {saying} "All the nations shall be
blessed in you."
C. An Argument that is . . Shared. v 9
9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
2. Proof from the . . Percepts. v 10-14
A. The Argument from the . . Curse of the Law. v 10
10 For as many as are of
the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is
everyone who does
not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform
them."
B. The Argument from the . . Clarity of the Law. v 11
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "The righteous man shall live by faith."
C. The Argument from the . . Contrast of the Law. v 12-13
12 However, the
Law is not of faith; on the contrary, "He who practices them shall live
by them." 13 Christ redeemed
us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is
written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"--
D. The Argument from the . . Coming of the Spirit. v 14
14 in order that
in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so
that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith.
3. Proof from the Promises. v 15-18
A. The . . Permanence of the Promises. v 15
15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is {only} a man's covenant, yet when it has been
ratified, no one sets it aside or adds
conditions to it.
B. The . . Person of the Promises. v 16
16 Now the
promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And
to seeds," as {referring} to many,
but {rather} to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ.
C. The . . Position of the Promises. v 17
17 What I am
saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years
later, does not invalidate a covenant
previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
D. The . . Privilege of the Promises. v 18
18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by
means of a promise. (NAS)
1. A Privilege to have the Inheritance
Illustration
The story is told of a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline
and who received his new supply of oil once a month to keep the light burning. Not
being far from shore, he had frequent guests. One night a woman from the village
begged some oil to keep her family warm. Another time a father asked for some to
use in his lamp. Another needed some to lubricate a wheel. Since all the requests
seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and granted them
all.
Toward the end of the month he noticed that the supply of oil was very low. Soon, it
was gone, and the beacon light went out. That night several ships were wrecked and
lives were lost.
When the authorities investigated, the man was very repentant. To his excuses and
pleading their reply was: "You were given the oil for one purpose -- to keep that light
burning!"
Proving Justification by Faith
1. Proof from the Patriarch. V 6-9
2. Proof from the . . Percepts. v 10-14
3. Proof from the Promises. v 15-18