THE LAW VERSUS FAITH–CONTINUED WITH 3b
Galatians 3:1-29
Memory Verse: 3:11
4. Christ delivered from curse by becoming a curse, v. 13; Deuteronomy 21:23, “His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.”
There are three Greek words that together reveal the story of redemption:
a. “Agorazo” which means to BUY IN THE SLAVE MARKET, 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
b. “Exagorazo” means to BUY A SLAVE OUT OF THE MARKET PLACE, Galatians 3:13, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”
c. “Lutroo” means to SET FREE by means of a RANSOM:
1) Redeemed by the blood of Christ, 1 Peter 1:18-19Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not REDEEMED with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
2) Redeemed from all iniquity, Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might REDEEM us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
5. Gentiles are saved in the same manner. v. 14.
II. DELIVERED BY TRUE DOCTRINE vv. 15-29
A. The Law Cannot Change the Covenant of Promise, vv. 15-18.
1. A confirmed covenant cannot be changed, except by both parties, v. 15.
2. The faith way of salvation was before the law, during the law, and after the law, v. 16.
a. otice how much hangs on the letter “s” as we consider the difference between “seed” and “seeds,” Genesis 13:15, “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” Genesis 22:18, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
b. Abraham gave all that he had TO ISAAC according to God’s promise, Genesis 25:5-6, “And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.”
3. The promise given 430 years before the law and could not be nullified by the law, v. 17.
a. The promise was through the righteousness of FAITH, Romans 4:13, “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”
b. The promise was according to the election of grace and not of works, Romans 11:5-6, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
4. The inheritance is by promise and not by law, v. 18. Many people depend on works, but we depend on Christ for salvation.
B. The Purpose of the Law, vv. 19-29.
1. The law was added to show transgression until the promised seed should come, vv. 19-20. Ex. 19:8, “And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.”
2. No law could bring salvation, v. 21.
3. The “scripture” is in the singular refers to a definite passage, v. 22.
a. In God’s sight no man shall be justified by works, Psalm 143:2, “And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.” This was quoted in Galatians 2:16, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
b. Man is cursed for not doing the law, Deuteronomy 27:26, “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.” This was quoted in Galatians 3:10, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”
4. Old Testament people looked forward to Christ, we look back to Him, v. 23.
5. The law was a guardian to bring sinners to Christ, v. 24. The schoolmaster was an instructor or a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.
6. Since faith has come, we are no longer under the law, v. 25.
7. Children of God by faith. Note change from WE to YE which would indicate change from Jew to both Jew and Gentile.
8. Baptism is the UNIFORM of the Christian, v. 27. The uniform does not make a man a soldier, but simply identifies him as one.
9. All who are in Christ, are all one in Christ, v. 28. This speaks of equality. We still remain male and female, but all who have been saved are all in Christ.
10. If you are Christ’s, you are related to Abraham without going to the law or through the law, v. 29.
–Lesson by E. L. Bynum; Revision by Art Davison