By faith or by the
law
Galatians 3:1-4:7
Key verse 3:13-14
My message today may be boring and hard to understand for some
of you. However, I will deliver one of the most important Biblical messages,
which can change your life and reshape your way of thought and life style. If
you carefully hear God’s word in this message and lay a foundation on it, you
will be the happiest person no matter who you are. If you ignore it, however, you
will be a most miserable person. Unfortunately,
many Christians are legalistic, unhappy, and powerless because they do not
truly enjoy and appreciate what we are going to say today. Christian life
should be happy. It must be. But why do some of you still suffer from the
burden of sins though you believe in Jesus? Today, we will talk about the most
fundamental principle of Christianity. The title of my message is ”By faith or
by the law.”
Here, I would like to clarify some terms before I begin my
message.
·
Righteous – the state of being right or good before God
·
Justify – to consider someone righteous
regardless of his sins
·
Salvation – being rescued from the penalty of
sin as a result of justification
·
The works of the law – actions or effort to keep
the law
The book of Galatians is the letter Apostle Paul wrote to
the church in Galatia. Usually, Paul’s letter begins with praise and thanks for
the recipients. However, that is not the case with this letter. Paul seems to
be very upset about the Galatians. Why?
1:6-7 6 I am astonished that you are
so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ
and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is
really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into
confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Paul has found out that the Galatians are turning from the
gospel to a different gospel. While he was absent there, some Jewish Christians
(Judaisers ) came to them and insisted that the Gentile Christians abide by the
law, especially circumcision (5:2-6), in order to be saved (Acts 15:15). They also
argued that Paul was not an authentic apostle and that he had removed certain
legal requirements from the gospel to make his message more appealing to
Gentiles. And the Galatians were persuaded (4:17) or forced (5:12) by them to
be circumcised. Paul was very concerned about this because it could have
fundamentally compromised and undermined the truth of the gospel and thus could
play havoc with the whole Christian community and hinder the work of God.
In response to this, in chapters 1 and 2 Paul clearly defended
his apostolic authority and thereby substantiated the gospel he preached. He
told them that he received the gospel from the revelation from Jesus Christ and
that some Apostles, such as, James, Peter and John, validated the gospel he
preached and his apostleship.
Then, he told the Galatians how he opposed Peter when he did
not act in line with the truth of the gospel. Paul is saying this because this
is the problem with Judaisers and also with the Galatians. This was what
happened: one time Peter came to Antioch and was eating together with the
Gentile Christians there. Then, some Judaisers came from James. When they
arrived, Peter suddenly drew back and separated himself from the Gentiles because
he was afraid of the circumcision group. It was prohibited for Jews to eat
together with uncircumcised Gentiles because they would be defiled. Seeing
this, Paul confronted Peter for his hypocrisy. What was his hypocrisy?
“15 “We who are Jews by
birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by
the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have
put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ
and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be
justified.”
Peter knew that all men, even Jews, could not be justified
by keeping the law (the works of the law) and that was why he believed in Jesus
Christ. In other words, we humans can be justified only by faith in Jesus
Christ. There is no other way to be justified. The works of the law does not
justify people. But Peter acted like he was different from uncircumcised
Gentiles as if they had not been justified even though they were justified by
faith in Jesus. Peter did not act in line with the truth of the gospel and had
a conflict with what he believed.
19 “For through the law I died to the
law so that I might live for God. 20 I have
been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in
me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I
do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through
the law, Christ died for nothing!”
This teaches us that justification is not a one-time event,
but a life to be continued until we enter the kingdom of God. In other words,
we can be justified by faith in Jesus and should live continually by faith in
Jesus. This is the truth of the gospel and the main theme of the book of
Galatians. In today’s passage, Paul continues on the theme “Only by faith in
Jesus Christ” at length and vehemently persuades the Galatians to come back to
their senses and thus to the gospel they believed.
“1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched
you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as
crucified.”
Paul first expresses his frustration and his deep concern with
the Galatians. Paul presented the gospel to the Galatians so vividly and
powerfully that it looked like they saw the crucifixion with their eyes. But suddenly
they are deserting the gospel and turn to the works of the law. He can’t
believe what is happening to the Galatians. Unless they are bewitched, how can
they do that? Paul says that they are foolish because they are ending their
salvation in vain. In the rest of this passage Paul expounds why they should
not live by the works of the law but need to come back to the faith in Jesus
Christ alone.
From their experience
with the Holy Spirit:
2 I would like to learn just one
thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the
law, or by believing what you heard?...5 So again I
ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works
of the law, or by your believing what you heard?
By asking these questions, Paul reminds them of how they began
their Christian life. When they believed in Jesus, they received the Holy
Spirit and the Spirit has worked in them with power. They experienced so many
miracles and even suffered for the gospel because they firmly believed it. The
Holy Spirit is God’s gift to those who believe in Jesus. All this clearly
indicates that they received forgiveness and power by believing the gospel of
Jesus not by the works of the law. This was an undeniable fact.
With the same faith
as Abraham’s:
Now Paul explains how Abraham became righteous and how he
was related to the Galatians.
6 So also Abraham “believed God, and
it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Abraham was the forefather of all Jewish people. One day he
complained to God that God had not given him a son yet though he had promised
to him. Abraham was 85 years old at that time. Then God led him out and had him
count the stars and then said that his offspring would be as many as the stars
in the sky. Amazingly, Abraham believed God and God counted it for him as
righteousness. Abraham did not do any fantastic jobs that impressed God. But Abraham
believed God and thus his promise that God would give him offspring after all,
though he was old and his wife was barren. God was happy with his faith and considered
him righteousness. As such, righteousness is given by God’s grace through
faith. In the same way, the Galatians was counted righteousness when they
believed in Jesus Christ. What does Scripture say about this?
8 Scripture foresaw that God would
justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham:
“All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So
those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
Scriptures said that God would justify the Gentiles like
Galatians through faith. It was revealed for the first time to Abraham. (Gen
12:3, 18:18, and 22:18) What Paul is trying to say here is that Abraham was
justified by faith and so was the Galatians as the Scriptures said. So the
Galatians have become children of Abraham through faith, not by the works of
the law.
By faith in Jesus:
What do the Scriptures say about those who rely on the works
of the law, then?
10 For all who rely on the works of
the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who
does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
Deut 27:26 says that everyone who does not continue to do
everything written in the Book of the Law is under a curse. In a sense, the law
is a means of earning righteousness by our own effort. If you rely on the law,
you must keep it 100 percent all your life, however. But who can keep all the
laws without fail all his life? It is impossible to be justified by observing
the law and punishment follows as a consequence. That is why all of we humans
are under a curse. Yet, God provided another way to be justified apart from the
law. (Rom 3:21) Actually, the new way was already shown through Abraham, which
is through faith as I mentioned earlier. Hab 2:4 also says that the righteous
will live by faith. Righteousness or justification is not earned by our effort because
we are not capable do so. Instead, it is given by God’s grace when we believe
in him. How come is it given free? It is because of Jesus Christ.
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 hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us
in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through
Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Actually, saving people from the curse of the law is not
free. Someone must take the curse instead but no one can take it because it has
to do with our sins. Only the Son of God, who is sinless, can take it and he
became a curse on the cross and died in our place. By doing so, Jesus has
redeemed us from the curse of the law. Now those who believe in him will be counted
righteous as Abraham was. That is justification by faith. The Galatians were
also justified by believing in Jesus Christ, not by the works of the law. So,
they are blessed along with Abraham by faith.
The law vs. the
promise
Now Paul says that the law cannot abolish God’s promise given
to Abraham that all nations would be blessed by faith. The people in Abrahams’
times made legal agreement by swearing to each other, walking through the dead
animals cut into two, which was called covenant. Once a covenant was made, it could
not be changed. Likewise, the promise made previously by God with Abraham could
not be replaced by the law that was introduced 430 years later. If so, the
inheritance God promises regarding Abrahams’ offspring and the land would
depend on the law and then it would no longer depend on the promise. The law
cannot supersede or replace the promise. (Like the state law cannot supersede
the Constitution.) Why then was the law given?
First, it was given because of the sins of Israel. Though Israel
was rescued from Egypt, they were undisciplined and unholy slaves. So, God
wanted to change them into his holy people and gave them the law. The law teaches
us what is right and what is wrong. The law helped Israel to know how holy God
is and how sinful they were. So, the law is holy and good. (Rom. 7:12)
However, the law was not intended to impart life. It is like
a guardian. In Paul’s days, rich Roman parents put their boy in charge of an
educated slave, which is mentioned here as guardian. The guardian watched out
for the boy on his way to school and helped him with his manners and
schoolwork. The guardian was so strict and rigid that the boy often did not
like him. But when the boy grew to be an adult, he no longer needed the
guardian. Likewise, the law acted as a guardian and we were held in custody
under the law, but it was only until Christ came. Now that we have faith in
Jesus, we do not need the law any more for our salvation.
So far, Paul has persuaded the Galatian to come back to the
gospel that gives justification through faith in Jesus Christ by telling them
that,
·
By faith they received the Spirit.
·
By faith Abraham was counted righteous and the
Galatians became his children because they were justified by faith.
·
Those who rely on the law are under a curse. So,
Jesus Christ redeemed us by taking our curse upon himself so that we might be
blessed along with Abraham by faith.
·
The law
cannot abolish God’s promise given to Abraham and thus righteousness given
through faith.
Therefore, it is clear that there is no reason to go back to
the law. We believers are set free from the law by faith in Jesus Christ. All we
need is Jesus Christ.
Believers are
children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Lastly, Paul is reminding the Galatians who they are and how
they are blessed in Jesus Christ.
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all
children of God through faith, 27 for all of
you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ… 29 If
you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and
heirs according to the promise.
Paul reminds the Galatian that they are no longer slaves of
the law but children of God no matter who they are, either slaves or free,
males or females, Jews or Gentiles. Because they belong to Christ, their status
has been changed into Abraham’s offspring and heirs who will inherit the
kingdom of God.
Paul compares this to an underage heir. While an heir is underage,
he is not much different from a slave. He is subject to guardians and trustees
until the time set by his father. But when the time comes, he no longer needs
guardians and trustees and can receive and enjoy his inheritance. Likewise,
until Jesus came, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of
the world or the law, which is based on “Save yourself.” Under that principle,
we must work hard but in vain. But things have changed since Jesus came.
4 But when the set time had fully
come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the
law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we
might receive adoption to sonship.
Jesus Christ came and redeems us under the law so that we
might be adopted as God’s children. When we believe, God sends the Spirit of
his Son into our hearts so we can call out “Abba, Father.” Jewish people argue
that they are God’s children because they are circumcised and have the law. But
they never dare to call God “Abba, Father” because they are slaves of the law.
But we believers can call God “Father” because we are true sons of God. We are also
his heirs who will inherit the kingdom of God. We know this by the Holy Spirit.
(Eph 1:13b-14)
When the Galatians believed, they received the Holy Spirit.
That means that they have become children of God and so they are his heirs. Therefore,
they don’t have to live by the law again. They must not. Why do they try to go
back to the principle of the world by trying to save themselves by the law?
Nonsense! We must live by faith from beginning to end. (Romans 1:17) We are
saved by faith and we live by faith continually.
So far, we have learned that we are justified and should
live by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Justification by faith in Jesus Christ is the most important
foundation of our Christian life.
In any case and in any situation, this must not be
compromised or changed because it is the only and last way God has provided for
our salvation. Everything for our salvation is given in Jesus Christ. His death
is sufficient for justification for us. He will carry us through all the way to
the end of our life.
There were many Bible students about my age when I was a
college student. One of them was very knowledgeable about the Bible. He had
passion for Christ. He faithfully attended all kinds of meetings. But I noticed
that he seemed to be unhappy and powerless. Later he confessed that he suffered
from his repeated sins. He could not forgive himself. He could not control
himself. I wondered why he was in such a pain though he believed in Jesus. This
made me think about what faith is. We talk about faith million times. But what
is faith?
One time I had a chance to preach at the children’s worship
service. I asked them, “What is the point of this?” And they said, “Jesus.” “How
does God love us?” “Jesus” “What does this mean?” “Jesus” “Why are we blessed?”
“Because Jesus died for our sin!” … No matter what different questions I asked,
they always said, “Jesus.” The children might not know what they said and their
answer sound silly, but they were right after all. Jesus is the answer to all
questions and to all our problems.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism summarizes the most important
Christian doctrines in a series of questions and answers. The first question is, “What is the chief end of
man?” The answer is “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him
forever.” This teaches us how important to enjoy God. Christian life is to
enjoy His grace and his greatest grace for men is his son Jesus Christ. When we
believe his death for our sins, we can be saved and headl. We are saved by
faith. So we should live by faith. We can overcome our sins by faith in Jesus
Christ, who died on the cross and took the curse of the law on himself. Is
there anything else we can depend on?
If this gospel is compromised, however, we are going back to
the elementary principle of the world. Legalism may come into our church and
our individual life. Then there will be self-righteousness but not God’s
righteousness; there will be rites and service but no life; there will be no peace
and grace but curse and judgment. Why do we have to go back to the law and
depend on it? Why do we look for something else? If you do not rely on faith in
Jesus but on your effort, you are still under a curse. You cannot save
yourself. You can’t forgive yourself. Only faith in Jesus saves us and changes
us. All that you and I need is Jesus Christ
- nothing but faith alone in Jesus Christ. I was saved by faith in
Jesus. I have been healed and changed by faith in Jesus. So, I am enjoying him and
his grace by faith each day. Amen! I pray that you too may live the happiest
and powerful life by faith in him alone.
By David Yun
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