Titled - "Faith and Works" Part 2
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
In last week’s teaching, The Apostle Paul exposed the hypocrisy of the Apostle Peter when Judaisers from Jerusalem came to Antioch, dispatched from the Apostle James. The cultural morals held by the Jews at that time were to not eat/share a meal with non-Jews. But Peter, as well as Barnabas, Paul’s companion in ministry, both fell away from the truth, and left eating with new Gentile converts to eat with the visiting Jews. This is “the fear of man,” and Paul confronted Peter face-to-face.
Paul’s conversion to Christ was because of a face-to-face exchange he had with Jesus, and three years being taught by God’s Spirit in Arabia let him realize what the law forced upon its followers. Forced works don’t come from faith, but from fear.
As Paul considers his own conversion, following the Law was nothing more than a series of fleshly works to appease the priests and leaders of Judaism. So, in today’s presentation, Paul’s confrontation with the Galatian Churches continues. Because of what the Judaisers (teachers of Jewish Law) brought to the Galatian Churches. he poses a series of questions to the Churches. Paul takes exception to Jerusalem’s envoys, and to the premise of their teachings.
Jewish converts were no longer Jewish, but Christians. And Gentile converts were no longer Gentiles, but Christians. The error can be placed at the feet of the Jews because they saw Christianity as a sect of Judaism, instead of a new-found faith based in God’s Son. Paul sees the Jews as antithetical to faith in Christ, while Peter still viewed Jesus’ teachings as updates and clarifications for the Jews. Paul understands that this new Christian faith worships the God of the Jews in an entirely new way: by faith instead of by works.
Paul reminds them that the Abrahamic Covenant was based in faith: Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. We should therefore remember that Abraham was once Abram the Gentile called by God to bring Messiah into the world through his descendants.
“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.” - Romans 4:13
Bobservations' Column - Audio Version
Foolish (3:1) - This refers not to lack of intelligence, but to lack of obedience (cf. Luke 24:25; 1 Timothy 6:9; Titus 3:3). Paul expressed his shock, surprise, and outrage at the Galatians' defection.
Sunday Morning Message:
Romans 3:1-12 - "Faith and Works" Part 2
Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:
With a defense of his apostleship behind him, Paul spends the next two chapters defending the gospel he received by revelation. It is a gospel which proclaims justification by faith in Christ, not by keeping the works of the Law. As support, Paul begins by providing a personal argument, asking the Galatians to recall how they themselves had received the Spirit, and from Whom. That it came not by the works of the Law but through the hearing of faith should be obvious to them. If they were so begun in the Spirit, why seek to be made perfect by the flesh (1-5)?
For his next argument, Paul appeals to the Scriptures. First, Genesis 15:6 reveals that Abraham's faith was accounted to him as righteousness, and Genesis 12:3 foretold that in Abraham all the nations would be blessed. Therefore, those who are of faith are sons of Abraham and blessed along with him (6-9). As for the Law itself, the Scriptures reveal that those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse, while proclaiming that the just shall live by faith (Deuteronomy 27:26; Habakkuk 2:4). Christ, however, has redeemed us from the curse of the Law and made it possible for the blessing of Abraham to come upon the Gentiles, especially that the promise of the Spirit might be received through faith (10-14).
Continuing in his argument from the Scriptures, Paul reminds them that the covenantal nature of the promise made to Abraham means it cannot be broken. Therefore, the promise (along with its inheritance) to Abraham and His "Seed" (Christ) remained firm, even when the Law came along 430 years later (15-18). What was the purpose of the Law then? Paul answers that it was added because of transgressions until the Seed (Christ) should come. It was not against the promises of God, but because it could not provide life itself, it served the purpose of confining all under sin until the promise by faith in Jesus could be given to those who believe (19-22). Thus the law served to keep them under guard, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. To put it another way, it was like a tutor leading them to Christ where they could be justified by faith. Once faith had arrived, the tutor was no longer over them (23-25).
Paul then proceeds with a practical argument to prove we are justified by faith in Christ, which will be continued on into the fourth chapter. Through faith they have become sons of God in Christ, for in being baptized into Christ they had put on Christ (26-27). Being in Christ, they are now one in Him, with all racial, social, and sexual distinctions removed as it pertains to salvation. Being in Christ also makes them Abraham's seed and thereby heirs according to promise God made to him (28-29).
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
With a defense of his apostleship behind him, Paul spends the next two chapters defending the gospel he received by revelation. It is a gospel which proclaims justification by faith in Christ, not by keeping the works of the Law. As support, Paul begins by providing a personal argument, asking the Galatians to recall how they themselves had received the Spirit, and from Whom. That it came not by the works of the Law but through the hearing of faith should be obvious to them. If they were so begun in the Spirit, why seek to be made perfect by the flesh (1-5)?
For his next argument, Paul appeals to the Scriptures. First, Genesis 15:6 reveals that Abraham's faith was accounted to him as righteousness, and Genesis 12:3 foretold that in Abraham all the nations would be blessed. Therefore, those who are of faith are sons of Abraham and blessed along with him (6-9). As for the Law itself, the Scriptures reveal that those who are of the works of the Law are under a curse, while proclaiming that the just shall live by faith (Deuteronomy 27:26; Habakkuk 2:4). Christ, however, has redeemed us from the curse of the Law and made it possible for the blessing of Abraham to come upon the Gentiles, especially that the promise of the Spirit might be received through faith (10-14).
Continuing in his argument from the Scriptures, Paul reminds them that the covenantal nature of the promise made to Abraham means it cannot be broken. Therefore, the promise (along with its inheritance) to Abraham and His "Seed" (Christ) remained firm, even when the Law came along 430 years later (15-18). What was the purpose of the Law then? Paul answers that it was added because of transgressions until the Seed (Christ) should come. It was not against the promises of God, but because it could not provide life itself, it served the purpose of confining all under sin until the promise by faith in Jesus could be given to those who believe (19-22). Thus the law served to keep them under guard, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. To put it another way, it was like a tutor leading them to Christ where they could be justified by faith. Once faith had arrived, the tutor was no longer over them (23-25).
Paul then proceeds with a practical argument to prove we are justified by faith in Christ, which will be continued on into the fourth chapter. Through faith they have become sons of God in Christ, for in being baptized into Christ they had put on Christ (26-27). Being in Christ, they are now one in Him, with all racial, social, and sexual distinctions removed as it pertains to salvation. Being in Christ also makes them Abraham's seed and thereby heirs according to promise God made to him (28-29).
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
Key Words and Definitions with Reference:
Foolish (3:1) - This refers not to lack of intelligence, but to lack of obedience (cf. Luke 24:25; 1 Timothy 6:9; Titus 3:3). Paul expressed his shock, surprise, and outrage at the Galatians' defection.
Who? (3:1) - The Judaizers, the Jewish false teachers, were plaguing the Galatian churches with false doctrine and undermining the gospel of Christ.
Bewitched (3:1) - Charmed or misled by flattery and false promises. The term suggests an appeal to the emotions by the Judaizers.
Evidently Set Forth (3:1) - Meaning "clearly portrayed". The Greek word describes the posting of official notices in public places. Paul's preaching had publicly displayed the true gospel of Jesus Christ before the Galatians.
Crucified (3:1) - The Crucifixion of Christ was a one-time historical fact with continuing results into eternity. Christ's sacrificial death provides eternal payment for believers' sins (cf. Hebrews 7:25), and does not need to be supplemented by any human works.
Received Ye the Spirit (3:2) - The answer to Paul's rhetorical question is obvious. The Galatians had received the Spirit when they were saved (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 John 3:24, 4:13), not through keeping the law, but through saving faith granted when hearing the gospel (cf. Romans 10:17). the hearing of faith is actually hearing with faith. Paul appealed to the Galatians' own salvation to refute the Judaizers' false teaching that keeping the law is necessary for salvation.
Are Ye So Foolish? (3:3) - Incredulous at how easily the Galatians had been duped, Paul asked a second rhetorical question, again rebuking them for their foolishness.
Begun in the Spirit . . . By the Flesh (3:3) - The notion that sinful, weak (Matthew 26:41; Romans 6:19), fallen human nature could improve on the saving work of the Holy Spirit was ludicrous to Paul.
Suffered (3:4) - The Greek word has the basic meaning of "experienced," and does not necessarily imply pain or hardship. Paul used it to describe the Galatians' personal experience of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Many Things (3:4) - This refers to all the blessings of salvation from God, Christ and the Holy Spirit (cf. Ephesians 1:3).
If Indeed it was in Vain (3:4) - See Luke 8:13; Acts 8:13,21; 1 Corinthians 15:2; 2 Corinthians 6:1; 13:5,6.
Sons of Abraham (3:7) - Believing Jews and Gentiles are the true spiritual children of Abraham because they follow his example of faith (cf. v. 29; Romans 4:11, 16).
Scripture, Foreseeing (3:8) - Personifying the Scriptures was a common Jewish figure of speech (cf. 4:30; John 7:38, 42; 19:37; Romans 9:17; 10:11; 11:2; 1 Timothy 5:18). Because Scripture is God's Word, when it speaks, God speaks.
Preached the Gospel to Abraham (3:8) - The "Good News" to Abraham was the news of salvation for all the nations (quoted from Genesis 12:3; 18:18). See Genesis 22:18; John 8:56; Acts 26:22, 23. Salvation has always, in every age, been by faith.
Those Who are of Faith . . . Abraham (3:9) - Whether Jew or Gentile. The OT predicted that Gentiles would receive the blessings of justification by faith, as did Abraham. those blessings a poured out on all believers because of Christ (cf. John :16; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 1:3, 2:6, 7; Colossians 2:10; 1 Peter 3:9; 2 Peter 1:3,4).
Those Who are of Faith . . . Abraham (3:9) - Whether Jew or Gentile. The OT predicted that Gentiles would receive the blessings of justification by faith, as did Abraham. those blessings a poured out on all believers because of Christ (cf. John :16; Romans 8:32; Ephesians 1:3, 2:6, 7; Colossians 2:10; 1 Peter 3:9; 2 Peter 1:3,4).
As Many as are of the Works of the Law (3:10) - Those attempting to earn salvation by keeping the Law.
Under the Curse (3:10) - Quoted from Deuteronomy 27:26 to show that failure to keep the law perfectly brings divine judgment and condemnation. One violation of the law deserves the curse of God. (cf. Deuteronomy 27, 28).
All Things (3:10) - No one can keep all the commands of the law - not even strict Pharisees like Saul of Tarsus (Romans 7:7-12).
Justified (3:11) - Made righteous before God.
The Just Shall Live by Faith (3:11) - Paul's earlier OT quote (v.10; cf. Deuteronomy 27:26) showed that justification does not come from keeping the law; this quote from Habakkuk 2:4 shows that justification is by faith alone (cf. Hebrews 10:38).
The Law is not of Faith (3:12) - Justification by faith and justification by keeping the law are mutually exclusive, as Paul's OT quote from Leviticus 18:5 proves.
Christ Has Redeemed us from the Curse of the Law (3:13) - The Greek word translated "redeemed" was often used to speak of buying a slave's or debtor's freedom. Christ's death, because it was a death of substitution for sin, satisfied God's justice and exhausted His wrath toward His elect, so that Christ actually purchased believers from slavery to sin and from the sentence of eternal death (4:5; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18; cf. Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:12).
Having Become a Curse for Us (3:13) - By bearing God's wrath for believers' sins on the cross, Christ took upon Himself the curse pronounced on those who violated the law.
It is Written (3:13) - The common NT way (sixty-one times) of introducing Old Testament quotes. Deuteronomy 21:23 is quoted.
The Blessing of Abraham (3:14) - Faith in God's promise of salvation.
Promise of the Spirit (3:14) - From God the Father. Cf. Isaiah 32:14; 44:3; 59:19-21; Ezekiel 36:26, 27; 37:14; 39:29; Joel 2:28,29; Luke 11:13; 24:49; John 7:37-39; 14:16, 26.
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