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A Recap from Sunday’s Sermon

Preaching Text: Galatians 3:1-14

“Christians think that we are saved by the Gospel, but then we grow by applying biblical principles to every area of life”(Dick Kaufman, Redeemer Church).  This kind of thinking implies that God savesus, but then we sanctifyourselves.  To the contrary, Philippians 1:6 states, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.”  It is God’s work both to save and sanctify us. 

How God wins us is how he keeps us.  You never graduate from grace.  

The Apostle Paul drives this home in Galatians 3 with a number of questions.

1. Who has bewitched you? The Gospel is the best offer ever.  Only a spell could cause someone to walk away.  Jesus, who is holy, takes our punishment, and by trusting him, we get righteousness.   
2. Did you receive the Holy Spirit by works…or…faith? By trusting Christ, we are forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit.  No one can earn or buy him. 
3. Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?God’s power is all that can perfect us. It’s foolish to try in our strength. 
4. Did you suffer so many things in vain? Trusting Christ brings a kind of suffering due to a clash of values. The Galatians had suffered for their faith but then compromised their values. 
5. Does he who supplies the Spirit…do so by works of the law or by hearing with faith?Abraham, the Father of all faithful people, believed God’s promises and it was “counted to him as righteousness” (v. 6).   This happened before he was circumcised and 450 years before God gave the law.             

Taking It Home: Discuss: “The righteous shall live by faith.”  What part do we play in sanctification?  What are the “unforced rhythms of grace” (Matthew 11:28-29, The Message)?