CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME
May 8th 2005
Intro : There are some things we just cannot mix together no matter how hard we try. Oil and water put into a grass will not mix together, despite our best efforts they will still separate on their own.
Much the same way we must not mix anything to the grace that God has given to every born again believer.
This weeks lesson we see Paul defending the sufficiency of the grace of God. Peter himself was in danger of heresy by mixing the Law with Grace. We will see where Paul rebuked him for this and also we see Peter’s repentance.
(Gal. 2:11-14) Gives to us Paul’s rebuke of Peter, Peter at Antioch withdrew from eating Gentile meals.
Paul’s rebuke of Peter serves as one of the most dynamic statements in the NT on the absolute and unwavering necessity of the doctrine of justification by grace through faith (see Rom. 3:24).Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
. Paul made it clear that there can be no compromise in the grace of God, that people are to live by the same faith that saved them. Yet this is an age-long battle which still rages today. People are all to willing to accept a doctrine which teaches salvation by works.
What these people do not see is that in doing so they in effect destroy everything Christ came for.
I. WE ARE MADE RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH IN HIS GRACE (Gal. 2:15-19)
A. Not by the law (Gal. 2:15-16)
1. We whoareJews by nature,Paul hear includes himself with Peter and the others.
2. sinners of the Gentiles, Used in an legal sense, they had no law to guide them toward righteous living
B. It’s by Christ (Gal. 2:17-19)
1. found sinners because the law forbade eating with Gentiles, they were all guilty.
2. things which I destroyed ie. The false system of salvation through legalism
3. dead to the law so it is with the Christian who has died in Christ.
II. WE ARE MADE SINNERS BY OUR OWN EFFORTS (Gal. 2:20-3:5)
A. Crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20-21)
1. I am crucified with Christ Paul states that his old sinful way of life is now dead.
2. yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: The indwelling of the Holy Spirit, before not experienced.
3. I do not frustrate… Set aside, or make of no effect
B. Freedom from the law (Gal. 3:1-5)
1. evidently The Gr. 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.
2. Received ye the Spirit by…the law, or by the hearing of faith? lit. hearing with faith.
3. are ye so foolish? Can sinful, weak fallen human nature could improve on God’s grace?
4. suffered The Gr. “experienced” Refers to all the blessings, miracles, provision etc.
5. of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Can the law perform such things, or is it faith?
ILLUSTRATION: The law in and of it‘s self makes us by nature want to disobey.
The Flagship Hotel in Galveston, Texas, is built next to the water. Large plate-glass windows adorn the ground-level dining room. Occasionally, guests used to come up with the "brilliant" idea of fishing from their balconies, located directly above the dining room. Using heavy sinkers, they would cast their hook and bait into the water. Unfortunately, the lines were sometimes too short and the leaded sinkers would swing down, shattering the $600 windows. After spending large sums without solving the problem, the hotel management finally stumbled on a simple solution. They removed the "No Fishing from Balcony" signs from the rooms! (Today in the Word, October, 1995, p. 17)
