Results of Grace

When the believer walks in the grace of God it leaves the marks of life all around!

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Results of Grace

Galatians chapter 6

Galatians 6:1  Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Paul ’s letter to the Galatians was defending the gospel of Jesus Christ founded upon grace and truth.  As Paul begins to conclude his writing he declares the results of living by grace.  Oh that the church would live in the fullness grace.  If a believer is overtaken in  any trespass restoring should be the natural reaction of the church; however, it has not been so in many churches.  This may be one of the weakest links in the church; if the church were to get a report card in this area it would be close to a “F”.  Our normal reaction to a brother in a trespass is to gossip and or condemn.  Many have left the church in droves in shame and condemnation.  God has called us to be in a spirit of restoration.  Not just restore, but restore in the spirit of gentleness.  A sign post of being in the fullness of grace; when we are able to offer grace to one overtaken in any trespass.  When restoration is offered minus the gentleness it is no restoration at all.

Galatians 6:2  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

When walking in the fullness of grace we gladly bear one another’s burdens.  While we are not under the law of Moses we must never forget we are always fulfilling the law of Christ.

Romans 8:2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus comes with the element of restoration and bearing our brothers burdens.

2 Corinthians 5:18  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  19  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  20  Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

God has given us the ministry of reconciliation.  The Father is in the business of not imputing sins!  Restoring a brother is acting as God’s ambassador; oh that we the church will preach the message of reconciliation.

Romans 4:7  "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered;  8  Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."

The Holy Spirit convicts the unbeliever of sin; however the Holy Spirit convicts the believers of righteousness.  Those who have surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ are the men to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.  Restore should be our hearts cry for every brother that has fallen.

2 Corinthians 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

It is time to restore our brethren and convince them of the righteousness of God.  Jesus Christ did not die in vain; the fullness of His grace needs to be freely preached.  Before salvation we were but slaves to sin; post salvation we are but slave to righteousness.  How is it we have missed preaching the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus?  The best way for a brother to get up from his fall is to awaken to his righteousness found in Christ alone.

Galatians  6:3  For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  4  But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  5  For each one shall bear his own load.

Paul   brings warning of a haughty spirit.  Those who think they stand and are beyond failing have their confidence in the wrong place.  Our confidence should always be in Christ alone.  Adam’s sins made all sinners and Christ obedience is the only thing that brings righteousness to man!  Be careful what you put your trust in; those in grace have no confidence in the flesh.

Galatians 6:6  Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

When a man has been a blessing to you by bringing the truths of  God’s grace; share with that one who has taught you.

Galatians 6:7  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  8  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

In Galatians 5 Paul reminded the believer that when they came to Christ they put to death the sin nature.  We are no longer in debt to sow to the flesh.  We are no longer debtors to the law of Moses or to the traditions of men.  We can let that harvest die, dry up, and drop off the vine.  However, if we will sow to the Spirit we will reap from the Spirit.  If we go on sowing to the flesh by trusting in our own performance it will produce corruption.  There are some believers who have never got out of the sandbox of their Christianity.  They are sin conscious and have not learned to walk in the purged conscious that Christ blood provides.  They are believing for their victory when they get to the other side and have never known the abundant life Christ provided.  Jesus invites us to come enter His rest! 

Galatians 6:9  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.  10  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith

Those in grace have a tenacious spirit of never giving up.  Keep on believing and meditating on the promises of God knowing the sure word of God has promised a harvest to those who continue to sow in the Spirit.

Galatians 6:11  See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!  12  As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  13  For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Who is it that is sowing to the flesh?  Those trying to bring the body of Christ under the law or traditions of men.  Those who preach conformity to their own traditions or bring you under the covenant of the law do it for their own boasting and gain.  However it has no profit for victory in Jesus.  It is only for their own boast.  We don’t want to be conformed; we want to be transformed by the one who made us sons.

Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

There should be but one boast for the believer; our boast should be found in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Those making their boast in the performance of the law only give sin strength in the believer’s life.

1 Corinthians 15:56  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  57  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our victory is found exclusively in Jesus Christ and there is no other source of victory!

Galatians 6:15  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.  16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

2 Corinthians 5:16  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

We have become newly created beings.  Yes we are new creations, which according to God, we have been made in true righteousness and holiness.  May we be bold enough to believe we are who and what God says we are.  Peace and mercy is upon all them who walk in this truth.

Galatians 6:17  From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  18  Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

My prayer is but an echo of Paul ’s prayer.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  AMEN

Standing Fast in Liberty the Cross Provided

There is a glorious liberty that God has called every believer to walk in. The enemy of our soul has done much to pervert men's understanding of the precious liberty Jesus provided. May we return to the preaching of the cross and make it our exclusive boast. Oh, that men would know the preaching of the cross and all the benefits it provides to every believer.

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Standing Fast in Liberty the Cross Provided.

Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Christ has made us free!  Notice Paul has written this in the past tense.  Because we have moved away from the preaching of the cross many believers have not experienced the sweet liberty Jesus has provided.  Because of entanglement with a yoke of bondage many believers long for the precious liberty found exclusively in Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:17  For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.  18  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Those walking in bondage need to come back to the cross of Christ so it can be made effective to their own freedom.  The message of the cross is the power of God for salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:21  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.  22  For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom;  23  but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,  24  but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The message of the cross of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is our freedom from sin.  It is the liberty Paul was preaching in Galatians 5:1.  Like the Galatia church men have tried to institute the law and other traditions to bring freedom; it may even have an appearance of wisdom but offers no power over the indulgences of the flesh.  Freedom from sin is exclusively in the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:27  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;  28  and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,  29  that no flesh should glory in His presence.  30  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God; and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;  31  that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."  2:1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Paul made a determination not to know anything among the Corinth church save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  We the church will do well to heed the wisdom of God that Paul was demonstrating.  Our hope needs to be exclusively in the cross of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ has become for us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.  Those who try and get any of these attributes any other way are departing from the liberty found exclusively in Jesus Christ.  Jesus and the cross has provided us with wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.  All our rights, privileges, and inheritance in the kingdom of God come exclusively through the work of the cross.

Galatians 5:2  Indeed I, Paul , say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.  3  And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.  4  You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  5  For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  6  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.  7  You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?  8  This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.  9  A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

Paul talks about circumcision but could have picked any practice of the law or traditions of men.  If you become a debtor to one part of the law you are a debtor to the whole of the law.  Have we received the grace of Jesus Christ in vain?  Finding righteousness, sanctification, and redemption outside of Jesus Christ’ crucifixion is a fall from grace.  A little leaven leavens the whole lump; the law or traditions of men must not be brought into the picture.  It must be Jesus Christ alone.

Galatians 5:10  I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.  11  And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.  12  I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

The gospel message of the cross is offensive to those who trust in their own performance to make them right with God.

Galatians 5:13  For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Those who have this precious liberty have been birthed from the love of God.  Paul warns the believer not to misuse their liberty for an opportunity for the flesh.  Instead use your liberty to love one another.  The liberty that Christ brings is the source for loving your neighbor as yourself.  Outside of Christ there would be no hope to love one another to this degree.

Galatians 5:15  But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!  16  I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  17  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Walking in the liberty that Christ provided is the way to walk in the Spirit.  Men seeking justification by their own works are some of the most miserable people you would want to meet.  One sure sign is they bite and devour one another.  The brothers and sisters are judged by some set of rules and there is the different classes of people.  The perceived great performers, those who desperately try and hid their weaknesses, and those who love to point out the weaknesses’ of others. It becomes a church of great façade and little life.  The true liberty found exclusively in Jesus brings us to being lead to walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,  20  idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,  21  envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Here is a compare and contrast of those who are walking in the liberty of Jesus Christ or those walking in the performance of the law and traditions of men.  The true liberty of Jesus Christ produces the fruits of the Spirit. Those walking outside of liberty produce the works of the flesh.  Those living in the works of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God .  Bold, blatant and true!  Liberty is found exclusively in Jesus Christ and produce in the believer love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:24  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  26  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

If you belong to Christ you have already crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Those who have not died to sin have yet to be born again.  If we belong to Christ let us live from the new creation Christ has made us.  Those walking outside of the liberty of Christ have become conceited and the fruits of the Spirit are stopped up.

Romans 6:6  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  7  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  8  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.  10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our liberty is found exclusively in the crucifixions of Jesus Christ.  Our sinful nature died when it was crucified at the time we came to Jesus Christ.  We died to sin; we are freed from sin!  Our source of freedom is Jesus setting us free and may never be anything else.  Knowing that you died to sin when you were born again brings you to righteous living.  As the 11^th verse of this passage declares, we like Christ need to reckon ourselves dead to sin once for all and present ourselves as alive from the dead. It is time for the believer to declare their freedom from sin based exclusively upon the authority of the Word of God!

John 8:34  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

This is the exclusive truth that sets a man free!  When Jesus sets you free you become a son of the house and you are free indeed!

John 8:32  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

It is a specific truth that sets men free!  It is the truth found exclusively in Jesus Christ.  Until we grasp hold of the truth we can not walk stead fast in the liberty that Jesus calls us to live in.  Yes, this is the abundant life indeed.

Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Bondage Banished In Christ

Jesus declared that if He set you free you would be free indeed! God's promises are not elusive or far off! Liberty is your's to walk in! Bondage has been banished in Christ!

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Bondage Banished In Christ

Galatians 4:1  Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2  but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.  3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.  4  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  5  to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Jesus Christ came to redeem those who were under the law.  Redemption bring freedom from sin by sitting us free from being under the law.  Remember the building block scriptures from last week.

Galatians 3:22  But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  23  But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25  But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

As Galatians 3 taught us the law was our school master.  When the law’s purpose is complete in our lives it has opened our eyes to our need for Jesus Christ.  When faith in Jesus Christ comes we are no longer were under the tutelage of the law.  Genuine faith in Jesus Christ brings adoption.

John 1:12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  13  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This covenant, that Paul was so zealous to uphold and protect, is that which brings us into adoption.  Is it any wonder Paul said call them accursed who preach any other message.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the exclusive way and there is no other way.

John 8:32  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  33  They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"  34  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 

Jesus laid part of the foundation to the covenant of grace when He announced the truth will set you free.  Many love to preach and teach this verse out of context.  However generic truth can not set you free.  Jesus is the truth that sets a man free from sins and makes him a son.  One is made a son that abides forever.  Faith in Jesus is where the spirit of adoption comes from.

Galatians 4:6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"  7  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Genuine salvation is accompanied by the Spirit giving you a freedom in your heart to cry out “Abba Father”.  Your status has been changed. You are not a slave; you are a Son of the living God.  If you are a son, then you must know you are an heir of God through Jesus Christ.

Galatians 4:8  But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.  9  But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Paul ’s desire to defend the gospel is once again brought out in these verses.  Once you are known by God don’t be turned back.  Paul asked the believer how they were turned so easy to the beggarly elements, to which they would once again be in bondage to.  Whatever  Paul is warning against it must be serious.  It is beggarly elements which lead to bondage.

Galatians 4:10  You observe days and months and seasons and years.  11  I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

What days and months and season and years were bringing them into bondage.  They were being talked into observing the days and months and season set out under the law.  Paul called it beggarly elements that brought bondage.  Many believers ask how does this apply to me?  Many such teaching and traditions have crept into the church promising liberty but only bringing bondage.  Satan’s lie for Eve to partake from the tree of knowledge of good and evil has not been changed.  The devil wants us to partake in that which makes sin exceedingly sinful; it is the enemy of our soul that want us to live under the covenant of the law.

Galatians 4:12  Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. 13  You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.  14  And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.  15  What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.  16  Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

Paul tells a bit of his testimony of how and when the church in Galatia was started.  Now that I am declaring that freedom comes from faith in Jesus alone and not in the works of the flesh in any way does that make me your enemy?  When grace is preached it brings freedom to those hungry for relationship with Jesus; however it has an opposite effect on those who what to serve under the law or the traditions of men.   

Galatians 4:17  They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.  18  But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.  19  My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,  20  I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

There are many who are zealous trying to bring believers under the law and the traditions of men.  Zeal needs to be according the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Paul ’s writings often showed a desire for every believer to be formed completely into the image of Christ.  It can only be so if we live by faith in Jesus Christ alone and not trust in the performance of the law or the performance of the traditions of men.

Galatians 4:21  Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?  22  For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.

For those who would doubt the words I write, I beg you to hear the word the Apostle Paul wrote.  Paul is challenging those who have a desire to serve under the law.  I see a shift in some of modern Christianity who are pulling believers to practice some of the days months and seasons of the law.  I see it growing greatly in many Pentecostal ranks.  These practices will only lead to bondage; Paul rightly identified them as weak and beggarly elements.  Abraham had two sons.  One was the son born under bondage and one was the son born of promise and liberty.

Galatians 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,  24  which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar;  25  for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children;  26  but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Paul writes of the two covenants one brings bondage and one brings liberty.  Abraham’s two sons which represent the two covenants.  These passages can not be read over any more.  We must stop and consider what the Spirit is saying to the church.  The churches glorious liberty depend upon it.  Mount Sinai, Hargar, the law, and earthly Jerusalem points to bondages abounding in the church.  The Jerusalem above is free which is the mother of us all.

Galatians 4:27  For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband."  28  Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.

We were born from above; we are children of promise.  We are not children of the covenant of the law.

Galatians 4:29  But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. 

Those who desire to bring men under the law or the tradition of men will persecute the children born under the covenant of grace and truth.  It has been going on since the revelation of grace was given to the Apostle Paul .

Galatians 4:30  Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."

John 1:17  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The two covenants the Apostle Paul was preaching, can not be mixed.  Much false doctrine has been given birth by some form of mixing the covenant.  It is time for the church to rise up and kick out the bondwoman and her son.  If the church is going to walk in all the privileges of being sons we must not allow the bondwoman and her son to remain.

Galatians 4:31  So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.  1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Hallelujah I am free from the law and the bondage of sin!  Let us arise and stand fast in the liberty Christ has provided by His obedience to the cross.  I have been going around singing an old song of the church that I would love to see revived.

In the name of Jesus there is power to set you free.  In the name of Jesus there is glorious victory.  Over sin disease and sickness there’s power to walk in liberty.  Through faith in His wonderful name.

Stand fast in the liberty Jesus has provided; don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Is It The Works of the Law Or the Hearing of Faith?

Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.
Oh, that we would learn to trust in the one Man's obedience and the free gift He provided.

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Is It The Works of the Law Or the Hearing of Faith?

Galatians chapter 3

 Galatians  3:1  O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?  2  This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  3  Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  4  Have you suffered so many things in vain; if indeed it was in vain?  5  Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?;  6  just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." The book of Galatians is a defending of the faith message.  The gospel message must always be Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Last week we mentioned Peter learned to live like an Gentile believer.  We see the distinctions made between the Jewish believers and the Gentile believer; Paul concluded that all were justified by Jesus exclusively.  I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  Paul begins in this 3^rd chapter with some very strong language.  “O foolish Galatians!  Harsh but not without merit!  Who has bewitched you?  Again, harsh but justifiable!  By trickery and cunning the Galatians were being drawn away from the mainstay of the gospel.  It is one reason we find Paul saying he was determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  The cornerstone of the gospel is Jesus Christ and Him crucified; anyone moving you away from this truth should be considered accursed.  Paul questions the Galatians and gives them two options to choose from.  Did you receive the Spirit by the work of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  What shall we choose?  The only correct answer is by the hearing of faith!   How does God work and do miracles among us?  Again the choices are only two.  Does God do His work by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith?  This is read over material for many Christians.  They read it over and keep going.  What if we stop and consider the truths being revealed in this passage.
 God does His works by the hearing of faith and we receive exclusively by the hearing of faith and there is no other way to receive.  For the just shall live by faith.  The object of biblical faith is exclusively in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  The question is needed and necessary if we are going to walk away from the foolish and walk in unity with the working of the Spirit.  Are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?  Trusting in your own works or the works of the law is an activity of the flesh.  It was not Abraham’s works that saved him; Abraham believed and it was counted for righteousness.  It is exclusively the hearing of faith that bring righteousness to a man and there is no other way to walk in righteousness. Galatians 3:7  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed."  9  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Justification declared our innocence  before God and it only comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  You can not work your way into salvation.  Only those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham; any other message is foolishness to be rejected.  Is it the works of law, or by the hearing of faith?  It can not be a mixture of the two.  We can not begin by faith in Jesus and continue by being made perfect in the flesh.  Galatians 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."  11  But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."  12  Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." There is two covenants and each has it own base principle to live by:  Grace says “the just shall live by faith.”The law says “the man who does them shall live by them.”  The scriptures are replete with example after example of comparing and contrasting the covenant of the law or the covenant of grace and truth.  This passage here in Galatians 3 is but one of them.  Did you catch the lesson of  verse 12?  The law is not of faith… the law is a constant examination of the performance of man.  No one can be justified by the law because it was brought to expose sin and make sin exceedingly sinful.  If you are under the law in any part you are obliged to keep the whole of the law. If you are under the law you are under the curse and must continue in all things which are written in the law.  Grace, the hearing of faith if you will, brings justification from sin.  So one covenant exposes sin and brings a curse and the other brings complete freedom from sin. Galatians 3:13  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),  14  that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.  15  Brethren, I speak in the manner of men:Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16  Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law; Jesus became a curse for us.  So many try to bring the believer under the condemnation of the law in one fashion or another.  They are preaching a perverted gospel.  Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of the law.  The blessing comes through Jesus Christ.  Freedom comes through Jesus Christ.  Redemption comes through Jesus Christ.  Jesus is The Seed and there is no other that can bring us complete deliverance and the fullness of the blessings of God. Galatians 3:17  And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.  18  For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.  19  What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.  20  Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.  21  Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. If the promise of redemption is found under the law there is no need for Christ.  The promise of redemption came before the law and the law could not annul the promise confirmed by God in Christ.  The law came to expose sin.  The law is not against God it however shows a need for a deliverer.  The law exposed sin but it could not bring or produce righteousness in man. Galatians 3:22  But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  23  But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25  But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. The scripture has confined all under sin by the law.  The promise is availed of by faith in Jesus Christ and there is no other way to walk in the promise of eternal life.  The covenant of the law is over every person, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.  The law was the teacher showing us our need for Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  Let it be clear, don’t miss the truth of the next verse.  After faith has come we are no longer under a tutor.  We are not under law but under grace.  It is the divine influence of God that brings us into faith and it is the divine influence of God that will keep us, and it is the divine influence of God that will take us home.  Those who preach we are under the law of Moses are preaching bondage.  It is time for the church to live under the greater glory found in the cross of Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  27  For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  29  And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. The bewitching factor needs to be removed from the church.  We are sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.  There is no other way to become a son.  Any one moving away from faith in  Jesus Christ is adding a bewitching factor to the gospel message.  Be immersed in the truth of who Jesus Christ is and all that He accomplished on Calvary .  It does not matter your background, where you come from, if you are a part of the haves or the haves not, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  In Christ alone I place my trust!  If you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. 1 John 5:11  And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  12  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.  13  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.  14  Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  15  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. John the beloved liked writing things and bringing it down to the nutshell.  God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  The exclusive way to life is in Jesus Christ and there is not another way to eternal life.  What you think of Jesus Christ determines your destiny in this life and the life to come.  The object of your faith needs to be squarely in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.   The Holy Spirit was pleading through John that we will continue to believe in the name of Jesus!  Did you receive by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith.  Did you catch the phrase… the hearing of faith!  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  5  For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them."  6  But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above)  7  or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).  8  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):  9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  10  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  11  For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." This passage here in Romans 10 parallels much of Galatians 3.  It is not preached very often, yet the truth needs declared; Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  The principle of the two covenants are articulated here again. The law of Moses says “The man who does those things shall live by them”.  It is a man’s performance based covenant.  The covenant of grace speaks in another way.    It say a man who places his faith in Jesus will not be put to shame.  The law looks to man’s works for righteousness; the new covenant trust exclusively in Jesus Christ for righteousness.  The question needs to be posed.  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by faith in Jesus Christ will you now be perfected by trusting and improving your own performance?  More to come…