The Spirit Sets Us Free 2

“The Spirit Sets Us Free 2”

Gal. 5:13-14

SUBJECT: GRACE AND CHRISTIAN LIVING

THEME: Living the Christian life in freedom involves receiving Christ’s real-world uprightness by faith and not by mere mechanical obedience to rules. We are set free from the curse and the control of the law to liberty that does not warrant permission to sin, but rather to mature responsibility and holiness before God. To live by grace, through faith, gives us a free and satisfying Christian experience, and the Holy Spirit is the secret to “everyday life.”

INTRODUCTION:

1. Freedom from our Sinful Nature Results in Service to our Lord and Others. 

2. Legalism Does Not Positively Influence our Wicked Nature.

3. The Holy Spirit Does Impact and Conquer our Sinful Nature.

This paragraph is perhaps the most crucial in the entire closing section of Galatians; for in it we discover three ministries of the Holy Spirit that enable the believer to enjoy liberty in Christ.

MESSAGE:

The Spirit Enables Us to Fulfill the Law of Love (Gal. 5:13-15).

We are prone to go to extremes. One believer interprets liberty as license and thinks he can do whatever he wants to do. Another believer, seeing this error, goes to an opposite extreme and imposes his laws on everybody. Actually, something quite different from license or legalism results in true Christian liberty.

A.  THIS IS OUR CALLING.  Vs. 13, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty;”

B.  WE MUST HEED A CAUTION.  Gal. 5:13

This is where we need to pause and clarify to avoid confusion.  

C.  WE MUST NOTE A CONTRAST.  Vs. 5:13

Galatians 5:13, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

     1. A Warning to Heed.  

A warning about falling again into slavery (captivity, compulsive behaviors, feeling trapped, and frustrated), in this case the warning is changed into the demand not to allow this freedom to become an excuse for sinful self-indulgence. Here the contrast is between self-centered indulgence and the serving of one another in love.

1. Compulsive behaviors are repetitive actions that you feel driven to perform to relieve anxiety. You might feel like you “have to” do them, even if they do not make sense. Common examples include excessive hand washing, checking locked doors, or arranging items in a specific order. (See Mayo Clinic)

2. People living with obsessive behaviors often describe feeling trapped in a frustrating cycle. These actions rarely bring satisfaction but rather act as temporary tools for managing overwhelming stress or intrusive thoughts. (See Mayo Clinic)

3. Compulsions are generally driven by fear or anxiety. They feel urgent and hard to stop. This is partly why the Bible addresses this problem so often offering solutions to compulsive behaviors by addressing the root emotional pressure, renewing the mind, and relying on Christ’s power rather than self-reliance. These verses provide practical steps to break free from these cycles. (See Gal. 5:1; Phil. 4:6-7)

The life of legalism includes not only the Ten Commandments, but a set of regulations that Bible believers follow today. They tell you where you can’t go, and what you can’t do. ^[a]

     2. A Paradox to Understand. 

It is ironic that, having discouraged the Galatians from becoming slaves to law, Paul should now encourage them to become slaves of one another--for that is what the word "serve" means. It is a paradox, but the paradox is instructive. The Galatians are to be slaves of one another, though this slavery is not at all like the first. In fact--this is the paradox--it is the Christian form of being free. (Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

The Bible teaches that real freedom is freedom from sin’s control, not freedom to sin. When people use freedom to do bad things, it is called license. These are ways we may apply these ideas of liberty to daily experiences: 

• Focus on others: Instead of just doing what you want, you should care for your fellow church members, your neighbors, or coworkers.
• Avoid bad habits: Do not let your selfish desires, like being mean, ‘sassy’, or egotistical, control you. A craving or goal where your primary focus is on your own gratification, often without considering the impact on others will naturally trigger conflict. Carefully distinguish between healthy self-care and harmful selfishness by whether your actions build up or harm those around you.
• Do godly good: You put love into action. That is loving others by doing good deeds instead of just using words or using them for certain outcomes—transactions. It means showing kindness, serving people without expecting a reward, forgiving others, and helping those in need. Such love is like a circle: God gives love to you, and you share that love with others.

Christian liberty does not permit sin; it rather encourages loving service. Love is seen as the motive of all Christian behavior, whereas under law, the motive is fear of punishment. Findlay says: “Love’s slaves are the true freemen.”^[b]

      3. A Slavery to Avoid.

Slavery to sin is involuntary and terrible; a person is born into sin (Ps 51:5) and cannot escape it on his own (Rom 7:18). Slavery to law, which comes by choice, is foolish and burdensome. On the other hand, slavery to one another is voluntary and a source of deep joy. It is possible only because Christians are delivered through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit from the necessity of serving sin in their lives.

1. “Slavish behaviors,” however, in modern churches refer to practices where members blindly obey leaders or follow unwritten rules out of fear, rather than out of genuine faith or freely and willingly. This creates an environment where control and dependency replace healthy spiritual growth.

2. In contrast, healthy churches promote love, freedom, and mutual respect. But slavish behaviors turn the ‘churches’ into places of work, debt, and control. Much like a cult uses fear to keep members compliant, these toxic behaviors abuse religious trust to manipulate people.

3. They may welcome you in with loving arms and excitement. But as you become more regular a new expectation arises that is not grounded in biblical ideas. There is more focus on the ‘church,’ the buildings and its structures. It becomes less about a place to celebrate our faith in Christ and building one another up in the Lord to more focus on ‘raising money’ and the ‘facilities.’ Membership classes, expectations that you will bring in new people, more financial gain for those few in power, and increased loyalty to the ‘church’ are typical features of such ‘ministries.’ Child of God this is not what Jesus started and is a part of today!

Members are afraid to express personal concerns regarding issues with leaders or resolve conflict due to fear they will be ostracized, shunned, gaslit, or mistreated by the ‘church.’ Again, this slightly resembles ‘commitment’, but it is actually enslavement.

D.  HERE IS OUR COMMANDMENT. Gal. 5:13

This leads to a commandment: “By love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13). Beloved, this is the imperative of service to Christ!

    1. Liberty is Expressed by Love.

The key word, of course, is “love.” The formula looks like this:

• liberty + love = service to others
• liberty - love = license (slavery to sin)

Use your spiritual freedom not for selfish desires, but to humbly and sacrificially care for one another.

ILLUSTRATION: “I have an extra day off this week,” Carl told his wife as he walked into the kitchen. “I think I’ll use it to fix Donna’s bike and then take Larry on that museum trip he’s been talking about.” “Fixing a bike and visiting a museum hardly sound like exciting ways to spend a day off,” his wife replied. “It’s exciting if you love your kids!”

Real care for others is an action, not just a feeling, and helping others should be motivated by genuine compassion rather than an obligation or a desire for personal gain, manipulation, notoriety, competition, money, or some perceived advantage. 

     2. Law is Fulfilled by Love. Gal. 3:14, “For all the Law is fulfilled in one word….”

The amazing thing about love is that it takes the place of all the laws God ever gave. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” solves every problem in human relations (see Rom.13:8-14). If you love people (because you love Christ), you will not steal from them, lie about them, envy them, or try in any way to hurt them. Love in the heart is God’s substitute for laws and threats. Whether harsh laws established by mere human leaders, or ancient Old Testament laws that seem unfair to us today. God condemns leaders who create bad, oppressive laws. However, ancient Old Testament laws that modern readers find morally difficult or overly severe show how everything is summarized by genuine love for Him and our fellow man.

“When our children were small, we lived next to a busy highway, and the children knew they would be spanked if they went near the road. As they grew older, they discovered that obedience brought rewards. They learned to obey not only to escape pain but to gain pleasure. Today they live in different metropolitan areas and all of them drive. But we neither threaten nor bribe them in order to keep them safe. They have a built-in discipline of love that regulates their lives, and they would not deliberately hurt themselves, their parents, or other people. Love has replaced law.”—Dr. W. W. Wiersbe

1. On a much higher level, the Holy Spirit within gives us the love that we need (Rom.5:5; Gal. 5:6, 22). Apparently, the Galatian believers were lacking in this kind of love because they were "biting and devouring one another" and were in danger of destroying one another (Gal. 5:15). The picture here is of wild animals attacking each other. This is proof that law cannot force people to get along with each other. No matter how many rules or standards a church may adopt, they are no guarantee of spirituality. Unless the Holy Spirit of God is permitted to fill hearts with His love, selfishness and competition will reign. Both extremes in the Galatian churches—the legalists and the libertines—were destroying the fellowship.

2. This mentioning of the word “law” is most instructive, because it shows that despite all Paul has said, there remains a sense—a principle—in which the requirements of the law are a proper concern for Christians. This does not mean that the Christian is to make progress in holiness by once again setting up a system of rules and regulations. No…nothing in the last half of Galatians or any other part of the NT suggests this. Still, it means that the essential ends of the law will be met in those who, being called by God and being filled with the Spirit, allow God to produce the Spirit's fruit in our character. The foundational goals, purposes, or destinations of the “law”—the core goals that guide us, the primary purposes of a legal stipulation—is personal spiritual growth.

Paul quoted Leviticus 19:18 and stated that the entire Law was summarized in this single command to love their neighbors. Jesus affirmed the same truth (Matt. 22:39; Luke 10:25–28). But Paul also wanted to show that Christian love is the “fulfillment” or “the carrying out” of the Law. The apostle developed this point in Romans 13:8–10.^[c]

CONCLUSION:

Beloved, the Holy Spirit does not work through emptiness or nothing. He uses means like the Word of God, prayer, worship, giving and the fellowship of believers to build us up in Christ. The believer who spends time daily in the Word and prayer, and who yields to the Spirit’s operations, is going to enjoy “liberty” and will help build up their church. The Glory of God will be manifested through our lives, and it need never fade nor be suppressed. The more we develop our relationship with Christ, the more we reflect His glory.  The more we study the Scriptures the more His image should be reflected. And the more we allow the Word of God and the Spirit of God to change our lives, the more we will be transformed into the men and women God wants us to become. Yes, the light of Jesus Christ should shine through our lives every moment of every day! (See Dr. W. W. Wiersbe)

So, the great evidence of our walking by the Spirit or being filled with the Spirit is not some private mystical experience of our own, but our practical relationships of love with other people. Since the first fruit of the Spirit is love, this is only logical. But it is easy to talk about “love” in an abstract and general way; it is much harder to get down to concrete, specific situations in which we really demonstrate our love for one another.

Charles Spurgeon warned that unholy churches are a disaster to the world. He famously declared that avowed atheists are less dangerous than pastors who subtly promote false teachings. He believed this compromises the Bible and destroys the true Gospel. In 1887, Spurgeon led the “Down Grade Controversy”. He strongly criticized churches that traded orthodox beliefs for worldly, modern ideas. He called these shifts “downward.” He left the Baptist Union when many leaders tolerated or promoted this spiritual drift. (See Puritan Board)

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^[a] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 5 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 187.

^[b] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1892–1893.

^[c] Donald K. Campbell, “Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 606.

The Righteousness of God I

 

“The Righteousness of God I”

Romans 10:1-21

SUBJECT: ISRAEL’S PAST

THEME: The Principle for Receiving God’s Righteousness is Faith and not Works; This is why Israel is Presently Set Aside as a Nation—Unbelief.

RELEVANCE: God’s righteousness is received by faith in Jesus Christ. If God is fair in his dealings with Israel, then the rest of humanity can unreservedly entrust their eternal future with him. However, if God was unfair in his dealings with Israel, then how can we as Gentile Christians even begin to rest in him for our own eternal destiny? The truth is we can rest in God’s salvation because it is received by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the ONLY way anyone can receive the righteousness of God! The Nation of Israel missed God’s salvation and blessings because of their lack of faith and not the unfairness or inconsistency of God.

INTRODUCTION:

We discover the ‘righteousness of God’ and Israel’s current rejection in Romans 10. Remember, Romans 9 and 10 should always be read together. Chapter 9 shows why some Jews are saved; and chapter 10 explains why most are lost. Those who are saved believed on Jesus Christ and those who are lost stumbled in unbelief at Jesus Christ (Rom. 9:30-33). Also, Paul moves from discussing God’s sovereign choices to people’s responsibility individually and nationally in chapter 10.

Rom 1:16-17, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

Paul is confident the gospel as the dynamic, saving power of God is available to everyone who believes. Salvation is obtained through faith—not works—revealing God’s righteousness, which is consistent from beginning to end. Yes, the ‘righteousness of God’ is the theme of the book of Romans, and it is discussed in these following verses. 

MESSAGE:

I.  THE DESIRE FOR GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1-2)

At the beginning of chapters 9 and 10 Paul reveals his great soul agony over Israel's lost condition.

Rom. 10:1-2, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

        A.  THE DESIRE FOR ISRAEL’S NATIONAL SALVATION

Paul was not bitter against his fellow countrymen; he was burdened to see them saved and earnestly prayed for their salvation.

        B.  THE DELUSIONS OF ISRAEL NULLIFY SALVATION

They thought that through their careful observance of the rules, rituals, sacrifices, and ceremonies of Judaism they would be saved. Their intolerance for every contrary doctrine demonstrated their zeal. But they failed to acknowledge the truth about “knowledge,” and we all know that zeal without knowledge is dangerous! Because of their unbelief, they could not receive God’s righteousness.

APPLICATION: Who are you praying for specially to be saved? Do you have anybody that you are earnestly pleading with God to save? A prayer burden for souls is essential to a believer’s or a church’s success in proclaiming the gospel and reaching sinners for Christ. We want to be soul winners who pray specifically for souls to be saved. We need to be serious about introducing people to Christ and that includes praying for lost individuals to come to the Savior!

II.  THE SOURCE OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS (Rom. 10:4-5)

Rom. 10:4-5, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

         A.  THE PRINCIPLE OF FAITH UNDER GRACE

Rom 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

The Lord Jesus is the fulfillment, goal, and culmination of the Old Testament law for every believer. He perfectly met and satisfied the law’s requirements, so righteousness is now acquired by faith in Him rather than by keeping legalistic works.

ILLUSTRATION: We might reword this verse to say that Christ is the end of the Old Testament Law to the believer after the Cross, as George Washington was the end of the British law to the American after the Revolutionary War. (See 2 Cor. 3:6-11; Heb. 7:11-19; Gal. 3:24-26; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14.)

This principle points us to Jesus Christ as the Source of God’s righteousness! Secondly, when a sinner receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, the law has nothing else to say to him. The believer is viewed by God as being ‘in Christ’! Through the death of our Substitute, we have died to the law’s mandates. We are effectively through with the law and with any futile attempts to achieve righteousness through it.

         B.  THE PRINCIPLE OF WORKS UNDER THE LAW

Rom 10:5, For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Attaining righteousness through the law (legalism) requires perfect, uninterrupted obedience, which is impossible for fallen people, ultimately indicating our need for salvation by faith in Christ.

              1. The Purpose Behind the Law Was to Show Sinners that They Are Sinners!

The law reveals sin, to convict and condemn the transgressors. It can never impart righteousness.  The penalty for breaking the law is death. In His death Christ paid the penalty of the law which man had broken.

              2.  The Purpose of the Law was to Point Us to Christ Who Fulfilled It.

This principle, like that of Faith, also teach us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ because of the impossibility of living up to the requirement of the law.

Gal 3:23-26, But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24, Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25, But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26, For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

              3.  The Ideal Behind the Law Is That Through “Doing” We’ll Have Life, Vs 5.

In other words, if a man can keep the law perfectly and perpetually, he would not be condemned to death. But even if a person could do this from today forward, they still would have to die for the sins that our past. Therefore, any hope of a man obtaining righteousness by doing, adherence, obedience, or legalistically are doomed to failure from the very outset.

Rom 3:21-28, But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22, Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27, Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Salvation is a free gift from God obtained through faith in Jesus Christ, entirely apart from following the law. It establishes that all people have sinned, but are justified freely by grace through the redemption and atonement found in Christ’s blood. This is the heart of the Gospel, how an unrighteous person can be considered righteous before a just God. It clarifies that while the Old Testament law showed our serious inability and sinfulness, it could never save.

God’s Provision for Man’s Sin Problem is afforded by the Lord Jesus alone. In John 3:15, Christ says, “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Back in Numbers 21:6-9, the perishing Israelites looked upon the lifted-up snake and lived. Similarly, the new birth happens the instance we look up to Jesus, believing He will save us. This is God’s provided way for us to be healed of sin’s deadly bite. Look to Jesus and live is the admonition! The Israelites were spared their lives; the believer in Jesus, who shed His blood suffering to pay for our sins, is spared eternal destruction in Hell and given eternal life. Each person must apply the value of Christ’s death and bloodshed to their own sin and life to be born again. Look to Jesus Christ and live!

The Perfect Judge Has Spoken

 

JOB 25:4; ROMANS 3:19-28; 5:1

SUBJECT: SALVATION/ JUSTIFICATION

THEME: God on the basis of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection declares believing sinners justified in His sight. Therefore, we are no longer obligated to sin’s penalty, and we are set free from its guilt to live for God’s glory.

Every man, woman, boy and girl stands as a guilty sinner sentenced to everlasting death urgently in need of justification before God. This is the imagery the term justification evokes in our minds. In his epistle to the Romans, the Apostle Paul presents sinful man in a courtroom on trial for his very life. The deadly charge is sin—high treason against the holy King of the Universe. For every one of us without a singular exception has sinned in desires, thoughts, and deeds (Rom. 3:23). Who among us does not fully subscribe to the statement, “Nobody is perfect”? 

The presiding Judge is the honorable Jesus Christ Himself, the Perfect Judge—He fully understands the Law of God and the human plight. This Judge cannot be manipulated, coned or bought! The Jury is comprised of the uncompromising Law of God—all 10 members are present and ready to fulfil their duty. The millions of honest witnesses for the prosecution are our condemning deeds as fallen humanity. They will accurately make the case against us! After proper deliberation by the jury a just and fair verdict of guilty is returned (Rom. 3:9-20). Then a terrifying sentence is announced—spiritual death, meaning to be forever separated from God to suffer throughout all eternity in the Lake of Fire (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:11-15). 

The Perfect Judge has spoken, and we are sentenced to the eternal death penalty! In this revealing light, we feel pressed to acknowledge our desperate need for justification before this Perfect God-Judge. How may we fallen guilty sinners be right in the eyes of a Perfect Judge? Can we be made right before God? I AM SO GLAD GOD HIMSELF TOOK OUR CASE!

Bildad the Shuhite asked the question we will seek to answer in this article in Job 25:4, saying, “How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” Bildad longed for some reasonable way for us to be found innocent before God, but he fully recognized the incredible sinfulness of us all. With every heartbeat, our conscience pronounces us guilty…Guilty…GUILTY!...Guilty! The Apostle Paul explains in detail how it is wonderfully possible to be justified before God, and faith in Jesus Christ is the key. Note carefully what Romans 3:22-26, says,

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Paul also helps us understand the wonderful outcomes of justification before God through faith in Jesus Christ—peace with God! Again Romans 5:1, states, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is correct..."we have peace with God"--freedom from worry about condemnation for our sinfulness and guilt...assurance our sins were paid for in full...rest in the completed and God-satisfying work of Jesus Christ. Instead of being assaulted by the threat of Hell forever, we can alternatively experience peace with the Almighty because of faith in Jesus Christ. Full deep and rich abiding peace because all is well between our soul and the Savior! With these general observations in mind, it is needful to take a closer look at the clear biblical statements concerning justification.

 LESSON:

I.  What Is The Point of Justifying Sinners? (Rom. 3:24-25)

 Justification is a legal action, a verdict of the Divine Court to save sinners. What is the meaning of justification? Often it is necessary to say what we do not mean before we can say we we do mean. 

         A.  WHAT JUSTIFICATION IS NOT

1.  It does not mean to be Acquitted, that is to successfully defend oneself against all charges. There is absolutely no means of acquittal once a person dies in their sins. It is impossible to develop a defense so compelling that God the Perfect Judge will concede your argument and release you from all obligations to sin’s wages and penalties. Acquittal before the Perfect Judge is an utter impossibility! 

2.  It does not mean to be Pardoned, that is to be found guilty, but given a second chance. I am afraid a pardon is an impossible development once a sinner dies and appears before the judgment bar of the Lord Jesus. Since we are guilty of violating God’s perfect standard of righteousness, His holy Law, He must deal with us according to what we deserve. He is just and His justice demands that sin be punished appropriately and completely. Merely letting guilty sinners off the hook is as great an impossibility as acquittal. There is entirely no hope of pardon and there is zero opportunity for a second chance once we cross over from time into eternity by means of physical death. 

3.  It does not mean to be Paroled, that is to be guilty and set free with certain restrictions. God’s justice system does not employ parole officers. There is no get out of jail card because your crime was not that serious, the prison system is over populated, or because you deserve a chance to prove yourself worthy of freedom. Our high crimes against the Most High are so serious that it will take forever in Hell to pay for them. Why forever? Well, frankly because we still are committing the most egregious sins in the midst of our suffering in Hell. God’s holiness is so high above our most astronomical ideals that any sin is a violent assault against His perfection, glory, and Laws. Merely imposing a few restrictions for our high crimes of sin would be a gross miscarriage of justice on God’s part. Dear friend, God will not violate His holy, just, righteous, and perfect nature…not even for you and me. None of these ideas are similar or equal to justification before the Perfect Judge. All of these strategies are a part of the fabric in our American court and justice system, but please do not expect the Perfect Judge to behave like mere human judges. 

         B.  WHAT JUSTIFICATION IS

1. To justify means to declare AS righteous.  It is a judicial concept and it acknowledges God as the perfect judge.

2. Dr. A. Strong defined it as, “By justification we mean that judicial act of God which, on account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, He declares that sinner to be no longer exposed to the penalty of the law, but restored to His favor.”

3. Justification is that legal act whereby man’s status before God is changed for the good. The verdict does NOT make the person righteous but it does declare him as righteous.

4. Dr. W. MacDonald says, “The word justify means to reckon or declare to be righteous.  For example, God pronounces a sinner to be righteous when that sinner believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. However a man can justify God (Lk 7:29) by believing and obeying God’s word.  In other words, he declares God to be righteous in all that God says and does. And of course a man can justify himself; that is he can protest his own righteousness (see Lk. 10:29). But this is nothing but a form of self deception. To justify does not actually make a person righteous. We can not make God righteous; He already is righteous. But we can declare Him to be righteous. God does not make the believer sinless or righteous in himself. Rather God puts righteousness to his account.” 

5. Justification does not declare the sinner ‘not guilty’ but “as not guilty.” JUSTIFIED = “Just-if -I’d never sinned.” Justification is a once only act, we are justified for ever. Justification is the act of a Judge. Once the verdict is given we can never again be arraigned as a criminal before the Judge.  Justification is the act of a Judge. Forgiveness is the act of a Parent.

So then, the point of justification is for the Perfect Judge to declare the repentant believing sinner as judicially righteous before the grand court of God. Such an act by the Perfect Judge frees the new convert from any obligations to the penalty and punishment of sin, death, and Hell. This is perhaps shocking for some to realize that God is not primarily motivated to condemn anyone, though He will absolutely condemn everyone who refuses justification through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. No, Christ came not to condemn, but to save. It was the Father’s will for Jesus to be here on earth to execute such a mission. God will not merely pretend we are totally innocent when He knows we are violently guilty. Yes, while He will condemn the unrepentant; He will utterly justify those who trust the Savior. The point of justification is to save fallen sinners on a just basis. Again Romans 3:24-25 says, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God”.

II. What is The Problem with Justifying Sinners? (Rom. 3:26)

Justification is a legal action by a completely just and Perfect Judge. How can God justify guilty sinner and remain free of injustice or a miscarriage of justice? Does not God’s perfect character prevent Him from doing something morally wrong? Romans 3:26 states, “To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

        A.  GOD IS THE CONSUMATLY RIGHTEOUS JUDGE

By justifying guilty sinners and declaring them as righteous, God seems to be less than honest, just, righteous, holy, and uncompromisingly honorable. There have been other occasions when people misunderstood the holy versus loving character of God.

1. Abraham was challenged to acknowledge how God was the judge of all the earth who would certainly do what was right. In Genesis 18:25, Moses records the question of Abraham saying, “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The patriarch Abraham was correctly interested in the plight of his nephew Lot and desired that he not be destroyed with the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. He respectfully engaged God in negotiations for the preservation of the cities and especially for Lot and his family living down in Sodom. God accommodated, acquiesced, behaved mercifully, and agreed to save the cities if there were merely 10 righteous people living there. The cities were finally destroyed because not even 10 righteous individuals could be found among them! No, God did not plan to destroy the righteous with the wicked; He had a plan to rescue Lot even before Abraham’s intense and soulful intercessions. However, no amount of mercy would be appropriate without genuine repentance among the sinful people of these ancient cities. Yes, the Judge of all the earth will ALWAYS do right, but His justice does not negate His love and mercy. To do right, God must confront and judge sinfulness within the framework of His perfect timing.

2. Moses sang a song to extol the just and righteousness character of God in Deuteronomy Thirty-Two. He in Himself is the definition of stability of character, his activities can correctly be described as perfect and His ways are judgments. This refers to the fact the God provides the most secure foundation on which to build one’s life. Moses sings of God as truth and free from any iniquity…finally he emphatically declares the Lord to be Just and Right! Consider Moses words in Deuteronomy 32:4, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Yes, Jehovah is the God of justice and righteousness. No, these statements are not mischaracterizations of the Most Holy One. His work is perfect; just and right is He!

The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives us further insight into the words of Moses stating,

The description of God given in this verse contrasts strongly with the following description of His people (vv.5–9). He is the Rock (cf. vv. 15, 18, 30–31; 2 Sam. 22:2–3; Ps. 18:2; Hab. 1:12). This means that God is stable and permanent. So the only stability in life is in clinging to Him, the great Rock. His works (actions) are perfect (cf. 2 Sam. 22:31) and He is fair (just) in all His dealings with mankind. Unlike the gods of the ancient Near East whose followers believed they were often immoral and capricious, the Lord can always be counted on. He is faithful (cf. Deut. 7:9) and always does what is morally right (He does no wrong).^[1]

 God’s greatness, justice, faithfulness, and holiness contrasts most graphically with our constantly forsaking hearts, disloyalty to His kingdom, and generally sin-riddled existences. How shockingly evident is our gross displays of the most perverse vacillations of wickedness in the brilliant light of the perfect Rock! How exposing in view of His perfections...how accusing are even our mere inclinations and notions of unfaithfulness, unrighteousness, capriciousness, immorality, and unfairness of us all before the Perfect Judge. 

3. Paul, the thoughtful Apostle, called or referred to Christ as the righteous Judge in no uncertain terms. Consider his words in 2 Timothy 4:8 saying, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Clearly, this is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ and He, like the Father, is described as righteous. He only does that which is right, truthful, and according to perfect justice. Rewarding appropriately committed Christian service is an entirely just act. He can always be counted on to behave like a righteous Judge. There is zero variableness or shadows of change regard His statically perfect and impeccable personality. Such character always produces commensurate actions!

If God the Judge, is without injustice and completely righteous in all His decisions, then how can He announce a sinner righteous? Certainly we understand that we all are sinners! This does not seem to erase my perplexities, but rather confirms them…right?

        B.   WE ALL ARE INDEED GUILTY SINNERS

Romans 3:19, Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Israel was placed under the Law of God for hundreds of years. Though they enjoyed special privileges and favor from God as they obeyed Him, they failed miserably to live up to God fair requirements. God gave them the Law to teach them through experience that they were not righteous…that they were essentially fallen sinners in need of a Savior. Since Israel failed under the Law, the rest of humanity must be speechlessly guilty before God also. If Israel failed with special information and privileges from God, then how in the world can we live up to God's holy expectations without these benefits? The simple, but hard to accept answer is...we cannot. We must place our hands over our mouths and accept the charges of guilty. If we speak in this context we will only give more evidence of our incredible guilt before the Perfect Judge. For now acknowledge your guilt before God...please do not meddle in futile attempt to justify yourself...you will utterly fail. Remember, it is God who justifies sinners and the ungodly and not we ourselves. There is hope here, but it is NOT in your defense strategy!  

Yes, without a singular exception…every human being—all the world—is blood guilty before God. We had to be told not to practice idolatry, not to use God’s name in vain, not to worship handmade gods, not to dishonor parents, not to murder our fellowman, not to commit adultery, not to lie, steal, covet, and on the list goes. Why? Because we are naturally inclined to sin against God in these ways. We stand guilty before God as charged, but yet the righteous Judge declares us justified!?  But how is this possible? Is God cheating justice to exercise mercy? It appears obvious that we all deserve condemnation and not justification. After all…the murderous heart of a Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Tse-tung beats in our chests also!

        C.   GOD IS JUST AND THE JUSTIFIER!

How can God be just and then justify the ungodly sinner? If every person stands before God guilty, then God has basically three options as to what He could do with us.  

1.  He must condemn us.

2.  He could compromise His own righteous nature and character to receive us as we are—fallen guilty sinners.

3.  He could change our legal status to that of righteous people. If He chooses to exercise this third option then He can declare us as righteous or justify us. This can only be done if some perfectly righteous—therefore, fully acceptable person voluntarily take our condemnation upon himself. This of course is where the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man came into the picture as the only individual who has the capability of satisfying God’s fair demands that all sinners be condemned. He took our condemnation and punishment for us! Through faith in Christ, righteousness can be credited or imputed to those who believe in Christ (2Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:4-5). As for the second option, God is absolutely just; therefore, He cannot compromise in his activities toward sinners. Justice is not merely what God does it is also who He is!

4. God remains just while justifying believing sinners!

Romans 3:26, To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Rom 4:5, But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Job 25:4, How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

The honest answer to Bildad's inquiry is, God is the Justifier! Yes, a man can be justified with God when He declare us righteous because of our faith in Jesus Christ! Yes, this idea is problematic in our reasoning, but in the economy of God, He already had a solution…even before the foundation of the world. In the most comprehensive and profound manner…Jesus is the Answer! For the lost fallen sinner…Jesus is God’s Answer for you. Justification before God is through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior. God declares believing sinners righteous when we repent believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Trust Him; therefore, before it is forever too late. God still will justify us when we acknowledge our great need for His forgiveness for our sins and repent believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ--it was Christ who voluntarily died in our place taking our punishment for our sins. Jesus has already paid the awful price for our sins, and God will grant us credit for Jesus’ perfect righteousness when we believe on Him. 

Since you have not yet believed on the Lord Jesus for forgiveness, do it now. Why put this weighty decision off? You are not promised another opportunity to be saved at a later date…so, do not neglect this one singular chance to be saved. Repent of your sinful unbelief, acknowledge your sin to God, ask the Lord Jesus to save you and receive Him as your personal Savior and Lord. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and in your place to pay for your sin, believe that he really did die because He was buried, and believe that Jesus rose again the third day exactly as the Scriptures predicted He would. Trust this living Savior who conquered death, the grave, and Hell on your behalf. Understand there is absolutely no other means to be justified. When you believe, God the Perfect Judge will declare you as righteous. His word is final!               

So it is with every problem or challenge we face today’ God still has the answers or solutions. But we Christians must be willing to view life God’s way—the precious guiding Scriptures. We must trust Him to provide the solutions in His good timing. Don’t even attempt to resolve problems in life with the world’s answers. Look to God for His answer! As Christians take these familiar warnings to heart. Abraham should never have gone in to Hagar, he should have waited on God’s answer. Jacob should never have deceived his father Isaac, he should have waited on God’s timing to give him the birthright. Eve should never have eaten the fruit, she should have waited acknowledging the instructions from God. Cornelius of Acts Chapter 10 did wait on God to provide him the answer—the missing link in his quest to understand salvation. The Almighty and merciful God of grace sent Peter to preach unto him salvation in Jesus Christ. As a result, Cornelius was gloriously saved along with his family members and household! Look to God for His answers and leave the timing to Him!

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^[1] Deere, J. S. (1985). Deuteronomy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 318). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Why the Law?

 

Galatians 3:19-22

SUBJECT: GRACE AND LAW

THEME: regarding salvation by grace through faith, the Law’s primary purpose is to assist and complement the Gospel of grace in God’s plan of redemption for all people. 

INTRODUCTION: Paul reveals critical insight into the ways and purposes of Almighty God. He shows how the Law does not contradict the grace and promises of God, but rather that it complements and cooperates with the principles of Grace to fulfil the purposes of God.

While Law and grace seem to be contrary to one another, it is vital we look carefully to the Scriptures, where we will discover that they actually complement one another.

LESSON: Why, Then, Was the Law Given?

THE LAW WAS NOT GIVEN TO PROVIDE SPIRITUAL LIFE (v.21).

Galatians 3:21, Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  (See also Gal. 2:21; Rom. 3:20– the law brings death-{Gal. 2:19; Rom. 9:31-32})

   1.  It Could Only Regulated Sinful Lives.

Certainly the Law of Moses regulated the lives of the Jewish people, but it did not and could not provide spiritual life to the people. (Gal. 3:21 should be matched with 2:21.) If life and righteousness could have come through the Law, then Jesus Christ would never have died on the cross.

Galatians 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 5:4, Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Romans 11:5-6, Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

   2.  It Could Not Give Righteousness and Life.

But Jesus did die; therefore, the Law could never give the sinner life and righteousness.  It was “worship of the Law” and misunderstanding its purpose that led Israel into a self-righteous religion of works, the result of which was the rejection of Christ (Rom. 9:30-10:13).

THE LAW WAS GIVEN TO REVEAL THE NATURE OF SIN (vv. 19a, 22).

It is here that we see the way that Law and Grace cooperate in bringing the lost sinner to Jesus Christ.

Galatians 3:19, Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Galatians 3:22, But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

    1.  Law Shows the Sinner His Guilt, and Grace Shows Him the Forgiveness He Can Have in Christ. The Law is "holy, and just, and good" (Rom. 7:12), but we are unholy, unjust, and bad. The Law does not make us sinners; it reveals to us that we already are sinners (see Rom. 3:20). The Law is a mirror that helps us see our dirt and filth (James 1: 22-25)-but we do not wash our face with the mirror! It is grace that provides the cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ (see 1 John 1:7b).

Whether through the written law of Scripture or the inward law of conscience, until a person acknowledges his basic sinfulness and inability to perfectly fulfill the demands of God’s law, he will not come repentantly to seek salvation. Until he despairs of himself and his own sinfulness, he will not come in humble faith to be filled with Christ’s righteousness. A person who says he wants salvation but refuses to recognize and repent of his sin deceives himself. Salvation is deliverance from sin, and a person cannot: want to keep his sin and at the same time want to be free from it. He cannot truly want the new Christ-life of righteousness without renouncing the old self-life of sin. (See James 4:7–10 for a clear delineation of the proper elements of saving faith.)

    2.  There Is a Lawful Use of the Law, and There Is an Unlawful Use (1 Tim. 1:8-11).

       A.  The Lawful Use Is to Reveal Sin and Cause Men to See Their Need of the Savior. There is an appropriate and biblical usage of the OT Law for today. Not only are its principles a moral compass, but it is an extraordinary tool for evangelism. The Lord Jesus used it this way and so did the apostles. You see the Law helps the sinner see he is a sinner by an absolute and objective standard of righteousness. Once the Law has done its work to reveal our guilt before a holy God, the Gospel and the Law together point the sinner to Jesus Christ for forgiveness and salvation. But, Christians observing the Law as OT Law is not required; we are not Jews/Israel or a government entity. We cannot enforce the associated penalties of such a Law; this simply is not New Testament Faith. Without official enforcement it is not actually Law. The spirit of the Law reveals our sinfulness and God’s righteous character, and points us to Jesus Christ as the only solution.

       B.  The Unlawful Use Is to Try to Achieve Salvation by the Keeping of the Law. When people claim they are saved by "keeping the Ten Commandments," they are revealing their ignorance of the true meaning of the Law. The Law “Scripture” concludes "all [men] under sin" (Gal. 3:22), Jews and Gentiles alike. But since all are under sin, then all may be saved by grace! God does not have two ways of salvation; He has but one---faith in Jesus Christ. 

In light of Paul’s convincing argument up to this point, the obvious question would be, ‘Why the Law then?’  If salvation has always been by faith and never by works, and if the covenant of promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, what purpose did “the Law” have?  (Gal. 3:19)

Paul’s answer is direct and sobering: “It was added because of transgressions” (stepping over the boundary). The Law was intended to reveal sin in its true character as transgression. The purpose of the Law was to demonstrate to man his total sinfulness, his inability to please God by his own works, and his need for mercy and grace. Certainly, sin existed before the Law was given but man did not recognize sin as going beyond God’s boundaries until God stated the boundaries. Transgression is the violation of a known law.  “The Law … was added” to show the depth of man’s “transgressions” against God. It was given to drive him to desperate guilt and the awareness of his need for the Deliverer, Jesus Christ. The law demonstrated the unworthiness of any man to receive free and unconditional salvation and blessing. If man is to be blessed, it must be by the grace of God. If a person is to be saved, it must be by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

CONCLUSION:

Some try to come to Jesus without first meeting Moses. They want to skip the Old Testament, to inherit the promise of justification in Christ without the prior pain of condemnation by the law. We need the law to lift off the lid of our respectability and disclose what we are really like underneath—sinful, rebellious, guilty, under the judgment of God and helpless to save ourselves. Not until the law has humbled us even to Hell will we turn to the gospel to raise us to Heaven.

There are some, however, who go to Moses and the law to be condemned and stay in this unhappy bondage. They are still living in the Old Testament. They are marked by labor and are heavy laden! Their religion is a grievous yoke, hard to be borne. They have never come to Christ to be set free.

Our faith is a logical faith and can be defended on rational grounds. While there are divine mysteries in the faith that no man can fully explain, there are also divine reasons that any sincere person can understand. The purpose of the Law of God is among them.