Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: Psalm 100-102; Galatians 3
Devotional Thought:
Paul was no slouch when it came to debate, and in these next two chapters he will demonstrate his gifting. What he has taught the Galatians church regarding salvation was under attack and he was not going to let these heretical leaders negatively influence those he loved so dearly. Salvation is clearly by grace alone through faith alone and “not of works lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9) In these two chapters, Paul uses six different approaches to explain and debate the erroneous teaching of the Judaizers. To add works to grace is to dilute and discredit the gift of grace. Paul starts his debate with asking his audience to remember personally what the Lord had done in their own heart. Paul asked them a simple question, how did you get saved? Were you saved by the Spirit of God or by the deeds of the flesh? “Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (vs. 3) The flesh could not save you, perfect you, or keep you saved; therefore, we need the quickening power of the Spirit of God to awaken the dead spiritual man and give him life and then seal him for all eternity. Secondly, Paul asks his audience to remember what the scriptures say. By the way, we must never interpret scripture by our own experiences, but rather we should interpret our own experiences by the word of God. Paul uses illustrations from scripture proving that a person is saved by faith, and refutes the notion that a man can be saved by works. “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith…” (vs. 11-12) We cannot get saved by works and we cannot stay saved by works… “for by grace are ye saved through faith.” The Judaizers tried to corner Paul by the fact that he kept minimizing the law and yet kept quoting from the Old Testament. Therefore, Paul concludes this chapter with explaining the purpose and plan for the Old Testament. Paul skillfully uses the explanation of the covenant to show the relationship of the promise to the law. “For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” (vs. 18) God promised Abraham that Israel would become a great nation. And from that nation, God would provide a Messiah, the Lamb of God, to take away the sins of the world. “The scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” (vs. 22) The Old Testament convinces that all men are sinners and incapable of keeping the whole law. The only valid candidate to pay for our sin must be born perfect, live perfect, and then die perfect in order to satisfy the demands of a holy God. The answer to man’s sin problem was the Messiah, Jesus Christ. He ends this portion of the debate with, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 24-26) Paul convinces his listeners that the purpose of the law was to prove to man that he was a sinner and incapable of keeping the law, but that faith in the One who kept the law and satisfied the law would provide salvation. Hallelujah, What a Savior!
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to never forget the precious gift of salvation provided by the sacrifice of my Savior. I am so thankful that my salvation and the eternality of it is not based upon my works. Thank you for grace!
• Lord, please give me the understanding and knowledge to accurately and consistently debate a world that constantly minimizes the work of grace and elevates the work of man. Help me to point people to the gift of promise, the Lord Jesus.