Old Testament Faith with Notes
Old Testament Faith
October 29, 2011
Larry R Evans
Introduction
Paul had an experience to share. The one-time-persecutor had a major life change. It impacted him so deeply on a personal level that the boldness he once had for persecuting remained just as strong as he went about sharing the grounds for his new life. The problem he faced now was with those who believed as he once did. He understood their perspective, however, and his writings to the Galatians reveal answers he no doubt found from his own study and reflection. One thing was clear. He would not tolerate compromise on the essence of the gospel. He rediscovered his own theological roots in Abraham. What he once used to justify his thinking now had grown to mean just the opposite. He had no time for anything that took away from the all-sufficient ransom price that Christ paid for each of us. He was amazed at how easily some had forgotten what they had once known. The pressure from peers was compromising the powerful message of the gospel and Paul felt he had to write. He did so in chapter 3 of Galatians by showing that the gospel he was sharing was anchored in the Old Testament—notably in the experience of Abraham.
Reflective Quiz
1. When it comes to “knowing” spiritual truth, it is the “once known always known as long as one doesn’t stop knowing” principle. Gal. 3:1-5 True or False?
2. The more good one does the more likely it is that person will go to heaven. Gal. 3:6-8 True or False?
3. Abraham’s obedience established his relationship with God. Gen. 12:1-3; Heb. 11:17-19. True or False?
4. Paul’s call to ministry was a partial fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham. Gen. 12:1-3 True or False?
5. To correct the error of the Jewish teaching that obedience saves, Paul interjects a correction by saying that we are saved by obedience plus faith. Gal. 3:10; Eph. 2:8-10 True or False?
Notes
1. When it comes to “knowing” spiritual truth, it is the “once known always known as long as one doesn’t stop knowing” principle. Gal. 3:1-5 True
Paul was frustrated with the compromise he saw going on in regards to the gospel message. He begins the chapter with the words, “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you.” “Foolish” is a polite translation whereas J.B. Phillips is a bit more direct when he translates the Greek phrase: “You idiots.” The Greek word does have a reference to one’s intelligence. The problem is that they once knew the truth but had fallen away and were practicing just the opposite of what they once knew. This raises another question:
2. The more good one does the more likely it is that that person will go to heaven. Gal. 3:2-8 False (but there is some truth to it if good comes as a consequence of a relationship but it isn’t the grounds for entrance.)
Note how Paul raises an insightful question (3:2):
“2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?”
A second question emphasizes the point and remember the context of the discussion is circumcision. (3:3-5)
After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Paul is clear. The grounds for salvation is neither one’s heritage nor one’s good deeds and in this case even one’s obedience since circumcision was part of the Jewish law (Deut. 17:10). He will establish why that is a bit later in the chapter but right now he his rebuking those who know better. Every blessing they had received had come as a gift and to base it on anything else would mean that they had “earned” it. The blessings would no longer be a gift and that undermines the gospel they had accepted from Paul earlier.
“No matter how God’s Spirit may transform our lives, no matter how we may grow in spiritual knowledge or ability, the basis of our acceptance with Christ never changes—it is faith in what God has done for us in Christ.” Carl Cosaert in Galatians, p.49.
Application Truth: We do what is right not in order to become Christians but because we are Christians OR PUT ANOTHER WAY An apple tree doesn’t produce apples in order to become an apple tree but because it is one.
3. Abraham’s obedience established his relationship with God. Gen. 12:1-3; Heb. 11:17-19. False
Abraham was a central figure to Judaism. The experience of Abraham to Paul was fundamental to his understanding of the role of faith. He refers to Abraham at least nine times in the book of Galatians. Keep in mind that Galatians was written before any of the gospels written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Key to Paul’s discussion is Genesis 12:1-3,
12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
2 “I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.” (NIV)
The basis of God’s covenant with Abraham centered on God’s promise to him and it was the promises are all one-sided! They are all about what God would do (“I will”).
What was Abraham’s response to God’s promises? Note Gen. 15:6,
6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
The belief of Abraham in God and His word/promises, not Abraham’s actions, was the basis for his “righteousness.” This was the center around which Galatians 3 revolved. This raises a question for our own further thought.
Application Truth: To make a promise to do something for God so that He will do something for us in return is legalism. Gal 3:17,18. True
4. Paul’s call to ministry was a partial fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham. Gen. 12:1-3 True
This is a critical issue and the very reason Paul confronted Peter in Gal. 2:11-14. Paul was deeply concerned over the narrowing of the Gospel. The promise to Abraham was that the blessing was to go to all nations. While Abraham was obedient, his relationship with God was not rooted in his own obedience.
He drives this point home in Gal. 3:10-11,
10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”
Application Truth: No matter how hard we try we will always come up short. Our righteousness is never perfect but the good news is that Christ’s is! The next question is: then why even try! Because we are children of Abraham! Our faith/belief is built on the promises and actions in our behalf by the God whom we love. Our motivation comes from love and not from a position of bargaining with God for an entrance into His kingdom!
5. To correct the error of the Jewish teaching that obedience saves, Paul interjects a correction by saying that we are saved by obedience plus faith. Gal. 3:10; Eph. 2:8-10 False?
This is exactly what Paul was fighting. He saw it as a compromise of the gospel. Note 3: 13,
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.
Our imperfections at the admissions of the law itself place us under the curse of the law! So what hope do we have. All have sinned. All are imperfect. When Christ was hung upon the tree or the cross he was “cursed” by the imperfections of each of us. He bore the curse set forth in the law for disobedience!
Application Truth: The struggle in the Christian experience is not in doing but yielding—yielding self to the work of the Holy Spirit. It is easy to confuse the work of justification with that of sanctification.
“Justification is our title to heaven. Sanctification, however, refers to the enabling power of God’s Spirit that begins to work in us the very moment we are justified. Thus sanctification is not the means by which we earn the right to enter into heaven—it is the way that God fits us to live in heaven. It is the process by which God makes real in our experience what is already true of us by faith in Christ.” Carl Cosaert, in Galatians, p. 49.
Conclusion
“From start to finish in the Christian life, the basis of our salvation is faith in Christ alone. It was because of Abraham’s faith in God’s promises that he was counted as righteous, and that same gift of righteousness is available for anyone today who shares Abraham’s faith. The only reason we are not condemned for our mistakes is that Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying in our place.” (Sabbath School Quarterly)
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