Galatians 05 Paul's Argument for Faith 3:15-29

Tonight we'll finish chapter 3, Paul's Argument for Faith. I've attached the same set of notes as last week. The first argument for faith is from the Galatians experience and results of their conversion when Paul first preached the gospel to them. The second argument for faith is from Abraham and the blessings that result from having a faith like Abraham. The third argument for faith is from the Abrahamic covenant being a promissory covenant that is enjoyed by faith and not a covenant like the Mosaic, which was a works covenant. In the end, Paul is arguing in Galatians 3 that faith is all that is needed both for justification and sanctification. The claim that a Gentile needs to have faith + circumcision for justification or faith + keeping the Law for sanctification are false. It is simply by faith in both phases of our salvation.

Today people try to sneak works into the equation by saying things like, "It's faith alone that saves, but the faith that saves is never alone" (meaning it is always accompanied by works). This puts the onus on the kind of faith one has rather than the object of one's faith, who is Jesus Christ. It turns people inward to the question of whether they had the right kind of faith or not, rather than outward to Christ who is the author of salvation and the finisher of faith. In this type of thinking, how can you ever have assurance? How can you ever be settled in your soul?

Other people claim that justification is by faith and sanctification is by works. This is obviously false, but many believe it! Paul already stated that if we began by the Spirit, are we going to finish by works? HAHA. That will never happen. That is operation boot strap, trying to do it yourself. You can't make yourself sanctified before God anymore than you can make yourself justified by God. It is a fools errand.

Others say that works are by faith, so that it really is all by faith after all, but this is a fools errand too, a way of trying to sneak works into faith, when Paul said explicitly in Rom 11:6, "If it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." And in Rom 4:16, "For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace...the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all."

Should we have works? Yes, but they are the fruit of the Spirit, which is acquired by living by faith. Lots of people, most I would say, try to sneak works into the equation of being justified or being sanctified. The answer is this: we are justified by grace through faith in Christ, the same moment we receive the Spirit, then once we are justified with the indwelling Spirit we have freedom to live a new life, which is life by the Spirit. I think I'm in line with Paul here that all this is by faith.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me." Gal 2:20

"Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" Gal 3:3

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." Gal 5:16-18

Grace to you,
Jeremy

Attachment:

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