Justification by Faith

Today, we pick up our study through the New Testament book of Galatians beginning in 2:15, “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,” The Jews looked upon Gentiles as sinners. They didn’t think very highly of them at all. They saw them as pagans and heathens, and for the most part they were. By the way, a Gentile is anyone that is not a Jew by birth. Actually, the word Gentile can be translated, heathen, dog or pig. That’s not very complimentary at all!

Notice, v.16, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” This is a clear cut presentation of justification (in this case, it means to be made right in the eyes of God) by faith. Paul’s question here is very simple: “If the Jew had to leave the Law behind in order to justified by faith, Why should the Gentile be brought under the Law as well.” After all, if it didn’t and couldn’t save the Jew, it was also unable to save the Gentile (Gal. 3:11; 21-25).

Notice vv.17-21, “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” The bottom line is that righteousness does not come through keeping the Law of Moses. As a matter of fact, it is impossible to keep the Law of Moses. You and I simply can not do it.

Now, you may be sitting there right now wagging your self-righteous head and thinking to yourself, “I can keep the Law of God.” The only reason you think that way is that you are thinking in the physical and not the spiritual. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day made the same mistake. They thought that as long as they physically kept the Law that they were okay. In other words, if the Law says, “Thou shalt no commit adultery,” to them, and maybe you, that means that as long as they didn’t physically commit adultery they were okay. In other words, “window shopping” was considered to be okay. However, Jesus comes along, blows that out of the water, and says, “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Wow – that changed things considerably because who hasn’t looked with lustful eyes at another person?

Jesus even went on to say that in Matthew 5:22, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” In other words, when you and I hate another person, we have “spiritually” murdered them in our hearts and have broken the Law of God!

That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” What Jesus was saying is that the righteousness of the Pharisees was just external while what they really needed was an internal righteousness. In other words, just keeping the Law externally (not physically committing adultery) while breaking the Law internally (looking and lusting after others) was still breaking the Law and thus, Heaven was not an option!

Legalism is no Fun!

We left off last week in Galatians 2:4-5 talking about legalism and how it binds us. Jesus told the Pharisees in Matt 23:25 you are “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” This illustration reminded me of what it is like trying to live under bondage. “Professional golfer Tommy Bolt was playing in Los Angeles and had a caddy with a reputation of constant chatter. Before they teed off, Bolt told him, "Don't say a word to me. And if I ask you something, just answer yes or no." During the round, Bolt found the ball next to a tree, where he had to hit under a branch, over a lake and onto the green. He got down on his knees and looked through the trees and sized up the shot. What do you think?" he asked the caddy. "Five-iron?" "No, Mr. Bolt," the caddy said. "What do you mean, not a five-iron?" Bolt snorted. "Watch this shot." The caddy rolled his eyes. "No-o-o, Mr. Bolt." But Bolt hit it and the ball stopped about two feet from the hole. He turned to his caddy, handed him the five-iron and said, "Now what do you think about that? You can talk now." "Mr. Bolt," the caddy said, "that wasn't your ball." Yes, in the end, legalism takes all of the fun out of being a child of the King.

Let’s continue our study in Galatians 2:6, “But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:” Most believe that the literal translation is a little harsher than Paul really meant for it to be. He is just stating that they agreed with him and acknowledged that all men are the same before God.

Notice vv.7-8, “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)” Peter was called to the Jews and Paul was called to the Gentiles with the same gospel.

Notice v.9, “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.” An agreement or acknowledgement was made about who was to go to whom.

Notice v.10, “Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” Jesus had a very special place in his heart for the poor. He said in Mark 14:7, “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.”

Notice vv.11-14, “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Peter was playing the hypocrite. He would withdraw from the Gentiles when his Jewish buddies would show up.

I think that we can all be just a little hypocritical in some areas of life. It reminds me of a story about King Louis XIV. Francois Fenelon was the court preacher for King Louis XIV of France in the 17th century. One Sunday when the king and his attendants arrived at the chapel for the regular service, no one else was there but the preacher. King Louis demanded, "What does this mean?" Fenelon replied, "I had published that you would not come to church today, in order that your Majesty might see who serves God in truth and who flatters the king." Let me ask you this, “Where would you have been that Sunday?”

Desert Theological Seminary

Chapter Two of Galatians is very interesting in that we find Paul comparing the gospel that he had been preaching with the gospel that the apostles had been preaching to see if they were the same. Remember that Paul had not sat under anyone, but had received his training at Desert Theological Seminary. Let’s look at Galatians 2:1, “Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.” “Then after fourteen years” means that Paul had not been there since his last visit in 2:18. We do know that Paul did return to Jerusalem with the collection for the saints in Acts 11:27-30, but because he did not meet with the apostles at that time; he did not refer to it here.

Many feel that this occasion was the same occasion as recorded in Acts 15 with the Jerusalem Council. That being the case, Titus was exhibit A at the council meeting that the Gentiles were being saved. He was an uncircumcised Gentile that had been saved by the grace of God without having been circumcised or come under the Mosaic Law.

Notice v.2, “And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.” Again, Paul wanted to make sure that the revelation that he had received while at DTS (Desert Theological Seminary) about grace was the same as that of the apostles. If circumcision and law were required for salvation, Paul had been preaching the wrong gospel.

Notice v.3, “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:” Of course the end result of the council in Jerusalem was that circumcision and coming under the Mosaic Law were not required for conversion. Cf. Timothy in Acts 16:3. His mother was a Jew, while Titus was all Gentile.

Notice vv.4-5, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” The false brethren spoken of here are those who had questioned the “liberty” of the believers at Antioch. In other words, Paul didn’t give these guys the time of day.

In Paul’s ministry, he had met a lot of these guys. He spoke of them in 2 Corinthians 11:26 when he said, “in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;”

Make no mistake about it. They are still around today. Peter spoke of them in 2 Peter 2:1-3 when he said, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

What is our liberty? No more bondage to the Law (3:25, 5:1, 4:9)! In contrast to the two commands of Christ, (love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind and your neighbor as yourself), the Pharisees had developed a system of 613 laws, 365 negative commands and 248 positive laws...By the time Christ came it had produced a heartless, cold, and arrogant brand of righteousness. As such, it contained at least ten tragic flaws. (1) New laws continually need to be invented for new situations. (2) Accountability to God is replaced by accountability to men. (3) It reduces a person's ability to personally discern. (4) It creates a judgmental spirit. (5) The Pharisees confused personal preferences with divine law. (6) It produces inconsistencies. (7) It created a false standard of righteousness. (8) It became a burden to the Jews. (9) It was strictly external. (10) It was rejected by Christ.

Desert Places

Let’s look at Galatians 1:13-14, “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.” Now Paul begins to share his testimony. It is estimated that Paul hand a consenting hand in the killing of at least 10,000 Christians before his conversion. He was the crem-de-la-crem of his class. He said in Philippians 3:5-6, “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” He also had a hand in the stoning of Stephan according to Acts 7:54-60 through Acts 8:1-3.

Notice v.15, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,” That calling came on the Damascus Road in Acts 9:1-6. Have you ever felt that God couldn’t love you because of the person you’ve been? Saul did far more evil than most and yet God still loved him.

Notice v.16a, “To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen;” Jesus called Saul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. Something very interesting is that Saul and Paul are the same. One is Hebrew while the other is Gentile. It would be the equivalent of John and Juan today. The Lord simply wanted him to identify with his mission field.

Notice vv.16b-17, “immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.” Notice that God called Paul and not man. We are not sure how long Paul was in the Arabian Desert. The only thing that we do know was that it took three years from his conversion experience to make it to Jerusalem to visit with the other apostles.

There is a recurring theme in the Bible. God takes those whom he wants to use into the desert. I.e. Moses in Ex 3:1-6 to lead the people out of Egypt. Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1-7 to show a widow how to trust the Lord. Jesus in Matt.4:1-11 to prepare him for the cross (Matt.26:36-46). Are you in the desert? What is God preparing you for? We must learn to look at desert places as preparation places.

Notice v.18, “Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.” After three years Paul visits with Peter in Jerusalem.

Notice vv.19-20, “But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.” Paul also sees an apostle that he refers to as "James, the Lord's brother." One of the most contradictory doctrines in the Catholic Church is the teaching that Mary was a perpetual virgin. The Bible clearly teaches that Mary had more children after Jesus. Of course, they were half brothers and sisters because they had different fathers. As a matter of fact, Jesus had at least four brothers and two sisters (Mark 6:3; Jude 1). We are told that they were married in 1 Corinthians 9:5 and that they had a hard time believing in Him in John 7:1-9.

This also exposes another false teaching within the Church of Rome; celibacy. Paul said to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” This verse also exposes the false teaching of Ash Wednesday within the Catholic Church as well.

Notice vv.21-24, “Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia; And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ: But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.” God received the glory for Paul’s life.

Pleasing God

Let’s look at Galatians 1:8-9 where it says, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” It doesn’t matter who preaches it. If it is contrary to the Bible and the gospel it contains, it’s wrong. And the messenger of that wrong gospel will be judged. It sad, but so many of the ignorant can be deceived today just because the person who says it looks religious.

We see examples of this in the Bible. One such example is in the book of Job when he was speaking with Eliphez where it says, “Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? (Job 4:12-17). The spirit supposedly revealed to Eliphaz that Job was not just before God. It sounded very spiritual, but it was completely off base (Job 1:1).

Another example is found in the story of the old and young prophet in 1 Kings 13:1-26. Take a look at it and see how the old prophet misled the young prophets claiming to hear from the Lord.

Yet another example happened in 1823 when an angel appeared to a guy named Joe who lived in New York. While Joe lay in bed, this angel revealed to him where he would find a new revelation. The new revelation was inscribed on golden plates, called the plates of Mormon. And Joseph whose full name was Joseph Smith, Jr. became the founder of one of the largest cults today - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He claimed to have a supernatural message - but it wasn't from God.

We have seen a spirit, a prophet and an angel. All of them bearers of different gospels; deceiving those who heard their messages. All cursed, “set aside for destruction” or “a detested thing.” There is no greater doctrine that we must maintain the purity of than salvation by grace.

Notice, v.10, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” The word “persuade” means to “make a friend of” or to “seek the favor of”. An example of this is found in I Thessalonians 2:4 where Paul says, “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” Pleasing God should be the top priority in our lives. Pleasing Him comes before pleasing others and even ourselves. We must come to grips with the fact that the preaching of the gospel is not pleasing to lost man and it never will be.

Notice “the servant of Christ.” A bond-servant was no ordinary servant. The Old Testament Law stated that all Hebrew slaves where to be set free after six years of service. However, there were times when the slave decided to stay with his master for one reason or another (Ex. 21:2, 5-6). Thus the slave/servant would become a bondslave/servant. In Romans 6:22 Paul said, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” He realized that the “freedom” that he had in the world was nothing to be compared with the “slavery” he had in Christ.

Notice vv.11-12, “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Paul is telling them that the true gospel did not come from men but God.

Another Gospel

Let’s pick up our study this week in Galatians 1:4 where it says, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:” God allowed His only Son to be killed so that you and I could be delivered out of this present evil age. All around us, the world is going to hell. Murders and massacres, child abuse and drug abuse, witchcraft and Satanism, alcoholism and AIDS. This world that we live in has been, and will continue to become, more and more evil, but God's grace has been offered to deliver us from all of this. Paul reminded us in Colossians 1:13-14 that God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Note v.5, “To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Paul writes, "to God be the glory." We can’t take any of the credit. There was nothing that we did to qualify us for salvation.

Note vv.6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Here is the heart of the problem that Paul was to address with the Galatian believers. They were being drawn away from the true gospel to another one. We as humans, given enough time, tend to corrupt everything. Nothing can go without a little bit of tweaking. We have a hard time just accepting God’s grace because by definition, it is “unmerited favor.” Unmerited favor means that there is nothing we can do to earn or deserve it. And yet, that is exactly what most set out to do. It just makes us feel better to know that we played a part in it. However, if we could earn it, it wouldn’t be unmerited! God did it simply because He loved us. He loved us when we despised Him, adopted us as His children anyway, sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins before we even knew we had sins and gave us everything through His Son when we deserved absolutely nothing (Romans 5:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:6).

Another issue with grace is that we tend to abuse it. I’ve heard people say, “If I'm saved by grace, not by my works, then I can sin all I want, because it's all covered by grace!" No, my friend, that is not right. Those are teachings of the ungodly. Jude said in Jude 4 “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul addressed this issue in Romans 5:20-6:2.

Another issue with grace is that we want to maintain it by good works. We begin to think that we must perform religious rituals and obey rules and regulations in order to be deserving of it. In the New Testament, men who thought this way were called Judaizers and they taught that faith in Christ was not sufficient in itself, but that one must keep the Law of Moses and be circumcised. They believed in salvation through Jesus Christ, but taught that the Law must be kept as well to maintain it.

That attitude is still very common in the church today. I hear things like, "Look at him - he needs a haircut!” “Look at her – she needs to learn how to dress!” Preachers will say, “You need to cut that long hair, throw away that evil music, make yourself respectable and then come to Jesus and be saved!" Hey! I thought that grace was undeserved? It is not that we take the first few steps, and then God jumps in. It is that God is the initiator. Just look in the Garden of Eden at the fall of Adam and Eve. God had to seek reconciliation with Adam. Instead of coming to God and saying, “I’m sorry,” Adam hid himself.

And so the message of the Judaizers was very dangerous. It was not the gospel. It was a different gospel. And today, too many are preaching a similar gospel - which is really no gospel at all.

Grace Defined

We left off talking about who the twelfth apostle was after Judas betrayed the Lord and hung himself. As you know, the remaining eleven got together, under Peter’s leadership, and choose a young man by the name of Matthias to take Judas’ place. Some have suggested that this was a mistake on their parts and that had they been patient, God would have added Paul to the twelve in His own timing. I’m not prepared to say that because I believe that they acted in the will of God.

However, Paul was indeed an apostle because he met the requirements that were laid down in Acts 1:21-22 when it says, “Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.” By the way, these are the only requirements ever given in the New Testament for an apostle. I, like many, do not believe that the office of “apostle” is open today. I believe that the function is the modern day missionary, but the office is no longer available because no one alive today could possibly meet the requirements.

Notice, v.3, “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,” The word grace appears seven times in these six chapters. It is the main point of the book. Salvation is by grace, not the law. Its definition is unmerited favor. It can be a pretty hard thing to define. He loves you, even when you're unlovable. He offers salvation to you, even though you could never afford it, and you'll never deserve it.
Grace is not only defined, but it is seen in the Bible. It says in Acts 11:20-23, “And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”

Grace is that free gift which is given to people who do not deserve it. Each of us was - or still is - an enemy of God and yet God has chosen to love us anyway. We just do not know that kind of love. It is spoke of in Isaiah 64:6 when it says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Wow! He has taken away our sin! That is grace!

You see, our sin disqualified us from being friends of God. Our sin only ensures us of an eternal destiny apart from God. Notice what Paul told the Romans in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”; in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”; and in Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty of our sins. His death opened up an avenue of reconciliation for us to God. Peter said in his epistle, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,” (1 Peter 3:18).

Every one of us is a picture of God's grace. Just think of your past for a moment. Of some of us the world said, “They're worthless. There's nothing lovable about them. They are trash - the dregs of the earth." But God showed grace on us in that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Galatians - Introduction

Have you ever wondered about what the requirements are for being a Christian? If you're like most Christians, you started out by responding to a simple message: you heard that your sin had separated you from God, and Jesus Christ died to forgive that sin. You knew in your heart that the message was true, and so you prayed and asked Jesus to forgive your sins. But things got much more complicated after that, didn't they? You met other Christians who seemed to know more about this whole thing than you did. Some of them told you that if you were a Christian, you had better be in church every Sunday, and at least once during the week. Others told you that real Christians woke up early in the morning to pray and read the Bible for at least an hour. Some other folks told you that if you wanted to be a real Christian, you had to vote Republican, home school your children, and take herbs instead of prescribed medications. They told you what real Christians did, and told you what they didn't. Suddenly you realized that there are rules to follow, regulations to adhere to, and rituals to practice. And you understood that the Christian message was far more involved than you had been led to believe.

An old poem writer put it like this, "What must I forsake?" a young man asked. "Colored clothes for one thing. Get rid of everything in your wardrobe that is not white. Stop sleeping on a soft pillow. Sell your musical instruments and don't eat any more white bread. You cannot, if you are sincere about obeying Christ, take warm baths or shave your beard. To shave is to lie against him who created us, to attempt to improve on his work." Quaint, isn't it -- this example of extra biblical scruples? And perhaps amusing. The list has constantly shifted over the 1,800 years since this one was actually recorded.

This book of Galatians is mostly a stern warning. It does not correct conduct as the Corinthian letter did, but it is a book of correction. There is not one word of commendation, praise, or thanks anywhere to be found in this epistle. This book has been called the “Declaration of Emancipation” from legalism.

Martin Luther said of this book, “This is my epistle. I am wedded to it.” As a matter of fact, Galatians 3:11 started the Reformation. It is the strongest declaration and defense of the doctrine of justification by faith in the Bible. This is the book that moved John Wesley. He came to America to convert the Indian, but he made a startling discovery upon the reading of this book; he wasn’t converted himself. He said, “I came to America to convert the Indians, but who is going to convert John Wesley?”

Let’s start by taking a look at vv.1-2: “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:” The writer of Galatians is Paul the apostle. The word apostle means "one who is sent out." And we know that Jesus sent out the original twelve guys, who were called apostles. It’s interesting as you read the Scriptures, you will see that this group is called "the twelve" about two dozen times. However, after Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus., "the Twelve" became known as "the Eleven" (Matt. 28:16; Mark 16:14; Luke 24:9; Luke 24:33; Acts 1:26; Acts 2:14).

On another interesting note, in Revelation 21:14 it says, “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” My question is, “Whose names will be on the twelfth foundation?” It will not be Judas Iscariot who betrayed the Lord into the hands of the religious leaders!

The Bible says in Acts 1:24-26, “And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place." And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” No doubt about it, the twelve apostle was Matthias. From that point onward, they were once again always referred to as “the twelve.”

Divorce & Remarriage

Many have asked me, “If I have been divorced, can I remarry?” The answer is, “Yes,” if there were scriptural reasons for your divorce. The answer is, “No,” if there were not scriptural reasons for your divorce. Many preachers hold the doctrine that if you have been divorced, no matter what the reason, you can never again remarry. The Bible simply does not say that. I believe that it is a misunderstanding of Scripture. In fact, the Bible gives three scriptural reasons for divorce: Death, Adultery, and Desertion.

The first justifiable reason that we’ll deal with is death. I think that this ones an automatic “give me” that no one who’s reasonable can argue with. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 7:39, The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

Notice that it says, only in the Lord. That means that they must marry another Christian. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Simply put, believers are not supposed to marry unbelievers. I can’t tell you how many I have watched suffer over the years because they refuse to be obedient to this command.

The second justifiable reason is adultery. This is the first exception to death as a reason for divorce. Jesus said in Matthew 19:3-10, The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery. His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.

Why does God allow divorce in the case of adultery? He allows it because adultery divides the one flesh that was created at marriage and creates another one. We see this “one flesh” being created in Genesis 2:24 when God said, Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. We see that another flesh is created in 1 Corinthians 6:16 when Paul said, What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.

The third justifiable reason is desertion. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:12-15, But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. Here is a case where a husband or a wife gets saved and the unbelieving spouse decides to leave. Paul said, "Let them depart." If they do go, Paul recommends that the deserted spouse remain single in 1 Corinthians 7:27. But, he also tells them that it is not a sin if they decide to remarry instead in 1 Corinthians 7:28. The only condition on the remarriage is that the deserted spouse must marry a Christian (1 Corinthians 7:39).

Happy Passover

Today, I want to take a little detour to celebrate the Passover. Unfortunately, we call it Easter today after the Babylonian goddess Astarte, the Queen of Heaven. That’s an entirely different sermon that would probably get me into trouble anyway. Be that as it may, we are celebrating the Passover, not Easter which was a pagan festival that was adapted into Christianity.

What I want you to see today is that Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover. He is our Passover Lamb! It says in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.” Open your Bible and follow along as we go through Exodus 12. This is going to be quick, but worthwhile if you will take time to open your Bible and follow along.

The Passover was introduced by God to the Israelites in the book of Exodus right before He was about to bring the tenth plague on the Egyptians that would kill the firstborn male child in every home. However, he told the Israelites in Exodus 12 that if they wanted their firstborn males to live, they would have to go into their flocks and do the following eleven things.

First, they were to select a Lamb on the 10^th day of Nisan (v.3). Second, the Lamb was to be an unblemished male (v.5). Third, the Lamb was to be kept among them for what amounted to 3½ days (v.6a). Fourth, the Lamb was to be killed on the fourteenth of Nisan (v.6a). Fifth, the blood of the Lamb was to be applied to the top and sides of the door of their home (v.7). Sixth, once the Lamb was dead, it was to be roasted in fire (v.8). Seventh, they had to eat the Lamb (v.11a). Eighth, we also notice in v.46 that none of its bones were to be broken. Ninth, they had be girded (dressed) and ready to go (v.11b). Tenth, the blood on the household caused God's judgment to pass over it (v.13). Eleventh, once the Lamb was killed, no leaven was to be eaten or even found in the house (v.15).

Now, it gets interesting. All eleven of these things were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb. I wish I could go into much more detail, but time does not allow it here. However, this will be my topic Sunday morning at Borderland.

First, Jesus entered the eastern gate on the 10^th day of Nisan (April 6^th), thus the lamb was selected. Second, Jesus was an unblemished male. Pilate said in John 18:38 “…I find no fault in Him at all.” Peter, when speaking of Jesus said in 1 Peter 1:19 that we are redeemed “…with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Third, Jesus walked the streets of Jerusalem for 3½ days after He had entered the city on the 10^th day of Nisan (April 6^th). Fourth, Jesus was killed on the fourteenth day of Nisan which on our Julian calendar is April 10^th. The same ones who cried, “Hosanna”, at His triumphal entry just three days earlier cried out, “Crucify Him!” Oh, how a crowd can change so quickly! Fifth, Jesus has made his blood available and it is the only way that we are going to escape judgment and death. Hebrews 9:12 says, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Sixth, Jesus endured the fire of God's judgment, by descending into Hell and taking our punishment upon Himself. He was our burnt (sin) offering. Seventh, we too, must appropriate Jesus Christ. We do this symbolically at the Communion table and literally by accepting him into our lives as Lord and Savior. Eighth, none of Jesus’ bones were broken (John 19:31-36). Ninth, we too, should live in expectancy of the imminent return of Jesus Christ and should always be ready to go at a moments notice. Tenth, when we apply the blood of Jesus to our lives, God's judgment passes over us. Eleventh, once we have applied the blood of Jesus Christ to our lives, sin (leaven) should not be found in our homes. John said in 1 John 3:6, “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” How about you? Is Jesus your Passover Lamb?