Paul's Epistles - Galatians
Part 8 – Children
of God
Pastor Bruce A.
Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
Through the letter Paul wrote to the
Galatians, he has continued to emphasize the truth that we are saved by faith,
not works, and all that come to the Lord in faith are counted as Abraham, and
are part of the Promise of God.
Paul was finding
himself arguing against Peter at this time, who had fell to the pressure of the
“circumcised” and began to allow teachings that were against Faith, and against
the teachings of Jesus.
The false
teaching that Peter was allowing because of his fear of the circumcised was
that although we put our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, one must also
adhere to certain teachings of old, such as circumcision, or certain food laws.
Their influence
changed Peter, and he began looking down on non-Jews.
We see in
scripture he began to pull away from them, and stopped eating with them.
Paul argues that
to say we need anything other than Christ alone was a false teaching.
Paul proves
through Old Testament scripture that all we have ever needed was faith.
Using Abraham as
his example, Paul showed that faith was all Abraham needed, and God revealed
that once the Savior came, all those who put this same faith in Him would also
be counted among Abraham’s seed, and be called a child of God.
Not only that,
but ALL are invited.
We need to
remember that God has three major wills.
1) All come to a knowledge of Christ Jesus (Great
Commission)
2) All are ministers of that Gospel (Great Commission)
3) The Way You as an individual accomplish Will #2 (Through Holy
Spirit – Spiritual Fruits, Spiritual Gifts, Whole Armor of God)
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Galatians 3:23-29
Before the coming of this faith, we
were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to
come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our
guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now
that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
I.
THIS FAITH
a.
Before the coming of this faith
i. What Faith?
ii. Faith
in Jesus Christ
b.
We were in custody (bondage)
i. Under the Law which
reveals our sin
ii. The Law
only shows guilt, does not free us from it
iii. Therefore,
because of the Law, our guilt was revealed and we were “locked up” in bondage
to our sin
c.
Until Faith was revealed
i. We were only
“freed” when Christ came and paid the debt to the Law
ii. Now
Faith has come, through Faith (in Christ) we are no longer under the Law, but
free from the bondage of sin, which is revealed by the Law
II.
IN CHRIST JESUS YOU
ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD THROUGH FAITH
a.
All who were baptized into Christ have clothed
themselves with Christ
i. On Judgment Day, we
will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ
ii. If we
have put our Faith in Him, we are “covered” in Him
iii. We have
“clothed” ourselves in Christ
iv. It is
NOT our Righteousness that allows the forgiveness of our sins and entrance into
heaven, but the fact that we are covered by Christ.
1.
Parable of the Wedding Party
b.
Therefore, there is now no;
i. Jew or Gentile (God
is now available to ALL through Faith)
ii. Slave or Free (No
citizen-class in God’s eyes, He is no respecter of persons)
iii. Male or
Female (Both equal in the Kingdom)
1.
Just because they have differing roles,
does not make one better than the other or more acceptable to God.
c.
You are ALL ONE in Christ Jesus
i. We are to be one;
1.
In Word (fully accepting the Word of God
as Truth)
2.
In Deed (being doers of that Word)
3.
In Body (no denominations, divisions,
clicks, etc.)
ii. In
God’s eyes we are all equal and the same, therefore no one should think more highly
of themselves then they aught, knowing that the ONLY difference between a
Follower of Christ, and a sinner is CHRIST!
III.
IF YOU BELONG TO
CHRIST, THE YOU ARE ABRAHAM’S SEED & HEIRS
a.
Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior
i. He died on the
cross to pay the debt to the Law
ii. God
raised Him again to “new life”
iii. He IS
Lord and Savior, Messiah Christ Jesus
iv. Not
merely a “good man” (the worldly view),
“prophet” (Islam), “avatar” (Hinduism), etc., but God
b.
Believe in (Put faith in) Christ
i. He had to die as an
atonement for the requirements of sin
c.
Confess to Him your sins
i. REPENT of those
sins to be forgiven
CONCLUSION – ABRAHAM’S SEED & HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE
The promise God
made to Abraham, as well as the foretelling of the coming of Jesus Christ, secured
for Abraham, as well as future generations, escape from the coming Law, which
would not save, but condemn.
The Law reveals our
sin, and the reason our relationship with God has been destroyed.
The coming Faith
(Christ) restores our relationship through Christ alone, because He alone has
fulfilled the requirements of the Law, so in Him, Salvation can be found.
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