Here is a teaching I did some time ago that is still appropriate for today.
Introduction: Perspective affects everything. How we were raised, taught in school, and learned through experiences affects our perspective on things. The same can be said about those Jews who were trying to get the Galatian Christians to go back under the Mosaic law.
Three highlights of the Mosaic covenant were: Circumcision, Sabbath-keeping, and Dietary laws.
Each of these was an indication that one was a keeper.
The place of each of these in the New Covenant:
Circumcision – Romans 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God.”
Sabbath keeping – Ezekiel 20:12 “Moreover, I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.”
Ezekiel 20:20 “Hallow my Sabbaths and they will be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
Dietary laws – Romans 14:6 “He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks, and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat and gives God thanks.”
5 Questions
- Who has deceived you? “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?”
- Did you receive the Spirit through the law? “This only I want to learn from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
- Are you so foolish? “Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”
- Have you suffered so many things in vain? “Have you suffered so many things in vain – if indeed it was in vain?”
- Is the supernatural by law or faith? “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH
Those who are of faith are sons of Abraham and are blessed in him.
A. The Mosaic law brings a curse.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” vs.10
“But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith.” vs 11
‘’Yet the law is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them.” vs.12
Justification in the sight of God is by faith alone – in the sight of man we need to see an outward change. James 2:22,24
B. Redeemed from the curse by Jesus’ Sacrifice
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree)”
Curses can be summarized by 3 things – Deuteronomy 28
- Poverty
- Sickness
- Premature death
C. Blessings of Abraham & and the Promise of the Spirit
“That the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” vs.14
Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”