Hello everybody, and welcome in to episode 82 of the Bible 2021 podcast. We are reading Galatians 3 today and our focus is on How Can People Who Have Sinned Much Be Declared ‘Not Guilty?’ . We are a daily 10 minute podcast, where we will dig in to the truth of the Word of God by reading one Bible chapter a day and discussing it. Welcome to new listeners in Selangor, Malaysia, Laguna, Philippines, Fukuoka, Japan (careful), Uttar Pradesh, India, parts unknown, Finland, Austin Texas and Mobile, Alabama. Thanks for listening! Our goal is to encourage DAILY Bible reading, so you can jump in at any time and join with us. We want to invite as many people as possible to join us in daily Bible reading, so help spread the word and share the podcast Don’t forget about our web-page, Bible2021.com – contact page, show notes, transcript and more– Click here for our Bible 2021 reading plan
Let’s open with a word from WhereWhatHuh, commenting on our Galatians 1 episode:
In light of what Paul tells us here about the immutable nature of the gospel, we should also think about 1 Cor. 15:3-8, where Paul tells us exactly what the gospel is that he teaches. Prosperity gospels, mystery gospels, revised gospels, updated gospels and gnostic gospels … none of these have any place in Christianity. For any heresy to take root, it must first uproot the gospel itself.
One other note – as you might recall, we have discussed whether or not Christians are still under the law – whether Christians are obligated to obey all of the Old Testament commands, or not. I believe that we are not under the Old Covenant and its commands, but under the New Covenant and its commands, and I think we have another clear proclamation of that in Galatians 3:
23 Before this faith came, we were confined under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith was revealed. 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 25 But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, Galatians 3:23-25
No longer under a guardian – i.e. no longer under the law – precisely as Paul reiterates in Romans 6:14, “14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
Our main focus today is on being declared not guilty – or justified – by faith, which is one of the great central truths of Christianity. Paul expresses this truth again and again in Galatians, using the most potent and pointed language, such as in vss 7-11
7 You know, then, that those who have faith, these are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and proclaimed the gospel ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you.9 Consequently, those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith. 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed.11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.Galatians 3:7-11
Again – this is the crux of the gospel – that all (Jews and Gentiles) can be saved and declared not guilty by faith in Christ and NOT by works of righteousness. Let’s read the whole passage:
Great chapter with lots of deep theological truths. Let’s turn to brother Charles Spurgeon to help us apply these truths to our lives (and also get to hear a fantastic illustration of justification and salvation by faith, rather than works!” :
Those who are justified by faith in Jesus, those whose faith is counted for righteousness, they are the children of believing Abraham—not those who are under the law of Moses, not those who trust in works and boasters in circumcision. These, even among the Jews, are but His children by the power of nature, to whom no more belongs than to Ishmael. Abraham was the father of the faithful, or believing. In his grandest aspect he is not the sire of a rebellious nation, but of the believing seed. Abraham is the father of the believers, and believers are all the children of Abraham.Remember that the safety of the weak and of the strong believer rests upon the same foundation. On board one of the fine steamboats that flit between England and America there is a strong, hardy, vigorous man. Will he get to America safely? Yes, if the ship does. But yonder is a little child that cannot walk and has to be carried in its mother’s arms. Will it reach America safely? Yes, if the ship does. Both the robust man and the crying infant, all being well, will reach their journey’s end—if the ship does. Their safety lies in the same place. Their condition does not affect their transit. But is there no difference between the child and the man? Assuredly, there is a great deal of difference as to many things, but there is no difference about the fact that their passage across the ocean depends upon the steamboat rather than upon themselves. The strong man could not walk across the Atlantic any more than the child could. They are alike incompetent for the passage if left alone, and alike capable of it if placed on board the same vessel. So if you meet with a great saint, say to yourself, “My honored brother will get to heaven through Jesus Christ. And I, a poor babe in grace, shall get to heaven in the same way.”
Charles Spurgeon, Galatians, ed. Elliot Ritzema, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013), Ga 3:7.
End of the Show: Bible memory verse for March: Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore, [Jesus] is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.”
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