1. Galatians the freedom letter 10-23-11

2. The last time we finished with Galatians 3:22) ‘But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Review: Other verses defining; “confined all under sin” Rom 3:19) Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

3. “Under law” = The whole of humanity, Jew and Gentile. “may be stopped” =When the Holy law of God speaks, everyone, Jew and Gentile are now in a state of silence. “All the world guilty” = No one escapes!! Here is another way the Jews tried to escape out of a lost condition Rom 9:31) but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.

4. 32) “Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone”. (Remember what the law does, it reveals guilt and sin) 33) As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Though they pursued, they fell short Because they failed to see “that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Gal 3:22).

5. They stumbled over what so many have stumbled over; That it is only by faith in what Christ did on the cross and not in what you achieve for God. 2 Cor 5:21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The offer is so simple that they tripped over it and many still do.

6. But in the natural mind without the Spirit, that really is the only reasonable thing to do. Many in the past have looked holy, with much sacrifice and suffering, yet they are still lost forever. Why? Because their faith has been improperly directed. Gal 3:23) But before (the) faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

7. Modern Judaism is literally blind to what the law says and is a far cry from Jesus’ day. Salvation is achieved  through faith and continual prayer to God, strict adherence to divine commandments (Jewish Law), including dietary restrictions,  to give to the poor,  "love your neighbor as yourself,“  bring God’s message to humanity by example

8.  Confessions and repentances are expressed through Yom Kippur when one fasts,  asks forgiveness from others and from themselves,  and commits to do good deeds in the future. © 2000-2008 SelectSmart.com® All Rights Reserved. Licensed by Beliefnet from SelectSmart.com.SelectSmart.comBeliefnetSelectSmart.com

9. Galatians 3:21) Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22) But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

10. Heb 9:22) And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb 9:26 but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

12. Galatians The Freedom Letter 10-30-11

13. The “Tutor” Galatians 3:23) But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24) Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25) But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Vs 23- but before the faith came = kept under guard Kept for the faith “But” is contrasting, “the faith” with “the law”. What is “the Faith”? Vs 22 that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Kept under guard, this literally means locked in, or to mount a guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates) to hem in, protect This last phrase is even more severe and it is a different word then the previous “kept”. This means literally a closed door or the way is blocked and unable to be opened. In combination with the next phrase, it means that the way to faith is shut up until it is revealed at the right time. But once it is here it is the only way, much like the covenant before it. You cannot climb in through any other way. It is the only way and it is God’s way.

14. vs 23 “which would “afterword” be revealed” There are a lot of time references here; before, came, afterwords. There is a noticeable difference between then and now, between old and new! 24) Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The word tutor is stronger than “teacher.”

15. It means an authoritarian guardian a discipline enforcer. It was meant to monitor and guard the behavior of a child. Usually it was a slave who was chosen to do this. The law was a stern disciplinary-trainer that: a. Constantly locked the true hearer of the law in confinement where there was no gray only black and white law. b. Constantly shut the hearer up under sin in bondage to condemnation, with no escape except through Christ.

16. Therefore the law was the stern uncompromising guardian that led the hearer to Christ. (Ron Merryman, Galatians: God’s antidote to legalism p.57) Romans 10:3) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

17. Are you still trying to climb in by your own efforts of vs 21? “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law”. What do you think happens when you die? Have you really thought it through?

18. Maybe you think; “well, if there is a God, surely I have as good as chance as the next guy. I mean, I’ve done some bad things but so has everyone else”. “Am I to believe that a good loving God would let all those bad things send me to a Hell, when I have done the best that I can? I mean, after all, I have done a lot of good too”! This way of thinking is flawed in at least 2 ways.

19. 1. No matter how well you have done, we have a fundamental problem much deeper then, “aren’t I just as good as the next guy”? Vs 22) “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe”. Rom 5:12) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned–

20. 13) (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 2. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? God has revealed our problem and in love, has provided a way out that was very costly! The flaw is neglecting the way!!

21. God’s Son poured out His blood for you, became sin for you, became a curse for you, suffered punishment for you. Had to endure the cross and cry out, “My God My God why have You forsaken me”? See the problem is not that you aren’t a good person, people can do a lot of good.

22. The problem is that God has said, “this is my Son in whom I am well pleased listen to Him”. Because we are more messed up then we think and God is perfect and Holy, it is an insult to think your good works are worth more than the blood of His Son!!!!!! We are locked up in sin! God has provided the escape! What will you believe? Will you submit to the righteousness of God? Or try to establish your own?