Sons of Abraham, Part 11

May 2, 2010 Pastor: John Fonville Series: Galatians

Scripture: Galatians 3:10–3:14

Sons of Abraham

Part 11

 

Text: Galatians 3:10-14

 

May 2, 2010

 

Review/Introduction:

 

I.       The OT Scriptures teach that the Law issues a sentence of cursing rather than blessing (3:10).

 

Lesson:

 

II.       The OT Scriptures clearly reveal that no one is justified by works of the Law (v. 11).

 

A.       Habakkuk 2:4 shows that justification by faith alone is a permanent truth.

 

“a legalist establishes himself as both “creature and creator at the same time. Therefore no one can describe in words how horrible and dreadful a thing it is to seek righteousness apart from the blessing, in the Law and in works. For this is the abomination standing in the holy place (Matt. 24:15), which denies God and establishes a creature in the place of the Creator,” (Martin Luther, Luther’s Works, vol. 26, p. 259).

 

B.       Habakkuk 2:4 Highlights the Importance of Justification by faith alone

 

“Habakkuk 2:4 is the central revelation of this important and quite contemporary prophecy…This is a great text. It could even be called the great text of the Bible. To understand it is to understand the Christian gospel and the Christian life. It is so important that it is picked up by the New Testament writers, twice by Paul (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11) and once by the author of the Book of Hebrews (Heb. 10:38),” (James Boice, The Minor Prophets, vol. 2, pp. 407-408).

 

C.       Habakkuk 2:4 reveals that justification is a doctrine to daily live by.

 

“It does not say that the righteous shall draw on faith from time to time as faith is needed. It says, ‘the righteous will live [continuously] by his faith.’ That is, the righteous will operate on this principle twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year- so long as life lasts,” (James Boice, The Minor Prophets, vol. 2, p. 411).

 

“The good news doesn’t begin when we die. It certainly does address that issue, but it also tells us that there is good news for us now. We don’t have to feel guilt-ridden and insecure in our relationship with God. We don’t have to wonder if He likes us. We can begin each day with the deeply encouraging realization that I am accepted by God, not on the basis of my personal performance, but on the basis of the infinitely perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ,” (Jerry Bridges, The Gospel For Real Life, pp. 16-17).

 

© John Fonville

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