Sermon Tone Analysis

Promises, Promises

There are pivotal promises in the Bible that are played throughout the bible and you see the fulfillment of them in the New Testament and in our passage tonight we will look, reflect and rejoice in some of the promises found.

Did you know that Abraham is a key figure to more than just the Jews?

Father Abraham:

Father of the Jews through son Isaac

He is the first Jew and through his seed Isaac came God’s plan for the Messiah to come.

Father of the Arabs through son Ismael

Now they called him “Ibrahim” but this is the same person and through His seed Ismael came the Arab people.

And is a spiritual father to Christians (Gal3:29)

The name Abraham, which was the God changed name means “father of many” and I think you can see that.

Hence one of the promises made.

So, speaking of promises maybe take just a few minutes and may we look at some of the promises made to Abraham, especially since he is key figure in our passage today when we get to Galatians (eventually).

The promises made to Abraham which became a covenant are a central part, theme of the Bible, so open and turn to Gen12:1-7

Gen

Gen12:7

Three promises are found here that are worth noting:

Land promise (Gen12:1, 7)

Reconfirmed in (Gen13:15-17)

Nation promise (Gen12:2)

Reconfirmed (Gen13:16, 17:6 and 18:18)

Seed promise (Gen12:3)

Reconfirmed Gen22:18, 26:4 and 28:14)

The Bible shows fulfillment of those promises so we should note those too.

You can look up the passages on your own and see the fulfillment.

Land promise (Jos2143-45, 23:14-15) - in the days of Joshua

La

Nation promise (Gen46:3; Exo1:7; Deu26:5) - in the descendants of Israel

Seed promise (Act3:25-26) - in the days of Christ

Our passage today Paul defends the promises and fulfillment in pointing back to the promises that were indisputable.

There were those who were trying to make problems making the Gentiles follow the law of Moses too.

That, we have already looked at with (Act15:1, 5)

Two things want to look at tonight.

True heirs of Abraham (Gal3:6-9)

Free from curse of the Law (Gal3:10-14)

True heirs of Abraham

Heir; one of the definitions reads: a person inheriting and continuing the legacy of a predecessor.

So may we look at our passage as it concerns heirs and who are the true heirs of Abraham.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Some questions to consider and discuss (don’t look at your outline):

Who are the heirs?

They are ones who had faith, as Abraham offered as example (vv.6-7)

Why are they the heirs?

Their faith, for we know it is impossible to please God without faith (Heb11:6)

This is the fulfillment of the seed promise

What are they the heirs of?

Justification by faith (v.8)

Faith, I should expand on that some more since that is where justification is found.

What kind of faith are we to have?

That like Abraham (Gal3:9)

For His faith accounted him for righteousness (Gen15:6)

Have the faith to do the works of Abraham (Jn8:39)

walking by faith which was problem Jesus was addressing in John8 where the Jews were not doing that.

Having the faith to walk in steps of faith as Abraham did (Rom4:11-12; Heb11:8-10)

I should give you these passages at least, the others I encourage you to look up.

and then from the faith chapter

Heb11:10

The only way to be right with God is by faith!

Just another quick point before moving on, The promise preceded the command (Gen15:6) the promises, Land, seed, nations came prior to the command for circumcision found in (Gen15:6).

Abraham was not trying to impress God, he just believed God and he was reckoned as righteousness.

For those who are justified by faith are free from the curse of the law, our next point.

Free from the curse of the Law

Those seeking to be justified by the Law (Rom9:31-32)

Those seeking to establish their own righteousness (Rom10:1-13)

Redeemed!

oh how we love to proclaim it!

May our faith be an explanation point and not a question mark.For we are freed from under the cure of the Law.

For true freedom is found by faith not by the Law or works.

Oh yes, we do love to proclaim it, but do we believe it to our very soul?

Do we ever have questions about it?

Do we wonder if we are truly redeemed?

Is it really as simple as we have been told, been taught to receive Christ?

Is it be washed by His blood in baptism when we hear, believe, confess and repent?

Then walk in obedience, to walk in newness of life?

So may we look at our passage now and get into this more.

Gal3:

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Paul uses the Law as his defense for justification by faith (Gal3:10)

Paul reminds them of the covenant that they entered (Deu27:26)

the covenant they entered into at Mt Ebal and Gerizim, whereas they all agreed (with a hearty amen) to live by or to be cursed and suffer.

This is the covenant of blessing and cursing as noted in Deu27, but just look at this one verse as the final terms of the covenant are voiced by Moses

If they were going to live by the Law, they needed to live by all of the Law or be cursed.

Simple things like dishonoring your parents could make you cursed and that could cost you your life.

The true curse is not the Law in and of itself, it is the belief that by keeping it you have salvation.

Paul saw the CROSS not the CURSE

Think about it, how hard would it have been on the other side of the cross, to have to live by perfect obedience to the law or you are cursed?

OK, have you ever made a turn, ended up on a dead end street and you have no where to go?

That is exactly where Paul has them now, but that is where he wants them so he can introduce them to to the true hope that is found by faith.

We see it in (Gal3:11) but it is still an O.T. concept

Here you are on that dead end street, your works, your power cannot justify you before God.Even what appears to be good works cannot do it, for look at (Hab2:4; Rom1:17; Heb10:38)

___________

Paul corners them by using the law to prove justification by faith (Hab2:4; Rom1:17; Heb10:38)

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Here you are on that dead end street, your works, your power cannot justify you before God.Even what appears to be good works cannot do it, for look at (Hab2:4)

Don’t let pride keep you from the kingdom, for the kingdom comes by faith

Righteousness, justification is revealed by faith and in faith then is carried out by works of faith.

Not for salvation but from salvation.

Justification happens in an instant, but the results are for eternity when we live and when we walk by faith.

Don’t stop short, don’t give up, keep going, live obediently walking by faith and be well pleasing to God, so that you may become the righteousness of God.

The Hab2:4 what is going on is that Israel is under tremendous pressure from the Babylonians in or about 605BC, they are discouraged, dismayed but God wanted them to hold on and to standfast that deliverance was to come and they needed to live by faith.

We too need to have the assurance of faith, in our justification that even when it is hard times, difficult times, trying times, yes depressing and discouraging times that God is with us and will be with us as we walk by faith.

Christ’s redemption is by faith (Gal3:12-13)

The law is based on doing, not on trusting.