Sermon Summary

This week, Eric Jones continued in our series through Galatians. In this letter, Paul is talking with believers in Galatia who have been fascinated by a false gospel that salvation comes through circumcision. Paul contrasts this works-based faith with the truth gospel of grace. Eric shared that we can know where we are putting our faith when we diagnose what we are fascinated by. 

Galatians 3:1-14, ESV

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

7Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

10For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

As it turns out…

  • A dust buster vacuum is not the best gift for your wife on your first Christmas.
  • Credit cards are not a good way to fund starting a company.
  • Seattle Police actually have jurisdiction on I-5.
  • You can’t shave your eyebrows with the same razor guard as your beard.
  • You don’t have to be circumcised in order to be saved.

Who has fascinated you?

Galatians 3: 1 – O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?

  • Bewitched- Leading away others into error or deception
  • Bewitched – Can also mean to fascinate 

Spirit vs Flesh

Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Supply and Rely

Galatians 3:5 – Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse;

Diagnosing Deception

Are there signs when we are living in our flesh and not in the Spirit?

“Satan is clever. He does not only bewitch men in a crude manner, but also in a more artful fashion. He bedevils the minds of men with hideous fallacies. Not only is he able to deceive the self-assured, but even those who profess the true Christian faith. There is not one among us who is not at times seduced by Satan into false beliefs.” – Martin Luther

WHY – Who are we fascinated by?

RELY – what do we rely on to earn favor?

SUPPLY – how are we moving forward on the path to the goal

The Fruit of False Gospels

  1. Favor isn’t attainable
  2. What we RELY on is shakable
  3. Our SUPPLY is expendable

The True Gospel

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

WHY (Relationship) For God so loved the world … 

WHY (Relationship) For God so loved the world … 

Based in a relationship with a God who loves us and wants to be with us.

RELY  (Grace) That he gave his only son… 

We rely on a person that gave himself up for us.

SUPPLY (Faith) That whoever should believe in him… 

By believing in Jesus you are supplied with eternal life

“That is the paradox of faith, as true for us as for Abraham. It was by ceasing to try to do anything for himself, and by accepting this position of humble and utter dependence, that Abraham was ‘justified’….This attitude alone is ‘right standing’ with God; any other attitude is stubborn pride and self-righteousness, which God opposes.” – R. Alan Cole

To believe in God as Abraham did is to be right with God because faith honors God. Faith says to God: “I believe what you say.” – Martin Luther

Discussion Questions

1. What are some common ways that Christians live out a works-based faith?

2. What are some signs that you are living in your flesh and not in the Spirit?

3. How can we guard ourselves against the scheme of trying to earn our salvation?

Application Questions

1. Ask yourself honestly this week: is something else fascinating you more than Christ? 

2. Get prayer from a friend or mentor this week for protection against living by the flesh. Ask the Holy Spirit to dwell in you richly, and to empower you to live by the Spirit.