DOWNLOAD PDF
SERMON NOTES
The Righteous Shall Live by Faith
Galatians 3
Overview: The Reformation doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone is taught throughout Scripture, but perhaps nowhere more directly than Galatians 3, where the Apostle Paul expresses his astonishment that any believer would arrive at a different conclusion. Having established that justification is by faith in Christ, not by works of the law, Paul invites the Galatians to reflect on the message he preached, the Spirit they received, and the promises made through Abraham, each of which points to faith alone. He then explains how relying on works of the law underestimates the requirements of the law (which pronounces a curse on all) and undermines the work of Christ on the cross (who became a curse for us). Paul does not wish to convey that the law itself is evil; instead, the law served its purpose as a guardian and a tutor until Christ came in order that justification would come by faith. Paul concludes with the assurance that all who are justified by faith in Christ belong to God and one another, and are heirs according to promise.
01. Justification by faith alone recognizes the saving work of Christ as the sole solution to our sinful state. We do God a disservice by not taking Him at His Word, and we minimize the work of Christ by adding to His work on our behalf.
02. Justification by faith alone releases us from the fear of wondering if we have done enough to please God. We do ourselves a great service by taking God at His Word and accepting the fact that Christ redeemed us so we could become sons and daughters of God.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION & DISCOVERY
1. How would you describe Paul’s mood in Galatians 3:1? What does his mood indicate about the seriousness of justification by faith alone? Read Galatians 1:6-10 for another example of his deep concern for the gospel. Given the importance of getting the gospel right, are you able to articulate the gospel using the terms grace alone, faith alone, and Christ alone?
2. In what ways were the Galatians seeking to add to the finished work of Christ? What do people attempt to add to the gospel today? On what basis might a person begin to believe that faith in Christ is not sufficient for salvation? Are you able to say with confidence that the life and death of Jesus is sufficient to save all who believe in Him?
3. Why would the faith of Abraham be important to the Galatians? What is the essence of Paul’s argument in Galatians 3:15-18? Which came first – God declaring Abraham righteous or God giving the law at Mt. Sinai? Given this order of events, what is the function of the law – to demonstrate our righteousness or to point to our need for forgiveness?
4. According to Galatians 3:10, what happens to those who rely on the law? How much of the law do they need to keep in order to be justified before God? Why is this impossible for us to do – is it the fault of the law or is it our inability to keep the law in its entirety? How did Christ become a curse for us? What does his sacrificial death indicate about the love of God for sinners like us?
5. According to Galatians 3:23-24, the law held us captive and was our guardian until Christ came. What do these two images suggest about the function of the law? What is the result of having faith in Christ, according to Galatians 3:26-28? How does understanding justification by faith alone relieve us of fears that we have not done enough for God?
For Further Reading: R. C. Sproul, Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification (Baker, 1999)