Series: Galatians
Title: A Contrast Between Law
and Grace
Text: Gal 2: 1-21
Date: Oct 18, 2020
Place: SGBC, NJ
The
lie by which the Galatians were being deceived was that sanctification/holiness
is by the works of the law. Those we
commonly call Judaizer’s or Pharisee’s insisted that after a sinner believes on
Christ, professing to have been justified by Christ, then we have to keep the
law to be holy, to be sanctified and to grow in holiness. This is the subject Paul deals with
throughout this letter for it was the problem at Galatia. We see that it was after they had begun in
faith that they were being told they must keep the law.
Galatians 3: 2: This only would I learn of you,
Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3:
Are ye so foolish? HAVING BEGUN in the Spirit, are ye NOW made perfect by the
flesh?
Galatians 3: 23: But BEFORE
faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up [until] the faith which should
afterwards be revealed. 24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring
us unto Christ [or until Christ], that we might be justified by faith. 25: But
AFTER that faith is come, we are NO LONGER under a schoolmaster. 26: For ye are
all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul gave the illustration of a child who is an heir
being a servant under tutors until he grows up.
Then he is no longer a servant under tutors. Then is the heir as a son. He applies that illustration to believers who
were once under the law but are now under grace resting in Christ by faith.
Galatians 4: 8: Howbeit
THEN, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no
gods [men, law, flesh, traditions]. 9: But NOW, AFTER that ye have known God,
or rather are known of God, how turn ye AGAIN to the weak and beggarly elements,
whereunto ye desire AGAIN to be in bondage? 10: Ye observe days, and months,
and times, and years. 11: I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you
labour in vain.
Some say the above passage
was written to Gentiles only. They say
the days, months, times and years referenced the Gentile’s pagan worship
rituals. It certainly applies to Gentile
believers. But there were also Jewish
believers at Galatia who were engaging in observance of days, months, times and
years included in the law.
Others use the above
passage to try to prove that Paul was only speaking of the ceremonial law. Fact is the scripture never divides the law. Some speak of the law being divided into
three divisions: the moral law comprised of the Ten Commandments, the civil law
governing daily life, and the ceremonial law governing religious life. They do this to insist that the moral law is
yet binding while the civil and ceremonial laws are not. But the scriptures make no such
distinction. All the commandments in the
Law of Moses, including the ten commandments and the “judgments” comprise one
legal code. Even within the ten commandments
is moral law, as well as civil (see the last six), as well as religious (see
the first three) and ceremonial (see the fourth). When scripture speaks of law it speaks of one
law. This one code of law given at Mt
Sinai governed the entire lives of those under the law. There are some 613 commandments (depending on
how they are numbered). Of those laws, 248 are positive requirements and 365 are
negative prohibitions. But all these
commandments comprise one legal code. Paul
calls it in this epistle to the Galatians “the whole law” (Galatians 5:3). The
sinner who puts himself under one commandment is required to keep the whole law
(Galatians 5:3). To break one
commandment is to break the whole law (James 2:10). The obedience required by God is not only in
the letter (keeping the law outwardly) but also in spirit in the heart and
mind. The sinner who even looks upon a
woman with lust in his heart is guilty of adultery and therefore guilty of
breaking the entire law (Matthew 5:27). So the above passage, whether speaking of
Gentile pagan laws or God’s law given at Sinai is still turning from Christ to
bring oneself back under bondage.
Why does Paul warn that we
are not justified by the law if he is warning of not being sanctified by the
law? It is because if we go to law for
holiness we also reject Christ for justification. Christ is both holiness and
righteousness to the believer.
Galatians 5: 1: Stand
fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ HATH made us free, and be not entangled
AGAIN with the yoke of bondage. 2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing…6: For in Jesus Christ neither
circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by
love.
Proposition: In the two accounts given in chapter 2, Paul
contrasts a walk by law and a walk by grace—we see that the believer walks
under grace, not law.
GRACE IS TO BE LED OF THE
SPIRIT
Galatians
2: 1: Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
taking Titus along with me. 2: And I went up by revelation,…
We
saw Paul was brought to faith and obedience by the revelation of Christ in his
heart. The Pharisee’s came down from
Jerusalem to Antioch by the flesh, compelled by law, compelled by men and they
came to compel men. But Paul went up to
Jerusalem about this matter by the revelation of Christ. He was led of the Spirit of God. Christ moved
the church at Antioch to say they thought he should go up. But Paul went by revelation. Christ led him there.
Being
under grace is to be led of the Spirit of God rather than flesh or law.
Galatians
2: 19: For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
GRACE
PREACHES CHRIST CRUCIFIED
Galatians
2: 2: And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which
I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation,
lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.
Being
under grace means we preach Christ crucified as we trust Christ to work in the
hearts of his people in Spirit. Grace makes
us walk by faith and work by love. We
see it here in Paul. Paul knew the Judaizers came from Jerusalem so he went to
the apostles and elders first. He gave
honor where honor was due. But Paul did not
compel by force, insisting on his way. He
sought peace rather than unnecessary division.
Paul wanted to see, first, if the apostles were preaching truth or if
the legalists had gained a footing with them.
That was very gracious and loving, longsuffering and patient. Grace makes us walk by faith and work by love.
Therefore,
grace has only one weapon. We have only one
way to discern truth from lies. Paul preached that same gospel that he
preached to the Gentiles. There is
but one gospel of Christ to Jew and to Gentile.
All sinners who God saves are saved by that same gospel. Salvation by the Lord by grace through faith
alone applied to the heart in regeneration is of God through the preaching of
Christ and him crucified.
In
order to preach the gospel we must preach God’s electing grace which is not
based on any merit or work in us. The
gospel declares God’s redeeming grace by Christ alone. We must preach the regenerating grace of God by
the Spirit alone. All sanctifying grace
worked experimentally in us is by Christ through the Spirit, according to God
the Father who sanctified his people in election in eternity in Christ. Salvation is all of God’s grace, all of our
triune God, all in Christ. He preached
that same gospel in private as to the whole Jewish church. Paul’s message was that Christ is both his Righteousness
and his Holiness.
Galatians 2: 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that
I might live unto God. 20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: [my
Holiness] and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
GRACE
IS TO BE CONSTRAINED BY CHRIST
Galatians
2: 3: But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be
circumcised: 4: And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who
came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they
might bring us into bondage:
Acts 15: 4: And
when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of
the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with
them. 5: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed,
saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to
keep the law of Moses. 6: And the apostles and elders came together for to
consider of this matter.
These were men who professed
to be justified by Christ alone through faith alone by grace alone. They did not have a problem with Gentiles
professing faith in Christ. But then and
now, after faith is come, they compel believers to keep the law for
purification, holiness, sanctification. The Holy Spirit moved Peter to tell them that God
had already beat them to it.
Acts 15: 9: [Peter
said, God]…put no difference between us and them, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS BY
FAITH.
We are made holy by God purifying the heart. He creates a new spirit, a new man within his
child in regeneration which is holy. Peter
says that to bring a professing believer back under law—insisting he must keep
the law—is to tempt God.
Acts 15: 10: Now
therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which
neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11: But we believe that through the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ WE (Jews) shall be saved, even as THEY (Gentiles
who were never under the law). 12: Then all the multitude kept silence, and
gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had
wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Galatians
2: 3: But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be
circumcised: 4 And that because of false
brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which
we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not
for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Christ
makes a believer holy and Christ makes a believer walk in holiness. It is not by the compelling of men. It does not matter what it is you are doing, if
you make a profession of faith in Christ because men compelled you then you are
not believing on Christ. If our walk is
due to men compelling us then it is not sanctification of the Spirit. The believers only motive, only constraint,
is Christ’s love. It is his grace and
his power that makes us willing to honor him by believing on him and walking in
love in honor and glory to him. Everything
else is bondage. When we are brought into
the bondage of the law then the truth ceases.
Self-sanctifiers make you
become vested to join their church with classes, contracts, a long time span
full of requirements. It is hazing like
in a fraternity or sorority. They think
the more they make you do the less likely you are to leave. Then they shame you if you try to leave. Some make you stand in front of the
congregation and give your reason. But
they usually draft what you are to say so that it sounds like you are wrong for
leaving such a splendid church of holy folk.
In between joining and leaving they burden you with all sorts of works. They watch you. They compel you. They shame you. It is called bondage.
But those truly sanctified do
not submit to such legalists because we submit only to Christ—To whom we
gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel
might continue with you. Believers
willingly serve Christ by Christ living in us.
We will lay aside our liberty to help others hear the gospel any time as
Paul and Timothy did. But when compelled
by men—to whom we gave place by subjection no, not for an hour, that the
truth of the gospel might continue with you. When our motive is man compelling the
gospel ceases. When works are a necessity
for salvation the truth of the gospel does not continue. Then it is bondage; the gospel has ceased. Christ cannot be all our Righteousness and Sanctification
if we contribute some part—a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Paul is speaking of bringing the law back in
as a requirement in verse 18. It is sin. It is not of Christ. It is of man’s sinful fleshly lusts.
Galatians 2: 18: For if I
build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19: For
I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
GRACE FEARS GOD NOT MAN
Paul knew Peter, James and John were famous apostles of
the day. James was the Lord’s half-brother.
Peter and John walked with the Lord. At that time, Paul was better known for persecuting
the church than for preaching Christ. But Paul did not compromise the gospel,
nor engage in legalism, or do anything from fear or respect of persons.
Galatians 2: 6: But of
these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to
me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in
conference added nothing to me:
On the contrary, they
perceived the grace of God working in Paul and agreed that it was unnecessary
for any believer to be brought back under the bondage of the law.
Galatians 2: 7: But
contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed
unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8: (For he that
wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same
was mighty in me toward the Gentiles) 9: And when James, Cephas, and John, who
seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to
me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the
heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Yet, we see a contrast. The church at Jerusalem sent Jude and Silas down
to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas to renounce these false brethren and assure
Gentile saints of liberty in Christ. But then the apostle Peter himself fell
into legalism. This was temporary. But it shows us a contrast between law and
grace.
Galatians 2: 11: But when
Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be
blamed. 12: For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the
Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself fearing
them which were of the circumcision. 13: And the other Jews dissembled likewise
with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14: But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the
gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest
after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the
Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
Do you see this was law not
grace? Peter separated himself; it was not
sanctification of the Spirit. The motive
was fear of man; it was not reverence for God, not love of Christ; it cannot be
both. Peter compelled his brethren to bondage
of law; it was not liberty of grace; he turned them away from Christ not to
Christ. The result was division not
unity, a lie not truth. So Paul gives
Peter the very argument Peter just gave the Pharisees.
Galatians 2: 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not
sinners of the Gentiles, 16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works
of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17: But if,
while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners [by self-sanctifying using law], is
therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18: For if I build again the
things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
If while I profess
justification is only through faith in Christ, I then attempt to sanctify
myself by my works to the law, I make myself a transgressor. Christ is become of no effect to me for
justification or sanctification. And
Christ did not minister that. It is of
man’s own sinful flesh. He makes himself
a transgressor.
Self-righteousness and self-sanctification
are more sinful to God than the most profligate immoral sinner. It is counting
the blood of Christ vanity. It denying Christ
is All! One indication a sinner is not
dead to the law is he compels others to do.
The lusts of our flesh is to be self-righteous, holier-than-thou, judge
and jury, morally superior. It is lewder
to God than the worst immorality—Christ said the harlots go in before the
Pharisees.
THE CONFIDENCE OF GRACE
Galatians 2: 19 For I through the law am dead to the law,
that I might live unto God.
Paul was dead to the law. So is every true believer. Dead to the law because we have died under
the law’s penalty. Paul was crucified
with Christ. He said the world is crucified
unto me and I unto the world. My body of sin has been destroyed. I have been crucified with Christ. My fleshly old nature, with its affections
and lusts, have been crucified/mortified by Christ living in me.
Christ did this “That I
might live unto God.” Law lives unto
self. Grace lives unto God. Grace does not live unto men, not unto law, not
unto Moses, not unto our flesh, but unto God.
Attempting to keep the law, compelling others and being compelled, is
living to the lust of our sinful flesh. Grace
lives unto God BY CHRIST LIVING IN ME!
Galatians 2: 20: I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Christ in Paul made him go
up by revelation; the Pharisee’s went down to Antioch by the lusts of their
flesh. Christ in Paul made him preach
the truth waiting on Christ to work; the lust of the flesh made Pharisee’s
sneak in, spy out, compel with law. Christ
in Paul made him fear God and walk in liberty; the lust of the flesh made Peter
fear men, separate himself in bondage and divide brethren.
Galatians 2: 21: I do not
frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain.
Sinner
get you a penny and shine it up. Go over
to one of these million-dollar homes for sale and plop that penny down to the
homeowner and tell them you want to buy their house. It is no different to approach God with all
our works expecting to purchase righteousness or holiness by our doing.
Martin
Luther said, “If my salvation was so difficult to accomplish that it
necessitated the death of Christ, then all my works, all my righteousness of
the Law, is good for nothing. How can I buy for a penny what cost a million
dollars?”
Paul
concludes this epistle by declaring the believer’s rule of life:
Galatians 6: 14: But God forbid that I should glory,
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto
me, and I unto the world. 15: For in
Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a
new creature. 16: And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them,
and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Amen!