Lesson 16 July 14, 2002

Review:

Summary 3:6

1. Paul makes an appeal to the example of Abraham and his salvation.

2. Abraham actually came from a pagan background, his father was an idol worshipper in Ur of the Chaldees. Joshua 24:1-2

3. Paul cites Genesis 15:6 to demonstrate convincingly to the Galatians that even Abraham was justified by faith and not by works.

4. How was it that this Father of the Jewish people was actually justified? He believed that God was able to perform what He promised.

5. This occurred long before Abraham was circumcised Gen. 17:24

6. What Paul is trying to get the Galatians to realize, or ask themselves, On what basis then could the Judaizers insist that you be circumcised for salvation when look even Abraham was saved, justified by faith.

7. Key is that justification is on the basis of faith, faith is non-meritorious since all the merit is in the object of faith.

8. In fact faith is the only grace way, since it is non meritorious. Rom 4:16

9. Faith in Christ is man's faith directed toward the only saving object, Jesus Christ's work on the Cross. That is what God has provided.

10 The righteousness spoken of here that is credited to Abraham or imputed to him is absolute, it is God's righteousness based therefore on His character.

3:7 The true sons of Abraham

Paul's conclusion from the preceding that Abe was saved by faith

Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.

that it is those who are of faith

Who are the ones who believe, exhale faith in Christ?

are sons of Abraham ui`o,j,

Summary 3:7

1. Since faith is what justified Abraham, it is also what justifies his progeny.

2. Righteousness was credited to Abraham on the basis of faith not works, as held by the Judaizers.

3. They must come to grips with the fact that ones spiritual birth is the important thing not ones physical birth, i.e. genetics.

4. What the Judaizers had to orient to and were having a problem with is that Gentiles as well as Jews were Abraham's progeny by faith.

3:8 All are justified by faith

Believe that we can conclude that what Paul is up to here is answering the false conclusions by the Judaizers.

The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,

- God and Scripture are treated as one and the same.

- God and the message of His word are inseparably ONE.

What did the Scripture do?

foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith

Paul is pointing out that what he taught and the experience of those who believed in Christ is consistent with what the Scripture has always taught, that is, that one is justified by faith.

preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."

The principle is that justification by faith was God's way, the grace way, before circumcision was established as a sign of the Abrahamic covenant, before the M/L was given therefore it was before the priesthood was established, and before the sacrifices and feast days.