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hey evening you can turn with me in your Bibles to psalm 32 for our call to worship psalm 32 I'll begin reading in verse 1 a psalm of David a contemplation blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven whose sin is covered blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit when I kept silent my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long for day and night your hand was heavy upon me my vitality was turned into the drought of summer say law I acknowledged my sin to you and my iniquity I have not hidden I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the iniquity of my sin say law for this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to you in a time when you may be found surely in a flood of Great Waters they shall not come near him you are my hiding place you shall preserve me from trouble you shall surround me with songs of deliverance say law I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go I will guide you with my I do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding which must be harnessed with bit and bridle else they will not come near you many sorrows shall be to the wicked but he who trusts in the Lord mercy shall surround him be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous and shout for joy all you upright in heart amen will please turn with me in your hymn books to Psalm 98 Psalm 98 C as in Charlie when you find that you can stand and we'll sing together Psalm 98 see [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] well let us pray our blessed God and holy father it is a privilege to gather again on this Lord's Day to call upon you to come through your son the mediator of the new covenant we thank you for the Lord Jesus we thank you for his mission his ministry in this world the fact that he lived for us he died for us and he was raised again for us God we rejoice that you have not dealt with us according to our sin nor rewarded us as our transgressions deserve as far as the East is from the West so you have removed our iniquity so the Prophet says you cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea and in this we greatly rejoice and as we gather here tonight as we look to the Word of God and as we go to this particular sacrament of the New Covenant may you encourage our hearts and draw out in us love and adoration and worship for our great and triune God even Father Son and Holy Spirit God we know that you chose us in him before the foundation of the world it's not we that chose him it's not we that did good to come out of darkness into marvelous light certainly all of this testifies to the sovereign grace of Almighty God and we rejoice in that and we would pray tonight that she would be exalted and enthroned upon the praises of your people here and that you would encourage and strengthen each one of us that you would help us and cause us to leave from this place more and more conformed unto the image of your beloved son so that as we go into this world we can shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation and God give us courage and boldness to hold forth that word of truth and Lord now forgive us for our sins and our transgression god we are saved by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus but as scripture affirms and as our own experience shows there is remaining corruption and Lord God we say with the hymn writer we are prone to wander and prone to leave the god that we love so do forgive us and cleanse us from all sin and iniquity all transgression against your holy law we thank you that we do have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous so we appeal to you now through him asking for claim in that precious blood wash us and purify us and help us Lord God to rejoice as david says at the end of psalm 32 may there be that shout for joy in the hearts of the redeemed as we consider the many blessings that you have poured out upon us we ask as well for any who've come here tonight that are still in their sin we pray that this would be the day of salvation that the word of god would be made clear by the Spirit of God and that there would be that conviction for sin wrought and there would be that affirmation or confirmation that Christ alone is the way of salvation and our God we pray that you would be pleased to do this not just here but throughout this city as there are great needs in this community and ultimately that need is the Lord Christ Most High we ask father that you would bless other churches in our community and they would be faithful and preaching the truth we pray that you would progressor cause them to grow in the Grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus and Lord God just send forth your glorious truth in this in this city and we pray that for this entire nation for God we live in a day where there is wretchedness and wickedness on every front and we know the answer ultimately is the power of the Christian gospel to save those who believe so father blessed that word as it goes forth in this nation and may it go conquering and to conquer and may it indeed run swiftly and be glorified we ask thee would be gracious and merciful to those various countries were the people of God suffer under the oppressive hand of government or false religion we read of several this morning God and our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters and we would pray that you would give them the grace to persevere in the midst of their hardships and in their trials God may they faithfully testify concerning Jesus Christ in the midst of such affliction and do bless those we love and have support and have prayed for for many years in China we commit them to you into the word of your grace asking that you would grant wisdom and grant them help and an understanding in terms of their their position their in terms of their future and father we do pray that you would protect them as the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord preserves and taxes people and God we pray for the governing authorities in this nation we know father this is a difficult task to be sure but certainly more difficult when persons abandon the the the written word of the living and true God we pray first and foremost that you would put the fear of God in the hearts of those in high places that as gave had said to the nations around Israel and Psalm 2 that they would kiss the son lest he be angry and they perish in his way when his wrath is kindled but a little God have mercy on our prime minister have mercy on those who do serve in these capacities and God put the fear of the Lord in their hearts and if they continue in rebellion against you we pray father that that other men would be raised up to take their places as we long to see the end of abortion we long to see the end of euthanasia and the sorts of perversion that are so openly promoted God certainly righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people and we see evidences of that in our society in our culture each and every day so God have mercy send forth your glorious word in your wrath remember mercy and do great and glorious things for your name's sake and for the growth of the church the one that jesus promised that he would build and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it bless this time father as we continue in worship help us as we sing as we pray as we look to God's Word and father as we participate in the supper tonight and we pray these things through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well you could turn with me again in your three number two eight three you can stand and we'll sing together [Music] you can work turn with me in your Bibles to Galatians chapter 3 Galatians chapter 3 I'll begin reading in verse 100 foolish Galatians who has been witched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified this only I want to learn from you did you receive the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith are you so foolish having begun in the spirit are you now being made perfect by the flesh have you suffered so many things in vain if indeed it was in vain therefore he who supplies the spirit to you and works miracles among you does he do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith just as abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham and the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand saying in you all the nations shall be blessed so then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them but then no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident for the jaw shall live by faith yet the law is not of faith but the man who does them shall live by them Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith brethren I speak in the man of men though it is only a man's covenant yet if it is confirmed no one anoles or adds to it now to Abraham and his seed where the promises made he does not say and to seeds as of many but as of one and to your seed who is Christ and this I say that the law which was 430 years later cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ that it should make the promise of Noah make the promise of no effect for if the inheritance is of the law it is no longer of promise but God gave it to Abraham by promise what purpose then does the law serve it was added because of transgressions till the seed should come to whom the promise was made and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator now a mediator does not mediate for one only but God is one is the law then against the promises of God certainly not for if there had been a law given which could have given life truly righteousness would have been by the law but the scripture has confined all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe but before faith came we were kept under guard by the law kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith but after faith has come we are no longer under a tutor for you're all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither slave nor free there is neither male nor female for you're all one in Christ Jesus and if you are Christ's then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise amen let us pray our Father we thank you for your written word we thank you that it's given by inspiration of of God and that its profitable to us and even now as we look at this section of Holy Scripture would you strengthen our hearts and would you cause us to reflect upon the glory of Jesus Christ as revealed in the gospel how we thank you that he has redeemed us from the of the law how we thank you that he has paid the debt that we owed how we thank you that he was our substitute and surety on that on that cross on that tree we give praise to you Most High for delivering him up for us all we would ask even now that your spirit would shine the light upon the Redeemer and we ask in Jesus Holy Name Amen well as we look at this particular passage it is connected to what we are looking at in our morning services in Acts chapter 13 and 14 in that first missionary journey the region that Paul our one of the regions that Paul visits is Galatia the southern Galatian churches and so after he finishes that missionary journey likely he writes this epistle to the Galatians in fact john stott makes that comment he says we need to remember in acts 13 that paul is addressing galatians only a few months or so later he will be writing his letter to the Galatians it is very striking therefore that he brings together here at the conclusion of his sermon in acts 13 five of the great words which will be foundation stones of his gospel as he expounds it in his letter having referred to Jesus death on the tree acts 13 29 he goes on to speak of sin acts 13 38 faith justification law acts 13 39 and Grace in acts 13 43 so what Paul does here in Galatians is basically rehearses what he had preached to those churches on the first missionary journey and here specifically he is defending the doctrine of justification by faith alone he introduces that in chapter 2 at verse 15 to verse 21 and now he's going to confirm this idea or this doctrine of justification by faith in a whole host of ways notice in the first place there are several witnesses to the shortcomings of legalism first the Galatians experience according to chapter 3 verses 1 to 5 secondly the example of Abraham chapter 3 verses 6 to 9 thirdly the laws expectation in chapter 3 verses 10 to 14 the priority of the promised in verses 15 to 18 and then ultimately the purpose of the law in verses 19 to 25 so as I said he is vindicating that great doctrine of justification by faith alone and our focus this evening will be on verses 10 to 14 we have in the first place the expectation of the law in verses 10 to 12 and then secondly the gracious provision of God in verses 13 to 14 so the law does not justify the law cannot produce those acceptable to God but rather the gospel does because of what Christ has accomplished on behalf of his people so let's look at this particular section verses 10 to 14 as I said in the first place the expectation of the law Paul is contrasting between what he says here concerning the law and what he has said in verses 6 to 9 with reference to Abraham Abraham Abraham found acceptance with God or received a righteousness from God not through the works of the law but rather through faith in the promise of God concerning the Lord Jesus Christ and the basic themes in verses 6 to 9 our faith justification and blessing when he comes to deal with the law here in verses 10 to 12 the emphasis is upon works condemnation and God's curse so there is this contrast and essentially what the Apostle is saying there is one of two ways by which sinners attempt to enter into the presence of God you either do it on your own your own law keeping your own merit your own ability or by grace through faith in Jesus Christ when he speaks about the works of the law or those doing the works of the law we need to appreciate he's speaking in terms of justification we wouldn't be having a series on the Ten Commandments if it was not the case that Christians in some form or other have to obey the law we obey the law as a consequence of our salvation how Paul speaks here concerning the law is not to denigrate the law but rather to denigrate the idea of acceptance by God through the works of the law and that's the point in verses 10 to 14 notice he can firms this by scripture he first appeals to Deuteronomy 27 and then he emphasizes the teaching of Habakkuk 2 and then he confirms this by Leviticus chapter 18 so let's look at this densely packed section of Scripture and see what the Apostle is doing notice in the first place this appealed to Deuteronomy verse 10 he says for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them so the reality that those who are of the works of the law are under the curse again he is not condemning law keeping as a pattern of sanctification in the Christian life he is condemning the attempt at law keeping for justification before God acceptance by God and he highlights this the Apostle is not saying it's wrong to keep the law rather it is wrong to try and keep the law for justification Matthew Poole explains it he says to be under the law is under the covenant of works or under the expectation of life and salvation only from obedience to the works of the law I think we're pretty well taught in our church as we reflect upon these themes pretty regularly obviously we should never attempt to try to gain acceptance with God by our own performance of the law well we didn't come to this on our own we came to this because it's emphasized so recurringly by Paul the Apostle the gospel answers to man's greatest need acceptance by God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ John Calvin says the contradiction between the law and faith lies in the matter of justification for the present question is not whether believers ought to keep the law as far as they can which is beyond all doubt but whether they can obtain righteousness by works which is impossible and as we look at this passage from Deuteronomy 27 notice the emphasis curse it is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do the now an obvious assumption for the Apostle Paul is that there is never been or has never been presently never is and will never in the future be one who actually does all that the law commands see that's the issue the problem is never with the law the problem is always with man our total depravity our total inability our position covenant Allah in Adam renders us dead to all good things spiritually so has a result when it comes to the law we cannot only not keep it for acceptance with God but everything in our heart wants to despise it and reject it and run from it prior to our conversion we are not great lovers of the law of God most high and then when we look at this particular passage in a bit more detail that's interesting in Deuteronomy 27 remember there on the plains of Moab they're getting ready to enter into the Promised Land and they have this covenant ceremony and there's this mount called Gerizim and it's on that mount that that blessings are pronounced when you enter into the land and you do what God commands you there will be blessing in the land there's another mountain called a ball Andy ball was the place of curse and the curse has come to the children of Israel and the emphasis in Deuteronomy 27:26 which is the last statement in a string of statements says Kirsten is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them and that highlights what we see in Paul's text Galatians 3:10 cursed is everyone who does not continue see here's the situation in all things which are written in the book of the law to do that for a person I was gonna say a sinner can't happen for a person to gain acceptance by God it must be based on absolute perfect law keeping I hope by now or maybe 10 minutes ago you say oh of course this is why we should never try to approach God via the law because he doesn't say do the best you can he doesn't say okay I see that your hearts in the right place no obedience to the law of God as a means of justification or that's by God must be rendered the way that our confession of faith highlights in second London confession chapter 19 paragraph 1 it talks about God's law and it says by which God bound him Adam and all his posterity to personal entire exact and perpetual obedience that's the emphasis in the law of God not your best attempt not I tried I didn't do the best I could but Lord you're gonna forgive me anyway remember justification acceptance with God it comes only as a result of perfect compliance to all things written in the book of the law to do them now if you look at chapter 5 in verse 3 you'll see how Paul deals with the Galatian problem see with Galatia or the churches in Galatia not long after his breach a Judaizers came to those churches and those Judaizers says it's good to do what paul says in terms of believing on Jesus as Israel's Messiah but you must also keep the laws of Moses in order to be accepted by God you Gentiles you not only need to believe the gospel but you also need to be circumcised now circumcision if it's not done for a religious observance is neither here nor there but when we attach religious significance to circumcision that's the problem in Paul condemns it in Galatians 5 3 notice what he says I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law goes back to that category I presented earlier there's one of two ways to approach God either grace through faith in Christ Jesus or on our own we can't mingle the two as the Judaizers were were in joining upon that we can't say faith plus works it's faith alone by which God accepts us into his presence so if you choose the path of law it must be all things that are commanded it must be exact it must be entire and it must be perpetual and I hope all of you will say a hearty amen to the reality that that is absolutely impossible for us sons of Adam but then notice what Paul goes on to say in his emphasis in Habakkuk 2:4 notice his argument verse 11 but that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident for the jaw shall live by faith so if the emphasis in verse 10 on Deuteronomy 27:26 is the reality that no one will ever be accepted by God with reference to law keeping because he doesn't do all things that are commanded that's the same emphasis here in this appeal to the Prophet Habakkuk the just shall live by faith that then excludes the possibility of attempting to approach God through the works of the law the sanctioned approach on this side of the garden this side of the fall is grace alone through faith alone in Christ Jesus alone the just shall live by faith is the emphasis there is no acceptance with God through the works of the law the appeal to Habakkuk 2:4 underscores the only way of acceptance with God justification by faith alone turn to one other spot where the Apostle appeals to that text in Romans chapter 1 Romans chapter 1 very familiar passage the very thesis statement of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans verses 16 and 17 in verse 16 he says for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith as it is written the just shall live by faith so in both places and there are other places to be sure but in both these places Paul invokes our or calls to mind that passage in Habakkuk 2 not to teach that we're accepted by God or we live by faith plus works by we live or we live by a commingling of the two but the just shall live by faith that's the emphasis in Galatians 3:10 2:14 Deuteronomy 27 demands complete compliance with every jot and tittle of the law Habakkuk 2:4 indicates that the just doesn't live by law keeping the jaw shall live by faith and then the final text that appeals to is in Leviticus 18 5 in verse 12 in Galatians 3 he says yet the law is not a faith again another statement excluding the possibility that a sinner could approach God on the terms of law no the law is not of faith it is not the case that there is that commingling it's not the case that you get a little bit a little bit of faith a little bit of works a little bit of compliance with the Mosaic law a little bit of looking unto Jesus and that is what God accepts know the law is not a faith and then he goes on to indicate but the man who does them those laws those Commandments those pieces of legislation shall live by them so the appeal to Leviticus 18 5 further demonstrates the inability nay the impossibility of acceptance with God through the works of the law the law is not of faith and therefore according to the back at 2 for there is no chance whatsoever someone comes to God in terms of justification through the works of the law the man who does the law must live by that law perfectly entirely exactly and of course no one is able to do so I would suggest to you that one of the functions for the Old Covenant was to function as a covenant of works the Covenant made by God with Israel was to continually alert them to the reality that they were sinners that they stood in need of a savior they were being pointed by that law to consider the promised messiah who would come in the fullness of the time when God sent forth his son born of a woman born under the law I think that's the way we're supposed to understand what Paul does in Galatians 3 at verse 19 so if we see here and I'm going to look at verse 19 in a moment but you could see if Paul says there's no weapons by God with reference to the works of the law well then the natural question might arise well then whence the law why the law why that Old Covenant system and I think that's what he's speaking about in terms of law in this section in Galatians 3 he's talking about the Old Covenant as a covenant notice in verse 19 what purpose then does the law serve it was added because of transgressions till the seed should come to whom the promise was made and was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator it was added because of transgressions this was a means by which God Most High kept Israel in check when our kids were little they had these things I don't think we ever used them I think they still have them today there's sort of a leash for a child right you you wrap it around the kid it's a little bit more user-friendly than a dog leash and not much different I guess but you put that on the kids so if you're somewhere you can sort of yank him back he's gonna run off or he's gonna do something that he shouldn't do he just kind of get me yanked it's kind of in a sense what Paul is saying the Old Covenant did it preserved the people it preserved the line such that the seed could come it preserved the line of Abraham Isaac and Jacob and David it kept the people in tow until the arrival of the mediator that's how you're supposed to understand this next action when he says we're no longer under the law he doesn't mean we're free to commit adultery he means we're no longer under the Old Covenant we're no longer under a covenant of works attempting acceptance by God through those works of the law notice in verse 21 is the law then against the promises of God certainly not for if there had been a law given which could have given life truly righteousness would have been by the law yet it's not law it's man it's not law it's our Adamic nature it's not law it's rebellion Paul underscores this in Romans chapter 7 laws holy it's just it's good the problem has always been the human heart and it's response to that law verse 22 says but the scripture has confined all under sin that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe but before faith came and I don't mean that he doesn't mean that Abel didn't have faith he doesn't mean that David didn't have faith we just read psalm 32 where David is rejoicing in the imputation of the righteousness of Christ the removal of sin and that by faith he's not saying faith was absent in the Old Testament if he is referring to the Old Covenant as the law he likely is referring to New Covenant as faith in other words it is the means of approach unto God so then he goes on to say verse 23 but before faith came we were kept under guard by the law kept for the faith which would afterward being revealed therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith it functions that way individually Romans 3:20 therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin it functions that way for you and I it also functioned that way for corporate Israel and that's what are you saying in this instance therefore the law was our tutor our pedagogue to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith and when he says in verse 25 but after faith has come we are no longer under a tutor he doesn't mean no law for the Christian he doesn't mean go ahead and do whatever it is you want he means the Old Covenant is over it has done its job Messiah has come the free promise of God is realized and it's by grace through faith in Jesus that persons enter in to heaven now if you ask the question has anybody else ever observed this look at Matthew chapter 19 Matthew chapter 19 two passages where we see our Lord use the law this way Matthew chapter 19 there's that instance with the rich young ruler verse 16 now behold one came and said to him good teacher what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life you see our default disposition what do I do to get into heaven what do I do to get into heaven that really betrays any knowledge of who God is and who we are God is holy holy only God is most high glorious wondrous spotless pure God is light John tells us so this idea that if there's a good thing that I can do if there's one requirement that I can check off and somehow gain my acceptance with God that's man's default position that is man in Adam and Jesus wants to highlight that with this particular man so what does he do he uses the law he uses the law to expose this man and to show him his need verse 17 so he said to him why do you call me good no one is good but one that is God but if you want to enter into life keep the commandments he said to him which ones Jesus said you shall not murder you shall not commit adultery you shall not steal you shall not bear false witness honor your father and your mother and you shall love your neighbor as yourself the young man said to him all these things I have kept from my youth what do I still lack it's a pretty powerful statement isn't it do you think that of yourself as a believer do you actually say all these things I've kept from my youth I mean there's some pride going on here I think you'll all agree there's at least a self aggrandizement where this guy thinks he's a whole lot better than what the Bible tells us he is and then in verse 21 jesus said to him if you'll want to be perfect go sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me but when the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions Christ is not teaching contrary to the Apostle Paul do this thing sell your stuff and then you'll have acceptance with God he's preaching the tenth commandment to him to show him his sin to show him his need it's functioning there as a child tutor it's functioning there as a pedagogue the way that the Old Covenant did with reference to Israel and their need for Messiah turn over to Luke chapter 10 one other instance of this there's others in the Bible but we don't have a lot of time for all of that so we're gonna just look at these two specimens the parable of the Good Samaritan the parable of the Good Samaritan oftentimes it's preached a covenant of works oftentimes it's preached in this way be the good neighbor go thou and do likewise help the downtrodden and poor now I'm all for being a good neighbor I'm all for going and doing likewise I'm all for help the downtrodden and poor but that's not the point of this passage to miss the context is to end up preaching the Covenant of works go out and be good neighbors and God will be happy with you that's not the point of the parable of the Good Samaritan look at verse 25 and behold a certain lawyer stood up and tested him saying teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life he said to him what is written in the law what is your reading of it so he answered and said you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself and he said to him you have answered rightly do this and you will live now this is a an important point in this section that we need to take into consideration verse 29 he wanting to justify himself said to Jesus and who is my neighbor this fellow thought he was doing quite quite well this fellow thought he was compliant with the law this fellow thought as far as things go I'm in the best possible place to be well Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan not simply to teach this fellow to go and be a good neighbor but to show him his sin to show him his depravity to show him his wickedness he preached it as a means to stir up this man to go after Jesus Christ so back in Galatians chapter 3 the contrast between law and faith the contrast between law and gospel is with reference to justification before God when it comes to the normative use of the law thus the gospel and the law sweetly comply together there is great harmony great joy but when we attempt to gain access with God through the law we are putting ourselves in a bad predicament just to summarize this action will move into the next Johnny D says the Apostles meaning is that confessedly everyone fails to keep all the written enactments of the law therefore everyone's seeking salvation by his own obedience is under a curse that's just the way it is that's what the law brings curse it is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law the man who does then shall live by them in other words absolute perfection in terms of compliance to that law he says read he goes on to say he is striving to obtain blessing from a code which has condemned and cursed him to win life from a law which has wrought his death now that brings us to the provision of the gracious provision of God in verses 13 and 14 if we learn that there's no acceptance with God or by God for us in that state of under the works of the law then what hope is there that's the glory of the gospel right the Lord has provided hope the Lord has graciously given his son Jesus Christ for our salvation the Geneva Bible at this point says how then can they be blessed whom the law pronounces to be accursed because Christ sustained the curse which the law laid upon us that we might be quit from it the law does not provide acceptance with God because of our sinfulness so God provides a savior who deals with our sinfulness he cleanses us he gives us his righteousness he enables us to stand in the presence of his father so what the law cannot do and again is not the fault of the law but rather it's the fault of men reference to a relative to the law God does in the provision of his son and that brings us to consider the only Redeemer of God's elect our Lord Jesus Christ notice in verse 13 he says Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree now the idea of tension there it death definitely indicates deliverance but it's deliverance by the payment of a price and that payment of a price comes as Paul says here through the blood of Jesus Christ he became a curse not because he sinned but because our sin is imputed to him just like in 2nd Corinthians 5:21 God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that's the sense in which he was made a curse for us not because he was personally liable to the judgment of God for having sinned against God but rather our sin is heaped up upon him and his righteousness is heaped up upon us that is the glory of the doctrine of imputation as Poole says the word Redemption generally signifies delivery here it signifies a deliverance by a price paid notice verse 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law that curse we were under because of Deuteronomy 27:26 curse it is everyone who does not continue in all things the man who does not live by these things brings upon our own heads our own lives a curse and yet Christ has redeemed us from the curse of that broken law by having become a curse for us and it's the same language that Paul uses here that he uses an incarnation text in 2nd Corinthians 8:9 he says you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor he wasn't always a curse he became a curse when God heaped our sin upon him and he stood on that cross and he took the punishment that was due for us he became a curse in the plan of God to deliver us from the curse of the law and that's the emphasis of the Apostle in this section the Lord Jesus became acres by imputation and exhausted the wrath and fury and judgment of God for all those whom the father had given notice as well the concept of substitution Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us substitutionary atonement is thoroughly biblical substitutionary atonement is where we hang our souls if it's a general hypothetical offered out there if anybody wants to avail it no no none of us would ever none of us would never choose for Jesus none of us would ever say I want the way of acceptance by grace through faith in Christ Jesus that's not it Christ goes to that cross for all that the father gave him Christ goes to that cross for the many for whom his blood was shed for remission of sins he doesn't go to that cross in a hypothetical or general sort of way but it's particular Redemption it's blood atonement substitutionary in nature he stood for us and then it's then Paul indicates or gives us some some scriptural sort of bearing with reference to this concept of curse notice what he goes on to say having become a curse for us for it is written cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree now this was the language this morning in Acts chapter 10 remember after they had killed him they took him down from the tree Peter uses that concept and in Acts chapter 5 and he also uses it in first Peter chapter 2 this idea of tree is reminiscent of the text that Paul is highlighting here it's Deuteronomy chapter 21 verses 20 verse 23 but in the context verses 22 and 23 in Deuteronomy 21 says if a man has committed a sin deserving of death and he is put to death and you hang him on a tree his body shall not remain overnight on the tree but you shall surely bury him that day so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance for he who is hanged is accursed of God so Paul invokes that piece of data to substantiate his claim that curse it is or Christ has become a curse for us so substitution purse bearing for the elect of God is what Christ wrought out so again not hypothetical it's not just sort of offered out there if anybody wants to take it take it no it's a for us transaction and brethren that needs to encourage us because Christ loved me Paul says in Galatians 2:20 and he gave himself for me it's one of the beautiful things of the Christian religion is the ability to use personal pronouns to call Jesus my Lord and my god to be able to say he loved me and gave himself for me brethren in a hypothetical general are many and Pelagian sort of a system there is no particularities and ultimately the onus is upon the man to activate the various blessings of God but that is never how its presented in Scripture Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law Christ is the operative one Christ is the efficient agent we are the recipients of those blessings and that's how Paul ends in verse 14 notice that he not only redeemed us but he brings these blessings to bear upon us in verse 14 he says that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith Matthew Poole again I think rightly interprets the blessing of Abraham it understands those spiritual blessings of justification reconciliation and adoption which came to Abraham upon his believing and the imputation of righteousness there upon unto him remember churches in southern Galatia for the most part are Gentile so Paul is showing Gentile inclusion in the Covenant promises of God and he says as much here in verse 14 that the blessing of Abraham you understand that Abraham the father of the Jewish nation the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles why in Christ Jesus all the promises of God are yes and amen in yeah notice this is not confined there look at verse 26 in Chapter three for you all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither slave nor free there's neither male nor female for you're all one in Christ Jesus and if you are Christ then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise so Gentile believers in the churches of Galatia were sons and daughters of Abraham all the while ethnic Jews who had rejected Jesus Christ as Messiah they had classified themselves unwittingly as Gentiles so there is this great sort of turnaround and then notice he highlights this in 4:6 and because you are sons God has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts crying out Abba Father therefore you are no longer a slave but a son and if a son then an heir of God through Christ so the blessing of the Spirit secured by the redeeming work of Christ we have not only inclusion into the Covenant promises of God but the reception of the Holy Spirit in fact look how he starts off this section in Galatians 3 Galatians 3 1 Oh foolish Galatians excuse me a moment o foolish Galatians who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth seek for the Apostle Paul these Judaizers coming in saying ok faith in Jesus plus circumcision that is to be which people in Galatians chapter 1 he says they want to pervert they want to destroy they want to hurt the very gospel itself the freeness event the graciousness of vent the glory of it is unacceptable to carnal men they recoil at the thought of God in Christ reconciling the world to himself there has to be something about the sinner there has to be something about our accomplishment there has to be something that we can contribute Luther I think was right the only thing we contribute to our salvation is the sin we need to be saved from but with reference to these Judaizers faith in Jesus plus circumcision and that will commend you to God that's why he says who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you and is crucified this only I want to learn from you did you receive the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith are you so foolish having begun in the spirit are you now being made perfect by the flesh have you suffered so many things in vain if it indeed was in vain so you see what he's saying this idea to try and supplement faith in Christ is to ultimately shipwreck your faith it's either Christ alone or it's the law alone but there's no commingling of the two that is absolutely contrary to the purpose in the plan of God Almighty well brethren in conclusion just a few thoughts and then we'll move into the supper first in terms of a few observations about the law in the gospel both are crucial for persons to know I think it was Spurgeon that said the man who knows law and gospel is a good theologian the man who understands the relationship between the two the man who understands how these things work together is a good theologian there's no place for for being negligent with reference to these things but first of all the law shows us our sin I mentioned Romans 3:20 in the individual realm but as well corporately Israel was shown their sin while they were under law they were taught by God through the prophets their need for the Lord Jesus Christ they were taught to look unto that Promised One who was coming to save his people from their sins the law highlights our need for redemption to come from somewhere else if we are convinced that our law keeping will never avail with God then that will hopefully promote in us the seeking of the way of access visa vie through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ the gospel manifests the glory of the Savior we sing a hand it used to be 127 it's now 286 in the old hymn book it's 127 and the new one it's 286 I don't think I'm gonna learn the new numbers before I die so I'm gonna do that once in a while but John Newton and his son and his him let us love and sing and wonder he speaks of the Lord Jesus and he says he has hushed the laws loud thunder and he has quenched Mount Sinai flame again we are never ever permitted by God to take away from a statement like that that law is bad law is good law functions the way God designed it to function the problem is is that men tried to use that law unlawfully as a means of acceptance with God but those who have been conquered by the grace of God that understands something of law and gospel can rejoice with what John Newton writes he has harsh the laws loud thunder he has clenched mounts ionize flame he doesn't do that by saying bad law he does that by satisfying the demands and requirements of that law he upholds it Eve indicates it he demonstrates its majesty and its excellence he doesn't just suspend the law and now everybody can come in no he keeps the law and then that righteousness is imputed to us this is how God is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ the gospel manifests the glory of the Savior who redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us now a second thing I want to mention by way of a concluding thought is that this whole area this whole chapter chapter 3 confirms not only chapter 2 15 to 21 but especially verse 21 in chapter 2 let's just remind ourselves as what Paul says there he said I do not set aside the grace of God for if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died in vain you see if you think that you can go to heaven based on what you do based on what you've done based on what you plan to do in the future and why Golgotha Y Calvary why that incident that situation where the father was pleased to bruise the son Paul's argument is airtight I do not set aside the grace of God if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died for nothing so if you think for a moment that you're gonna go to heaven because you're good you're excellent you're wonderful you were essentially saying that what took place on Calvary was needless you didn't need to send the son of your love you didn't need to cross him on my behalf because I'm good enough to sort of earn it for myself Machin comments on to 21 he says this verse is the key verse of the Epistle to the Galatians it expresses the central thought of the Epistle the Judaizers attempted to supplement the saving work of Christ by the merit of their own obedience to the law that word supplement is powerful and it's important you need to understand the Judaizers didn't say okay no Jesus just work yourself into heaven that's not what they did they didn't say no Jesus they affirmed faith in Jesus Christ Israel's Messiah you Gentiles need to believe on him but you also need to be circumcised you're obligated to keep the laws of Moses in order to be accepted this idea of supplementation this idea of a little addition this idea of a little bit of contribution on our part no the lines are clearly drawn by the Apostle Paul either it's law or it's grace either it's law or it's gospel he says the Judaizers attempted to supplement the saving work of Christ by the merit of their own obedience to the law that says Paul is impossible Christ will do everything or nothing earn your salvation if your obedience to the law is perfect or else trust wholly to Christ completed work you cannot do both you cannot combine merit and grace if justification even in the slightest measure is through human merit then christ died in vain see sometimes people say well what's the big deal I mean yeah faith in Christ a little a little law that's okay it's to militate against a very cross if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died in vain even if a little tiny righteousness comes through the law then Christ died in vain and Paul will not entertain that for a moment john calvin says for if we do not renounce all other hopes and embrace Christ alone we reject the grace of God and then Lutheran is commentary on Galatians which every Christian ought to read before they die for whoever seeks righteousness apart from faith in Christ whether it be through works or satisfactions or afflictions or the law of God is nullifying the grace of God and despising the death of Christ even though he may speak otherwise with his mouth and on our tax specifically Galatians 3:14 Luther comments that this is how we ought to speak to Christ I am thy sin thy curse thy death thy wrath of God thy hell but thou art my righteousness blessing life grace of God and heaven I think Luther's right on brethren that's the way we need to speak to Christ concerning Christ and as we preach Christ that's the way of salvation not faith plus works grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died in vain well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word we thank you for the clarity of the Apostles argument we thank you for that that that sample preaching in pacinian Antioch thank you for his concern for the souls of men and the desire to not only educate them but to see them freed from sin freed from the curse of the law justified by faith alone in Christ alone god I pray that we would see this for ourselves that it would bring great comfort and great encouragement to and God as we witnessed as we evangelize as we testify to others may we always seek to present the glory of the gospel the freeness of the gospel the grace of God in and through our Lord Jesus Christ and it's in his most blessed name that we pray amen well let's turn in our Bibles to first Corinthians chapter 11 first Corinthians chapter 11 just a couple of thoughts before we read in the first place the ordinance of the Lord's Supper is for believers only so if you're not a believer in Christ tonight we would ask that you do not participate hopefully that's not offensive or an affront but rather your issue is to believe on Jesus secondly the ordinance of the supper is for believers who are by God's grace dealing with their scent in the suction in first Corinthians chapter 11 we see that Paul is dealing with them he is a bit stern or strict with them because when they had gathered together to participate in the supper prior to that they had a common meal together and in that common meal some were eating and drinking to the point of lüt knee and drunkenness and others were not getting anything Paul says that is to introduce division into the house of God that is to bring division to the body of Christ and that is unacceptable you need to deal with your sin that's why there's this call to examination in 1st Corinthians 11 so it's for believers only it's for believers who are dealing with their sin according to God's Word as well it isn't the case that the bread and wine becomes something other they remain bread and wine they are consecrated for holy purposes but they don't become the actual body and blood of our Lord Jesus there is no sacrifice of atonement that is occurring here there is no replication of or duplication of the atoning work of Jesus but rather in this instance these things are to signify they are to represent they are to demonstrate to us the broken body and the shed blood of Jesus our Lord when he says this is my body he did not mean it literally when he says this is my blood he did not mean it literally and I doubt the Apostles well I know the Apostles did not actually think they were eating his flesh and drinking his blood it was metaphorical you a means by which God through tangible creaturely elements can remind us tangible creaturely people of the glories of the gospel in a way that sticks and then as well the focus of the supper is on Jesus Christ it's not on us course you need to repent from your sin forsake your sin you don't have to wait for eight months until you can participate there'll be at least a few moments of silence at some point you can confess your sins to God ask him to cleanse you in the precious blood of Jesus and you can take and then rejoice in the Savior I think too often we just get so focused on ourselves and certainly it is our sin that ultimately was the cause or the means or one of the reasons why Christ was punished on the cross so it's not untoward to never think of our sin at the supper but to only think of our sin at the supper is wrong do this in remembrance of me is what Jesus says and I love that John Murray quote you're gonna probably hear it again for many more Sunday's it is the Lord we are remembering he says so frequently believers become so introspective that preoccupation with themselves excludes preoccupation with Christ do this in remembrance of me is what Jesus said well if I could ask the brothers to come up and pet well actually I'm gonna read the surrounding section then I'll ask the brothers to come up so we'll read first Corinthians 11 beginning in verse 17 now in giving these instructions I do not praise you since you come together not for the better but for the worse for first of all when you come together as a church I hear that there are divisions among you and in part I believe it for there must also be factions among you that those who are approved may be recognized among you therefore when you come together in one place it is not to eat the Lord's Supper for in eating each one takes his own supper ahead of others and one is hungry and another is drunk what do you not have houses to eat and drink in or do you despise the Church of God and shame those who have nothing what shall I say to you shall I praise you in this I do not praise you will skip that next section and read that after the brothers pass out the elements but in verse 27 he says therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in worthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord but let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cop for he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself not discerning the Lord's body for this reason many are weak and sick among you and many sleep for if we would judge ourselves we would not be judged but when we are judged we are chastened by the Lord that we may not be condemned with the world therefore my brethren when you come together to eat wait for one another but if anyone is hungry let him eat at home lest you come together for judgment and the rest I will set in order when I come amen well brothers if you would come pass out the bread we'll sing a hymn while they do that and then we'll read that section and pray and take the bread together so number 338 please remain seated as we sing 338 [Music] [Music] verse 23 Paul writes for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke it and said take eat this is my body which is broken for you do this in remembrance of me let us pray her blessed God and Holy Father we thank you for the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of sinners we thank you that he redeemed us from the curse by having become a curse by receiving in himself the wrath and the punishment of God Almighty that we deserved what a blessed truth this is substitutionary atonement substitutionary curse bearing on behalf of all those whom the father gave how we praise you for Christ how we praise you for that gospel and how we praise you that he didn't die in vain but he died to secure a great multitude for salvation he rose again on that third day and we are so blessed to know him and to serve Him and to love him and we pray that we would do so even more and we ask in his most blessed name amen we'll take together well please remain seated you can turn to 458 just a reminder that the juice is in the outer ring the wine is in the center the juice is in the outer ring so number four five eight and as the brothers pass out the fruit of the vine [Music] and verse 25 the Apostle continues in the same manner he also took the cup after supper saying this cup is the New Covenant in my blood this do as often as you drink it in remembrance of me for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes well let us pray Our Blessed God we thank you for the privilege the corporate privilege that we have to preach Christ and him crucified him resurrected in this ordinance we give praise to you that you have given us these things to refresh us and to help us and to strengthen us along the way God we confess that we are weary pilgrims on the best of days and that you as the householder the God of heaven and earth who who owns the church who has called us to himself you've blessed us so richly in giving us these things for refreshment and for the confirmation and strengthening of our faith we thank you for the means of grace that you have supplied we pray that you would be glorified now and how we praise you for that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ that does cleanse us from all sin and we pray in Jesus name Amen we'll take together well you can turn to Psalm 134 Psalm 134 will stand as we sing together [Music] now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant make you complete and every good work to do his will working in you what is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever and ever amen father go with us now help us in this week to bring glory to you god help us to pursue the things that are pleasing in your sight and help us to never forget that when we do sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous we ask God in heaven that you would cause us to continually reflect upon this glorious and gracious God god I pray for the children and the young people in this assembly in this church that they would be given ears to hear these things hearts to receive these things and that they would have that joy of the Lord that is so blessed and so wonderful and so glorious our desire is for their salvation our desire is for your glory and we ask now that you would go with us and we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord amen