Sermon
#48 Through The Bible Series
Title: Galatians
“I do not
Frustrate the Grace of God.”
Text: Galatians 2:21
Date: Tuesday
Evening —
Tape # Y-13a
Introduction:
If I had opportunity to
address all the preachers, religious leaders, theologians, and religious people
of this world at one time, who believe and teach that salvation is in any way,
to any degree dependent upon or determined by the will or work of man, I would
lay this solemn charge, this horrible indictment against them ― You
frustrate the grace of God and make the death of the Lord Jesus Christ an
insignificant, meaningless, useless thing. That is precisely the charge Paul
laid against who taught such heresy in
When Paul sat down to write
this Epistle, he was clearly provoked and angry. This book was intended
(intended by Paul and by God the Holy Spirit who inspired it) to be a
deliberate, forceful confrontation. There are no friendly greetings, no gentle
salutations, no kind, soothing reflections in this book. Everything in these
six chapters is “in your face” confrontation.
An
Angry Apostle
To say the least, the
apostle was a little hot under the collar. Why? What provoked Paul and stirred
his anger? The Galatians churches, churches God raised up under the influence
of Paul’s ministry among them, were being led away from Christ and his gospel
by false teachers in their midst. These men, professing to be the servants of Christ,
were slandering Paul, accusing him of being a false prophet, and denying the
gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ, while pretending to promote
and defend it. They were trying to make Christianity an extension of Judaism,
just as multitudes do today.
They did not openly deny
that salvation is by the grace of God in Christ. They did not openly state that
Christ is not enough, that Christ is not sufficient, or even that works must be
mixed with faith. The messengers of Satan are far more subtle than that. They
were teaching salvation by grace through works; but they did not state it quite
that way. The Galatian heretics taught that true faith is a faith that
expresses itself in the observance of the Mosaic law, that any faith that did not
express itself in law obedience was a false faith. These men and their heresy
were being embraced by the Galatian churches.
Paul was shocked. How could
they be confused about this? If salvation is by grace, it cannot be by works.
If salvation is by works, it cannot be by grace (
(Rom
11:6) “And if by grace, then is it no
more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works,
then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
The issue at
Key
Verses
There are two key verses in
this Epistle. These two verses summarize the things at stake in
(Gal
2:21) “I do not frustrate the grace of
God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
(Gal
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.”
One
Gospel
It is ever the practice of
those who oppose the gospel of God’s free grace to slander the men who preach
it. The legalists at
For this reason, the opening
verses of Galatians 1 identify Paul decisively as an apostle of God, not an
apostle of men, or an apostle by the authority of men, but of and by the Lord
Jesus Christ and God the Father. With that as his authority, Paul denounces as
false every rival gospel. He tells us that every “gospel” that teaches the
sinner to look for righteousness and salvation anywhere except in Christ alone
is no gospel at all, but a frustration of the grace of God; and with regard to
those who preach another “gospel” he says, “let him be accursed” ―
“Let him be damned forever” (1:6-9).
(Gal
1:6-9) “I marvel that ye are so soon
removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
(7) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would
pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But though we, or an angel from
heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto
you, let him be accursed. (9) As we said before, so say I now again, If
any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let
him be accursed.”
The gospel of God is good
news about something done, not good advice about something you must do. The
gospel is the good news of redemption obtained, righteousness brought in, sin
put away, and salvation secured by obedience and death of Christ as the
sinner’s Substitute (Dan. 9:24; John 19:30; Heb. 1:1-3; 9:12, 26, 28;
10:10-14). Anyone who asserts that something must be done by the sinner before
these things can be accomplished is a false prophet, preaching a false gospel,
and those who follow him follow him to hell.
That is just how serious
this matter is. And that is exactly what Paul asserts in Galatians 1:6-9. Having
said that, the fat was in the fire. In verses 10-24 Paul asserts that,
contrary to the accusations of his detractors at
Peter’s
Compromise
So far was Paul from being a
compromising man-pleaser that when Peter compromised the gospel by his actions
at Antioch Paul withstood him to the face (
When he did, by his mere
act, he led many into error, even Barnabas. By his mere action, Peter led
others to believe that righteousness, justification, salvation and acceptance
with God is not totally the work of God’s grace, but in some way dependent upon
our own obedience to the law of God.
Frustrating
Grace
Peter’s actions were far
more evil than most imagine. His implied doctrine was a frustration of the
grace of God. He implied that justifying righteousness can be obtained by the
works of men. Therefore Paul publicly withstood him to the face before both the
Jews and the Gentiles at
(Gal
2:14-17) “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? (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, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.”
Justification
We are justified by the faith of Christ, not by our faith
in Christ, but by the faith and faithful obedience of Christ himself unto death
as our Substitute. By our faith in Christ we receive and enjoy the blessedness
of justification. We are not justified by something we do, but by Christ alone.
To suggest, or imply in any way that our works have anything at all to do with
making us righteous before God for justification is to deny the gospel
altogether. Paul puts it this way ― “I
do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain” (
Antinomianism
Paul understood
exactly what he was saying, and understood exactly what his detractors would
say about his doctrine. He could almost hear them screaming with clinched
fists, “Antinomianism! That is antinomianism! If our works have nothing to do
with righteousness, if we can be saved without obeying God’s law and doing good
works ourselves, you are telling us that we can go out and live like we want to
in lawlessness, licentiousness, and lasciviousness.”
I know that is
what they said, both because that is what Paul says they said (
The fact is, any
man who preaches salvation by grace alone, without works, will be accused of
antinomianism, of promoting licentiousness; but the charge is baseless and
false.
(Gal
2:17) “But if, while we seek to be
justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore
Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.”
Sanctification
In chapter 3 Paul moves from
justification to sanctification. He argues with the Galatians and us that their
experience of grace forbids the idea that righteousness can be obtained by our
works (Gal. 3:1-3).
(Gal
3:1-3) “O foolish Galatians, who hath
bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus
Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (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?”
Sanctification and
justification are two distinct works of God’s grace; but the two cannot be
separated. Those who are justified are also sanctified. And sanctification as
well as justification is a work of grace alone. Once we have received
righteousness in justification by faith in Christ, we do not make ourselves
more holy, more righteous before God by our works in sanctification. Christ is
both our justification and sanctification (1 Cor.
No
Mixture
In a word Paul’s doctrine is
this ― Any mixture of grace and works in the matter of righteousness is a
total denial of grace, for it is a frustration of grace. Therefore (
There is no place for legal
bondage in the household of faith. Those who would bring God’s saints under the
yoke of the law deny the whole gospel of the grace of God and every believer’s
experience of grace. They who attempt to make themselves righteous by the works
of the law are still under the curse of the law (
(Gal
3:10-11) “For as many as are of the
works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every
one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law
to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of
God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.”
·
They deny our experience of grace (3:1-5).
·
They deny the Old Testament Scriptures, which assert that Abraham was
justified by faith without works (3:6-9).
·
They deny the efficacy of Christ’s atonement, asserting that Christ
died in vain, that he did not actually secure the blessing of grace for God’s
elect by his death (3:13-14).
·
They deny the whole purpose of the law as a schoolmaster unto Christ (
·
They deny the blessed liberty of the gospel and the grace of God, the
very liberty Christ obtained for us by his obedience to the law and his death
by the law, by attempting to bring us back under the yoke of bondage (4:1-11).
(Gal
4:4-7) “But when the fulness of the time
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons. (6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his
Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) Wherefore thou art no
more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Christ died for God’s elect
(his eternally adopted children) that we might receive the Spirit of adoption
in regeneration, giving us faith to look upon God through the blood of our
Savior with confidence as our heavenly Father (Heb.
(Gal
4:9-11) “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.”
In the latter part of
chapter 4 (vv. 21-31) Paul uses Sarah and Hagar and their sons Isaac and
Ishmael as an allegory. The allegory teaches us that as Hagar and Ishmael (the
fruit of Abraham’s shameful works to perform God’s righteous promise) had to be
cast out of Abraham’s house, so all our own righteousness must be cast out as
filthy rags. It is written, “Cast out the bond woman and her son.” There
is no room in the house of grace for the works of the flesh, for legal
obedience.
Stand
Fast
In the 5th
chapter Paul urges us to stand fast in the blessed liberty of the gospel,
warning us that if we do anything by which we hope to gain God’s favor, improve
our standing in God’s favor, or keep ourselves in God’s favor, we have
abandoned the gospel and abandoned grace altogether. He says, Christ is of no
value to anyone who attempts to make himself righteous before God (5:1-4).
(Gal
5:1-4) “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. (3) For I testify again to
every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4) Christ
is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye
are fallen from grace.”
There is no antinomianism here, no licentiousness, no
encouragement to sin. Far from it! The rest of the book of Galatians is a
declaration that this liberty of grace is life in the Spirit. As we walk in the
Spirit, looking to Christ alone for righteousness and salvation, we will not
fulfil the lusts of the flesh. It is self-righteousness and legalism that
causes men and women to bite and devour one another (in the name of
righteousness!). Grace teaches believers to restore their fallen brethren, to
bear one another’s burdens, to love one another, and so to fulfil the law of
Christ. Grace teaches us not to sow to the flesh and reap corruption, but to
the Spirit and reap life everlasting. Our only hope is the cross of Christ. Our
only motivation, our only rule of life is the cross. And all who have this hope
and live by this rule are blessed as “the
(Gal
6:14-16) “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.”
The Cross
The
sum and essence of all true doctrine, the essence of all true Christianity, and
of all motivation in the lives of God’s elect in this world is the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ (6:14).
(Gal
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.”
When
Paul writes, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ,” he is telling us that his only trust, his only hope before
God is that which Christ accomplished as our all-sufficient, effectual Redeemer
at Calvary.
Throughout
the book of Galatians the cross of Christ is central. The cross, as Paul uses
it, refers not to the wooden cross upon which Christ died, or the historic fact
of the cross, but the doctrine of the cross ― Redemption and salvation by
the death of our Lord Jesus Christ as our sin-atoning Substitute.
1. The cross is deliverance by
blood atonement (1:3-5).
(Gal
1:3-5) “Grace be to you and peace
from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, (4) Who gave
himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world,
according to the will of God and our Father: (5) To whom be glory
for ever and ever. Amen.”
2. The cross is life (
(Gal
2:19-20) “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.”
3.
The
cross is righteousness (
(Gal
2:21) “I do not frustrate the grace of
God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”
4.
The
cross is the remove of our curse (3;13).
(Gal
3:13) “Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every
one that hangeth on a tree:”
5.
The
cross is the certainty of God’s blessing (
(Gal
3:14) “That the blessing of Abraham
might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the
promise of the Spirit through faith.”
6. The cross is the center of
our faith
(
(Gal
3:22) “But the scripture hath concluded
all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them
that believe.”
7.
The
cross is the ground of our adoption (4:4-7).
(Gal
4:4-7) “But when the fulness of the time
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (5) To
redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons. (6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his
Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (7) Wherefore thou art no
more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
8.
The
cross is an offense to the unbelieving (
(Gal
5:11) “And I, brethren, if I yet preach
circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross
ceased.”
9. The cross is the source of
all grace
(
(Gal
5:22-24) “But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
10.
The
cross is that by which we are crucified unto the world and the world unto us (
(Gal
6:14-15) “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.”
11.
The cross is our rule, our peace, our mercy, our life (
(Gal
6:16-18) “And as many as walk according
to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
(17) From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks
of the Lord Jesus. (18) Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with your spirit. Amen.”
“I must needs go home by the
way of the cross,
There's no other way but
this;
I shall ne'er get sight of
the gates of light,
If the way of the cross I
miss.
I must needs go on in the
blood sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior
trod,
If I ever climb to the
heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home
with God.
So I bid farewell to the way
of the world,
To walk in it never more;
For the Lord says, "Come,"
and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the open
door.
The way of the cross leads
home,
The way of the cross leads
home,
It is sweet to know as I
onward go,
The way of the cross leads
home.”
(Gal
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.”
(Phil
3:1-3) “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in
the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous,
but for you it is safe. (2) Beware of dogs, beware of evil
workers, beware of the concision. (3) For we are the circumcision, which
worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence
in the flesh.”