General & Personal General & Personal LettersLetters

Lesson 2Lesson 2Faith vs. WorksFaith vs. Works

Galatians 3-4Galatians 3-4

Galatians 1:6Galatians 1:6: “You’re turning to another : “You’re turning to another gospel.”gospel.”

Galatians 2:21bGalatians 2:21b: “If righteousness could be : “If righteousness could be gained through the Law, Christ died for gained through the Law, Christ died for nothing!”nothing!”

Galatians 3:1a: “You foolish Galatians! Who Galatians 3:1a: “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?” has bewitched you?”

LegalismLegalism – salvation by works – salvation by works

Anti-nomianism Anti-nomianism - no accountability for - no accountability for behaviorbehavior

Three Errors of Law & GraceThree Errors of Law & Grace

GalatianismGalatianism- saved by grace but kept by the - saved by grace but kept by the LawLaw

We are SAVED, KEPT, and finally REDEEMED We are SAVED, KEPT, and finally REDEEMED BY GRACE, without works of the Law.BY GRACE, without works of the Law.

Man is incurably addicted to his own self-Man is incurably addicted to his own self-effort to be right with God. effort to be right with God.

We are free to do anything the Bible doesn’t forbid. We are free to do anything the Bible doesn’t forbid.

We shouldn’t do anything forbidden in the Bible We shouldn’t do anything forbidden in the Bible

We should refrain from some perfectly legitimate things if We should refrain from some perfectly legitimate things if they would cause unnecessary problems for another they would cause unnecessary problems for another Christian or a non-Christian.Christian or a non-Christian.

We shouldn’t continue in any activity that could become a We shouldn’t continue in any activity that could become a useless or destructive habit that would detract us from God.useless or destructive habit that would detract us from God.

The Law of Love Summed UpThe Law of Love Summed Up

Judaizers were professing Christians that Judaizers were professing Christians that accepted salvation by grace through faith, accepted salvation by grace through faith, BUT…after that, it was necessary to adhere BUT…after that, it was necessary to adhere to the Mosaic Law and be circumcised.to the Mosaic Law and be circumcised.

A moralist – ‘I’m saved by what I do or don’t do’ A moralist – ‘I’m saved by what I do or don’t do’

An intellectual – ‘I’m saved by what I know’An intellectual – ‘I’m saved by what I know’

An emotionalist – ‘I’m saved by what I feel’An emotionalist – ‘I’m saved by what I feel’

Legalism As It Affects UsLegalism As It Affects Us

It has no need for GodIt has no need for God

It is the search for innocence, not forgivenessIt is the search for innocence, not forgiveness

It’s a systematic process of It’s a systematic process of defending selfdefending self, , explaining selfexplaining self, , exalting selfexalting self, and , and justifying selfjustifying self. .

The Danger of LegalismThe Danger of Legalism

SELF, not GodSELF, not God

The world would surely be a better place to be.The world would surely be a better place to be.There would be no murder, for I’m not violent.There would be no murder, for I’m not violent.No stealing, for I’m not a thief.No stealing, for I’m not a thief.No adultery, for I’m happily wed.No adultery, for I’m happily wed.No atheism, for I believe in God.No atheism, for I believe in God.No ignorance, for I’ve been to school.No ignorance, for I’ve been to school.

If only the world was more like me . . .If only the world was more like me . . .Surely it would be a better place to be. Surely it would be a better place to be. Or would it?Or would it?For if everybody was just like me . . .For if everybody was just like me . . .There would be no merry-go-rounds, There would be no merry-go-rounds, for I get dizzy.for I get dizzy.No clowns, for I’m self-conscious.No clowns, for I’m self-conscious.No doctors, for I hate blood.No doctors, for I hate blood.No painters, for I’m colorblind.No painters, for I’m colorblind.

No mechanics, for I can’t fix a thing.No mechanics, for I can’t fix a thing.No home run kings, for I can’t hit a curve.No home run kings, for I can’t hit a curve.No ballroom riders, for I’m afraid of heights.No ballroom riders, for I’m afraid of heights.Come to think of it,Come to think of it,If the world were just like me..If the world were just like me..It would be an awfully boring place to be!It would be an awfully boring place to be!

Legalism has no pity on people and it’s marked by Legalism has no pity on people and it’s marked by a lack of love a lack of love

Legalism …makes their opinion your burdenLegalism …makes their opinion your burden

Legalism... makes their opinion your boundary Legalism... makes their opinion your boundary

The Danger of LegalismThe Danger of Legalism

Legalism…makes their opinion your obligationLegalism…makes their opinion your obligation

What Legalism is NOTWhat Legalism is NOT

It’s not the presence of the lawIt’s not the presence of the law

It’s not the imposition of Law on someone It’s not the imposition of Law on someone elseelse

JustificationJustification – “I must – “I must addadd to Christ’s redemptive to Christ’s redemptive work on the cross for God to accept me into His work on the cross for God to accept me into His familyfamily

SanctificationSanctification – “I must – “I must dodo certain things and not certain things and not do others so God and my peers will think better of do others so God and my peers will think better of me.”me.”

A Legalistic ViewA Legalistic View

Justification is the act of God removing from Justification is the act of God removing from the sinner his guilt, and the penalty incurred by the sinner his guilt, and the penalty incurred by that guilt, and bestowing that guilt, and bestowing in usin us a positive a positive righteousness righteousness

Romans 10:4Romans 10:4: Christ is “the end of the law to : Christ is “the end of the law to everyone who believes.” everyone who believes.”

Guilty!Guilty!

FAITH

NOTGuilty!

The Law is perfectThe Law is perfect

The Law is holyThe Law is holy

The Law is justThe Law is just

The perfect Law can only show the nature of sin.The perfect Law can only show the nature of sin.

Galatians 3:10Galatians 3:10: “Cursed is every one that does not : “Cursed is every one that does not continue in all things which are written in the continue in all things which are written in the book of the Law.”book of the Law.”

You are fully an completely accepted You are fully an completely accepted

Jesus is the Son of God, He was crucified for Jesus is the Son of God, He was crucified for   allall our sins, was buried, resurrected, now sits on  our sins, was buried, resurrected, now sits on the right hand of God and is coming againthe right hand of God and is coming again

The Bible is the Word of God The Bible is the Word of God

The BasicsThe Basics

The only thing God asks of us as Christians is The only thing God asks of us as Christians is that we be men and women of prayer, people that we be men and women of prayer, people who live close to God, people for whom God who live close to God, people for whom God is everything and for whom God is enough. is everything and for whom God is enough.

1. Keep standing firm in your freedom1. Keep standing firm in your freedom

2. Stop seeking the favor of everyone2. Stop seeking the favor of everyone

3. Start refusing to submit to bondage3. Start refusing to submit to bondage

5 Strategies to Living in Grace5 Strategies to Living in Grace

4. Continue being straightforward about truth 4. Continue being straightforward about truth

5. Have the grace to let others be 5. Have the grace to let others be

John 8:36John 8:36: “If therefore the Son shall make : “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.” you free, you shall be free indeed.”

The full text of this lecture can be found tomorrow at The full text of this lecture can be found tomorrow at

dictationsfromthespirit.comdictationsfromthespirit.com Click on the dropdown menu arrow and choose “POW Bible Studies”Click on the dropdown menu arrow and choose “POW Bible Studies”

General & Personal LettersGeneral & Personal Letters““Galatians 3-4”Galatians 3-4”