Why Abraham Was Saved by Faith Alone — Galatians Chapter 3 Explained

Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick, an Oklahoma rancher and farmer. Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for over 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick. It's all in one afternoon, and again we always like to remind our television audience especially that all the past programs are available in the video, the audio as well as the printed page. And in order to drop the cost down and make it we trust available for almost everybody, we have put 12 of these programs on one 6 hour long video, which also makes a 6 hour long audio. And then each little book is a compilation of 12 programs in their sequential order. So if you're interested in any of that, you either drop us a line or call us on the 800 number, and we'll get the information to you. This is a Bible study, and from our mail this is what people appreciate, that we're just sticking strictly to the Book. And so we're going to drop right in again this afternoon where we left off in our last program, and that is in Galatians chapter 3 and beginning at verse 6. Now of course I always have to give a little review because we constantly have new viewers coming into our audience, and we have to realize that these letters of the Apostle Paul stand in the center of our New Testament pretty much by themselves, because this is the part of the Word that is directed primarily to the Gentile Church, or the Body of Christ. Now don't forget that the Old Testament and the Gospels in the early chapters of Acts were all directed to and under the auspices of the nation of Israel. But when Israel continued to reject everything and would not believe that Christ was the promised Messiah, God of course moved in providentially and took away their Temple, took away the city of Jerusalem, uprooted the nation from the land, and put them out into the nations of the world in what we call a dispersion, and He turned instead to the pagan Gentile world beginning with the Apostle Paul. As we've just returned from the Mediterranean more or less following in the footsteps of the Apostle, it just behooved all of us that were together of what that man put up with to get the Gospel to us Gentiles. Never lose sight of that. It wasn't just his suffering as he lists them back in II Corinthians, but it was just the nature of the area. Of course you've all known about his shipwreck on the island of Malta, and how he said in the Book of Acts that he was actually three times in the deep. So we could readily see because we happened to have had a week of rough weather, and even though we were on a pretty good sized ship, it was pretty topsy-turvy wasn't it Leanne? It was quite a week, but nevertheless we had the opportunity to hold our classes morning and afternoon. So in spite of the adverse weather we still had spiritual, as one lady wrote the other day, she said we're still basking in the sunshine of that period of Bible study. So it wasn't off or not, but anyway it just gave us a glimpse of what the Apostle had to go through in order to bring the Gospel to the Gentile world. And so for those of you who may not be acquainted with the makeup of our New Testament, always remember that all of Paul's letters as we have them in our New Testament today, have always been in that order in every copy of the New Testament that is still available in libraries and museums. Whereas the rest of the New Testament may be in various orders. It isn't always Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and it isn't always with the little Jewish epistles at the end. But Paul's letters are always in the order in which we have them today, which I think should tell us something. The Holy Spirit has just definitely laid out the format that we have in these epistles as we call them. Galatians should have been in front of Romans, because Galatians if you compare it to an artist is more or less his pencil drawing of what he has on his mind, and then Romans is like to the final paint and oil on canvas. Well I kind of like that, because that's exactly what Galatians is. Galatians is so introductory, it doesn't get down into the deep things of Romans, and yet it has its divine purpose for being exactly where it is following the two letters to Corinthians. Now most of you have been with us as we taught I and II Corinthians, where Paul had to deal with not only problems in the congregation, but a constant flow of attack on his person, and decrying that he was an imposter, and he was a fake, and he had something that he had drummed up on his own, and that after all he did not have the authority of Peter, James and John. And so those two letters to the Corinthians, you see he's always defending his apostleship. Now in Galatians the average reader probably cannot discern the difference, but here he's not so much defending his person, as he is his doctrine. Now that's a word that I don't want anyone to use loosely. Doctrine is something that has pretty much in our day and time gone by the boards. But listen, if you do not have doctrine, you have nothing. We're seeing so much today of the emphasis on experience, and that's all well and good. But listen, experience does not set your feet in concrete. It takes doctrine, and that's the primary word, the teaching. And this is what we're seeing here in Galatians, that Paul is refuting false doctrine, false teaching that had crept not only into the Galatian churches, but of course every church that he ever founded. But it's not just unique to Paul's day, it has plagued Christianity up through the centuries, and it is just as apropos today as it was the day he wrote it. Because we are still constantly fighting the false teaching of legalism. Now normally people think of legalism as just simply the temple worship and Judaism. No, legalism comes in all kinds of shapes and forms, and it's always so subtle. Because you see, legalism appeals to the human concept of, I have to do something. And Paul's doctrine says, as I've stressed it over and over, we do nothing but we rest on and we believe what God says He has finished on our behalf. And that of course is the Gospel, and that is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Maybe that's enough for introductions. So this little letter of Galatians is to refute false doctrine, which was primarily the inroads of legalism. Now remember in the early verses of chapter 3, Paul made a point of the fact that they didn't come into this glorious position that they enjoyed now as believers by law keeping, but by faith, by believing the Gospel. So now again as an illustration of faith, which of course he uses even back in the Book of Romans, he goes back to the Old Testament and picks up Abraham once again. Let's look at it now in verse 6. Galatians 3. Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now contemplate that statement. Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now ask yourself the question, how much else did he do? Well nothing. He didn't bring sacrifice, he didn't keep a set of commandments, he didn't get baptized in a river Jordan, he didn't do anything but what? Believed God. Now how many times haven't I put it on the board, and I'm going to put it on once again because I go pretty much by the comments from our listeners of what they like and don't like. We've always put this up here, to believe in God, which 90% at least here in America certainly do, but opposite that we always have to point out the difference, and that is to believe God. Now to believe in God is what the multitudes of people around the world do. In fact if it isn't the true God, they're believing in some God. But to believe God, that's what? That's faith. Because when we believe God, then we're taking Him at His Word, and we are exercising faith, and that's what He's looking for. So when Paul again says here in Galatians that we are to believe God as Abraham did, that sends us back first to Romans chapter 4, and then we're going to go all the way back to Genesis and see how all of this has been building. I know I'm always making the reference to the fact that the Bible is a progressive revelation. In other words, what was built back there in the Old Testament has not been thrown aside, but it's been built upon, and we're going to reconstruct that in a moment, but we're going to go from the top down instead of from the bottom up. Romans chapter 4, let's just start at verse 1. Now of course we took all this almost word for word when we were back in our study of the Book, but nevertheless this is the only way we can compare Scripture with Scripture. What shall we say then, that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath to wear of to glory, but not before God. But what saith the Scripture? And that's what counts. It doesn't matter what Paul says, and it doesn't matter so much what I say, what matters is what does God say. And that of course is where the Scripture comes in. So look at what he says. What saith the Scripture? Abraham believed, not in God, but what? He believed God. Now what does that tell you? God said something, and Abraham believed it. Now faith cometh by hearing, which says that God has to say something before mankind can believe it. So here it is, Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him, or imputed unto him for what? Righteousness. Now this brings a thought to mind, I didn't intend to do this, it just flew into my mind. Maybe I better deal with it as I trust the Spirit. Come back with me to the Book of James, because here again is one of those places where the scoffer especially, and even a lot of well-meaning Christians will say, Well the Bible contradicts itself, I have problems. Well come back with a little letter of James, and drop in at verse 21, and I'm sure you've all been aware of it. Now how can you say that Abraham and we are saved by faith plus nothing, but James says that if he doesn't see works, then he can't see salvation. Well let's point it out. James chapter 2, starting at verse 21. James 2. Our Father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar. Now the first thing I would say is, wait a minute, when does God deal with the faith of Abraham? At the very beginning? Or back here when Isaac is already on the scene, which is some 50 years later? Well at the beginning. So James isn't talking about Abraham's origin, he's talking about something that took place 50 years later, which was at the offering of Isaac. So he was justified by works when he had offered Isaac upon the altar. Then verse 22. James 2. See'st thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works his faith was made perfect, and the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God, and was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called a friend of God. Yet you see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith alone. Contradiction? Well on the surface it seems that way. But you see, what is James really looking at? He is looking at the faith of an individual as man determines it. Now if you and I are to determine whether a person has saving faith or not, what's the only criteria we have for that determination? His works. But God doesn't need works. God looks on the heart. And so Abraham was saved by faith, plus nothing, because he didn't have to show works to anybody. He was dealing with God. And so the next time somebody jumps in and says, well the scripture contradicts itself, James says you can't be saved without works, and Paul says you're saved by faith alone. There's the difference. James is looking at it from man's point of view, that if there are no works, then you and I have no idea that a man has saving faith. But God looks at us like He did at Abraham, and He sees our faith without works. I don't have to do any works to prove to God that I have faith, but if I want to prove to my neighbor that I have faith, I better show some works. You see the difference? Plain as day, no controversy, no contradiction, but again it's just two totally different events. Now let's come back to Romans chapter 4 for just a moment, and then I want to go back to Genesis. Genesis 4. And then Paul adds, "...that worketh the reward is not reckoned of grace, but of debt." and we�re not under a debt economy. We�re not under a debt economy. We will never put God in our debt, and so we can�t work for salvation, not one iota. So then verse 5 says But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him who justifies the ungodly. Now then I said that since Paul is using Abraham as the epitome of faith, let�s go back and check it out a minute again in Genesis chapter 12. Most of you will remember many of my comments because I do repeat them. I know I do, but I do it for purpose, and that is the most important part of the whole Old Testament is the Abrahamic Covenant. It is the very benchmark of everything on which you and I rest by faith and faith alone. Now let�s look at it in Genesis chapter 12, the Abrahamic Covenant. Now back in chapter 11, the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, from thy kindred, and from thy father�s house, unto a land that I will show thee. And then He makes these covenant promises that He would make of Abram a great nation, the nation of Israel, and that He would bless him, that is materially as well as spiritually. I�ll make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee. And in thee, Abram, shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Now we�ve got to go back a little bit further to pick that benchmark up, and that would be in Genesis chapter 3. Like I said, I�m coming from the top down instead of from the bottom up. But here we�re coming now all the way from Paul�s stipulation that as Abraham believed God, so is where we are. And now then as faith was that which imputed righteousness unto Abraham, and how that through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. Now let�s go on further all the way to Genesis chapter 3. Adam and Eve have just eaten, and they have totally plunged the human race under the curse, and here is a covenant that God makes with Adam. And it�s not a very pretty covenant, because in this covenant He is promising all the ramifications of the curse, and how that everything would come under the curse. And then as you go on further in the chapter, the weeds, and the thistles, and all the things that are associated with it. But in the very center of this covenant that God makes with Adam, is the promise of a Redeemer. Look at it, verse 15, where God says, I will put enmity between thee, that is Satan to whom He�s addressing this, I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. Now you see we pick up the term, the seed of the woman from this, who is Christ. So there would be a running battle between Satan and Christ. It, the seed of the woman, would bruise the head of Satan, which of course he did at the cross, but thou shalt bruise his heel, which of course Satan accomplished when he caused the suffering of Christ at Calvary. Now from this place in Genesis 3, that God is going to promise a Redeemer through the woman, on that now we build the Abrahamic covenant, that it�s going to be through this man, and through his offspring, that the seed of the woman would come. Now I�m making myself clear, Genesis God promised Adam that the seed of the woman would one day defeat sin and death and Satan. Abraham now is given the promise that this seed of the woman would come through his lineage, through the nation of Israel. And so that Abrahamic covenant then becomes the very foundation of everything as we come on up into the New Testament, and the appearance of Christ, and His earthly ministry, His rejection by Israel, and then we move on into the Church Age after the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, so you can come back with me now to Galatians chapter 3 again. So all of our foundations of faith, not only the how but also the why, all rests on what God promised Abraham. Remember the last part of that Abrahamic covenant was that in thee, in Abraham, would all the families of the earth be blessed. And of course that comes primarily through Christ, the seed of the woman coming through the seed of Abraham, but it is also a result of what God promised through the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 11. And this is an account of how Israel had rejected everything, and God is going to literally strip the branches from the tree, which is Israel, that is rooted in Abraham, and He's going to graft in the Gentiles. Now pick it up in Romans chapter 11, because this all ties together hopefully. Romans 11 verse 15. Romans 11 verse 15. Romans 11 verse 15. Romans 11 verse 15. Romans 11 verse 15. For if the casting away of them, the Jew, the nation of Israel, be the reconciling of the world, which of course would be the whole world, Jew and Gentile, what shall the receiving of them, the nation of Israel, be but life from the dead? And of course we saw that in our past teachings in Ezekiel 37. How that valley of dry bones was shaking, and it finally came together, and finally the flesh came on, and the skin came on, and then finally at one day in the future, the nation is going to experience life. Well what is it but life from the dead? Oh I've got to move quickly. So then in verse 16. Romans 11 verse 16. Romans 11 verse 16. If the first root be holy, the lump is also holy, and if the root is holy, then so are the branches. But Israel didn't appreciate that position, and so God broke off, and if some of the branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and partakest of the root and the fatness of the olive tree. Now what's the analogy? Well when Israel rejected everything, and God turned to the Gentiles through the apostle Paul, and began to call out the Body of Christ, what made it possible that as He removed Israel from feeding on the root and the fatness of their father Abraham, who has He now put in their place? The Gentiles. And remember we taught this, I thought so clearly in our series on the Book of Romans. And so here we are, the whole Gentile world, now in this place of privilege, this place of blessing that Israel had enjoyed all through the Old Testament. But now we've got to be careful. Just because Israel was resting on the root and the fatness of the man of faith Abraham, did that automatically make every Jew a believer? No! Most of them weren't. Well it's the same way with the Gentiles. Here we are as Gentile nations of the world. Everyone is in that place of privilege, and blessing, and an opportunity to hear the Gospel and be saved. Now that doesn't mean every Gentile is going to be saved by no means. But what does it mean? Every Gentile has an opportunity. Every Gentile is going to be held responsible when they come to that great white throne, lost. They're not going to be able to say, Well I never had a chance. God's going to say, Oh yes you did. You rested on the root and the fatness of Abraham. You had just as much opportunity as the covenant people did in the past, but you didn't take it. You refused it. And you know I've been stressing for the last several programs, how that when Christ died, how many sins of the world did He take care of? All of them. Every human being that's ever lived has already been declared reconciled so far as God is concerned. They've already been pardoned so far as God is concerned. But until they appropriate it with the kind of faith that Abraham had, which was relatively simple, it's all for nothing. And you know this one I'm always stressing. God doesn't look for someone who knows the Bible from cover to cover before he can be saved. God isn't looking for some primary example of holy living before He can save. But what did Romans 4 say? Oh, but He justified what kind of people? Ungodly. See? Ungodly. That's where God works, and so many people got the idea, Well if I can just clean up my act, then I'll be saved. No, no. The ungodly person has to stay right where he's at, because that's where God's going to reach down and save. That's Route 1, Box 760, Kenta, Oklahoma, 74552. Through the Bible with Les Feldick is viewer supported, and your gift is appreciated. Thank you, and be sure to tune in next time for Through the Bible with Les Feldick.