Good morning everybody. You're
a fine looking group. If you would, let's take our
Bibles and turn please to the book of
Galatians right before Ephesians and let's
see it's right after Romans. Galatians Chapter 2, a portion
of it, and Chapter 3. Now these verses are not strangers
to us whatsoever, but I want to carefully read Let me see
how long chapter 3 is. Wow, that's a long ways. We'll get to a stopping point
somewhere in the middle of the third chapter, but let me begin
our reading at verse 15 of chapter 2. These are some amazing words
indeed. To be able to To spiritually
understand what these two chapters are about is absolutely the only way for
us to know who Christ really is. We must find out who we are in
order to find out who He is. And we don't go to the doctor
to find out how we are. We go to this book, and that's
what these blessed words are about to say. Now let us beg
the Lord's help. Lord, God of heaven and earth,
our maker, our redeemer, our savior, our sacrifice, our righteousness,
our holiness. Whatever you demand of us, you
yourself become that to us, or we shall never have it. Our heart
is in awful shape. It sins without even knowing
it, and it sins a great deal more when we do know it. But in this new man, in Christ
Jesus, we are what we are by the grace of God. Lord, we need your grace, your
mercy, your forgiveness. We beg that you would bless our
time together today, and especially in the reading of the verses
that are now before us. We ask you to enlighten our minds
and our hearts and cause us to see and understand and confess
that in ourselves we are completely undone. We're ungodly, unholy,
unrighteous. All this, it goes on and on and
on. But Lord, if you'd see fit to
presence yourself in this little place, Oh, what a difference
it would be. What a difference. We beg your
mercy for Christ's sake. Amen. All right. Chapter two, verse 15. We who are Jews by nature and
not centers of the Gentiles. Now, you won't be offended at
that, will you? Because we're going to find out some things
that will change our view of it. Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, then how are we justified? By the faith of, not in, 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. But while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also
are found sinners. Is therefore Christ the minister
of sin? God forbid. For if I build again
the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I, through the law, am dead
to the law, that I might live unto God. Now how on earth is
Paul going to accomplish that? And here's the answer in the
very next verse. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless,
I live. Yet, not I, but Christ lives
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. I do not frustrate the grace
of God For if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead
in vain. And today's professing Christianity
is about 99% telling you that what you do merits for you God's
attention and God's mercy and God's grace and God's blessings. And I don't care what kind of
business you go in, everybody wants to bless you about something.
And I want to just stop and get up on a tall stand and say, you
don't do anything to give me any kind of grace whatsoever
to be blessed in God's sight. If I'm blessed at all, it is
in Christ. And if I ain't in Christ, I'm
not eligible for this grace and this blessing. It just, it never
ceases to get under my skin. So far I've been able to maintain
what little sanity I have left and I don't comment. I do not frustrate the grace
of God for if righteousness come by the law, if we could gain
God's favor by anything that we can do, any amount of money
we can give or anything along that line, Then Christ died in
vain for nothing. For nothing. Well, I just think I'm better
than some other people I know. Yeah, that's because you don't
know God. I'm telling you. The man that's writing this letter
is named the Apostle Paul. But he was a high muckety muck
until Christ conquered him on the road to Damascus. And he
would have told you in no uncertain terms when he was crusading as
a Pharisee that he's better than you. And if you don't adopt his
religion and his rituals and requirements and everything under
the sun, there ain't no hope for you. And then he found out
it was just all a pack of lies. What he thought was true was
not true. Who he thought God was is not
who God is. Mercy, mercy, mercy. Alright, let's continue. Chapter 3. Oh foolish Galatians! Now, the province of Galatia
has several churches that Paul and others like him had planted
not long before the writing of this letter. O foolish Galatians,
who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before
whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth crucified
among you? This only would I learn of you.
Did you receive the Spirit, the Holy Spirit by the works of the
law or by the hearing of faith? And if we say it's by the law,
we're lost as a turkey. We just, there ain't no hope
for you. Unless God brings us out of that darkness. Did you receive the Holy Spirit
by the works of the law? That means God owed me his spirit. Oh, my soul, we're a million
miles from the truth or by the hearing of faith. Are you so
foolish? Am I so foolish? Having begun
in the spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things
in vain? If it be yet in vain, He therefore
that ministers to you the Spirit and works miracles among you,
does he do it by the works of the law or by the hearing of
faith? These things are separate categories opposite of each other
in several ways through those short few verses. Verse 6, even
as Abraham believed God and it was accounted or imputed to Abraham
for righteousness. Know you therefore that they
which are of faith the same are the children of Abraham? And
the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen
through faith preached before the gospel unto Abraham saying
in you Abraham, in Christ, in you, shall all nations be blessed,
including the one in which we live. But that blessing seems
to be waning, and the curses seem to be growing. Everybody
and his brother refuse to believe that they have to do something
for God in order for God to do something for them. And if we
had a lick of sense, we could read in this book how many times
it's called free grace, that if you could pay a million dollars
for it, God would scoff at it. My soul, he doesn't need us. We need him. Verse nine, so then they which
be of faith are blessed with faithful or believing Abraham,
for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse,
for it is written, for it, where did I get for it
is written? For as many as are of the works
of the law are under the curse, for it is written, cursed is
everyone that continues not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. but that no man is justified
by the law. Nobody ever has been or ever
will be except the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man. No man is
justified by the law in the sight of God. It is evident for the
just, the righteous shall live by faith. And that's like saying
the righteous shall live by Christ. and him crucified. And the law,
call it whatever you will, is not of faith. The law is not of faith. The
man that does them claims to keep the law, and there ain't
no way we can keep it. Any honest person would know
that right on the surface of things. The man that does them
shall live in them. What kind of life is this that
he is said to live? It is a life of growing ripe
for damnation because he ain't gonna see God in this state.
Just not gonna happen. Not gonna happen. Okay, I promise
you I've stopped reading at that point. Now let me see if I can
make some time up. If you listen, I don't know how
fast I can talk, but if you would listen faster As fast as I speak,
whatever it is, I'd appreciate that. Going back to chapter 2,
verse 20, I live, Paul says in that verse,
by the faith of the Son of God. Now we have that of, it's not
in faith, it is the faith of Christ. Before we can have faith,
our Lord Jesus must have it and give it as His gift to us. I live by the faith of the Son
of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. What a glorious
statement. All of Paul's life is in Christ,
from Christ, and by Christ. Therefore, for us, in our dealings
with God, it is Christ from start to finish. There's nothing that
God will have to do with us that does not come through His Son.
He's kind of jealous of that Son. He's the only begotten Son. The only one. All of Paul's enjoyment of this
life is said to be by the faith of the Son of God. I think I
was going to tell you this, but that expression, the faith of
Christ, is three times in Hebrews, in Galatians chapter two, and
one time in chapter three, and a couple of other books that
I do not remember off the top of my head that have it as well,
but I think only one mentioned each. But this is significant. This is tremendous. All of Paul's enjoyment is by
the faith of the Son of God. All is in Christ, and Christ
himself is our all. Faith is not an act of the child
of God any more than the life in Christ is, which gives birth
to that faith. Let me read that again. Faith
is not an act of a child of God any more than the life in Christ
which gives birth to that faith is. This life that is in Christ
is not an act of ours. We have no capacity to make him
better or worse than he is, knowing that he's absolute perfection
no matter what part of his person of his actions, of his words,
of his deeds, no matter what you're talking about. He can't
do anything except it be perfect. This of the Son of God is not
in, though there are ample places in our Bibles where it speaks
of faith in Christ. In these chapters here, do the
very same thing. But what I'm trying to tell you
is that there is a difference between, between, ah, I've got
my mind mixed up, y'all. The faith of the Son of God and
our faith in the Son of God. There's a world of difference
in those two things. Somebody said that faith is Christ's
act upon his people. The life of faith is first a
life of receiving, incomings before outgoings. You can't breathe
out what you don't breathe in. And if some of you have problems
with breathing, you know far better than we what that's about.
But I know this, if I get a new bottle of insulin out of the
refrigerator, And I put a needle in there without putting air
in it. When I put that needle in there,
it ain't nothing gonna come out. It's vacuum sealed. And you must
put air in to get insulin out. And that is precisely the way
this is being stated before us. Incomings before outgoings. We can't talk right. We can't do anything right until
God performs a miracle of His grace in our heart. All right, returning to Galatians
2.20. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless,
I live." This is Paul's statement. When he speaks of this crucifixion,
he speaks of the death that inhabits every human being who has ever
seen the light of day in this universe in which we live. Let me read you a statement out
of Hebrews. You need not turn. If I can rethink
to do it, I'll give you the reference when I read it, but I can't wait
for you to find it. And as I may so say, it's the
same person that writes Galatians, Levi also who received tithes
paid tithes in Abraham for he was still in the loins
of his father when Melchizedek met him. Now, you can find Melchizedek
talked about in one of the chapters in Hebrews, as well as, I forget
the particular book in the Old Testament, but it is this person
of whom our Lord Jesus is said to be at least at peace with,
telling us that our own selves before we're born into this world. We come bringing some things
with us when we're born. And this is certainly regarding
that. That Abraham paid tithes and
therefore his son paid tithes in him. Totally unaware and perhaps
did not learn of until he reached some point of age. So the spiritual seed of Christ received from him by his grace
and mercy all that we need. Everything we need now and everything
we need when we die. If we are in him Everything is
hunky-dory, as we would say. Nevertheless, I live. A union with Christ is the only
and entire cause of all. Now, we're not talking about
natural human physical life. We're talking about spiritual
life, being alive to God, Hey, I didn't give you those
references, so I'll go back and get them. Hebrews 7, 9, and 10. Now I'm going to John for just
a moment to read you a statement. It is the spirit that quickens,
the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit and they are life. If our Lord says to a person
who's already, shucks, Lazarus was already in the grave. His
sister says, Lord, by now he stinks. And he said, Lazarus, come forth. And he came out of that grave.
And I'm telling you, if he did it then, he can do it now. But
we ain't looking for miracles to support our faith. We're trusting
God that whatever He does is exactly what we want, whether
we like it or not. It is God's prerogative. It is
our Savior's inalienable rights that He does as He pleases and
everything in this world takes place no matter what day it is,
where it is, how violent it is, how many people were killed,
or how good it is. God rules all things. All the
time. And never makes a mistake. Not a one. Oh, I think God missed
it here. Oh, my soul. Don't let us put
those words on our lips. God is the same yesterday, today,
and forever. Oh, by the way, that was Romans, let me see, John 6, 63. And now
for Romans. And if Christ be in you, the
body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit, capital S, Is
life because of righteousness? God demands righteousness. And we're as incapable of providing
it as a man in the moon. Nothing in our flesh is made
holy. Not now and not then. Nothing
in the spiritual nature of a poor sinner saved by grace is left
unholy. Therefore, it leaves him holy. But he doesn't go around with
a sign, you know, on his back. Look at me, I'm holy. If you are, prove it to me by
some other things. Let's don't talk about just walking
down the road or taking a cross on your shoulder. And that ain't
the cross. The cross is a person, his name
is the Lord Jesus. He died on that cross, but that
didn't change the character of the wood upon which he was nailed. Paul says now in Galatians 2.20,
yet not I, but Christ lives in me. Christ actually lives in
his people. Well, how can he be at two places
at one time? Well, in John chapter 3, when
he was talking to Nicodemus, he spoke of himself as being
in heaven and being right there on that ground in front of him.
I'll just find that and read it to you because I got me some
questionable looks that time. I'm just kidding you, but I want
to make it plain enough and I don't want to hide it from you. John
chapter 3 verse 13 John 3.13 No man has ascended up to heaven,
but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is
in heaven. Now if that ain't in two places
at once, I don't know what is. You and I can't do that. Try
as we might. Stretch ourselves, well I can't
say skinny, but you know, as far as you can, you just can't,
you can't be in but one place at one time. Christ lives in me. Christ's interest in us is first, and our interest with Him, hallelujah,
is second. One is the cause, the other the
effect. You don't have any trouble sorting
that one out, do you? is the sovereign grace and power
of our Lord Jesus Christ and the effect is upon those people
whom he calls to himself and gives mercy and grace to embrace
him as their redeemer. Let me read you another one. I won't talk about my brain.
My wife gets upset. I probably won't even get any
lunch if I do. I'm not particularly fond of that either. We love him. Why? Because he first loved us. First John 4 verse 19. Now I got that verse up here
but I'm afraid it was going to take the wings you know and I
can't rely on that anymore, so I have to see them on a sheet
of paper. Let me give you another scripture
or two in regard to that same subject. This comes from 1 Corinthians. Wherefore I give you to understand
that no man speaking by the Spirit of God No human being speaking
by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed. And that no man can
say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit. Now you know,
I know, any human being that can talk can say that Jesus is Lord. but it doesn't do anything for
you. It has to be words that are spoken
by the Holy Spirit. No man speaking by the Spirit
of God calls Jesus a curse, and that no man can say that Jesus
is Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12 3, and there's
yet another one to go in John chapter 9. And some of you look like you're
getting sleepy, so how about turning to John's Gospel, Chapter
9. Verses 35, 36, 37, and 38. All right, you ready? Jesus heard
that they had cast him out, this man that was born blind, and
our Lord has now healed him. And he made the Jewish Sanhedrin,
he made them so mad they could have chewed nails. I mean, he
had rebuttal after rebuttal. Jesus heard that, cast him out,
and when he had found him, he said unto him, Do you believe
on the Son of God? Now this man is born blind. It's very likely he had no eyeball
in either side of his head. And our Lord, in a glorious miracle of His grace,
gave him his sight back. Now you would think I mean, since
we've grown up in this country where religion is so polluted,
it's a mile off course in every direction, that this man could
have such a miracle performed on him and yet be still an unbeliever? Are you kidding me? Nope. I'm
telling you the truth. Read it for yourself. Here's
what I want you to see. Verse 36. He answered and said,
Who is he, Lord? Our Lord had said to him, Do
you believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is
he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And our Lord said to
him, You have both seen him, and it is he that talks with
you. You can't get it any closer or
plainer than that. And the man said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him. Now, that's
how we're going to come to Christ. May not be blindness. Maybe some
tragedy, maybe some physical ailment. I don't know what it
is, but we come if he calls. I'm telling you, if he calls
me, I'm coming. Yes, indeed. And Paul says in Galatians 2.20,
in the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith
of the Son of God. All of Paul's life in Christ,
from Christ, and by Christ, and all the enjoyment of his life
of faith is by the faith of the Son of God. Just a few more words. Curtis, you ran out of time.
I got plenty of time. Alright. Everything that we need spiritually,
everything that we need is in Christ. The whole package is
in Him. It's who He is. It's what He
did. It's what He said. It's what
He suffered. It's because he's risen again
and ascended to a throne at God's right hand in glory. And he's
simply... Let me read it to you. I'm not
going to wait for you this time. Even though this new Bible I'm
using this morning is hard to get it to turn to the right page. In verse... I'll tell you the
chapter and verse in a little bit. I will declare the decree
This is the Lord Jesus speaking. The Lord has said unto me, you
are my son. God the father is speaking to
God the son, and he tells him, you are my son. This day have
I begotten you. Ask of me and I shall give you
the heathen for your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the
earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod
of iron. You shall dash them in pieces
like potter's vessels. Be wise now, therefore, O you
kings. Hear the Spirit of God speaks.
Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with
fear and rejoice with trembling. Here's a beautiful statement.
Kiss the son. Kiss him. Kiss his feet. Kiss the son lest he be angry and you perish
from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed. You talk about blessed. Blessed are all they that put
their trust in Him. Our trust is not in ourselves.
Our trust is in Christ, our precious, precious Redeemer. You'll find
those words in the second Psalm. Only 12 verses, so you don't
have to read very long to find it. Let me mention just a couple
of other things and I'll be finished. May I read you the 20th verse?
of Galatians chapter 2 one more time and also verse 21. I am crucified with Christ nevertheless
I live yet not I but Christ lives 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 I do not frustrate the grace of God. Just between me and you, I don't
think we can frustrate the grace of God. We might think we can,
but I don't think so. I do not frustrate the grace
of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ
is dead in vain. If we have to bring anything
of our own to the table, Christ died in vain. If he's not a complete,
perfect, full, absolutely full Savior, he's not worthy of our
trust. God help us to see that God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, oh my, In Him, by Him, and through
Him, we can do all things.