Galatians 3:13-14
Not uncommon or surprising to hear Christians say, esp. group, “we are a blessed people”, “the Lord has really blessed me/us”. W/o question is surely true, frequently thinking about circumstances… our own or those we love/pray for. May even be comparison in mind, us vs. those in places like Ukraine or Middle East or North Korea. Would be wrong to minimize, take for granted advantages we do enjoy b/c of where God has ordained we live. Not by chance or luck of the draw home is here, is by God’s purposeful ordering of all things.
Another huge blessing less aware of, something taken away b/c of what Lord Jesus did in our place – we know Jesus broke chains of slavery to sin. Don’t think so much about Jesus taking away fear of death:
Heb. 2:14-15 (pg. 1374) Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Family, friends living in fear of death, fear that colors their choices and actions. Much of time they aren’t consciously aware of their fear, yet is there… and can be for Christian too yet doesn’t need to be. Shrink back from dying process, yes, but child of God need not fear death itself. Unbelievers use different strategies to avoid the fear, all involve deception or denial: stay so busy no time to think about it; use substances or relationships to dull or focus only on the moment; extreme sports to cheat death, cut down to size; even assisted suicide, death by appointment puts individual in control.
God has something very different planned for those who are his and all centers in Jesus – what Jesus by life/death/resurrection bought for us, blessings past/present/future treasured up in Jesus, benefits he has bestowed on us b/c of our union with him.
A. bought from the curse v.13
curse universal but not inescapable
God promised death as consequence for disobedience/sin and… didn’t wait around – came into Garden with curse and sacrifice
even though God must keep promise, included words of hope – someone would deal decisively with the deceiver, Satan
followed by promise of sorrow and children – sin did not bring human life to immediate end, door left open for divine relief
necessary for there to be children to fulfill promise of “her seed” who would crush the head of the serpent
requires payment
God made perfectly clear – God took life of sacrifice to make coverings for Adam and Eve… and then God clothed them
beautiful visual aid of what must take place for sinful man to be restored to friendly (no longer hostile) relationship w/ God
set stage for rest of Bible – beyond ability of even almost-perfect Adam and Eve to restore themselves, only God could do it
was God who made sacrifice, accepted sacrifice, made clothing, put clothing on sinful man – anything less insufficient, unacceptable to God who has final say
he had to become a curse first
permanent solution required one more thing – action in Garden covered sin but didn’t remove it, true for every animal sacrifice
hinted here, Jesus became “a curse for us”, stated explicitly 2 Cor 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
only one fit to do so, he “knew no sin”, all of what he paid went to our account b/c he needed none for his own
Jesus did what animal couldn’t: not only took on our form/nature, took our sin and paid penalty w/his life to keep God’s promise
took away Satan’s power by removing curse from us through death on cross; removed fear of death by conquering death
B. blessed in Christ v.14a
Abraham would be blessed
God said he would bless Abraham, and kept making promises… when Abraham was old… and God kept every promise he made
blessed him with faithful wife, large inheritance to leave next generation, a name that would never be forgotten but honored
granted Abraham not only gift of faith and declaration he was justified, he gave son of promise to be focus of blessing in future
Abraham’s descendant would be a blessing
Abraham could see by faith God’s promise working out down through generations and had absolute confidence it would happen
won’t know til heaven just how much Abraham understood about God’s plan of redemption, the place that Seed would have in it
he did understand descendant would be really big deal – would be blessing to a world Abraham couldn’t even begin to imagine
included in his purchase
Isa. 53:11-12 “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”
promised blessing included full redemption for all who trusted God’s promise before Jesus’ death and all who have trusted since
is blessing that has feet to run – 2 Thess. 3:1 “…pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified” and reach to ends of earth, perhaps in our lifetime
C. benefited by the promise v.14b
comprehensive gift of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit thought of as silent member of Trinity, in reality has less obvious but no less important ministry to all believers
Spirit essential to fulfilling of promise made that includes all families of the earth, promise made by Jesus to send another Helper
compare state of 120 including Disciples in upper room prior to Pentecost w/how they acted after Holy Spirit poured out on them – equipped and empowered to continue work Jesus had begun during previous 3 years
life John 3:6-8
talk about being born again, being brought from death to life, a new creation since old things have gone away, new life
this brought about entirely by power and working of Holy Spirit – raising from dead in sin to alive in Christ, keeping alive to him
obedience Ezek. 36:26-27
benefit of new covenant – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
sin has done such awful things to us we desperately need more than life support, organ transplants – need new replacements
these not aftermarket parts for DIY’er, are original new from the factory heart and spirit perfectly installed by Maker himself
character change Gal. 5:22-23
are not able to see or hear Spirit directly but can surely see indisputable evidence of his presence – Spirit never sits on sidelines
produces change in everyone he indwells, producing “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” only explainable by his presence and work
God by his Word and Spirit transforms us and equips us and empowers us to be useful coworkers with him in work of spreading Gospel to all families of the earth
Spirit works individually in each to properly fit us to be blessing to others same way Lord Jesus was and is – we each have our necessary part in Christ’s kingdom
God has kept his promise to Abraham, it has come to us Gentiles… through Christ Jesus. We have received promise of his Spirit through faith in him. Must not stop there – must live lives of faith… that show our faith to those around us. Remember, the just shall live – really alive and joyful, at peace with God and each other, displaying outwardly the new life we have within.
Reformanda 