Pastor Carl D. Hall Ministries - Galatians Sermon Outlines

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Galatians 2:16-21
Learning the Doctrine

We have been studying Galatians for several weeks.  I have tried to emphasize
this book’s importance to our understanding of grace.
    1. It is one of a trilogy - Galatians, Romans, Hebrews.
    2. These three explain and settle the doctrine of saved by GRACE.

DIVISION OF THE BOOK
    I. Chapters 1-2 - A Defense of the Gospel
   II. Chapters 3-4 - Understanding the Law
  III. Chapters 5-6 - Walking in the Spirit

In chapters 1-2, Paul is answering the question, "How far into Judaism does a
person have to go to be saved?"  The answer is none.  He is saved not by the
law but by grace.

So far, Paul has been proving to the Galatians that he is a God-called apostle.
He is proving that by demonstrating God’s call and power upon his life and the 
church's acceptance of that calling.

As Paul closes that part of his discussion, he makes several statements.  The
truths in these statements are fundamental truths that we refer to all of the
time, but they are being "coined" here for the very first time.  Let’s be sure we
understand them.

    I. \\#Gal 2:16\\ We are not justified (saved) by the works of the Law, but 
        by mercy.
        A. Paul uses the word "justified."
            1. It is a legal term.
            2. It means to be made righteous or to be made as if we have not
                sinned. 
                a. If a person attacks another and is killed, a legal 
                    determination is made to see if the death was justified or 
                    not.
                b. Justification deals with a legal determination of an act.
                c. There is no question a terrible thing has occurred.  The
                    question is can it be DEEMED A RIGHT ACTION.
            3. For a sinner to be justified, Someone else must pay for his sins
                and then the sins must be removed.
            4. This is what Jesus did for us.
        B. We are not saved by the "works" of the Old Testament law.
            1. That is, there is no work we can do that will make the crimes we
                have committed go away.
            2. Paul tells us this twice in this text.
            3. Most all New Testament books teach this basic doctrine but
                especially the trilogy.

Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it
is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified
in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the
deeds of the law.

Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect….

Hebrews 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should
take away sins.

        C. It is important to understand what this means.
            1. No person has ever been saved by keeping the Old Testament law.
                a. David was saved by mercy not the Law.  \\#Rom 4:1-4\\
                b. Abraham was saved by mercy not the Law. \\#Rom 4:5-8, 16\\
            2. In like fashion, no work you and I have done or could do will ever
                merit or earn or secure salvation.
            3. Salvation is by GRACE; that is, salvation comes because of the 
                works God has done for us.

   II. \\#Gal 2:19-20\\ The Law’s Purpose
        A. The law has several purposes.  Chapters 3-4 of this book goes into
            more detail.
        B. One purpose is IT KILLS THE "OLD MAN."  The "old man" is a Bible term
            for our "sinful nature."

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body
of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man
with his deeds;

        C. This principal is basic to understanding the concept of being born
            again.
            1. The law’s purpose was never to save but to condemn.

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not
known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said,
Thou shalt not covet.

            2. In the Old Testament, if sin were found, the penalty would be
                carried out the people.
            3. In New Testament, for a Christian, the act is symbolically
                carried out by sin and law together.

Romans 7:11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it
slew me.

            4. If a person dies lost (with sin to their account), God Himself
                carries out the sentence.
            5. So sin condemns and slays the Christian, but this is a good
                thing.
            6. Once dead, we can be made alive again by the resurrecting power
                of Jesus.

John 5:21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so
the Son quickeneth whom he will.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell
in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal
bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

            7. This is the act of being BORN AGAIN.
                1. The new birth provides a new beginning.
                2. The new birth provides new power.
                3. The new birth provides new life.
                4. The new birth provides new opportunity.

  III. \\#Gal 2:20\\ Now, Jesus lives through us.
        A. We understand the notion of the substitutionary death.
            1. We do not literally die.
            2. We spiritually die with Christ on the cross.

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

        B. As clearly as we understand and appreciate the substitutionary death
            of Christ, so we should understand and practice the substitutionary
            life of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord
Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with
Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead,
and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

        C. As Jesus died for us, He now lives through us.
   IV. What Paul is explaining can be summed up in two statements:
        A. \\#Gal 2:21\\ We are saved by grace.
            1. Grace is God’s work.
            2. It is God working in and through our lives.
            3. In relation to our salvation, the work was done by Jesus on the
                cross.
            4. However, Christians are to continue to let God work though them.
            5. So Christians are both saved by grace and walk by grace,
        B. \\#Gal 2:20\\ We live by faith.
            1. Because we are letting Christ live through us, we do not always
                see or understand what He is doing.
            2. Faith means we continue doing the things that Christ has told us
                to do even when we do not see or understand it,