THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY
SCHOOL CLASS
MARCH 20TH, 2005
THE CASE OF ABRAHAM
I. In Galatians 3 and 4, Abraham is
mentioned nine times (3:6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 16, 18, and 4:22). Why ?
A.
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation.
1.
God made an unconditional covenant with him (Genesis 12:1-3; 13:14-18;
15:1-21; 17:1-8).
2.
The first example of righteousness being imputed to a man because of
faith is attributed to Abraham (Genesis 15:6).
B.
Abraham’s justification is very important to Paul’s discussion.
1.
Was Abraham saved by faith alone?
2.
Did Abraham have to keep a work (like circumcision) to be justified?
C.
The words “Even as” in Galatians 3:6 mean that’s how Justification
happened to Abraham, and that is the standard for both Jews and Gentiles.
1.
Jews must be saved the same way that Abraham was saved.
2.
Gentiles must be declared righteous like Abraham as well (8).
II. How was Abraham Justified (declared
righteous) ?
A.
“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
(6)
- see also, Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:3.
1.
The object of Abraham’s faith was God, not something about God (Hebrews
11:6).
2.
Abraham’s belief in God came after realizing his own helplessness
(Romans 4:18-22).
3.
The timing of Abraham’s Justification was BEFORE his circumcision
(Genesis 15:6 and Genesis 17:9-27).
- Paul made the same argument in Romans
4:10-11.
- Circumcision was never required for
Justification; it was an outward evidence of Justification.
4.
The result of Abraham’s faith in God was the imputed righteousness of
God “accounted to him.” (6)
B.
Paul asks the Galatians to use their brains, and think this through.
- “Know ye therefore.....”) - verse 7
1.
The children of Abraham are children of faith (7).
2.
Paul admitted that the Judaizers were of the seed of Abraham, but he
called them satanic ministers (II Corinthians 11:13-15 and 11:22-23).
3.
John the Baptist charged the Jewish leaders of is day not to place their
faith in the blood-line of Abraham, but in the object of Abraham’s faith (John
8:39).
4.
Paul explained in Romans that the basis of salvation for the Jews was
not doing Abraham’s works, but believing in Abraham’s God (Romans 9:6-7).
C.
It was this faith in God that Moses commanded the Jews to teach to their
children (Deuteronomy 6:1-2).
III. Paul reminds the Galatians that the
example of Abraham comes from “the Scripture.”
-
Apostolic authority flows in unison with Old Testament Scripture.
A.
The Abrahamic Covenent was prophetic in the sense that God made
provision to incorporate Justified Gentiles from the very beginning (Genesis
12:2 and Galatians 3:8).
B.
The Bible does not teach “universalism” (the idea that everyone will be
saved).
1.
Abraham was saved from out of the heathen nations because of his faith
in God.
2.
Both Jew and Gentile must be Justified the same way (Romans 10:12-13).
Conclusion: Next Sunday, we will continue with Galatians 3:10.