Attempting to find our self worth through our own performance is a fools errand. St. Paul exhorts us to a better way.
A sermon on Galatians 3:6-14
Sermon Outline:
I. Legalism is stupid; faith is smart
II. Legalism brings a curse; faith brings blessing
III. Legalism brings debt; faith brings redemption
Quotes:
Therefore, faith, not the law, makes a man just, for justice is not through the law, but through the faith of Christ. But he who casts aside his faith and pleads for that the claims of the law, bears witness that he is himself unjust; for the just man lives by faith.
-St. Ambrose of Milan, 4th c.
As then both he who hanged on a tree, and he who transgresses the Law, is cursed, and as it was necessary for him who is about to relieve from a curse himself to be free from it, but to receive another instead of it, therefore Christ took upon Him such another, and thereby relieved us from the curse. It was like an innocent man’s undertaking to die for another sentenced to death, and so rescuing him from punishment. For Christ took upon Him not the curse of transgression, but the other curse, in order to remove that of others.
-St. John Chrysostom, 4th c.
This, no doubt, all the prophets did foresee in the Spirit, that Christ should be accounted the greatest transgressor that could be, having all sins imputed to Him… not that he is guilty of any, but that he received them, being committed or done by us, and laid them upon his own body, that he might make satisfaction for them with his own blood.
-Martin Luther, 16th c.
How would he have freed us from the wrath of God, if he had not transferred it from us to himself? Thus, “he was wounded for our transgressions,” (Isaiah 53:5,) and had to deal with God as an angry judge. This is the “foolishness of the cross,” (1 Corinthians 1:18,) and the “admiration of angels,” (1 Peter 1:12,) which not only exceeds, but swallows up, all the wisdom of the world.
-John Calvin, 16th c.
Scripture Text: Galatians 3:6-14
Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Liturgy bulletin link
Sermon transcript link
Outline of Galatians
“The Wonderful Exchange” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org.
Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com.