Many of us experience salvation from a realization of the unmerited grace of God. But why do we then revert to doing the Christian life through our own effort?
A sermon on Galatians 3:1-6
Outline:
I. Spirituality by faith
II. Suffering by faith
III. Salvation by faith
Quotes:
If by the Law, then not by the preaching of faith; if by the preaching of faith then not by the Law. There is no middle ground between the two. For all that is not of the Holy Spirit or the preaching of faith is the Law.
-Martin Luther, 16th c.
Let those who would discharge aright the ministry of the gospel learn, not merely to speak and declaim, but to penetrate into the consciences of men and women, to make them see Christ crucified, and feel the shedding of his blood. When the Church has painters such as these, she no longer needs dead images of wood and stone.
-John Calvin, 16th c.
These words convey both praise and blame; praise, for their implicit acceptance of the truth; blame, because Him whom they had seen, for their sakes, stripped naked, transfixed, nailed to the cross, spit upon, mocked, fed with vinegar, upbraided by thieves, pierced with a spear— Him had they left, and betaken themselves to the Law, unshamed by any of those sufferings.
-St. John Chrysostom, 4th c.
Was it by the works of the law, that is, the preaching of the necessity of these for justification? This they could not say, for that doctrine had not then been preached to them, nor had they, as Gentiles, any pretense to be justified in that way.
-Matthew Henry, 18th c.
Scripture text: Galatians 3:1-6
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
Liturgy bulletin link
Sermon transcript link
Outline of Galatians
“How Were You Saved?” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, August 17, 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.