Galatians 3 Lesson

CHILDREN OF GOD

We will begin today’s lesson with an intriguing verse taken from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians:

• “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” –Galatians 3:29.

This scripture is a simple “if/then” statement that tells us:

1. If we belong to Christ,
2. Then we are Abraham’s descendants.

In his letter, Paul refers to the following scripture from the Book of Genesis: 

• “And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” – Genesis 22:18.

Paul makes it a point to mention that the word “seed” is singular in the above text indicating that it is referring to Jesus and not to a genealogical lineage. 

• “Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as referring to many, but rather to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is, Christ.” –Galatians 3:16.

Paul’s point is this, it is our faith in Jesus that makes us children of God, not who our ancestors were.

FAITH IN JESUS 

It is interesting to see how Paul ties together the Old and New Testaments through the common bond of faith. 

Paul wrote:

• “Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.  Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.” – Galatians 3:6-7.

Paul’s writings taught that anyone withfaith in Jesus could be called a child of God! 

• “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” - Galatians 3:28-29.

He also talked about how difficult it was to keep the Law and how that led us to Jesus.

• “But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.  Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” – Galatians 3:23-24.

FIVE MATTERS OF SALVATION

Different denominations have differing opinions about what is necessary to go to Heaven.   In the end, the only thing that matters is what God says on the subject.

For today’s lesson, we have highlighted five things the Bible teaches us that are necessary for salvation along with the corresponding scriptures.  

1. Believe in Jesus.  “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” –  Acts 16:31, 
2. Confess our belief in Him.  “For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” –  Romans 10:10, 
3. Repent (turn away from) of our sins.  “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” –  Luke 13:3, 
4. Be baptized.  “ Baptism  now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ .” –  1 Peter 3:21  and “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” –  Mark 16:16, 
5. Obey God’s commandments.  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.”  –  Mathew 7:21. 

THOSE UNDER THE LAW ARE CURSED!

Paul also taught that those who were under the Law were cursed:

• "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them.’” - Galatians 3:10.

Jesus, Himself, would be considered a curse under the Old Law!

•  “If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his corpse shall not hang all night on the tree, but you shall surely bury him on the same day (for he who is hanged is accursed of God), so that you do not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance.” –  Deuteronomy 21:22-23.

And since all of us are sinners (Romans 3:23), we would also be considered accursed if not for the precious blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

CONCLUSION

Paul’s epistles make it clear that salvationcomes from faith in Jesus, not by works.  In his letter to the Galatians, he pointed out how those who place their faith in Jesus become children of God. (Galatians 3:29).

There are two points that Paul made in his letter to the Galatians:

1. Keeping the Law was something that nobody (other than Jesus) could do,
2. Having faith in Jesus is something that anyone (Jews and Gentiles) can do!

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture from the Gospel of John:

• “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” - John 1:12.