"The Promise and The Law!" Galatians 3:15-22

The Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity                   8/25/24

Sermon Text: Galatians 3:15-22

Sermon Theme: “The Law And The Promise!” I. God’s Promise Is First and Foremost!(vs.15-16). II. God’s Promise Is Irrevocable!(vs.17-18). III. The Law Preserves Us To Receive The Promise! (Vs.19-20). IV. The Law Humbles Us To Receive The Promise!(vs.21-22). by Rev. Nathan J.Rusert

I.N.R.I. What are the two great doctrines or teachings of the Holy Bible? A Lutheran, remembering what he learned in catechesis, would answer: “Law and Gospel.” These two teachings must be sharply divided to rightly understand the Bible. What is the difference between the Law and the Gospel? Question 11 of our 2017 explanation of “Luther’s Small Catechism” answers: “The Law teaches what we are to do and not to do, the Gospel teaches us what God has done, and still does, in Jesus for our salvation. The Law shows us our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel shows us our Savior and brings God’s grace and favor. The Law must be proclaimed to all people, but especially to sinners who refuse to repent; the Gospel must be proclaimed to sinners who are troubled by their sins.” “There you have it, Pastor say “Amen”, and lets get the service over with, I have important things to do today.”

    In eighth grade we thought we were theologians on the par with Luther when we memorized these differences, but we didn’t really learn them. It takes a lifetime of God the Holy Spirit teaching us as we daily read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest God’s Word to learn to properly distinguish between the Law and the Gospel. It takes another lifetime to properly apply that distinction to ourselves and fellow sinners in our congregation and community. Dr. Martin Luther commented that one who can properly distinguish and apply the Law and the Gospel should immediately be made a “Doctor of Theology.” We may covet the title, but shun the cross under which the Holy Spirit schools us.

    Dr. C.F.W. Walther began lecturing on the “Proper Distinction of Law and Gospel” on Sunday evening, September 12, 1884 to seminary students and faculty at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Thirty nine Sundays later he finished. Do you have time to sit and listen to all he spoke on recorded by his students taking notes? If you are interested in committing to it, let me know- we could follow his lead, read through and discuss “Law and Gospel.”

    The distinction between Law and Gospel is at the center of Christ’s doctrine. Although outside of Lutheran circles many of our other Christian brothers and sisters ignore it. To mix and confuse Law and Gospel burdens consciences with despairing condemnation - or it puffs people up in pride boasting that their deeds have earned them a place in heaven. Therefore let us learn from the greatest Old Testament scholar, St. Paul: “The Law And The Promise!” I. God’s Promise Is First and Foremost!(vs.15-16). II. God’s Promise Is Irrevocable!(vs.17-18). III. The Law Preserves Us To Receive The Promise! (Vs.19-20). IV. The Law Humbles Us To Receive The Promise!(vs.21-22).

I. “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”(Luke 10:25) A lawyer tested Jesus with a question. His question mixed Law and Gospel - “what shall I do” is a Law question focusing back on our own reason and strength. “Inherit eternal life” is a Gospel promise made by our heavenly Father by His Holy Spirit in His only begotten Son made flesh - Jesus of Nazareth. A promise that only can be grasped by the Father’s mercy in His Son by the Holy Spirit working and preserving us in God’s Word and Faith.

     Paul preached the Gospel of Jesus crucified for sinners in Galatia and God the Holy Spirit founded congregations. Then false teachers invaded Paul’s parishes whispering, “Faith in Jesus isn’t enough to save...You need faith plus” “Faith plus” is a Satanic deception to burden consciences or puff up in foolish pride. The false teachers told the Galatians that they needed “Faith plus following the Old Testament ceremonial laws, circumcision, dietary restrictions, holy days - to really be saved.” They sold their deception as a “new and improved Gospel.”

      Broken hearted Paul writes to his congregations, “Gal 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, (7) which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. (8) But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (9) As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Beware, Satan loves to masquerade as a white devil - a spiritual devil! Many popular Christian books and speakers are pedaling a “different gospel” the false gospel of faith plus.... faith plus your feelings, your love, your commitment, your spiritual experiences, your doing something to grow the congregation - making you bored with hearing Christ’s Gospel preached - Satan leads you away from the preaching of the cross to subtly snatch God’s Word away from your ears. Paul’s admonition calls us to repentance, “Gal 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? (2) This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— (3) Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”\

      Repent and believe the Gospel! (Vs.15 ) From the sixth 24 hour day of the creation of all that exists the Gospel came first. The Tree of Life is planted first for man to feast with his Creator on His gift of life! Then was planted the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil - the Law - of which man was warned not to eat - for knowing evil always brings death. Our culture of evil rejoices in the death of unborn babies as health care and are sure that their cause is righteous and just.

    Learn from every legal system since Adam’s rebellion initiated the need for government. My last will and testament is written confirmed by witnesses, and once I die it is confirmed, it goes into effect - no one can legally annul it or add to it. If you haven’t written a will yet, it is good housekeeping facing the reality, Isa 38:1 .... "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' "

    On the day we rebelled against our Creator with our father Adam. The Lord God came seeking us preaching His Word - “Repent! Where are you?” and His Promise as He cursed our enemy Satan, “Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." (Vs.16) The Promise was passed from generation to generation among Seth’s godly descendants. Finally in Noah’s day only eight clung to God’s Promise in Christ Jesus, the majority of the 11 to 14 billion people in those days followed the path of evil. In mercy our Creator destroyed evil humanity preserving His Church and His living creatures in the Ark.

    Man’s sin wasn’t washed away by the year long world-wide flood. History records, Gen 8:20-22 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. (21) And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. (22) "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease." The Lord smelled the sacrifice of the Lamb of God - Jesus - He alone takes away the sin of the world - as Noah worshiped with Christ centered faith.

    Noah’s descendants soon turned from the Promise of Christ Jesus to build a city, tower, and name for themselves at Babel. In mercy the Lord came down and confused their languages scattering people groups to the earth’s four corners. As evil increased the Lord preached His promise to Abram, most likely through his great grandfather time ten Shem, to leave evil Ur and journey towards Canaan - the land of the Promise -where Jesus would be sacrificed one day on Mount Moriah - near a city called Salem - later Jerusalem. The promise made of Abraham and confirmed on Mount Moriah in Isaac, as the Lord swore by Himself as the Substitute for Isaac and all us sinners - was in Christ Jesus crucified alone! The Gospel is always and only God’s promise in Jesus crucified for your sins and raised again as the Father declares you “not guilty” and comforts you by the Holy Spirit day by day with rich forgiveness in His Church.

II.  Can you be certain? (Vs.17-18) The Law appeals to our fallen flesh. All false religions outside of Christianity appeal to you doing something to earn salvation. Even our modern false religions of scientism, feminism, environmentalism...all demand you do something to save our world. The Law cannot save! It comes 430 years after the Promise of Christ Jesus is made and confirmed to our father Abraham.  How was Abraham saved? The Holy Spirit testifies, Rom 4:1-3 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? (2) For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (3) For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

       Dear Christian, trusting in God’s promise in Christ Jesus alone makes you a true child of Abraham - an heir according to the Promise sealed upon you in Holy Baptism.

III. Why then did God give the Law on Sinai and write it in stone to be preserved for us? (Vs.19-20) God spoke His Law from Sinai, but it filled His children with fear of dying. They ask Moses to be their mediator promising to do all God commanded through his preaching. The Law - moral, ceremonial, and civil law given was to preserve them from Satan’s deception, the evil world, and their own sinful fleshly imagination. The Law didn’t make them a moral people, for 40 days after Moses ascends to Sinai to receive God’s Word - they build a golden calf to worship as their god to lead them back to Egyptian slavery.

       Moses intercedes for them, offering to die in the place of his rebellious people - Moses reflects Christ’s mercy. Before his death, Deuteronomy 18, Moses promises the Lord will send them a Prophet - Jesus - they are to listen to Him - for His Word brings forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation! God is One! Salvation isn’t a deal we work out - it is pure gift from God the Father through God the Son ratified by God the Holy Spirit to you sinner! God’s moral law - the Ten Commandments still functions to stop the gross outbreak of sin in this world - holding us accountable through civil law and conscience.

IV. How do God’s Holy Ten Commandments serve us in Christ’s Church? (Vs.21-22). The Law is a mirror from God revealing how far I’ve strayed from my heavenly Father’s mercy and Word. The Law condemns us all as poor, miserable, sinners deserving only God’s wrath and hell fire. It teaches us never to trust in what we think, do, feel, experience, or imagine - but to listen to the Promise of mercy in our Good Samaritan - Jesus Christ! In Him alone God the Holy Spirit saves sinners like me and you! Freed now the Law serves us to show mercy to our neighbor - never to earn the Father’s favor, but because we are His children clothed in Christ’s perfect righteousness in our baptism! Amen.