Let Go of Responsibility

Galatians 3:1-18

I have to admit, but I like the irony of this sermon title, as it fit Father’s Day. Let’s just sit back and relax, though I have a complicated relationship with that idea. I don’t do well with relaxing, that is until all my work is done – such as cleaning, etc… I can’t sit down when clutter abounds. Why share that? Last week, we introduced the two banners we can choose – the law or friendship (grace) and the reality that you can’t go back and forth between them. You are either living under grace or the law – you only get to pick one, and the one Paul pushes us to pick does exactly what I struggle to do – put the accountability on someone else – not myself.

Would you be ok ending up in hell with the satisfaction of knowing it was your own choice (No!). We can’t do this on our own – we must trust a Savior – meaning we have to let go of that responsibility. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

Remember Your Conversion (v1-5)

The passage splits into 3 sections, the first in which Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions meant not to insult, but to evoke memories of their early days of faith. He wanted them to remember when the power of the gospel first gripped them and pulled them to Jesus—the mountaintop experience. Have you had one? I went to Mexico in middle school for a missions trip and I experienced construction, VBS ministry, street evangelism, and some other opportunities. Together, they led to a deeper trust in God and desire to seek Him. The Spirit changed me – opened my eyes, changed my desires, and strengthened my resolve. The Spirit changed me. The Spirit has been alive and active in my life, just as in yours, just as in those of the believers back then. When He is active and produces real spiritual fruit in a person, it is undeniable that God is at work. They needed to remember that and so do we! Experiences of God’s presence in us is one of the best tools we have to remind ourselves that it’s about life—dynamic life, not law.

Rely on Scripture (v6-14)

After looking back to our own experiences, our next step is to cement that with scripture as a foundation. Scripture is always there, immoveable and unstoppable. Its record of God’s work stands as our best source for confidence in trusting Him. This is Paul’s next argument against the Judaizers. Starting in v6, he debates out of Genesis and God’s original covenant with Abraham. He explains that there was over 400 years between God’s covenants with Abraham and Moses, the former coming first. Logically, this means that faith came before the law. Abraham believed God and it was credited as righteousness. Yes, action was the proof of Abraham’s faith, but it still follows. And the law came a LONG time later. And what was his faith in? Same as ours (v13) – the cross – he looked forward while we look back, but we’re all trusting in the same thing. Faith precedes action (law) – that this is the very thing that Hebrews 11 pushes on. All those who lived before, lived anticipating the fulfillment of the promise. Today we look back at the fulfillment. We’re all trusting in the same Savior.

Rest with Common Sense (v15-18)

This is when Paul makes the common sense comes argument. In v15, he appeals to standard rule of law (which is pretty similar today to back then, at least in these examples). He shows that the promise was made to an individual offspring (Paul used the individual version of the word seed) to emphasize that the promise from God went from Abraham to Jesus, the true Seed. We discussed this in our last series on the Whispers of Jesus in Genesis and how we saw the promises all directed to Jesus and were for Him to save us, giving the blessing. Paul then equates the blessings from the true Seed as an inheritance, which is a promise given, not earned. Paul again appeals to common sense with the practice of inheritance; just like our law accepts an inheritance as a guaranteed promise, God used these same legal means and descriptions to emphatically communicate how this is a gift, not a reward.

Next Steps

Would you rather go up Mt Everest with Google Maps or a guide? Sure, Google will tell you where to go and even what the weather is, but a sherpa will be able to navigate that and has the experience to lead you through. A sherpa is clearly the wise choice and if we will trust and follow the sherpa, doing what they say to survive, we have our best chance at success. Paul explained to his readers where to hold their confidence – their past experiences, scripture, and common sense. This should all lead to Jesus. Salvation is not our responsibility, it is Christ’s. Our responsibility is to follow – nothing else (save what the Spirit may lead).

1. Write out your testimony, focusing on your prior life, what convinced you of Jesus, and how you’ve changed since.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see God’s promise in the Torah instead of His rules and wrath. Consider reading through Heb 11 a few times.
3. Discuss with friends the idea of living with the gift of grace as opposed to a reward for living right. Consider the advantages of living with the gift of grace.

Let go of what you think you have to do – which I think is a perfect message for fathers today. Trust is our most important responsibility – living connected fully to the Spirit. As the bracelet says, let go and let God!