LIVING BY FAITH VERSUS LIVING BY LAW

Texts: Leviticus 18:1-5; Galatians 3:1-14

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 18

A. In Galatians 3:12, Paul quotes from Leviticus 18:5 (see also Luke 10:28; Romans 10:5; Gal.3:12).

B. One of the promises of the Law was “life for obedience.” (Leviticus 18:5; cf. Deuteronomy 4:1–2; 5:29; 6:1–5, 24-25; 8:1; 10:12–13; 13:4, 18; 17:19–20; 26:16–17; 28:1–2, 15; 30:4–10; 31:12–13)

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.
But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows:..that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved..(Romans 10:4-6a,9)

C. Leviticus 18:5 was in all likelihood an important text for the Judaizers’ false Gospel. They probably used texts such as this to argue that Gentile Christians could not be saved unless they kept the Law.

I. GOD’S LAW WAS NEVER INTENDED BY GOD TO BE KEPT BY SINNERS FOR THEIR JUSTIFICATION

A. “I do not find in any point of Divinity, learned men more confused and perplexed (being like Abraham's ram, hung in a bush of briars and brambles by the head) as here” (Anthony Burgess, member of the Westminster Assembly).

B. Paul’s argument, while profound, is beautifully simple. When a person stands before the Judgment seat of God and their entire life is laid completely bare before a perfectly holy and just God – the only way they will be received into heaven is on the basis of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.

C. The Law promised life to those who obeyed it (Galatians 3:12 with Leviticus 18:5; cf. Deuteronomy 4:1–2; 5:29; 6:1–5, 24-25; 8:1; 10:12–13; 13:4, 18; 17:19–20; 26:16–17; 28:1–2, 15; 30:4–10; 31:12–13).

1. The Judaizers failed to understand that it is impossible for a sinner to “live” by the Law.

2. The only way that a sinner can “live” is by faith (Galatians 3:11 with Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17).

3. The only way Israel could experience the outward blessings of the national covenant was if God circumcised them inwardly, “The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Deuteronomy 30:6 with 30:19,20).

D. Old Testament Israel did not “live” by their observance of the law.

1. When the Law was given 3,000 Israelites died (Exodus 32:25-28)!

2. Not even Moses, the Lawgiver could “live” according to the Law. Moses died outside the Promised Land because of his disobedience to God’s Commandment.

3. Not even Aaron the High Priest could “live” according to the Law. Aaron died outside the Promised Land because of his disobedience to God’s Commandment.

4. How many Israelites were saved when they believed in Jesus on the Day of Pentecost? (Acts 2:41).

E. Paul uses the word “live” in Galatians 3:11-12 in the sense of “eternal life.”

1. Paul’s Gospel: “The righteous man shall inherit eternal life by faith.” (Gal.3:11)

2. False Gospel of the Judaizers: “He who practices the Law shall inherit eternal life by His obedience.” (Gal.3:12)

“The contradiction between the law and faith lies in the matter of justification. You will more easily unite fire and water, than reconcile these two statements, that men are justified by faith, and that they are justified by the law. “The law is not of faith;” that is, it has a method of justifying a man which is wholly at variance with faith.” (John Calvin, Galatians [Gal.3:12]).

F. The Bible presents two ways of getting into heaven.

1. Perfect obedience to God’s law in thought, word and deed.

2. Faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

II. PAUL DIDN’T TEACH ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM MOSES OR JESUS (Luke 10:25-37; cf. Galatians 1:1,11-12)

A. “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)

B. The law is quoted not twice but three times in Luke 10:27-28.

1. Love God (Luke 10:27 with Deuteronomy 6:5; see Luke 10:21–24)

2. Love neighbor (Luke 10:27 with Leviticus 19:18)

3. “Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28 with Leviticus 18:5 and Deuteronomy 6:24-25; cf. Gal.3:12).

C. Is Jesus teaching that a sinner can keep the Law and live eternally?

1. Of course not! If a sinner could keep the Law and live eternally then Christ died needlessly (Galatians 2:21).

2. The story of the “Good Samaritan” reveals that Samaritans could keep the Second Greatest Commandment better than the Jews (Luke 10:30-37)!

a. Jews in Jesus’ day called the Samaritans “the foolish people” and Shechem was called the “City of Fools.”

b. There was a rabbinic saying, “May I never set eyes on a Samaritan” and “May I never be thrown into company with him.”

c. The Samaritans were idolaters (2 Kings 17:24-41. cf. John 4:22).

d. The Samaritans added to the 10^th commandment that the place appointed by God for sacrifice was Mount Gerizim.

e. When it came to loving God with all the heart, mind, soul and strength the Samaritans had fallen damnably short of the glory of God. And yet, in this story the Samaritan is the one who loved his neighbor (Luke 10:25-37)!

D. Jesus teaches the Jewish expert in the law that he had as much hope of inheriting life through his obedience as a Samaritan.

1. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).

2. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

E. “Do this and live” was not the hope that sinners would be able to fulfill the Law. “Do this and live” was one of the great hopes of the Old Testament that God would fulfill the righteous requirements of the Law so that His people would live by faith (cf. Genesis 15).

F. Christ fulfilled the double demand of God’s righteousness: (1) wages of sin is death; AND (2) do this and live.

“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24 )

QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION

Take what you have learned this morning and make it into a prayer. Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life? If not, now is the time to do so.

What two passages of Scripture were read this morning?

What was the title of this morning’s sermon?

What does Paul mean when he quotes Habakkuk 2:4, “The righteous man shall live by faith”?

What does Paul mean when he quotes Leviticus 18:5, “He who practices them [God’s commands] shall live by them”?

What are the two ways of “inheriting eternal life” in the Bible?

Why is it impossible for a sinner to “live” by Law?

Did the Old Testament Israelites live by their observance of the law? Explain.

Why was Luke 10 referred to in the sermon (the story of the “Good Samaritan”)? What Old Testament text does Jesus quote in Luke 10:28 that Paul quotes in Galatians 3:12?

Does Paul’s emphasis upon living by faith in Galatians mean that the Ten Commandments have no place in the life of Christians?