Galatians 3:1-14 - Three Purposes of Justification (Part 1)

It was another convicting Sunday at Remedy Church. As always, you can subscribe to the sermon podcast on iTunes by searching for Remedy Church or you can visit the website and look under media for a link. 

This is the first of a two-part sermon.  Galatians 3:1-14 contains three purposes of justification. This week, phud only covered the first purpose, which is found in verses 1-5. The first purpose of justification is so that we can receive and live by the Spirit. After initially showing how this first point is evident in these five verses, he then examined some key sections of John 14-16, in order to teach us what is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Here are my notes:

1) Justification is so we can receive the Spirit and live by the Spirit (3:1-5) 

• Remember, the second and third purposes won’t be covered this week
  
• These verses contain five rhetorical questions filled with sarcasm and rebuke
  
• These rhetorical questions prove that Paul is absolutely right regarding justification by faith alone and the Judaizers are completely wrong
  
• Paul is using the personal experience of the Galatians to prove his argument
  
• You do not receive the Holy Spirit until after Justification; so, he asks them when they received the Holy Spirit (brilliant strategy)
  
• It is understood by all Christians at this time, because it was the teaching of the Apostles, that you receive the Holy Spirit after and because you are justified.
  

What is the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

There are 7 primary ministries found in John 14-16

1. He will teach us all things and will guide us into all truth (14:26a; 16:13)

• These two go hand in hand
  
• Everything the Holy Spirit teaches us is true
  
• We have the greatest commentator of the Bible living within us; which would seem to indicate that if you can’t seem to understand the Bible very well, then you either aren’t actually putting in effort to study it or you are not a Christian
  
• Doctrine of perspicuity – we can understand Scripture
  

2. He will bring to remembrance what Jesus said in his Word (14:26b)

• This was first to the biblical authors and the Apostles, regarding Jesus’ ministry and teachings
  
• This is also true for us regarding Scripture (apply to the tasks of evangelism and the mortification of sin)
  

3. He will bear witness about Jesus (15:26)

• This means that the Holy Spirit bears witness through me (because he lives in me) and into the ears of those he is calling
  
• Application for preaching and other evangelism (because, yes, preaching is evangelism)
  

4. He will convict the world concerning sin (16:7-8)

• In this ministry, He is a counselor in the sense of a prosecuting attorney
  
• He points to our guilt, makes our sin known, ad leads us to repentance
  
• No conviction means the Holy Spirit is not present; no Holy Spirit means you haven’t been justified; no justification means you are still the object of God’s wrath (conviction suddenly seems more appealing, doesn’t it)
  

5. He only speaks what Jesus tells him to (16:13)

• As part of the triune God, he know the mind of the Father and Son fully
  
• He never communicates anything new or original; He never contradicts previous revelation
  

6. He will declare the things that are to come (16:13c)

• True of the biblical authors (especially John)
  
• For us, this primarily indicates that He will show us the whole Christian way; guide our steps
  
• He also makes eschatology discernable
  

7. He will glorify Jesus; He always points to Jesus (16:14)

• His ministry is based on nothing else but the completed work of Christ
  
• This means our worship, our life, and our ministry is radically Christ-centered
  
• The Holy Spirit exists for the same reason as the rest of the Trinity and all of creation: to glorify God (particularly Christ)
  

IMPLICATIONS

• An unbeliever trying to find purpose in his life is like a baby trying to grab hold of a wet bar of soap; we can only find purpose in Christ, and he has to make that happen

• For a believer, we can see 3 characteristics that should be present – 3x in Acts that someone is said to be full of the Holy Spirit
  

1. Service (choosing deacons in Acts 6:5)

2. Suffering (Stephen being martyred in Acts 7:55)

3. Conversions occurring around you (describing Barnabas in Acts )

• These things should will characterize you (your life and ministry) if you are full of and living by the Spirit
  

Endnote: It is better for us to have the Holy Spirit in us than it would be for us to have Christ with us

• John 16:5-7
  
• Peter and the other disciples (excluding the non-regenerate one, Judas) lived bolder and holier lives with the Holy Spirit in them than they did when they were ministering alongside Jesus Christ
  

PRAISE GOD for this mighty comforter, counselor, teacher, and guide.