Promises, Promises, Promises

Sunday Sermon
October 4th 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 3:15-29 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise. 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Saved by Faith alone (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Tension: The promise is greater than the law however; God gave the law to guide me to genuine living faith in Christ Jesus.

Sermonic Sentence: It is impossible to carry water on both shoulders.

Sermonic Help: Galatians 3.24 “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.” The law is meant to lead the sinner to faith in Christ by showing the impossibility of any other way. It is the black dog to fetch the sheep to the shepherd, the burning heat which drives the traveler to the shadow of the great rock in a weary land. (Spurgeon at his best)

Sermonic Title: “PROMISES, PROMISES, PROMISES”

Sermonic Structure:

I. THIS PROMISE IS MADE BY GOD (V. 15-18)

II. THIS PROMISE IS AN ACT OF GRACE (V. 19-25)

III. THIS PROMISE IS FOR JEWS & GENTILES (V. 26-29)