2026-01-04 Sermon Notes

• Christ's work was not enough to justify us
• Christ would be a minister of sin.

• Certainly not.
• If we are not justified by faith in Christ alone, then we build up again what we tore down in our preaching of the Gospel. Galatians 2.18
  • Paul shows them that if we return to the Law, (building up again the Law), then we building up the very thing which Christ tore down.

Galatians 2.19 For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.

• These words are in the sense of justification. When Paul is saying I died to the Law, he is saying I died to the Law's requirement that I be perfect in order to be justified by God.
  • If you are a believer then you have died to the Law in this sense.
  • The Judaizers spread the error that we need both Christ's works and our own works to be justified.
• When Paul says I died to the law he means that he could not do what is necessary to be justified

• Philippians 3:4-9 though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If any other man thinks that he has confidence in the flesh, I yet more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the assembly; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless. However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ. Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith,

• Remember the rich young ruler who asked Jesus what must I do to be saved. Jesus answered keep all the commandments. The man said that he did. But Jesus showed the man that while he seemed like he kept the law outwardly, really the man was a lawbreaker inwardly.
  • Matthew 5.20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
    • Outwardly no one could accuse the pharisees of sin, but inwardly they were sinners.
    • Matthew 5:21-22 "You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, 'You shall not murder;' and 'Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
    • Where is anger committed? Inwardly in the heart.
  • Matthew 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

• Matthew 5.48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
• 1 Peter 1.16 because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy."
• Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 82: No man is able to keep the requirement but daily breaks them in thought word and deed.
• Romans 3.20 Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight; for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
• Romans 7.7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
  • Romans 7.12 Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.
  • There is nothing wrong with the Law. The problem is us. The Law exposes our sin.
  • ⭐ How do you know you are a sinner? It is only by the Law. The Law convicts you.
    • Why does Paul quote the 10th commandment here in romans 7.7. It is because coveting is inward. We can't cover it up. God sees it, even when others do not.
      • You can go through all of the violations of the law and you will discover that they all start from the covetousness of the sinner's heart.
        • ⭐ "You desire because you do not have"

• God's law is unchangeable because God is unchanging.
• Romans 3.19 Now we know that whatever things the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God.
  • Paul shows that all the world is guilty of sin and deserving of God's judgment.

• But there must be eternal punishment because the law requires perfect obedience.

• Romans 5.19 For as through the one man's disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.
  • Brothers and sisters, not everyone will be saved. Many will, but not all.
  • made sinners here is a legal term which means declared guilty by God.
  • Likewise made righteous is a legal term for being declared righteous by God.
• this is why the Christian must never gloat over being saved. The believer should acknowledge I should be in hell, but there is One who took my place.

• I died to the law means that the law no longer has power over me.

• Christ is not only our substitute, He is our representative.
  • Christ is our lawyer in the courtroom of heaven. He argues on our behalf before the Judge.
    • This is why, when you arrive in Heaven, you will be no more justified than you are right now on Earth.

• Some of you here today are not alive to God. And therefore you are still dead to God. And you must fulfill the law, but you cannot meet it's perfect requirement. You need Someone to fulfill it on your behalf.
• He made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us in order that we would be His righteousness. Thanks be to God.