Chapter # 3 Paragraph # 2 Study # 6
January 15, 2012
Dayton, Texas
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<145> Thesis: Justification is "obviously" by faith, not works. Introduction: Paul is an apostle of relational Truth. He shows a decided interest in how people live (as manifested by his multiple exhortations in all of his letters), but he also shows a determined interest in whether the approach they take to living will actually lead to Life. A brief perusal of Galatians reveals that he makes no "demands" of his readers until after laying an extensive foundation in "facts" (4:12 contains his first "exhortation"). We have to draw this conclusion from that reality: Paul is not interested in anyone doing anything until they know how they are to "do". There is a good reason for this: "doing" is extremely dangerous/productive in a cause/effect universe. Therefore, in Galatians, Paul clearly set about to make as sure as possible that his readers would have a legitimate methodology for living before he gave them any direction for living. This evening we are going to look into the "second" truth regarding methodology in Galatians 3:6-14: Life arises out of "believing". The "first" truth is that Life does not arise out of "doing" -- that method will only bring accursedness. It is Paul's contention that the biblical record is consumed by the fact that Life arises out of one's confidence in God, not what one does for God. His "proof" is Habakkuk 2:4.