Morning Moments

V. THE ADMONITION ABOUT ABRAHAM 3:1-29

The mind is a battleground and Satan launches his mental missiles. He appeals to the flesh which opposes the faith and he can do it with faulty reasoning or with flat repudiation. In other words he will do whatever he can to get one to try and not trust. There are options and Paul deals with three of them as he offers this admonition about Abraham -

A. Foolishness or Faith 3:1-5

The truth is that whatever is not of faith is foolishness. "Without faith it is impossible to please God," and "whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Paul previously used his personal experience but now he uses theirs to appeal to their sense of reason.

* FOOLISH - Lk 24:25 (Emmaus), 1 Tim 6:9 (Cravings), Gal 3:1,3 (teaching)

1. The Picture 3:1
The idea is that of mental confusion and is obviously the result of teaching that is not consistent with what Paul had taught them. He had so vividly taught them the Gospel that it was as if he drew pictures of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to them.

2. The Parakletos 3:2
It is critical that we understand that initiation, continuation, and culmination of our salvation - the whole scope of it - is by grace through faith without law. Compare 1:6

3. The Progress 3:3
The idea here is, "What do the law have to do with saving you in the first place? Was it by being good or being religious or doing ANYTHING that saved you or was it by grace (what you did not deserve) through faith (which you did not have)?
God did it all! It was a gift of God not of works and all you did was receive.

4. The Pain 3:4
There is evidence in Acts 14:2,5,19,22 that churches in Southern Asia Minor suffered Jewish persecution during this time. So whether reference is to that or the emotional turmoil brought on by the Judiazers or both is not clear.

14:2 - The unbelieving Jews stirred up...
14:5 - an assault made...
14:19 - Jews from Antioch and Iconium persuaded the people...stone Paul
14:22 - through much tribulation...

5. The Proof 3:5
Heb 2:4 - "God also bearing them (apostles) witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will."

BLESSINGS!