Why Study Scriptures?

 

     Why do I study Scriptures?  This is a question that any of us who make a regular practice of reading God’s Word should be asking ourselves.  This morning as I studied a passage in Galatians 3 – 4, I realized that Paul was using a method to teach the Galatians about a misstep they had taken.  Rather than just read through these familiar passages once again and pen the phrase, “We are justified by Faith, not Works,” I decided to see how Paul approached his teaching.  One thing that stood out almost immediately is that Paul asked questions.  Although the question mark now helps us identify Paul’s questions, we can see evidence that Paul used them to make his point.  According to my translation, the English Standard Version, Paul asked nine questions and then answered them.

     This morning as I walked through this passage, I had to decide How I would study.  Was I going to browse the passage, or was I going to organize my reading so that I could truly understand the point of what I was reading?  As I observed Paul’s writings, I decided to ask myself three questions.  (1)  What Questions Did Paul ask the Galatians?  (2)  What Does Paul say about Faith?  And (3) What Does Paul say about the Law?  By breaking the passage down in this way, I observed how effective Paul’s questions were to point the Galatians to the specific issues brought to his awareness.

Here are Paul’s questions:

1.      Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?

2.      Are you so foolish?

3.      Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

4.      Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

5.      Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

6.      Why then the law?

7.      Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?

8.      Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

9.      But what does the Scripture say?

     From these questions, we can see that Paul helped guide his listeners to a particular topic through well-placed questions.  He was causing his audience to think more deeply.  He moved their minds in a precise direction to help them learn how to differentiate between justification by faith from trying to be good enough under the law. 

     The apostle Peter indicated that Paul’s teachings were difficult.  I wonder if Peter needed better organization skills, like I do, to find a better understanding of Paul’s excellent reasoning skills?  Sometimes clarity comes through organizing thoughts.  I hope my illustration below helps. 

So, what does Paul say about Faith?

1.      Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

2.      And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

3.      So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

4.      “The righteous shall live by faith.”

5.      so that in Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

6.      But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

7.      Now, before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

8.      But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

 

     Paul is teaching his listeners (including us) that Abraham's promise included a foretelling of how righteousness would come to us.  Jesus was the conduit. He broke down the barrier between God and us.  Did you notice how faith was expressed in the passages above?  Notice, ‘of faith,’ ‘by faith,’ through faith,’ ‘before faith,’ ‘until the coming of faith,’ and ‘now that faith has come.’  Each expression can help us comprehend both purpose and timing.  I find the two most significant references to my understanding are prefaced with two words, ‘by and through.’  See if you wouldn’t agree.  

By: 

·       God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and

·       the righteous shall live by faith.

Through:

·       So that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith, and

·        We are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith.

So, what does Paul say about the Law?

1.      For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

2.      Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law,

3.      But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.”

4.      Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.”

5.      the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void.

6.      For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.

7.      For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.

8.      So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith

9.      But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

     Paul is teaching his listeners (and us) that the law justifies no one; it is not the focal point, but rather a means or recognition of how to live before God.  Paul illustrates that the promise came first and then the law; it’s predated about 430 years.  He indicates that the law was never given to create eternal life with God, but as a protective fence (guardrails for safety) until Christ would come.  There was a state by which men and women lived under the law waiting for the redeemer.  It becomes evident from Paul’s explanation that God intended us to be justified by faith all along.

     Now, why did I break this passage down and study it rather than just read it?  Or Why do I study Scriptures at all?   Paul indicated to the early church that we should become imitators of him.  Paul didn’t just study Scriptures to live by them himself.  He was always ready to share his faith with others.  If we know people who have been misled to believe it is faith plus works, it seems relevant to know where to point them to understand what Scriptures say.   See if you can identify what denominations teach in this way.  Do you think we should study Scriptures primarily for our benefit, or should it be a process of intentionally equipping ourselves so that we can share our hope with others?    By sharing how I studied this passage this morning, I hope to encourage you to dig deeper and organize thoughts if you need to like I do.  Our world needs Jesus, and they need to understand how to find the doorway (faith), not live behind the fence (trying to be good enough).