Galatians: Intro

Paul’s letter to the Galatians has long been considered and still is one of the richest writings of the New Testament for theology, for study, and for preaching. It was written somewhere between 52 & 57 A.D.

Not only does it contain an extended autobiography that covers almost seventeen years in Paul’s life, it also offers one of the most important statements of Paul’s teaching of justification by faith apart from works in the older Mosaic Law.

His letter has had an impact on the life and thought of the Christian church far beyond its modest length. It completes it’s teaching in less than 150 verses (compared to more than 1,000 in Acts, nearly 870 in John, and over 300 in Hebrews).

The influence of the letter on Martin Luther is well known. He summarized his feelings for this epistle and the treasure he found there in just 44 words:

“He is just. He is my defense. He has died for me. He has made His righteousness my righteousness and my sin His sin. If He has made my sin to be His sin, then I do not have it and I am free.” (1515)

The letter makes perhaps the strongest statement of the NT of the equality of all believers, including men & women, in 3:28.

The Galatians were Celts & Gauls who had immigrated into central Asia Minor around 285 B.C. and the area became a Roman province from 25 B.C.

The Galatians had warmly received Paul and revered him almost as an angel of God (4:14) and were ready to make great sacrifices to tend to his needs. They accepted his gospel preaching with enthusiasm. Later after Paul left they became subject to the agitators who insisted they must add circumcision to the gospel for true salvation. Paul was displeased and wrote the letter to show his feelings to refute such heresy against the gospel of Jesus.  

THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL         

(1:11 – 2:21)

Paul shows that the truth of the Gospel (freed from the Law) was not of human origin, since he received it through the revelation of Jesus Christ (1:11-12) when God revealed the Son to him (1:13-17). The Jerusalem church did not commission Paul (1:18-20) but those in Judea did glorify God because the former persecutor now preached the faith he once opposed (1:21-24). 

In 2:15 & 16 Paul finally gave his own description of this truth:

“We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ…for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified”.

THE LAW IN LIGHT OF THE PROMISE  

(3:1 – 5:12)

Paul shows his Galatian converts that they are already Abraham’s descendants, apart from circumcision, because they have been baptized in Abraham’s ultimate descendant, Jesus, the one destined to inherit the promise (3:16 & 26-29).

Abraham was not chosen because he believed. He believed because he was chosen and received the promise of God, justified apart from the law.

Galatians believed the message of faith and received the Spirit.

In terms of Paul’s treatment of the Law:

3:17

The law was given 430 years after the promise God made to Abraham and cannot change the condition of the promise, which is faith.

3:19  

The law was only added to deal with transgressions and its role was temporary until Abraham’s descendant, Christ, should appear.

3:21  

The law was never intended to give life, that is righteousness.

3:23

The law put those under it in protective custody.

3:24

The law functioned as a disciplinarian until Christ, so its protective role was temporary.

Remember Paul was himself an ardent zealot of the law before conversion.

THE MORAL LIFE OF THE JUSTIFIED (5:13 – 6:10)

Paul said that those who are no longer under the law are led by the Spirit which produces its fruit in their lives (5:22) so that their faith expresses itself in love (5:6). So that even though the believer is no longer under the law, he fulfills the law through the love commandment (5:14). 

This vision is perhaps the most optimistic statement of all that Paul made toward the unity of all believers in Jesus Christ.

Paul’s central argument in his letter:

He establishes the doctrine of faith, grace, forgiveness of sins, or Christian righteousness, so that we may have a perfect knowledge of the difference between Christian righteousness and all other righteousness.

There is the righteousness of the law, based upon the 10 commandments, teaching brought by Moses. This doctrine remains in our hearts, but only through the understanding of faith, whereby we are justified (reconciled) to God though faith in His only begotten One, Jesus Christ. In this last & best righteousness, we render nothing to God, but only receive, and have another working within us guiding us toward His service.

For the Galatians to submit to circumcision is to turn ones back to the freedom given in Christ in favor of a rite which no longer has relevance and can only lead back to the slavery of the law. (1:6-9, 3:1, 4:8-11, 5:6, 6:15)

Paul will later express again in Romans 2:29 his position on the original matter of circumcision:

“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men but of God.” Paul, a highly trained Pharisee, knew that Moses himself had taught in Deut 30:6 that God circumcises the heart, and not the flesh.

In Galatians we are given the strongest clue in the entire NT as to the matter of the thorn in Paul’s side, a physical affliction sent from Satan to buffet him. Chapter 4, verse 15, shows Paul expressing his belief that the Galatians would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him if possible, allowing a clue that the thorn was weakness of eyesight. 

Galatians - Chapter 1

As we begin the epistle we see quickly that the relations between the author and his readers are strained. Instead of offering a usual greeting, Paul expresses his amazement at the sudden defection of the Galatian Christians to a position contrary to the gospel they had accepted.

AN IMPORTANT BEGINNING

VERSES 1-5

Paul begins by affirming his own apostleship not by direct command but rather by denial. He claims his authority not from a human source or through any human mediator, but through Jesus Christ Himself and from God who raised Jesus from the dead. He engages his opponents by clarifying this supreme source of his authority.

His conviction is clear that there is no salvation except in the crucified Christ and the gospel He brought. By the death of Jesus our sins are atoned and we therefore no longer shall cling to them. By His saving act, we are delivered from this present evil world, according to the will of the Father.

By that rescue we are liberated into the service of a new Lord. Not only has the past been dealt with, but also the present and future is under new control. This act was not an accident of history nor a tragedy of some believer who was made a martyr. It was the integral part of the eternal divine plan. Moses revealed this matter in Genesis 3:15. Therefore the suggestion by the agitators in the churches in Galatia that the death of Christ was insufficient and must be supplemented by anything further was a position contrary to the will of God.

When believers are abandoning the gospel for a perversion of the truth, the situation leaves Paul no reason to be thankful and the issue is considered by him to be grave.

THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOSPEL

VERSES 6-10

If there is conflict in the community who will settle it and on what grounds? 

Paul is saying that this conflict poses a threat not to his own personal position but to the actual message of grace. Now he argues for the authority of the gospel over any opponent who teaches falsely.

We cannot overlook that these agitators were not openly opposing the preaching of Jesus or Paul, just that the teaching of both was insufficient without including Jewish tradition or law. For Paul this moment is urgent.

The matter is one of the absolute authority of the gospel given to Him to preach by Jesus Himself. The nature of the gospel was grace and its power and that fact has not changed from that day to this day. The gospel is a divine activity by means of which people are drawn into the realm of God’s kingdom by grace alone. To abandon this fact is to forsake God. 

The absolute power of the gospel subdues any efforts to either domesticate or control it. Jesus gave us the example of new wine in old wineskins to demonstrate this same point.

To be completely sure of the understanding that Paul wished to send he says that if anyone, himself and his helpers or even an angel preach another gospel they are to be accursed.

We must not miss the larger point here. The preacher does not authenticate the gospel. The gospel authenticates the preacher.

THE ORIGIN AND POWER OF THE GOSPEL IN PAUL’S LIFE 

VERSES 11-24

The issue of Paul’s call must be understood. He has not been commissioned by the Jerusalem authorities. He has received his commission from the RISEN Christ. Paul did not seek to break into the circle of previously known apostles. Any and all power Paul possesses came from the gospel. He was not interested in legitimacy but in authority.

He reminds the readers of his calling and report by Jesus, which he says was not by man. It was received by the revelation of Christ. He will not later explain his time in Arabia after conversion. 

He reminds them that he was a persecutor of the faith beyond measure and did all he could to waste the church of Christ. Paul is explaining what each and every Christian since his conversion knows which is that the gospel is a divine power whereby God changes people and situations for His own good purpose. What happened on the road to Damascus was a violent and unique moment which changed Paul instantly. The power of God to do so was clear to Paul and he was clearly well chosen to teach that power and authority to others.

Verses 15-16 take us a step beyond the Damascus road. Paul says God separated him from his mother’s womb and called him by grace. Paul was one of the highest Pharisees, studying under the famous Rabbi Gamiliel, strongly educated in the law. No man could out Pharisee Paul. He therefore was the perfect chosen vessel and was made so from his beginning by the sovereign hand of God. 

It was not his decision to become an apostle. It was God’s decision.

At the center of Paul’s calling is his new understanding of Christ and the gospel likely incarnated into the inner being of Paul during his three years in Arabia as God prepared him for the ministry. Verse 16 is very clear on this point saying that the Son was revealed to him and that Paul had no reason to confer with flesh and blood.

Closely related to Paul’s changed view of Christ is his view of the people of God. As a Pharisee it was impossible for him to accept that God had acted toward the early Christians in the way they claimed. It was outrageous to him that the Messiah had been revealed to people who were at best marginal in importance and at worse were less than Samaritans or dogs. These early believers lacked any known piety to commit to God’s law and they were to be looked on with contempt for they were not children of Abraham, and therefore reconciled to God by their own blood.

Paul’s conviction was reversed and he found himself engaged in a mission not merely to Jews of imperfect spiritual knowledge but also to the gentiles who stood completely outside the law that Paul held to be holy.

In this Galatian letter the issue is theological because the message of justification by faith was completed to the Temple master Pharisees, who rejected it, but was spread with massive love over those who did not appear to deserve it.

We will later learn in the writings of Acts 9:23-25 that the Jews sought to kill Paul for this message of grace. But until a Roman prison held him for execution, Paul was effectively immortal for he was God’s chosen vessel.

This paradox remains with us today. Still today in the church we hear the continued preaching of that which a sinner must “DO” to gain salvation when all that is necessary to gain it was already “DONE” on a dusty hillside outside the walls of Jerusalem. 

Galatians 1: Points to Ponder

Paul’s own life clearly demonstrates the power of the gospel. At the heart of his apostleship lies the action of the message which transforms him from the Pharisee filled with zeal to persecute Christians into a preacher to the Gentiles. Paul takes no credit for the change. It is the work of God’s grace and is a fact which neither he nor the members of the Galatian churches can deny. Even the churches of Judea, who would likely not recognize Paul if they saw him, hear of the radical reversal and glorify God because of it. (1:22-24)

What distinguishes the gospel is that it comes “… not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance…”. (1st Thess 1:5).

Paul’s conversion and his commission to preach the gospel are not two separate events; they are one. In only a few words Paul can include God’s electing him, calling him, revealing His Son to him, and sending him to the Gentiles. It is not a two step process and it was not Paul’s decision to become an apostle. It was God’s decision alone. It was God’s voice which called him, God’s hand which grasped him and stopped him along the road, and God’s grace which opened his eyes to see His Son, which was seen only by Paul even though others were present.

Galatians 1, Part 1: The Work of Christ

GALATIANS 1:1-5

Application: For believers – redemption, forgiveness, salvation and Heaven itself depends on the completed work of Christ. Glorify Him because of His work on your behalf.

IT IS THOUGHT THAT THIS LETTER TO THE GALATIANS WAS LIKELY THE FIRST OF THE EPISTLES WRITTEN BY PAUL.

IT IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT HE WROTE IT FROM EPHESUS IN THE TIME OF 56-57 AD.

IT IS ADDRESSED TO THE CHURCHES IN GALATIA AND IS A CIRCULAR LETTER, MEANT IT WAS TO TO BE CIRCULATED AMONG THE CHURCHES THERE AND READ ALOUD IN EACH ONE.

THE GALATIANS WERE GAULS OR CELTS WHO HAD SETTLED IN THE REGION AROUND 240 BC, AND ALL WERE GENTILES.

THE REASON FOR THE LETTER TO BE WRITTEN WERE THE SERIOUS DEFECTIONS FROM THE CHURCHES OF MEMBERS WHO WERE BEING

MISLED AND LURED AWAY BY JUDAIZERS.

THESE FALSE TEACHERS WERE SAYING THAT THESE GENTILE BELIEVERS MUST SUBMIT TO THE LEGALISMS & CEREMONIAL PARTS OF THE LAW OF MOSES (CIRCUMCISION & JEWISH DIET RULES)

THEY ALSO DISPUTED THE DIRECT TEACHINGS OF PAUL HIMSELF, WHO HAD FOUNDED THE CHURCHES ON HIS 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY.  

THEY WERE CLAIMING THAT PAUL WAS NOT A TRUE APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, SINCE HE WAS NOT AMONG THE ORIGINAL 12 CHOSEN BY JESUS DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY.

PAUL'S TEACHING AND INFLUENCE WERE BOTH BEING CHALLENGED BY THESE FALSE ONES CAUSING PAUL TO SEE THE NEED TO SEND A SERIOUS DEFENSE LETTER TO THE CHURCHES.

THIS LETTER BY PAUL IS STILL CONSIDERED  ONE OF THE RICHEST WRITINGS OF THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT FOR THEOLOGY, FOR STUDY, AND FOR PREACHING.

IT REVEALS SOME OF THE YEARS OF PAUL'S LIFE AND ALSO REVEALS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCEPTS OF THE GOSPEL, WHICH IS THE JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH APART FROM THE WORKS OF THE LAW OF MOSES.

HIS LETTER MAY BE VIEWED IN THREE MAJOR SECTIONS:

• THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL (1:11-2:21)

• THE LAW IN LIGHT OF THE PROMISE (3:1-5:12)

• THE MORAL LIFE OF THE JUSTIFIED (5:13-6:10)

PAUL TAUGHT THAT THE GOSPEL TRUTH FREED THE BELIEVER FROM THE LAW.

HE ALSO CLEARLY STATES IN OUR VERY FIRST VERSE THAT THIS TRUTH IN THE GOSPEL WAS NOT REVEALED TO HIM BY MAN BUT BY JESUS CHRIST   AND VERY IMPORTANTLY, BY THE HEAVENLY FATHER AS WELL.

IT WAS THIS VERY TRUTH THAT PAUL LATER USED TO CORRECT PETER AT THE ANTIOCH MOMENT WHEN PETER SEEMED TO ACT AS A HYPOCRITE WHILE EATING WITH GENTILES UNTIL THE JEWS SHOWED UP AND THEN HE SHUNNED THE GENTILE BELIEVERS.

PAUL'S POINT WAS THAT THE GENTILE BELIEVERS WERE ALREADY ABRAHAM'S SEED, NOT IN FLESH BUT BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN BAPTIZED IN JESUS, THE SPIRITUAL DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM.

HE WAS BASICALLY TEACHING THAT ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD'S PROMISE AND WAS JUSTIFIED AND THAT THESE GALATIAN BELIEVERS BELIEVED THE MESSAGE OF FAITH AND THEREBY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT.

PAUL SAID THAT THE LAW WAS GIVEN 430 YEARS AFTER ABRAHAM WAS GIVEN THE PROMISE BY GOD, UNDER THE CONDITION OF FAITH.

WE WILL SEE IN CHAPTER THREE THAT HE WILL TEACH A COMPLETELY NEW CONCEPT THAT THE LAW WAS MADE TO FUNCTION AS A SCHOOLMASTER UNTIL THE MESSIAH WAS GIVEN, AND THEREFORE WAS ONLY TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY PROTECTION UNTIL CHRIST, WHO FULFILLED THE LAW, ARRIVED.

HE ALSO TEACHES IN THIS LETTER THAT THERE IS NO LEGALISM OR WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS ONCE GENTILES AND JEWS WERE MADE ONE UNDER THE GOSPEL.

THOSE WHO ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW ARE NOW AND FOREVER UNDER GRACE, LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHO LEADS TO THE SPIRITUAL FRUITS OF LIFE, AND URGES ALL WHO ARE SAVED TO EXPRESS THEIR FAITH IN LOVE.

HIS CENTRAL ARGUMENT IS THAT HE ONCE AND FOR ALL ESTABLISHES THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH, GRACE, FORGIVENESS OF SIN, AND THE FREEDOM FROM SATAN'S DARKNESS GIFTED TO THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE GOSPEL AND TRUST THE LORD.

RIGHTEOUSNESS NOW ARRIVES INTO THE HEART ONLY BY THE CHANGE OF JUSTIFICATION THAT IS IMPUTED TO US, WITH NO WORK POSSIBLE TO MERIT IT'S GIFT.

THIS NEW AND POWERFUL DOCTRINE WOULD BE LATER JOINED BY

ONE MORE NEW DOCTRINE THAT IS KIN TO IT AND CHALLENGES ALL PREVIOUS JEWISH BELIEF IN THREE WORDS:

“NOT OF YOURSELVES”

PAUL SENT THESE WORDS TO THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS IN EPH 2:8-9

AND THESE TWO NEW WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT GOD TURNED THE

WORLD OF FAITH UPSIDE DOWN FOREVER BY REMOVING ALL WORKS HELD SO DEAR FOR 2,500 YEARS AND REPLACING THEM WITH THE PURE GRACE OF GOD'S SOVEREIGN WILL.

HERE IS THIS FIRST POWERFUL CHAPTER, WE SEE HOW PAUL WAS GIVEN HIS CALL, HOW STRONG IS THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOSPEL BROUGHT BY JESUS, HOW STRONG THIS GOSPEL MADE PAUL HIMSELF, AND WHAT HE WAS CONVERTED TO DO.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT OUR STUDY VERSES IN CHAPTER ONE.

VERSE 1

 AGAINST THE VAIN & UNTRUE TEACHING OF THE FALSE APOSTLES WHO HAD COME TO UNDO PAUL'S TEACHING OF TRUTH, HE NOW BOLDLY SETS HIS AUTHORITY, CALLING, AND MINISTRY IN CLEAR TERMS. 

THESE MISSIONS HAD BEEN GIVEN BY JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF ALONG WITH THE HEAVENLY FATHER AND NO MAN HAD A HIGHER CALLING TO TEACH THE GOSPEL.

HERE HE AFFIRMS THAT HIS OFFICE WAS NOT “OF” MAN NOR “BY” MAN AND HE HAD RECEIVED IT BY THE REVELATION OF GOD.

HE GOES EVEN ONE STEP FURTHER TO SAY THAT IF HE HIMSELF, OR EVEN AN ANGEL SHOULD TEACH ANOTHER GOSPEL, THEN THAT ONE WHO SO TAUGHT SHOULD BE ACCURSED.

SO THE GALATIAN BELIEVERS WERE TO HEAR NOT ONLY PAUL, BUT THROUGH PAUL CHRIST HIMSELF AND THE FATHER HIMSELF.

HERE HE ALSO ENDS THIS PERFECT FIRST VERSE BY ALLOWING THE ORIGINAL TEACHING, WHICH WAS A FLAME BURNING IN HIS HEART, BY ADDING THE WORDS “AND BY GOD THE FATHER WHICH RAISED HIM UP FROM THE DEAD”.

PAUL IS REINFORCING HIS POSITION WITH THE THEOLOGY HE TAUGHT TO THESE CHURCHES.

CHRIST LIVES, RISEN TO NEW LIFE, AND THIS MESSIAH SPEAKS OUT OF THE LIPS OF HIS CHOSEN APOSTLE, AND BY THIS RISING PAUL AND ALL THE BELIEVERS (AND US) ARE MADE CLEAN FROM SIN & THE FEAR OF DEATH IS NOW REMOVED FOREVER.

VERSE 2

AS IF IT WAS NOT ENOUGHT TO CONVINCE THEM IN VERSE 1 OF HIS HIGHEST & DIVINE CALLING, PAUL NOW SAYS THAT WITH HIM ARE BRETHREN WHO ARE FELLOW FOOT SOLDIERS WHO WILL TESTIFY AND BEAR WITNESS THAT THIS DOCTRINE IS TRUE AND GODLY.

PAUL HAD PREACHED THE GOSPEL ALL THROUGH GALATIA AND ALTHOUGH THE ENTIRE REGION HAD NOT YET BEEN CONVERTED, MORE THAN SEVERAL CHURCHES HAD BEEN PLANTED.

FALSE TEACHERS HAD CREPT IN WITH CORRUPT TEACHING WHERE THE PROPER FOUNDATION HAD BEEN LAID.

THROUGH THIS CORRUPTION SOME HAD BEEN MISLED BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD STILL RESIDED IN SOME AS GOOD MEN WHO HAVE STRONG HEARTS REMAIN IN FAITH.

PAUL HAD WITH HIM SOME SIMILAR BRETHREN WHO WERE FAITHFUL AND WHILE HE DOES NOT NAME THEM, HE DOES ASSURE THEY EXIST.

VERSE 3

THIS GREETING OF THE LORD'S APOSTLE WAS STRANGE TO THE WORLD, AND NOT TAUGHT OR HEARD BEFORE THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL.

THESE TWO WORDS “GRACE” & “PEACE” BELONG ALMOST ONLY TO CHRISTIANS AND ARE THE SPIRITUAL CHILDREN OF THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL (THESE TWO WORDS ARE TWIN SONS OF THE GOSPEL)

GRACE RELEASES SIN.

PEACE MAKES THE CONSCIENCE QUIET.

THE TWO DEMONS THAT TORMENT US ARE SIN AND CONSCIENCE.

BUT PAUL SAYS THAT JESUS BROUGHT VICTORY OVER BOTH.

ONLY CHRISTIANS HAVE THIS TYPE OF DOCTRINE AND ARE ARMED WITH IT THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT AFTER SALVATION AND THROUGH IT EACH BELIEVER GAINS THIER OWN VICTORY OVER SIN & DESPAIR.

THIS DOCTRINE OF BELIEF DOES NOT PROCEED FROM FREE WILL NOR IS IT INVENTED BY REASON  OR THE WISDOM OF MAN, BUT IS GIVEN AS THE FREE GIFT OF GOD FLOWING FROM ABOVE.

(HERE THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST IS SHOWN)

WHILE ALL PEOPLE POSSESS FREE WILL, NO ONE HAS EVEN BEEN ABLE TO FREELY CHOOSE HEAVEN HIMSELF. 

WE MAY FREELY CHOOSE HELL, BUT ONLY GRACE GIVEN BY GOD ALLOWS US ETERNAL LIFE. (JOHN 1:13 PROVES IT)

THESE TWO WORDS USED BY PAUL IN THIS VERSE CONTAIN THE WHOLE SUM OF CHRISTIANITY.

GRACE CONTAINS THE REMISSION OF SINS AND PEACE BRINGS A QUIET & JOYFUL CONSCIENCE.

WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT THE PEACE OF CONSCIENCE CAN NEVER BE FOUND UNLESS SIN HAS FIRST BEEN FORGIVEN.

NO MAN, EXCEPT JESUS, EVER SATISFIED GOD'S LAW. NOT FATHER ABRAHAM, NOT ISAAC, NOT JACOB, NOT MOSES.

(HERE THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST IS SHOWN)

THE LAW TERRIFIED THE CONSCIENCE, ALLOWING IT NO PEACE.

PETER HIMSELF EVEN DESCRIBED THE LAW AS A YOKE AROUND THE NECK.

IN THIS MATTER RESTS THE ENTIRE GOSPEL. JESUS WAS GIVEN AS A MAN TO FULFILL THE LAW AND BY HIS ONCE AND SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE THE SINS OF DISOBEDIENCE OF ALL MEN TO THE LAW WERE ATONED.

FROM THAT MOMENT ONWARD, ALL WHO BELIEVE ARE ABLE TO POSSESS THAT FREEDOM FROM SIN BY THE GIFT OF GRACE.

NOTICE PAUL INSERTS HERE THE WORDS “AND FROM OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST.

WHY DID HE NOT JUST WRITE “AND FROM GOD”?

HERE HE IS ASSURING US WITH HIS CONFIRMATION THAT WHAT HAS BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH JESUS IS NOT FROM HIM ALONE BUT THAT HE IS INDEED TRUE GOD.

WHAT HE HAS DONE TO BRING POWER, GRACE, FORGIVENESS, PEACE AND VICTORY IS DONE BY HIM THROUGH THE FATHER.

HAD PAUL PRESENTED THE NEW GOSPEL ANY OTHER WAY, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF THE HIGHEST FORM OF BLASPHEMY BY THE JEWS.

THE LORD'S HOLY PROPHET ISAIAH HAD TAUGHT IN ISAIAH 42:8 THAT GOD HAD SAID “MY GLORY I WILL NOT GIVE TO ANOTHER”.

JESUS WAS NOT ANOTHER. HE WAS GOD IN FLESH.

PAUL WAS A PHARISEE HIMSELF AND HE KNEW THE SCRIPTURES AND HE UNDERSTOOD HOW IMPORTANT WAS THIS MATTER.

SO WE SEE HERE ONCE MORE THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD CHOOSING PAUL TO BE HIS APOSTLE. AS WE LATER LEARNED IN ROMANS, ALL THINGS WORK TO HIS GOOD PURPOSE.

VERSE 4 & 5

THE BEDROCK OF PAUL'S TEACHING WAS THE ANSWER TO THE IMPORTANT QUESTION “HOW ARE SINS FORGIVEN?”

IN THESE VERSES  HE ALLOWS THE ANSWER.

ALL SINS WERE TAKEN AWAY FOR ALL TIME BY THE DELIVERING BY GOD OF HIS SON OF PERFECTION TO DEATH.

THERE IS NO FORGIVENESS BUT BY BLOOD, AND HIS BLOOD WAS GIVEN FOR OUR SINS.

WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO PUT OUR OWN SIN AWAY.

ALL WHO  HAVE EVEN LIVED KNOW THE POWER AND FORCE OF SIN OVER LIFE. IT HAS BEEN THAT WAY SINCE THE GARDEN OF THE BEGINNING.

A GREATER POWER HAD TO BE BROUGHT AGAINST SIN AND IT WAS MADE SO BY THE PERFECT WILL OF THE LORD FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

NOTICE AGAIN THE USE OF THE PRONOUN “OUR” HERE AS SIN IS DESCRIBED.     THIS IS VERY PRECIOUS.

WITHOUT THAT PRONOUN IT WOULD BE SO EASY TO DISCUSS THE WORK OF JESUS TO DISPOSE OF THE POWER OF SIN.

WITHOUT THAT PRONOUN, WE COULD BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT HOW JESUS RID BELIEVERS OF “THEIR” SIN BUT PAUL IS SO VERY CAREFUL TO POINT EACH HEART TO IT'S PROPER PLACE HERE.

IT IS SO EASY TO VIEW THE SIN OF OTHERS. PAUL WILL NOT ALLOW US TO DO SO. HERE HE MAKES SIN VERY PERSONAL.

THEY ARE OURS!

WHAT ARE WE DELIVERED FROM?

FROM THE EVIL OF THIS PRESENT WORLD.

HERE PAUL, IN HIS OWN WAY, TEACHES US THAT THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND.

WE EITHER ARE BLESSSED BY GRACE TO BELONG TO JESUS OR WE OURSELVES HAVE CHOSEN TO REMAIN IN DARKNESS UNDER SATAN'S RULE OF EVIL IN THE WORLD.

PAUL IS SAYING THAT WHEN OUR HEARTS SAY NO TO THE GOSPEL WE ARE SLAVES TO THE EVIL HERE AND WE HAVE CHOSEN DAMNATION.

THOSE WHO SEEK TO CORRUPT THE GOSPEL MAKE THE SAME CHOICE.

IT IS THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST WHICH HAS DELIVERED US THROUGH GRACE BY FAITH.

THIS DELIVERANCE IS NOT OF OUR OWN WILL, NOR OUR OWN WISDOM, BUT IS THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD UPON US BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US.

THIS IS WHY JESUS CAME, TO BE LIKE US FOR A TIME, THAT WE MAY BE LIKE HIM FOREVER. 

WE ARE COUPLED TOGETHER WITH JESUS FOR ETERNITY.

HIS FATHER AND OUR HEAVENLY FATHER ARE ONE. THROUGH GRACE IN FAITH WE ARE A PART OF JESUS, KNOWN AS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

WHERE IS OUR PROOF?

JOHN 20 GIVES IT.

WHEN JESUS SPOKE TO MARY MAGDALENE HE GAVE HER SOME VERY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS:

 “GO TO MY BRETHREN, AND SAY UNTO THEM, I ASCEND UNTO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, UNTO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD”.

AND WHEN JESUS TOOK A SPECIAL MOMENT TO TEACH HIS APOSTLES TO PRAY, WHAT WERE THE FIRST TWO WORDS HE TAUGHT?

“OUR FATHER”

THEREFORE GOD IS OUR FATHER, AND OUR GOD, BUT THROUGH CHRIST ONLY.

Galatians 1, Part 2: The Call of God

GALATIANS 1:13-24

Application: The call of God should be obeyed. When God calls to salvation, ministry, or service, the wise will quickly surrender and obey the Master who always knows best.

WE CLOSED LAST WEEK'S LESSON WITH TWO VERY STRONG MESSAGES FROM PAUL.

FIRST HE DIRECTLY ATTACKED THE WORK OF THE JUDAIZERS WHO WERE WORKING AGAINST HIS TEACHING BY SAYING IF ANY MAN, OR EVEN IF AN ANGEL WERE TO PREACH ANOTHER GOSPEL TO YOU, THAT ONE SHOULD BE ACCURSED. (ANATHEMA – WITHOUT REDEMPTION)

SECOND HE ONCE MORE STRONGLY TOLD THE GALATIANS THAT HIS TEACHING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS WAS NOT GAINED FROM TRADITION OR FROM ANY MAN, BUT WAS BY DIRECT REVELATION FROM GOD.

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE MOST POWERFUL WITNESS THAT CAN BE GIVEN FROM A BELIEVER IS PERSONAL TESTIMONY.

IN ALMOST ALL CASES, WHEN WE TELL THE STORY OF HOW JESUS CHRIST CHANGED OUR LIFE, PEOPLE LISTEN.

THE POWER OF THE PERSONAL TESTIMONY REMAINS THE STRONGEST WEAPON WE HAVE IN THE COMMAND WE ARE GIVEN TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL.

IT HAS BEEN SO FOR 2,000 YEARS. IT IS SO TODAY.

IN OUR STUDY TODAY, PAUL UNLEASHES HIS SWORD OF THE SPIRIT TO BRING BACK INTO BELIEF THESE WHO HAD COME TO DOUBT.

HE USES HIS OWN CONVERSION STORY TO ONCE AGAIN MOVE THEIR HEARTS BACK TOWARD THE LORD.

IT IS LIKELY THAT NO MAN EVER WAS CONVERTED MORE STRONGLY THAN PAUL AND HE USES THAT FACT TO HIS ADVANTAGE.

IN THESE FEW VERSES PAUL TEACHES THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE SAVED FROM SOMETHING BUT WE ALSO ARE SAVED FOR SOMETHING

THE CHANGE OF THE HUMAN HEART IN SALVATION HAS ITS OWN PURPOSE WHICH GOD WORKS OUT IN US BETWEEN THE MOMENT OF CONVERSION AND THE LAST BREATH.

FIRST PAUL REMINDS THE GALATIANS THAT HE HIMSELF HAS DEFENDED JEWISH TRADITION STRONGER THAN ANY OF THE FALSE TEACHERS AMONG THEM.

HE WAS SO ZEALOUS IN THAT DEFENSE THAT HE PERSECUTED BEYOND MEASURE THOSE WHO FOLLOWED JESUS AND HE HIMSELF WASTED THE CHURCH OF GOD.

IN PHILLIPIANS 3:6 HE MAKES THIS POINT EVEN STRONGER BY SAYING THAT AS A PHARISEE HE BELIEVED ONLY IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW, AND THAT IN THAT BELIEF HE HIMSELF WAS BLAMELESS.

PAUL IS SAYING THAT IF THERE WERE ANY REASON TO GLORY IN THE LAW, THEN HE HAS MORE REASON THAN ANY OTHER TO GLORY IN IT.

HE IS GIVING A MOST POWERFUL LESSON HERE.

KNOWLEDGE OF TRADITION IS NOT THE SAME AS GOD HIMSELF IN THE PERSON OF THE RISEN JESUS REVEALING HIMSELF TO ME ALONE AND APPOINTING ME TO COME TO YOU.

WHAT MAKES THE GOSPEL SO UNIQUE IS THAT IT COMES NOT ONLY IN WORD ALONE, BUT ALSO IN POWER  AND IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH FULL CONVICTION.

CONVERSION IS A DIVINE POWER WHEREBY GOD CHANGES HEARTS AND LIVES. PAUL MAY BE THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THIS POWER TO CHANGE.

AFTER THE RESURRECTION, NO SINGLE EVENT AFFECTED THE COURSE OF CHURCH HISTORY MORE THAN PAUL'S CONVERSION.

IT WAS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE NEVER BEFORE SEEN OR NEVER AFTER DUPLICATED.

PAUL IS VERY CAREFUL IN HIS LETTERS NOT TO FOCUS MUCH AT ALL ON THE OUTWARD DETAILS OF THE EVENT SUCH AS THE LIGHT HE SAW, THE VOICE HE HEARD, OR HOW HIS COMPANIONS REACTED.

HE GIVES ALMOST NO FOCUS ON WHAT HE FELT AT THE MOMENT, SUCH AS HIS JOY, HIS FEAR, HIS RELIEF, OR HIS SECURITY.

INSTEAD HE WRITES CONSTANTLY ABOUT WHAT GOD WAS DOING IN HIS LIFE.

HE EVEN SEEMS TO SAY THAT GOD HAD HIS HAND UPON HIM EVEN WHEN HE WAS BORN, CHOOSING HIM THEN FOR THE TASK TO BE GIVEN MANY YEARS LATER.

IT WAS NOT HIS DECISION TO BECOME A PREACHER TO THE GENTILES. IT WAS GOD'S DECISION MADE IN GOD'S PERFECT TIME.

IT WAS GOD'S VOICE THAT CALLED HIM, GOD'S HAND WHICH TOOK HOLD OF HIM, AND GOD'S GRACE THAT CLOSED HIS EYES FOR PRAYER, AND THEN OPENED THEM AGAIN AS EYES OF FAITH FOR HIS MISSION.

HIS CONVERSION AND COMMISSION WERE ONE EVENT.

GOD SAVED HIM WHEN HE WAS SUFFICIENTLY MATURE AND A MASTER OF THE LAW AND THEN GOD ELECTED HIS ENTIRE LIFE TO SERVE JESUS.

THERE WERE CHANGES IN PAUL CREATED BY THE LORD.

IMMEDIATELY HE WENT THREE YEARS INTO ARABIA AND THERE WAS PREPARED BY GOD TO TAKE ON THE MISSION.

HE WAS GIVEN A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF CHRIST. PAUL CLEARLY SAYS THAT “GOD WAS PLEASED TO REVEAL HIS SON TO ME”.

UNTIL THAT HAPPENED PAUL SHARED THE COMMON JEWISH AVERSION TO JESUS WHICH WAS THAT NO MESSIAH SENT BY GOD WOULD EVER SUFFER THE CROSS, WHICH IS DESCRIBED AS A CURSE IN DEUT 21:33.

AND EVEN IF HE HAD, NO ONE SO CURSED WOULD BE RESURRECTED BY GOD TO NEW LIFE.

THE LORD OVERWHELMED BOTH OF THESE AVERSIONS BY REVEALING HIMSELF ALIVE TO PAUL.

SECOND, PAUL HAD THE ACCEPTED JEWISH ATTITUDE TOWARD THE GENTILE PEOPLES.

THEY WERE LESSER BEINGS, NEVER HONORED BY THE CHOOSING OF GOD.

THEY HAD NO PIOUS WORSHIP OF THE FATHER, MADE NO SACRIFICE EXCEPT TO IDOL FALSE GODS AND WERE TOTALLY CONTEMPTIBLE TO THE JEWS, AND ESPECIALLY THE PHARISEES.

THEY WERE OUTSIDE THE LAW AND WERE CONSIDERED UNCLEAN LIKE LEPERS, OR DOGS, OR PIGS.

THE LORD OVERWHELMED THESE ATTITUDES BY MAKING PAUL HIS CHOSEN VESSEL TO THESE VERY PEOPLE.

THE LORD CHOSE HIM AND TOLD HIM THAT HE CHOSE HIM PRIMARILY FOR THE MISSION TO THE GENTILES.

NO LONGER WAS SALVATION THROUGH THE SACRIFICE IN THE HOLY TEMPLE OF BULLS & GOATS, BECAUSE A NEW AND MUCH BETTER SACRIFICE WAS EVIDENT AND SALVATION WAS NOW NOT BECAUSE A PEOPLE WERE CHOSEN, BUT WAS NOW BECAUSE EACH INDIVIDUAL HEART WAS CHOSEN.

THE CHOOSING WAS NOT BY THE LAW NOT BY TRADITION NOR WAS IT LIMITED TO ONE PEOPLE.

IT WAS NOW ONLY BY GRACE TO ALL PEOPLE.

JOHN CALLS THESE ELECT THE WHOSOEVER IN JOHN 3:16.

PAUL ALLOWS THAT AFTER HIS TIME IN ARABIA, HE WENT UP TO JERUSALEM TO SEE PETER AND HE STAYED WITH HIM 15 DAYS.

PAUL'S CHOICE OF WORDS HERE IS AS CAREFUL AS EVER.

WE SHOULD NOTE HE SAYS HE WENT TO JERUSALEM TO “SEE PETER”

HE DID NOT GO TO BE INSTRUCTED BY PETER.

HE IS SAYING HERE THAT PETER, WHILE HOLY HIMSELF, IS NOT MY MASTER SPIRITUALLY.

HE SAYS HE SAW NONE OF THE OTHER APOSTLES AT THAT TIME.

HERE IS ANOTHER PORTION OF THE WALL OF DEFENSE THAT PAUL IS BUILDING TOWARD THOSE HE ADRESSES, HERE THE GALATIANS.

HIS PURPOSE IS TO PERSUADE THE CHURCHES IN GALATIA, WHICH WERE BEING LED AWAY BY FALSE APOSTLES THAT THESE FALSE ONES WERE CORRUPT.

HE WISHES TO EASE ALL DOUBTS THAT THE GOSPEL HE HAD TAUGHT THEM WAS THE TRUE WORD OF GOD.

HE WANTS TO RETAIN THESE BELIEVERS ON THE PROPER PATH AND SOUND DOCTRINE, AND HIS MOST CONVINCING ARGUMENT IS THAT HE WAS GIVEN THIS DOCTRINE OF GRACE BY NO MAN, EVEN AN ORIGINAL APOSTLE, BUT BY GOD ALONE.

IN HIS YEARS OF STUDY AND GAINING WISDOM IN ARABIA, BEING INSTRUCTED BY GOD, HE HAD SEEN NO APOSTLE.

WE SEE THAT PAUL, THE ELECT VESSEL OF GOD, WAS DOUBTED AMONG HIS OWN CONVERTS IN GALATIA, TO WHOM HE HAD PREACHED CHRIST.

NOW HE TAKES A MOST SERIOUS OATH IN VERSE 20 WHICH HE SUMMARIZES ALL HIS TEACHING BY SAYING THAT BEFORE GOD, I DO NOT LIE.

HE SAYS HE TAUGHT IN THE PROVINCES OF SYRIA AND CILICIA THIS SAME GOSPEL.

AND WHILE HE HAD NOT TAUGHT THE CHURCHES IN JUDEA, THEY HAD HEARD OF HIM AS THE ONE WHO HAD PERSECUTED IN THE PAST AND NOW WAS PREACHING THE FAITH WHICH HE HAD TRIED TO DESTROY.

MORE THAN THAT THESE CHURCHES WHO HAD NOT KNOWN PAUL IN THE FACE, GLORIFIED GOD IN HIM BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT CONVERSION AND HIS NEW GOD GIVEN MISSION.

THE JEWS WERE VIOLENTLY OPPOSED TO PAUL, AND TRIED AS BEST THEY COULD TO DISTORT AND DEGRADE HIS MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE.

THEY HATED PAUL AS MUCH AS THEY HATED STEPHEN WHO THEY STONED TO DEATH FOR PREACHING THE LORD'S GOSPEL MESSAGE.

ACTS 9:23-25 SHOWS US THIS HATRED FOR THE TRUE MESSAGE.

“AND AFTER THAT MANY DAYS WERE FULFILLED, THE JEWS TOOK COUNSEL TO KILL HIM: BUT THEIR LAYING AWAIT WAS KNOWN OF SAUL. AND THEY WATCHED THE GATES DAY AND NIGHT TO KILL HIM. THEN THE DISCIPLES TOOK HIM BY NIGHT , AND LET HIM DOWN BY THE WALL IN A BASKET.”

IT DID NOT MATTER TO THE JEWS WHO BROUGHT THE MESSAGE OF JESUS. THEIR ANGER OVER THIS PURE GOSPEL OF GRACE LED THEM TO MURDER THE MESSENGER IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY THEY FOUND.

THEY HATED JESUS AND ALL WHO BROUGHT HIS MESSAGE.

SO WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED IN THESE 24 VERSES OF THE FIRST CHAPTER OF GALATIANS WHICH MANY CALL THE “DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE & FREEDOM OF ALL CHRISTIANS”?

WE LEARNED THAT PAUL WAS THE CHOSEN MESSENGER OF THE GRACE OF GOD.

HE WAS CALLED OUT OF THE DARKNESS OF UNBELIEF INTO THE DIVINE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL AND WAS GIVEN THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY TO PREACH IT.

VERSES 1-2 TEACH US HE IS A MAN WITH ONLY ONE MASTER.

VERSES 3-4 TEACH US HE IS A MAN WITH ONE MESSAGE.

VERSE 5 TEACHES US HE IS A MAN WITH ONLY ONE MOTIVE.

FOR THE CHURCHES HE PLANTED, THERE IS DISAPPROVAL OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO FORSAKE HIS MESSAGE.

FOR THE ONE WHO CALLED HIM, THERE IS PROFOUND REVERENCE AND HUMBLE GRATITUDE.

PAUL'S CALL WAS:

PERSONAL & PARTICULAR & POWERFUL  (ACTS 9:4-11 SO TEACHES)

PAUL'S COMMISSION:

WAS NOT FROM ANY GROUP OF MEN OR FROM ANY ONE MAN.

WAS GIVEN BY JESUS CHRIST PERSONALLY.

WAS A CALL TO BE AN APOSTLE (ONE WHO IS SENT) TO THE GENTILES.

WAS EQUAL TO THOSE ORIGINAL 12 CALLED BY JESUS.

PAUL'S STRONG DOCTRINE:

WAS THE EQUALITY OF JESUS CHRIST WITH THE HEAVENLY FATHER.

WAS FOCUSED UPON THE HOPE THE RESURRECTION GAVE ALL MEN.

PAULS' MESSAGE WAS ONE OF GRACE & PEACE THROUGH CHRIST MUCH LIKE THE ORIGINAL MESSAGE OF THE ANGELS TO THE SHEPHERDS, GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY.

HE BROUGHT THE MESSAGE OF GRACE MORE FULLY THAN ANY OTHER TEACHER EVER GIVEN BY GOD.

WHAT DOES HE TEACH US ABOUT GOD'S GRACE IN HIS LETTERS?

IT IS GOD'S UNMERITED FAVOR IN ACTION.

IT IS FREELY BESTOWED IN LOVING KINDNESS & MERCY.

IT IS SELECTIVE.

IT IS GIVEN TO EACH BELIEVER WHO GOES IN HIS OR HER HEART IN HUMBLE REPENTANCE TO JESUS.

WHEN IT IS GRANTED, IT RESCUES US FROM THIS PRESENT EVIL AGE AND KEEPS US ETERNALLY FOR THE AGE TO COME.

THIS WE BELIEVE.

WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT ONCE CALLED & SAVED NOTHING CAN REMOVE US FROM HIS GRACE.

LET'S CLOSE TODAY WITH ONE OF MY TWO FAVORITE VERSES WHICH GIVES US THE BLESSED ASSURANCE OF THAT ETERNAL SALVATION.

ROMANS 11:29:

“FOR THE GIFTS AND CALLING OF GOD ARE WITHOUT REPENTANCE”.

THE NIV TRANSLATION SAYS THE GIFTS AND CALLING ARE IRREVOCABLE.

HE WILL NOT CAST OUT THOSE WHO ARE HIS.

ONCE SAVED – ALWAYS SAVED.

Galatians - Chapter 2

THE SEARCH FOR UNITY

1-10 How did a church which started as a small group of Jewish followers in Jerusalem at the time of the resurrection come to be a predominantly Gentile movement by the end of the first century?

The meeting in Jerusalem indicating the depth of the Jew/Gentile issue within the early church was successful in smoothing the path for further growth by Paul clarifying the gospel as “ONE GOSPEL OF GRACE FOR ALL”. 

Verses 1-10 are structured in three parts:

1-2 gives the reasons for Paul’s trip to Jerusalem with Barnabas & Titus. Note: Paul advises we went by “revelation” and to communicate the gospel he preached to the Gentiles.

3-5 relates the circumstances surrounding the possible circumcision of Titus.

The question is an interesting one as Paul is resistant to the idea of the circumcision of Titus while he had arranged the circumcision of Timothy as related in Acts 16:3.

Timothy’s mother was Jewish and Paul felt he had the freedom to so act in order to better communicate the gospel to Jews (1 Cor 9:19-23).

With Titus the situation was different, as he was to focus upon the Gentiles and Paul was pressured by the “false brethren” and likely felt he should not yield his liberty (freedom) to decide based upon such pressure.

Perhaps these two opposite actions Paul took reflect his idea that God has graciously relieved humanity from such religious restrictions in the service of the gospel. Today, we might just say, “IT DOES NOT MATTER”.

6-10 records the actual meeting with the “pillar apostles”, the recognition they give to Paul’s authority, and the agreement that a common mission exists with different paths to the same end.

11-21 Contending for the Truth of the Gospel

Paul introduces for the first time in this letter the language of justification and he sets the clear choice between “works of the law” and “faith in Christ”. Then he quickly turns to the theme of “dying with Christ” to indicate that one can be immune to the law while alive to God.

Note: Martin Luther devoted 80 pages of his commentary on Galatians to these eleven verses. 

Luther wrote that after all his years of intense study and inner conflict as to what doctrine finally separated him from the Roman church, all of his protest centered upon Galatians 2:16. It was on this one verse that he said the entire foundation of his 95 Theses nailed to his church door rested. 

Note: It seems important to focus upon the thought that Paul’s confrontation with Peter at Antioch was not one of theology, or power struggle, or perhaps some thought to reduce Peter’s primary position among the apostles. Peter seemed to be acting in one regard as over zealous in his Jewishness when he ate with Gentiles until others from Jerusalem arrived and then reversed himself. 

Paul confronted him and essentially brought forth the idea that still needs our work today, that of the table of fellowship, unified in Christ.

We might summarize the strength of Paul’s position quite simply as:

Grace with strings attached is no grace at all.

Paul’s understanding of justification is made clear to us in this chapter as:

1. His belief that the entry of the Gentiles into the church was as a result of the work of Christ no less than for the Jews who were converting.

2. Justification brought righteousness from God to the believer as sinners are brought into a right relationship as they are now “in Christ” and are no longer concerned with service to the law but rather to service to a higher power, Jesus, who, through His grace, makes it possible AND now lives within the believer himself (see 2:20).

Entrance into Abraham’s family comes by hearing and believing through grace given as we accept in faith, NOT by birth.

Justification is not only a gift but also a demand, requiring not passive thought but active obedience as we bear fruit for the kingdom.

Galatians 2: Points to Ponder

Paul’s statements on justification (reconciliation to God) come from his reflection on and defense of the Gentile believers entering the church, not out of any reflection on the matter of how personal guilt is removed.

Paul teaches that God’s way is to unite the believer to Himself as He justifies the believer through grace as a gift as the believer is drawn and accepts Christ. This unity is seen in his striking conclusion in 3:28 that no matter who we were before, once we are justified (saved) we all are one in Christ Jesus.

Martin Luther described this process as divine words of pardon and says it is “the inward way” of justification. It occurs when a person despairs of his own unrighteousness and then humbly confesses that he is a sinner in need and then his heart is ready to accept the gospel and the Savior who brought it. There is no hint in Luther’s teaching that one’s fellow human beings have any part in the event of justification.

Galatians - Chapter 3

Faith, Law, & the People of God

In the first two chapters of Galatians Paul addressed the problems of the churches by affirming the authority of the one Gospel.

The agitators who followed Paul caused added issues by teaching that the Gospel of Grace was insufficient for salvation and there were works that had to be done by the believers to assure salvation, works such as circumcision of the Gentile believers and some obedience in diet, such as were followed by the Jews.

Paul’s teaching was that ALL who profess belief in Christ were accepted into His family by Grace, not of works. Paul’s teaching on this matter was based upon the revelation given him by Jesus Himself and Paul consistently preached all are accepted and are equal in Christ.

The stakes in this argument were very high and were subject to all the strength of verbal combat Paul could muster. Paul in this chapter could barely hide his feelings of urgency, impatience, and even bitter irony toward those who would lead the recently converted believers astray.

Here is the structure of the thoughts Paul uses in Galatians 3 to make his case to those who might have been confused or misled by these false teachers:

3:1-5

Appeal to the experience of the Galatian Churches: How did you receive the spirit?

3:6-14

The blessing promised to Abraham has now come to the Gentiles.

3:15-29

To belong to Christ is to be the heir of Abraham and to no longer to be under the suppression of the law.

15-18

The law does not make the promise invalid. The promise made was fulfilled in Christ (“… as of one…”) who is the promised seed. The commands of the law arrived 430 years later.

19-29

Christ’s coming changes the status of the law and produces a new fellowship. The law had a temporary function as a custodian. Being in Christ brings God’s children (Abraham’s heirs) into a new unity.

Further thoughts on Galatians 3:

The Spirit comes into the believer with the preaching of the crucified Christ.

The Spirit is in strong opposition to the flesh. (Paul uses the word flesh to describe works of the law).

The Spirit is the power of the new age and therefore is the source of mighty works to come. 

The Spirit dwells within the entire community of believers, not just within a few leaders.

Abraham, not chosen because he believed, was counted righteous because of his faith that was later evident (Genesis 12:3 & 15:6) and here we see the scriptural beginning of the basis of Paul’s strong argument of justification by faith alone.

The true heirs of Abraham are related to him by their faith not by their family nor tribe. This is a HUGE change brought by Paul as Jews counted blood family and tribe as sacred above almost all other factors.

(Paul will later perfect this teaching in Romans 9:6 when he says that                                       

“… For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.”)

Christ has freed believers from the law by His perfect obedience and has fulfilled it for all times, and now we are living under Grace.

All who believe and follow Christ are living in unity & equality in the dominion of Jesus Christ:

3-28 “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”.

Galatians 3: Points to Ponder

The term “Spirit” is used in chapter 3 for the first time in this letter. It is God’s vital presence, His power of life which operates in the world and in His church.

The Spirit comes in and with the preaching of the crucified Christ, with faith coming by hearing, implemented by the drawing of God and none may come unless first drawn.

The Spirit is set in radical opposition to the flesh.

The Spirit is the power of the new age and is the source of the mighty change.

The Spirit comes into the whole community, not just to those who were spiritual leaders by birth, such as the Pharisees.

The law came long after Abraham and Gentiles are to be accepted into the church through faith because the promises made to Abraham are not affected or conditioned in any way by what happened at Sinai.

God is faithful to His promise.

Christ took on Himself the curse of the law, liberating humanity from what it rightly deserved, being filled with sin, and by Himself brought the new age.

The theme here is that a change in control has happened so that no longer do the people of God look to the law as their symbol of identity but to Christ only.

Since Christ is the seed of Abraham (3:16), it is identification with Him rather than with the law that assures one is included in the promise.

Galatians 3, Part 1: The Gift of the Spirit

GAL 3:1-9

Application: The gift of God's indwelling Holy Spirit is received by faith at the time of salvation, not earned by works afterward. Walk by faith and serve in the Spirit of Christ.

PAUL IS OPENING THE DOOR TO THE REAL TRUTH OF THE BOOK OF GALATIANS IN THESE VERSES.

HIS MAIN TEACHING IS OF THE JUSTIFICATION OF SINNERS INTO SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH.

GRACE AND THE LAW (MEANING WORKS OF MAN) ARE CONTRARY TO ONE ANOTHER. THESE TWO CANNOT EXIST TOGETHER IN THE HEART OF A BELIEVER. IT IS ONE OR THE OTHER AND CAN NEVER BE BOTH.

HE KNOWS NOW THAT HE IS WRITING TO THOSE WHO HAVE COME TO THE LORD UNDER HIS MINISTRY AND THAT THEY ARE UNDER THE DECEPTION OF THE FALSE TEACHERS.

HE KNOWS THAT DECEPTION LEADS TO DISOBEDIENCE.

WHEN WE SPEAK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER WHY THE SPIRIT IS GIVEN AND WHY IT LIVES IN US WHEN WE ARE SAVED.

ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT MATTERS THAT FACED THE ORIGINAL APOSTLES (AND THE FEW FOLLOWERS REMAINING AT THE DEATH OF JESUS) WAS THAT JESUS HAD LEFT THEM.

BUT HE DID NOT LEAVE THEM NOR DID HE FORSAKE THEM.

HE TOLD THEM IN JOHN 16:7 THAT IT WAS EXPEDIENT FOR THEM THAT HE LEAVE AND SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM. 

(EXPEDIENT IN THIS USE MEANS A BETTER WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE DESIRED).

FROM PENTECOST ONWARD HE WAS ALWAYS WITH THEM AND IS ALSO ALWAYS WITH US, JUST SIMPLY CHANGED IN FORM.

HE TRANSFORMED HIS PRESENCE FROM PHYSICAL TO SPIRITUAL.

AT THE END TIMES HE WILL REVERSE THIS CHANGE AND RETURN AND REVEAL HIMSELF AGAIN IN HIS PHYSICAL FORM, WITH ONLY 

ONE DIFFERENCE OF HIS RETURN WILL BE IN HIS GLORIFIED BODY.

IN THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF GALATIANS, PAUL HAD ADDRESSED THE PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH BY REMINDING THEM OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE ONE TRUE GOSPEL.

HE HAD ALSO ONCE AGAIN IDENTIFIED HIS OWN AUTHORITY AS COMING DIRECTLY FROM BOTH THE SON & THE FATHER.

NOW THAT THESE SAVED SOULS ARE UNDER DECEPTION HE BRINGS TO THEM A MESSAGE OF REMINDING THEM OF THEIR OWN HISTORY AND THE HISTORY HE HAD TAUGHT THEM BEFORE FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT AND FATHER ABRAHAM.

HE ASKS THEM VERY DIRECTLY HOW DID THEY RECEIVE THE SPIRIT?

HE SHOWS THEM THAT EVEN THE MOST HOLY PATRIARCH ABRAHAM HAD RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THEY THEMSELVES HAD GAINED IT, BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

HIS OPENING WORDS MAKE IT APPEAR THESE PEOPLE ARE IN THE HANDS OF A MAGICIAN OR THOSE WHO CAN CONJURE UP EVIL SPIRITS AS HE SAYS THEY ARE NOW BEWITCHED.

HAVE THEY SO SOON FORGOTTEN HOW SALVATION HAD COME UPON THEM?

PAUL USES THE TERM “SPIRIT” FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS BOOK.

HE BEGINS TO REVEAL HIS DEFENSE OF THE ORIGINAL TEACHING HE HAD GIVEN BY REMINDING THEM OF SEVERAL THINGS:

1- THE SPIRIT COMES BY THE PREACHING OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST.

2- THE SPIRIT IS IN RADICAL OPPOSITION TO THE FLESH.

3- THE SPIRIT IS THE MIGHTY POWER OF THE NEW AGE.

4- THE SPIRIT COMES BY GRACE ONLY AND ONLY TO ALL WHO REPENT & BELIEVE.

5- THE SAVING SPIRIT IS UNEARNED AND IS NOT CONDITIONAL UPON ANY WORKS.

THIS TROUBLE IN THE CHURCHES PAUL HAD PLANTED WAS DEEPLY MOVING PAUL TO ACTION BY HIS LETTER TO THEM.

THESE PEOPLE HAD WARMLY RECEIVED PAUL, ACCEPTED HIS TEACHING, LOVED HIS PREACHING, AND HAD BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD AS HE MINISTERED TO THEM.

LISTEN TO HOW PAUL DESCRIBES THE DEEP AND LOVING AFFECTION THESE BELIEVERS HAD FOR HIM IN CHAPTER 4:15 :

“... I BEAR YOU RECORD THAT IF IT HAD BEEN POSSIBLE, YE WOULD HAVE PLUCKED OUT YOUR OWN EYES, AND HAVE GIVEN THEM TO ME.”

HE WAS SO HAPPY AT THE WARM, OPENHEARTED, RECEPTION THE GALATIANS HAD GIVEN HIM AND THEIR WARM RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

BUT NOW HE IS JUST AS AMAZED AT HOW SOON THEY HAD DECIDED TO ACCEPT OTHER TEACHINGS WHICH WERE FALSE AND CORRUPT.

THESE BELIEVERS HAD TURNED AWAY FROM THE GOSPEL TRUTH TOWARD THE UNTRUTH OF THOSE WHO WANTED TO MAKE THEM JEWS AS A REQUIREMENT OF SALVATION.

THESE CHURCH MEMBERS HAD :

• TRADED CALVARY FOR SINAI

• TRADED JESUS CHRIST FOR MOSES

• TRADED SONSHIP FOR SLAVERY TO LAW

• TRADED LIBERTY FOR BONDAGE

• TRADED FAITH FOR WORKS.

• TRADED TRUTH FOR ERROR

HOW VERY FOOLISH THEY SEEMED TO PAUL.

PAUL HAD TAUGHT THEM THAT THEY WERE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH IN WHAT JESUS HAD ACCOMPLISHED AT CALVARY, APART FROM ANY SINGLE THING THEY HAD DONE THEMSELVES.

THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS AND SOULS HAD BEEN RECONCILED TO GOD BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS.

NOW, HAVING SENT THE THOUGHT OF THEIR OWN JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH, PAUL NOW IMPRESSES UPON THEM THE MANNER IN WHICH ABRAHAM CAME TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

PAUL WAS NOT SPEAKING TO THEM IN HARSH LANGUAGE.

HE SPOKE OUT OF TENDERNESS AS A PASTOR SHOULD.

BUT HE CERTAINLY REBUKED THEIR UNBELIEF.

THEY HAD BEEN CHARMED AWAY BY TEACHINGS THAT FLATTERED THE FLESH, NOT THE SPIRIT.

THIS DANGER IS AS COMMON AMONG US TODAY AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF THE GALATIANS.     SATAN STILL IS AT WORK.

PAUL HAD TAUGHT THEM THAT ONLY THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION WERE TRUTH.

NOW THEY WERE EMBRACING THE JEWISH UNTRUTH THAT ONE HAD TO BE CIRCUMCIZED TO BE SAVED. IN OTHER WORDS, GENTILES CAN ONLY GAIN SALVATION BY FIRST BECOMING JEWS.

PAUL HAD CLEARLY TAUGHT THEM THAT CHRIST IS ALL IN ALL, AND NOTHING MAY BE ADDED OR TAKEN AWAY FROM THE GOSPEL OF GRACE.

THIS WAS HOW THEY HAD COME TO BE SAVED.

THEIR FORGIVENESS WAS GAINED BY CHRIST CRUCIFIED.

THEIR FAITH WAS FOUNDED IN HIS SUBSTITUTE OF HIMSELF FOR THEM IN SACRIFICE FOR SIN.

JESUS HAD BEEN THEIR ONLY HOPE.

HE HAD TAUGHT THEM THE TWO PART TRUTH THAT IS AS TRUE TODAY AS IT WAS THEN:

• CHRIST FULFILLED THE LAW FOR US

• CHRIST'S BLOOD ATONED FOR ALL SIN OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

PAUL WAS THE FIRST BRINGER OF THIS IMPORTANT HOLY GOSPEL MESSAGE TO GENTILES IN THE AREA OF THE CHURCHES OF GALATIA.

HE WAS SO SUCCESSFUL IN SHOWING THESE PAGANS THAT JUSTIFICATION IS BY FAITH ALONE BECAUSE THE SPIRIT IS RECEIVED ONLY BY FAITH.

CHRIST TAUGHT IN JOHN 3:8 THAT THE SPIRIT COMING TO ANY MAN IS THE SOVEREIGN CHOICE OF GOD, AS IT COMES AND GOES WHERE IT WISHES, JUST LIKE THE WIND.

THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT COME THROUGH THE PREACHING OF FAITH, NOT OF LAW OR WORKS.

SANCTIFICATION COMES NOT BY THE LAW BUT BY THE SPIRIT IN GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST ONLY.

HE TEACHES THAT JUSTIFICATION MUST BE BY FAITH ONLY BECAUSE ABRAHAM, THE FATHER OF ALL BELIEVERS, WAS JUSTIFIED AND FOUND RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH, HAVING HIMSELF BEING CALLED OUT OF A FAMILY & LAND OF IDOL WORSHIPPING PAGANS.

HE WAS NOT MADE HOLY OR FOUND TO BE RIGHTEOUS BY BEING CIRCUMCISED.

HE WAS NOT JUSTIFIED BY OBEDIENCE IN OFFERING UP ISAAC AS HE HAD ALREADY BEEN FOUND TO BE RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH ALONE, 

430 YEARS BEFORE THE LAW WAS GIVEN.

SINCE MAN WAS UNABLE TO OBEY THE LAW, HE WAS THEREFORE CONDEMNED BY THE LAW AS UNWORTHY.

THE LIFE OF FAITH IS ABOVE THE LAW, FOR IT HAS A SUPERIOR PRINCIPLE WHICH IS LOVE, AND A SUPERIOR POWER WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST, AND CARRIES A SUPERIOR PROMISE, WHICH IS ETERNAL LIFE, BEGUN AT THE MOMENT OF SALVATION.

WE SHOULD BE SURE TO RECALL THAT THE EARLY CHURCH BEGAN AS A GROUP CARVED OUT OF THE JEWISH FAITH.

JESUS WAS A JEW.

MOST ALL OF THE MAIN LEADERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH BEGAN AS JEWS.

PAUL HIMSELF WAS A PHARISEE AMONG PHARISEES.

PAUL WENT ALMOST ALWAYS FIRST IN A NEW CITY TO THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE AND HE SAID IN ROMANS 11:1, IN CASE ANYONE HAD FORGOTTEN, “... I MYSELF AN AN ISRAELITE...”.

THE ENTRANCE OF THE GENTILES INTO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH FORCED AN ENORMOUS CHANGE.

PAUL SAW THE BIG PICTURE OF THIS CHANGE.

HE SAW THAT IT WAS A TWO FOLD CHANGE.

JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS THE LONG AWAITED MESSIAH FOR THE JEWS AND PAUL WAS CHOSEN TO BRING THAT SAME MESSIAH TO THE NON JEWS OF THE WORLD.

SO SINCE THIS TWO FOLD CHANGE HAD ARRIVED, WHO WERE TRULY THE DESCENDANTS OF ABRAHAM?

WHEN ONE TRIES TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, ANOTHER QUESTION QUICKLY ARISES.

WHAT IS NOW THE PLACE FOR THE LAW GIVEN BY GOD TO MOSES?

PAUL IS SO VERY CAREFUL NOW TO BRING THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS TO THESE BELIEVERS (AND TO US).

HE INTRODUCES THE FIGURE OF ABRAHAM BY BRINGING UP TWO VERSE OF SCRIPTURE (GENESIS 15:6 AND 12:3).

WITH ONE HE MAKES THE POINT THAT GOD CONSIDERED ABRAHAM RIGHTEOUS IN LIGHT OF HIS FAITH AND THEREFORE ABRAHAM'S DESCENDANTS MUST ALSO BE ABLE TO RELATE TO GOD IN THE SAME WAY.

WITH THE OTHER VERSE HE RECALLS GOD'S PROMISE WHICH GUARANTEED THAT AT SOME FUTURE TIME GENTILES WOULD BE BLESSED THROUGH ABRAHAM'S LINE.

IN THE SECOND POINT PAUL BRINGS IN ANOTHER PORTION OF THE BOOKS OF MOSES (DEUT 27:26) WHICH SHOWS THAT THOSE WHO RELY ONLY UPON THE LAW PUT THEMSELVES UNDER THE CURSE OF THE LAW THEY DEPENDED ON.

HE SAYS THE LAW CANNOT DO FOR THEM WHAT THEY DESPARATELY NEED.

GOD'S GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE IS RECEIVED ONLY THROUGH FAITH AND AS HAB 2:4 TAUGHT, IT IS A DIFFERENT ORDER OF FAITH AND THEY MUST WALK BY IT.

PAUL TAUGHT THAT JESUS CHRIST REMOVED THE CURSE FROM THE LAW BY TAKING UPON HIMSELF THE CURSE OF SIN ON BEHALF OF ALL BELIEVERS.

HE HAS REPRESENTED THE GUILTY (WHICH IS ALL MEN) BY ACCEPTING THE CURSE ON HIMSELF EVEN THOUGH HE HIMSELF WAS WITHOUT SIN.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACTION WAS IN PART TO EXTEND TO THE GENTILES THE BLESSING PROMISED TO ABRAHAM, MAKING IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT BY FAITH.

SO NOW ABRAHAM'S LINE IS NOT BY FLESH ANY LONGER, BUT RATHER IS NOW BY FAITH.

SO PAUL CLARIFIES THE FULL MESSAGE OF THE MESSIAH WHO HAD COME BY THESE POINTS:

• GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISE

• THE LAW CONDEMNS THOSE WHO ONLY BELIEVE IN IT ALONE

• CHRIST HAS BROUGHT FREEDOM FROM THE CURSE OF 

• THE LAW BY TAKING UPON HIMSELF WHAT WE ALL DESERVED.

SO THE STORY PAUL TEACHES IS A REMARKABLE ONE.

THE CURSE RESTING ON MAN FOR SO MANY CENTURIES HAS BEEN LIFTED BY THE ONCE AND FULLY SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE OF THE LORD.

CHRIST ASSUMED IT ALL, FULFILLED IT ALL, AND GAVE NEW FELLOWSHIP TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM AND HIS GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL, WHICH ALLOWS SALVATION FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

FINALLY, WHILE WE MUST BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS WHO ALLOWS US TO COME TO HIM IN FAITH BY HIS GRACE, WE MUST NOT OVERLOOK THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE MAY DO OURSELVES TO BRING OURSELVES TO GOD WITHOUT JESUS.

IT WAS HIS FAITH THAT MADE ALL THIS NEW FELLOWSHIP POSSIBLE.

ROMANS 3:21-22 :

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith OF Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe...”

LETS CLOSE BY BEING SURE WE REMEMBER IT IS NOT OUR FAITH IN HIM THAT BEGAN THIS NEW TESTAMENT, BUT IT IS THE FAITH OF HIM THAT PREPARES THE WAY FOR US TO COME TO HIM.

Galatians 3, Part 2: Superiority of Faith

GALATIANS 3:19-29

Application: The purpose of the Law was to expose sin and to bring the repenting to the One who could remove it, justifying them by faith. Conviction of sin, repentance, and faith in Christ saves.

PAUL GIVES US THE MESSAGE OF OUR APPLICATION IN CLEAR & STRONG WORDS IN HIS MESSAGE TO THE ROMANS IN 3:20-21 :

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall be no flesh justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested...”

PAUL WAS IN A SPIRITUAL WAR WITH THE JEWISH AGITATORS WHO WERE PREACHING ANOTHER GOSPEL FILLED WITH FALSE DOCTRINE TO THE CHURCHES HE HAD PLANTED AND NOURISHED.

THE STAKES IN THIS WAR WERE VERY HIGH AND WERE SUBJECT TO ALL THE STRENGTH PAUL COULD BRING.

HIS WORDS IN THIS CHAPTER SHOW URGENCY, IMPATIENCE, AND DIRECTNESS TOWARD DEFEATING THIS FALSE GOSPEL LEADING HIS CHURCHES AWAY FROM THE TRUTH.

WE SAW HOW HE ASKED A SIMPLE QUESTION AS TO HOW THESE BELIEVERS HAD RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT?

WAS IT THROUGH THE FLESH OR BY THE TRUE GOSPEL MESSAGE?

WE SAW HOW HE HAD CLEARLY SHOWN THEM THAT THE PROMISE OF ABRAHAM HAS NOW COME TO THE GENTILES.

WE SAW HOW HE MADE THE CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE FREEDOM OF CHRIST'S GOSPEL AND THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW.

WE SAW HOW HE MADE THE STRONG POINT THAT ABRAHAM HAD BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH AND FOUND RIGHTEOUS BY GOD 430 YEARS BEFORE THE LAW WAS EVEN GIVEN.

THEN PAUL IN TODAY'S VERSES SHOWS THAT THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST CHANGES THE STATUS OF THE LAW AND PRODUCES A NEW FELLOWSHIP.

HE SAYS THAT THE LAW HAD BEEN A CUSTODIAN UNTIL THE MESSIAH ARRIVED AND NOW THAT HE HAD COME, HIS LIFE HAD FULFILLED THE LAW AND THEREFORE BROUGHT BELIEVERS INTO A NEW FELLOWSHIP OF SPIRIT, NOT OF RULES OR LEGALISMS.

PAUL SAYS A NEW AGE HAD ARRIVED IN WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN ALL BELIEVERS AND THAT THE LORD'S WILL FOR HIS PEOPLE IS NO LONGER REVEALED IN JEWISH PRIESTS.

HERE IS THE BOTTOM LINE OF PAUL'S MESSAGE:

THE TRUE HEIRS OF ABRAHAM ARE NOT FOUND IN FLESH OR IN TRIBE, OR EVEN IN ONE NATION, EVEN IF IT WAS ORIGINALLY THE CHOSEN NATION.

IT IS NOW BY FAITH UNDER GRACE AND IS GIVEN TO ALL WHO BELIEVE AND IS MANIFESTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE FLESH OF THE BELIEVER, ONLY THE FAITH IN THE HEART.

ALL WHO BELIEVE ARE EQUAL AND FOLLOW JESUS IN UNITY & EQUALITY UNDER THE DOMINION OF THE MESSIAH SENT TO REDEEM ALL THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE.

3:28 SUMMARIZES IT ALL: “THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, THERE IS NEITHER SLAVE NOR FREE, THERE IS NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE, FOR YOU ARE ALL ONE IN JESUS CHRIST”.

NOW LET'S LOOK TOGETHER AT OUR VERSES:

19-21: PAUL TELLS US THAT THE LAW OF GOD GIVEN AT MT. SINAI WAS GIVEN FOR A SPECIFIC & DESIGNATED PERIOD OF TIME, TILL THE SEED SHOULD COME.

HE IS ASSURING THE CHURCHES THAT THE PROMISE OF THE BLESSING OF GRACE & SALVATION HAD ARRIVED IN JESUS CHRIST.

IN VERSE 21 PAUL ASSURES THAT THE LAW OF GOD THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN WAS NOT CONTRARY TO THE COVENANT PROMISE AND THAT THE LAW WAS NEVER INTENDED TO PRODUCE RIGHTEOUSNESS.

PAUL MAKES THIS POINT VERY WELL IN 2ND COR 3:7 WHEN HE TEACHES THAT THE LAW WAS THE MINISTRATION OF DEATH.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ETERNAL LIFE. 

THIS IS WHY THERE IS NO RULE OR WORK WE MAY DO TO BRING LIFE ETERNAL.

22: “... BUT THE SCRIPTURE HATH CONCLUDED ALL UNDER SIN...”

THE WHOLE VOLUME OF HOLY SCRIPTURE AND IN A VERY PARTICULAR WAY THE SCRIPTURE OF THE LAW DECLARES THAT ALL OF US, BY OUR VERY NATURE, ARE UNDER THE POWER AND DOMINION AND GUILT OF SIN UNTIL GRACE ARRIVES IN OUR HEART.

WHEN ADAM FELL, HIS NATURE THEN FELL ONWARD TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN CONCEIVED BY MAN SINCE.

GOD'S WORD DECLARES THAT WE ARE ALL GUILTY AND NONE ARE RIGHTEOUS, NO NOT ONE.

WE ARE SHUT UP AS PRISONERS UNDER A DEATH SENTENCE, WITHOUT HOPE IN OURSELVES. 

BUT-BUT-BUT

THE PROMISE BY FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST MIGHT BE GIVEN TO ALL WHO BELIEVE.

THIS PROMISE IS THE PROMISE OF LIFE ETERNAL, SALVATION FROM WRATH, AND THE NEVER ENDING SMILE OF DIVINE APPROVAL ON US. 

ALL THIS IS GIVEN BY GRACE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE.

IT IS NOT OUR BELIEVING THAT FULFILLED THE PROMISE AND BROUGHT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS TO US THAT WE MAY STAND JUSTIFIED BEFORE THE LORD.

THE PROMISE WAS FULFILLED AND COMES TO US BY THE FAITH OF JESUS.

THE PROMISED IS FILLED AND GIVEN BY HIS OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH AS OUR SUBSTITUTE.

HEBREWS 10:10 IS OUR BEST TEACHING: “BY THE WILL OF GOD WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF JESUS CHRIST, ONCE FOR ALL.”

23:  “...BEFORE FAITH CAME WE WERE KEPT...”

WHAT FAITH IS PAUL TALKING ABOUT HERE?  WHOSE FAITH IS IT?

OUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS NOT REVEALED TO US BUT IS GIVEN TO US FREELY AND WORKED IN US BY THE MIGHTY OPERATIONS OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

CHRIST IS REVEALED TO US AND FAITH FOLLOWS THAT REVEALING.

WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS CHRIST TO THE HEART AND CONVINCES HIM OR HER THAT SIN HAS BEEN PUT AWAY BY THE ATONEMENT, THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN BY THE OBEDIENCE OF JESUS, AND THAT JUSTICE FOR EACH BELIEVER HAS BEEN SATISFIED, THE SINNER COMES IN TRUST THROUGH FAITH THAT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF OURSELVES.

24:  WE NOTICE THAT THE WORDS 'TO BRING US” WERE ADDED BY THE TRANSLATOR. WHILE THE WORDS MAKE THE SENTENCE SMOOTHER, IT ALSO IS WORTHWHILE TO NOTICE THAT WITHOUT THE ADDED WORDS, THE SCHOOLMASTER WAS UNTO CHRIST, MAYBE A MUCH MORE DIRECT & FORCEFUL THOUGHT.

IT WAS THE LAW'S PURPOSE, LIKE A SCHOOLMASTER, TO DIRECT GOD'S ELECT TO CHRIST AND TO BE SURE THEY GET THERE.

THE SCHOOLMASTER  WAS THE LAW UNTIL CHRIST CAME TO FULFILL IT , AND ONCE THIS WAS DONE, THERE IS NO LONGER A NEED FOR IT.

ROMANS 10:4 SAYS IT BEST:  “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth”.

THE LAW HAS BEEN FULFILLED BY THE OBEDIENCE OF JESUS AND BECAUSE OF THAT FACT, WE WHO BELIEVE MAY STAND JUSTIFIED BY WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED.

FAITH IN HIM AND HIS WONDERFUL SACRIFICE FOR US SHOULD MAKE US LOOK AWAY FROM OURSELVES AND ANYTHING WE MAY DO, AND LOOK ONLY TO HIM IN TRUST & FAITH.

DID NOT JESUS TEACH THAT WE ARE TO DENY OURSELVES AND FOLLOW HIM?

PAUL IS SAYING THAT ONLY IN HIM IS GRACE GIVEN FOR SALVATION AND ONCE WE ARE FULLY IN TRUST TO HIM WE ARE FULLY JUSTIFIED. 

THERE IS NO WORK, NO EFFORT WE CAN DO TO JUSTIFY OURSELVES.

25:  “...BUT AFTER FAITH HAS COME...”

SINCE FAITH HAS COME WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW.

26-29: WE ARE NOT ADOPTED INTO THE HOLY FAMILY BY OUR OWN EFFORT, NO MATTER HOW WORTHY WE THINK WE MAY BE.

WE ARE ALL SINNERS AND ALL SIN IS NOT EQUAL IN CONSEQUENCE BUT ALL SIN IS EQUAL IN OFFENSE TO GOD.

WE ARE NOT ADOPTED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE.

RATHER, OUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS THE FRUIT AND EVIDENCE OF OUR ADOPTION. 

WE WILL SEE IN CHAPTER 4 THAT GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, BORN OF A WOMAN, AND BORN UNDER THE LAW TO REDEEM US.

ADOPTION COMES AFTER REDEMPTION, AND BECAUSE WE ARE ADOPTED, HE SENT FORTH HIS SPIRIT INTO OUR HEARTS.

THE LESSON IS EVEN GIVEN MORE POWERFULLY FOR US IN EPHESIANS 1:4   “ACCORDING AS HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM  BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE.”

THIS POINT IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST IN ALL OF OUR FAITH.

OUR JUSTIFICATION WAS TOTALLY ACCOMPLISHED BY CHRIST, OUTSIDE OF OUR EXPERIENCE. ALTOGETHER WITHOUT US, ONLY BY THE FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE OF OUR LORD AS OUR SUBSTITUTE.

PAUL USES THIS PHRASE “THE FAITH OF CHRIST” MANY TIMES IN HIS WRITINGS

• ROMANS 3:22  

• GAL 2:16  

• GAL 2:20 

• GAL 3:22  

• EPH 3:12   

• PHIL 1:9

EVERY SINGLE TIME HE WRITES OF JUSTIFICATION ACCOMPLISHED FOR US, THIS IS THE PHRASE HE USES.

WE HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO THINK OF FAITH AS ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH OURSELVES.

WHEN WE READ AGAIN & AGAIN ABOUT THE FAITH OF CHRIST WE SEEM TO TRANSLATE IT IN OUR OWN MINDS AS FAITH IN CHRIST.

THIS IS UNTRUE AND WE SHOULD SHUN ANY SUCH UNDERSTANDING

WE COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN SAVED BY FAITH IN CHRIST UNLESS FIRST THERE HAD BEEN THE FAITH OF CHRIST.

YES WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN OUR LORD, BUT THIS FAITH IN HIM IS A RESULT OF THE FAITH OF HIM.

THERE ARE TWO REASONS TO CONSIDER THIS IMPORTANT THOUGHT.

FIRST: WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRES PAUL (AND OTHERS) TO WRITE ABOUT THE FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST HE IS REFERRING TO THE FAITHFUL PERFORMANCE  OF ALL THE FATHER'S WILL AS OUR ASSURANCE, SUBSTITUTE, AND REDEEMER.

IT REFERS TO THE FAITHFUL FIDELITY AS THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANT OF JEHOVAH.

HIS WORK, IN OUR PLACE WAS NECESSARY TO ARRANGE THE PATH OF GRACE FOR THE SALVATION OF HIS ELECT.

SECOND: PAUL IS STRESSING THIS POINT TO FURTHER ASSURE THE BELIEVERS IN GALATIA, AND EVERY BELIEVER WHO HAS COME TO FAITH SINCE, THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE ADDED TO OR TAKEN AWAY FROM THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL.

IN THESE THREE VERSES WE COME TO THE CLIMAX OF THE LETTER.

FROM THE BEGINNING PAUL HAS BEEN THE CHAMPION OF THE CAUSE OF UNITY IN CHRIST.

PAUL WENT TO JERUSALEM A SECOND TIME TO SEE JAMES, PETER AND JOHN TO ASSURE THAT HIS OWN MISSION TO THE GENTILES WAS NOT SPLITTING THE YOUNG CHURCH.

PAUL CONFRONTED PETER AT ANTIOCH TO ASSURE THAT ALL BELIEVERS WERE CONSIDERED EQUAL BEFORE THE LORD, AND THAT NO RULES OR LEGALISMS WOULD DIVIDE THEM.

TO BE VERY SURE THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF MISUNDERSTANDING HIS TEACHING, WHICH WAS REVEALED TO HIM ONLY BY GOD, HE

REPEATS THE THOUGHT SEVERAL TIMES:

•  3:26  “IN CHRIST JESUS”

• 3:27  “BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST”

• 3:27  “HAVE PUT ON CHRIST”

• 3:28  “ONE IN CHRIST JESUS”

• 3:29  “CHRIST'S” MEANING BELONGING TO CHRIST

BEING BROUGHT INTO CHRIST QUALIFIES A PERSON TO BE ABRAHAM'S DESCENDANT SINCE HE TAUGHT US IN 3:16 THAT CHRIST IS “THE” SEED OF ABRAHAM.

BEING IDENTIFIED WITH JESUS, BEING A PART OF HIS BODY ITSELF, RATHER THAN STILL UNDER THE LAW INCLUDES EACH BELEIVER INTO THE PROMISE GIVEN OF A REDEEMER TO COME.

THIS POINT GOES DEEPER THAN HOW WE WORSHIP TOGETHER, AND IT CHALLENGES THE JEWISH BELIEVERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVEN IN SOCIETY AWAY FROM THE CHURCH, ALL ARE EQUAL.

SO NOW PAUL HAS REDEFINED THE MEANING OF “PEOPLE OF GOD”.

BEFORE CHRIST, THE PRIDE OF THE JEWS WAS THE LAW.

IT MADE THEM SPECIAL, HOLY, AND SET APART AS CHOSEN BY GOD.

BY KEEPING THE RULES, THE JEW MAINTAINED THE POSITION AS A PREFERRED ONE, CONSIDERED ABOVE ALL OTHERS.

BUT THE MESSIAH CAME AND THE QUESTION OF WHO REALLY BELONGS TO GOD'S PEOPLE WAS TRANSFORMED.

CHRIST FULFILLED THE PROMISE MADE TO ABRAHAM, WHICH WAS THAT ALL PEOPLES WOULD BE BLESSED IN HIS NAME, EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE LAW OF MOSES IN THEIR HERITAGE.

THE PEOPLE BELONGING TO GOD IS NO LONGER DETERMINED BY THE LAW BUT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT GRANTED BY JESUS CHRIST.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS PERFECT POINT IS THAT THE COST TO THE LORD TO ARRANGE IT WAS EXTREMELY HIGH, THE HUMILIATING DEATH OF HIS ONLY SON.

BUT THE COST TO US IS FREE AND IT BRINGS OUR FREEDOM FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN.

HOW DOES IT DO THAT?

GAL 2:20 TEACHES US THE ANSWER.

IF WE TRUST IN CHRIST, ACCEPTING THE REDEEMING WORK , WE LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD WHO LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US. 

Galatians - Chapter 4

Slavery or Freedom in Adoption as an Heir

Paul’s sense of urgency continues from the last chapter as he strives to persuade the Galatian Christians not to revert to their previous position as slaves under the law.

In chapter 3, Paul put forward two separate positions concerning the law:

1. The law was a jailer, who locked up the prisoners and kept guard over their confinement. No escape was possible until Christ came to liberate them (3:22-23).

2. The law then served as custodian (schoolmaster), one who takes care of the children, directed all their activities, and tended to their discipline.

Now in chapter 4, Paul puts forth a third image with strong language that seems most effective. Before Christ’s arrival, the plight of the people is compared to that of an heir, whose father has died and has set a time in his will when the children can have access to their father’s estate. Until the heir comes of age, he has no rights and no legal status. He is under the control of a guardian who manages his affairs and directs his life.

In verse 4 Paul reveals his real message:

“When the time had fully come (that is the time set by the father), God sent forth his Son…”

In these first 11 verses we see three important messages:

1. God is the prime figure. He determines the proper time for the new age to come to man, and first sends His Son, and then His Spirit to believers. Notice that the emphasis is not on the Gentile coming to know God, but rather on God coming to know the Gentile.

2. God’s Son is sent forth “born of a woman, born under the law”. He became the second Adam, but formed from the Holy Spirit and a woman, living sinless under the law, therefore fulfilling it, but also took upon Himself the mortality of a man by suffering death.     Remember:   Jesus was not given in our flesh which is sinfully depraved, but came in the likeness of our flesh (Romans 8:3)

3. God sent the Spirit to confirm the new status of the faithful believer, that of becoming a child adopted and an heir in Christ.

Verses 12-20 reveal Paul’s appeal to the faithful as an appeal to the heart:

12A: Paul begs the Galatians to follow him in becoming free from the law.

12B-16 Paul reminds them of their initial reception of him and now questions whether he may have become their enemy.

17-20 Paul accuses the opponents of having bad motives in courting the Galatian believers and he shows his own feelings of anxiety and desire to be there with them in this difficult time.

In these few verses we see Paul as a pastor who is struggling with the actions of his congregation. He sees them wandering off into who knows where and he urgently wishes his words can bring them back to the proper path.

Verses 21-31 bring an entirely new pathway for Paul’s efforts to bring back the Galatian followers into the true road that Christ has marked for them through his own teaching.

Paul now brings to the Galatians the history of the family of Abraham. His logic is interesting and different than any seen elsewhere in scripture.

Paul reminds the followers of the issue of Abraham and the promise from God of a son to come. We remember Abraham had two sons, one from the Egyptian handmaid, Hagar, approved by Sarah when she felt she was too old to conceive. His other son, Isaac, was the son promised as God kept the covenant even though both Abraham and Sarah were past child bearing age.

Paul links Hagar and her son with the old covenant given upon Mt. Sinai that became the law. Sarah and her son are linked by Paul to the Jerusalem above, that is his image of the freedom in Christ and is the new covenant. Paul says the birth of Ishmael came “according to the flesh” while the birth of Isaac was brought forth “according to the spirit”. The birth of Isaac represents the freedom of the new path in Christ and moves the believer away from the old path of slavery to the law as represented by the birth of Ishmael to Hagar. 

FREEDOM FROM SIN & DEATH IS ONLY SECURED IN JESUS CHRIST.

Galatians 4: Points to Ponder

Paul makes an appeal to the hearts of the Galatians. In verses 12-20 he shows his concern by reminding them of their initial reception of him and asks a question which is filled with irony as to whether he has become their enemy.

He accuses his opponents of having low motives in courting the hearts of these church members. He has anxiety for the members and is perplexed as to whether these revisions of the gospel will take root and he wants to be with the Galatians to fight for them in person.

His feelings are a mixture of tenderness and anguish for these he loves and he feels these are his own children he is addressing.

Verses 19-20 give a glimpse into the real struggles of Paul the pastor. Things have not gone right with his flock in Galatia. The attention they have paid to those insisting on circumcision has led to their alienation from him. 

The relation between flock and pastor needs to be restored. Few other places in the letter afford such a clear view into the heart of pastor Paul.

Galatians 4: Contrast of Law & Grace

GALATIANS 4:15-31

Application: The believer's relationship to Christ in not characterized by bondage under the law but by freedom under grace. Live for Christ as free people.

HUMAN BEINGS GENERALLY SEEK WHAT IS MOST COMFORTABLE TO OUR PHYSICAL NEEDS.

IT IS HUMAN NATURE TO LEAN TOWARD A FAITH THAT THE KEEPING OF CERTAIN RULES ALLOWS US COMFORT.

THE LAW OF MOSES FOCUSED UPON SEEKING THAT COMFORT.

IT SAID THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES LAID OUT CLEARLY AND THAT IF YOU ABIDE BY THOSE RULES, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED

RIGHTEOUS & JUST BY GOD.

FROM THE TIME THE LAW WAS GIVEN UNTIL THE MESSIAH ARRIVED,

APPROX 1500 YEARS (430 YEARS AFTER ABRAHAM) THIS WAS THE TEACHING OF THE LAW.

BUT THE LAW NEVER OFFERED ANY SOLUTION TO THE CONTINUED PROBLEM OF SIN. 

IT ALLOWED NO FORGIVENESS AND SIN ABOUNDED.

YEARLY ATONEMENT WAS PLACED UPON THE SACRIFICE OF BULLS & GOATS.

THE BLOOD OF THESE CREATURES WAS SAID TO ATONE BOTH FOR THE SIN OF THE PRIESTS & THE PEOPLE, BUT WAS TAUGHT TO BE TEMPORARY (ONCE A YEAR).

LAW KEEPING WAS ALWAYS A NEVER ENDING EFFORT TO GAIN GOD'S FAVOR AND WAS IN ITSELF BONDAGE BECAUSE NO MAN COULD KEEP THE LAW.

IN ACTS 15:10 PETER DESCRIBED THE LAW AS A YOKE ON THE NECKS OF THE DISCIPLES WHICH NEITHER THEIR FATHERS NOR THEMSELVES HAD BEEN ABLE TO BEAR.

THIS ENTIRE MATTER OF LAW KEEPING WHICH HAD BEEN EXPANDED INTO FULL LEGALISM HAD COME TO DISTORT THE TRUE MEANING OF GOD'S WORDS TO MOSES.

THE JEWS HAD COME TO IGNORE THAT EVEN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, GOD HAD PROMISED A REDEEMER WOULD COME TO DELIVER HIS PEOPLE.

THIS IGNORANCE HAD COME TO BE 100% FOCUSED UPON THE WORKS OF MAN AS OPPOSED TO THE WORKS OF GOD.

RIGHT NOW, LET'S ALL REMEMBER THAT THE LOVE OF GOD IS NOT BASED UPON ANY WORK WE MAY DO NOR IS IT BASED UPON OBEDIENCE.

GOD DELIVERED HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE FROM THE BONDAGE OF SLAVERY IN EGYPT MANY YEARS BEFORE HE COMMANDED THEM TO RECEIVE HIS LAW.

THIS TRUTH WAS PAUL'S MESSAGE AND IT IS STILL THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL TODAY.

THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE GOD LOVE US MORE.

THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE GOD LOVE US LESS.

VERSE 20 TODAY SHOWS US HOW SERIOUS IS THIS TRUTH.

THESE GALATIAN BELIEVERS WERE BACKSLIDING INTO LAW & LEGALISM AND PAUL WAS COMING TO DOUBT THEM.

THE ZEAL THAT THE FALSE TEACHERS BROUGHT TO THE CHURCHES IN GALATIA WAS SINCERE.

THEY BELIEVED STRONGLY & SINCERELY IN THE FALSE TEACHING THEY BROUGHT.

THEY WERE SINCERE, BUT THEY WERE SINCERELY WRONG.

IN VERSES 12-16 PAUL REMINDS THESE CHURCH MEMBERS OF THEIR WARM RECEPTION OF HIM AND THE GOSPEL AND WONDERS WHETHER NOW HE HAD BECOME THEIR ENEMY.

IN VERSES 17-18 PAUL ACCUSES THE FALSE TEACHERS OF HAVING IMPURE MOTIVES IN WOOING THESE MEMBERS.

IN VERSES 19-20 WE SEE PAUL WAS PERPLEXED AND ANXIOUS TO BE ONCE MORE WITH THESE MEMBERS HE LOVED SO VERY MUCH.

THESE WERE HIS SPIRITUAL CHILDREN AND HE WAS TENDER TOWARD THEM BUT WAS ALSO IN ANGUISH THAT THEY HAD COME UNDER PRESSURE TO REVERT BACK TO A TYPE OF FAITH THAT NEVER WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THE SAFETY OF SALVATION.

THE TRUE GOSPEL IS BEING REJECTED AND REPLACED BY LAW & WORKS FROM WHICH PAUL'S PREACHING HAD DELIVERED THESE GENTILES.

FROM VERSE 21 UNTIL THE END OF THE CHAPTER, PAUL LEANS UPON THE PUREST PORTION OF THE GOSPEL, WHICH IS GOD'S ORIGINAL PROMISE AND THE CHRISTIAN FREEDOM WHICH HAD BEEN GIVEN BY JESUS AS THE KEEPING OF THAT PROMISE.

NOW PAUL USES THE OLD TESTAMENT IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE & COMBAT AGAINST THE FALSE TEACHERS.

NO MAN UNDERSTOOD THE OLD COVENANT BETTER THAN PAUL.

THIS WAS THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD CHOOSING HIM AS HIS APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES.

PAUL HAD STUDIED FOR MANY YEARS UNDER THE TEACHING OF ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED RABBI TEACHERS, GAMILIEL.

PAUL DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS A PHARISEE AMONG PHARISEES.

NO MAN WAS ABLE TO “OUT PHARISEE” PAUL.

PAUL NOW PAINTS TWO WORD PICTURES FOR THE GALATIANS.

THE FIRST IS ONE OF HAGAR, THE HAND MAID OF SARAH WHO HAD BEEN GIVEN BY SARAH TO ABRAHAM TO PROVIDE A SON.

THE SECOND WAS OF SARAH HERSELF WHO HAD COME TO SUSPECT GOD WAS NOT FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISE AND EVEN LAUGHED IN GOD'S PRESENCE AT THE PROMISE.

(HER PROMISED SON WAS NAMED BY GOD ISAAC WHICH MEANS LAUGHTER).

PAUL INTENDED THE GALATIANS TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH SARAH AND HER TRUE FAMILY WHICH INCLUDED THE CHILD OF PROMISE.

HE WANTED TO STEER THEM AWAY FROM THE CHILD OF THE FLESH, REPRESENTED BY HAGAR'S SON, ISHMAEL, WHO CAME TO LIFE BY

A WORK OF SARAH, NOT BY THE PROMISE OF GOD.

PAUL WANTS THESE BELIEVERS TO BEGIN AGAIN TO ACT LIKE THE CHILDREN OF PROMISE THAT THEY ARE AND TO RESIST ANY EFFORT TO TAKE THEM BACKWARD SPIRITUALLY TO THE SLAVERY OF THE LAW.

JUST AS A LOVING PASTOR SHOULD, PAUL WISHES ONLY GOOD FOR HIS CONGREGATIONS.

HE DRAWS THIS STORY FROM GENESIS 21 AND LINKS HAGAR WITH MT. SINAI AND THE LAW. 

HAGAR HAD BEEN CAST AWAY WITH HER SON WHEN THE DELIVERY OF THE PROMISE ARRIVED, AND THEY HAD NO FULL INHERITANCE AS CHILDREN OF THE FLESH.

THE BLESSING OF INHERITANCE WAS THROUGH THE SEED OF PROMISE AND PAUL IS TELLING THESE BELIEVERS THAT THE SEED THAT HAD BEEN PROMISED SO LONG AGO WAS JESUS CHRIST.

IN VERSE 23 HE ASSURES THEM THAT THIS SEED WAS ACCORDING TO THE ONE SENT INTO FLESH FROM THE PROMISE AND IN VERSE 29 HE SHOWS THEM THAT THIS SAME SEED WAS ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.

THIS ONE, JESUS, WAS SHOWN IN TYPE THROUGH ISAAC AS HE WAS SENT IN A MIRACLE GIVEN TO ABRAHAM & SARAH LONG AFTER THEY HAD PASSED CHILDBEARING AGE.

THEREFORE THERE WAS AFTER THIS MIRACLE PROMISE A  NEW AGE, AND IT WAS REPRESENTED BY A NEW JERUSALEM TO COME FROM ABOVE.

THIS NEW JERUSALEM WAS FREE UNDER THE PROMISE.

THE OLD JERUSALEM, REMAINING BELOW WAS ALSO REMAINING IN BONDAGE, REPRESENTED BY THE ONE BROUGHT BY WORKS.

WITH THIS LANGUAGE OF SLAVERY & FREEDOM PAUL IS REMINDING THE GALATIANS OF THE NEW LAND TO COME, NEW JERUSALEM.

THOSE WHO RESIDE THERE WILL BE FREE FROM THE SLAVERY OF THE OLD LAND OF BONDAGE TO SIN.

GOD HAD LIBERATED HIS PEOPLE FROM SLAVERY IN EGYPT AND HAD DELIVERED THEM TO THE LAND PROMISED AND HE WOULD DO SO AGAIN, BUT ONLY THROUGH HIS MESSIAH.

IN VERSE 31 PAUL COMPLETES THE WORD PICTURE BY TEACHING THAT HIMSELF AND THE BRETHREN ARE NOT CHILDREN OF THE BONDWOMAN, BUT OF THE FREE WOMAN, A TYPE OF THE FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE GIVEN BY THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

THIS FREEDOM IS NOT FOUND BY SEEKING THE COMFORT OF THE FLESH GIVEN BY KEEPING RULES BUT IS A FREEDOM OF SPIRIT THAT GOD HAD LONG BEFORE PROMISED IN JERIMIAH 31 TO NO LONGER BE WRITTEN IN STONE TABLETS BUT IN THE INWARD PARTS, THE HEART, OF THOSE WHO COME TO FAITH.

TRUE FAITH IS NOT OUTWARD AFTER JESUS CAME.

IT IS NOT HOW WE KEEP RULES THAT BRING US TO SALVATION.

THE NEW COVENANT OF GRACE ALONE LEADS US TO SAVING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST BUT IT IS NOT A SET OF RULES & REGULATIONS THAT WE OBEY & CHECK OFF TO GAIN ETERNAL LIFE.

WE CANNOT BEHAVE OUR WAY INTO HEAVEN.

PAUL WILL LATER TEACH THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS THAT LESSON EVEN STRONGER, SAYING THAT IT IS NOT OF YOUSELVES, AND IS THE  GIFT OF GOD.

WE ARE GIVEN A GREAT LESSON OF THIS MATTER INSIDE THE BOOK OF ACTS, AND IT MAKES SENSE TO CLOSE WITH THAT LESSON TODAY.

Galatians - Chapter 5

Freedom, Spirit, & Flesh

“… Christ hath made us free…” means that the salvation provided by God has been accomplished and that a complete change of the allegiance in the heart of the believer has come.

No longer bound to that which held us before, sin, the law, and death, Christians are set in the service of God and have been liberated into that service.

This freedom brings with it enormous responsibilities. Once liberated, believers are now both responsible and accountable for the use of that freedom. They now must answer to the Lord, one who is not mocked. 

On one hand, our own burdens and to a degree the burdens of others must be borne in love, and at the same time those who are now freed must account for their own conduct

Paul addresses the first part of this important chapter to a number of groups:

5:2-4 The importance of the decision facing some of the Galatians who may be considering circumcision.

5:5-6 The situation of other believers who in Christ await the completion of God’s plan and seem to find the issue of circumcision not relevant.

5:7-10a Paul’s expression of confidence in the Galatians that they will finally resist the approach of the agitators.

5:10b-12 Paul’s hope that these agitators will receive proper judgement.

NOTE:  Paul’s use of the phrase “you have fallen away from grace” (5:4) in no way advises salvation has been lost. It means that by certain actions, lax in prayer, lax in worship, being hypocritical, believers can find themselves in loss of favor by the Lord. Let us recall that in all the times the Jews turned away from God and suffered captivity, and when they actually returned to worship of idols in the wilderness, they remained His chosen people.

NOTE: In verse 11 Paul uses a very strange and new phrase, “the offence  of the cross” and he explains this phrase very well in 1 Cor 1:22-25, calling it a “stumbling block” as he teaches that to the Jew, the idea of a crucified Messiah was a contradiction in that from the days of Moses, the Jews believed their Messiah would arrive as a strong and mighty leader who would deliver Israel physically, not dying a shameful death and by that death atoning sufficiently for all the sins of all men for all time.

The cross was sufficient for all but effective for some (the saved).

For Paul, the means of this death was its power as God uses its low and shame filled method to bring salvation through the once and never again needed sacrifice and by that sacrifice opened the door to the age of grace.

As Paul concludes this chapter he returns to his theme:

5:13-15 Freedom means the loving service of neighbors.

5:16-26 The Spirit is the means and the power for the life of freedom in Christ.

Note: In verse 13 Paul finally states his clear message when he teaches us:

“… brethren, ye have been called unto liberty…”. It is important that while the gift of grace is free and not of any works of our own, we must accept that we are called unto His service as we are made free from the law or other prior constraints. Loving service to others is the proper exercise of the freedom we have from conversion onward.

In verses 22-26 we see that the fruit of the Spirit is a clear command to walk by the spirit, not by the flesh. Remember Romans 8:1, eternal security to those who are in Christ AND who walk by the spirit, not after the flesh.

The coming of the Spirit involves warfare, and humans are the battlefield on which this contest rages (5:17). These two powers (flesh & Spirit) are opposed to each other. We are not merely the stage for the battle because we are the ones being fought over. What is at stake is spiritual freedom, assured by the Spirit but challenged by the flesh. The part we play in this matter is neither neutral or passive. At times we allow ourselves to be deluded into thinking that the flesh, which is temporary and perishing, can provide something more than corruption. Paul does not hesitate to confront his readers with the command to walk by the Spirit.

The struggle Paul describes here is in line with his view that the present evil age from which Christ has delivered His people still must be reckoned with. Its rulers are doomed to pass away into eternity and therefore cannot either delay or diminish the purposes of God (Romans 8:38). Sometimes the conflict grows fierce but the final conclusion is not uncertain

(1st Cor 15:24).

It is the Holy Spirit who brings the Lord’s love which make for well being and peace as we follow His guidance.

Galatians 5: Points to Ponder

The language of chapter 5 suggests that this passage harkens back to the OT history that foretold as a type the eventual coming of the Messiah. Israel became a nation by God’s liberation of her from the bondage of Pharaoh and then His leading her to a new and promised land. They were Egypt’s slaves and the Lord brought them out.

Israel became the direct property of God, a special people with a distinct identity. “… the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth…” (Deut 7:6).

Israel was brought out of slavery for a purpose and a task (Ex 19:5-6).

Now in the epistle to the Galatians Paul teaches that “… Christ has set us free…” meaning that God’s decisive salvation has been accomplished and a complete change of allegiances has been made. No longer bound by task masters like sin, the law, and death, Christians are set into the service of God. Like Israel, they become His special people, His possession, and the identity of Christians comes into union with the liberator Jesus Christ.

Here is the completion of one of the foundation teachings of Paul that we first saw in 2:6:

“… a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith OF Jesus Christ … we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith OF Jesus Christ, not by works of the law….”

Here is the scriptural proof of the liberator shown carefully by the fact that our reconciliation, and thereby our spiritual freedom, is because of the faith of the Messiah displayed on our behalf. Galatians 6:24 is our last proof of our freedom that came at such a high price paid (the cross), but given freely to each believer: “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh…”.

Galatians - Chapter 6

The Demands of the Spirit

Paul once more focuses upon the never ending conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. He arranges for believers the proper character of those in Christ toward the brethren and with specific examples instructs us on how we should conduct ourselves inside our Christian community.

In the first portion of the final chapter, Paul provides us with:

• Instruction in bearing the burdens of others (6:1-5)

• Appeal to support those who teach (6:6)

• Encouragement to persevere in doing good (6:7-10)

When a brother in Christ has done something wrong, or evidently began a turn down an improper path, all those who walk by the Spirit are to restore him gently. We are taught that bearing one another’s burdens fulfills the law of Christ.

But Paul also includes a warning that in the restoration we are not to think too highly of ourselves as each of us will have to “bear our own burden” which means we must answer individually for our own actions. So care is necessary as we strive to help each other. Paul even goes so far as to caution us to provide help to our brethren in “meekness” meaning we should be humble in these moments.

Those who teach must be supported, which may mean moral support or possible financial support as those who travel and instruct are not necessarily earning a daily living in other ways.

In instructing the saints to persevere, Paul is not simply repeating some golden rule, but rather teaches that the doing good is in the character of a true believer who wishes to reflect Christ. The lesson is that doing good is sowing the seeds of the Spirit, not the flesh, and that it is the will of God for the believer to bear fruit for the kingdom, and when in obedience, joyful life here results as well as joyful rewards later when each is judged.

We should note carefully that Paul emphasizes the effort at restoration of those who have perhaps gone astray, NOT punishment within the church.

(Remember the parable of the prodigal son).

Luther provided us with a most profound and beautiful description of this very important point:

“… If there is anything in us, it is not our own; it is a gift of God. But if it is a gift of God, then it is entirely a debt one owes to love, that is, to the law of Christ. And if it is a debt owed to love, then I must serve others with it, not myself…”.

Faith which is active in love for others is the strongest indicator of the freedom granted by salvation in Christ. Remember John 13:35 which teaches that it is by this love shown for one another that we will be revealed as His followers.

Paul seems to be saying that in the coming judgment of believers, each will account for the integrity of life in Christ and how their faith has expressed itself while we labored in this life to build the kingdom. We cannot be lax or take the Lord for granted. Faith is not simply friendship nor warm feelings, nor is it just good thoughts. Our faith must be an extension of ourselves in loving others, especially those in the household of faith (verse 10).

Paul concludes his letter as follows:

• His acknowledgement of his own writing (6:11)

• The motives of the opponents (6:12-13)

• Glory in the cross and the new creation (6:14-15)

• The first blessing (6:16)

• Final appeal (6-17)

• The second blessing (6:18)

Paul used larger letters to emphasize his focus, much like a message by email today in all capital letters, seen to be very important.

Paul accuses the opponents two ways:

1. They advocate circumcision just to make a good showing, as they even boast of leading you to accept this outward sign.

2. By placing so much emphasis on this minor matter, they are not harshly brought to task on the much larger matter, which is the sufficiency of Jesus Christ to save souls and grant eternal life.

Now Paul himself perhaps boasts a little as he brings forward his putting aside all worldly things for the cross of Christ and further of the marks he bears from suffering for the one who went to the cross for us.

Paul tells us that neither circumcision nor lack of it matters. Now those who live and walk in the Spirit of Christ are a new creation, gaining God’s blessing of peace and mercy.

What does Paul mean when he writes that the world has been crucified to him and him to the world?

The world here is meant to be “this present evil age” as a reminder of Galatians 1:4 which is a world which makes slaves to sin those who do not believe. Living lives of freedom in Christ crucifies and makes new those who accept the path of the Lord through His Son. Paul sees the cross not as death and violence but as the door to new life and freedom. Therefore we find no grief in it, only joy and we may gladly boast of that newfound joyful life.

To participate in the death of Christ means that freedom replaces bondage. As we also participate in His resurrection we are ourselves resurrected into a newness of life. WE ARE BORN AGAIN!

Finally Paul blesses all those who read his words, then and now, as he wishes that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Galatians 6: Points to Ponder

In verse 6:15 we see Paul’s conclusion to his many teachings in the letter to the Galatian churches. 

He says that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision hold much meaning, saying they avail nothing. What does mean something is that each believer has a new status after conversion as each takes on himself or herself the eternal role of a “new creature”. 

The world for the believer before conversion was one where sin roamed freely and the law was a custodian but now the world no longer is dominated by those things for the believer. This exact teaching is also found in Romans 6:14 (written a few years after Galatians):

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Now a dominion for the believer is one in which Christ rules as Lord, the Spirit functions to guide human life, and where freedom has replaced bondage. When conversion allows a believer to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ it also brings the believer into the status of the new creature.

Christian existence means living in the midst of the old world but as a member of the new world order as a child of God.