Galatians

As You Really Are (Reflections from Galatians)

2007-01-15T00:26:00.000-06:00

As You Really Are

An Excursion Into The Tension of Paul’s ‘Are vs Do’ statements (Indicative in tension with
linked Imperatives)

Cleanse out the leaven…since you really are unleavened!!

ESV 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, anot with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Cancer Illustration
Our Chromosomes are corrupted…and the corrupted cells are sometimes cancer
Cleansing yourself from cancer involves getting rid of all the cells in your body that
Are growing to a different chromosomal order.

Your DNA is Christ. Your chromosomes are now from Christ (the new man in Christ Jesus...no longer the old man)

Your union with Christ is the Cross.

Your union with Christ is symbolized by water baptism. One Time

Your union with Christ is symbolized by communion. Ongoing

These two symbols are like bicycle pedals

One pedal is called ‘Once and For all’. The other pedal is called…’Ongoing’.

One represents who we are….and one represents what we are gaining in Christ right now…the extension of who we are into a present growing reality.

5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Romans 6:2 & 11

The Kingdom Is The Rule of Christ

Christ is our life

Christ is our DNA

Anything that is contrary to Christ in us is like spiritual cancer
Paul writes to the Corinthian church, which was struggling with abuse of spiritual gifts, abuse of their freedom in Christ (condoning sexual immorality worse than the world around them). He calls them ‘saints’.

ESV 1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Note their sanctification is not within themselves. NO it is in Christ Jesus.

So our DNA is Christ.

We are sanctified in Christ.

Seems so confusing that some people who have a hold of what our DNA is, turn around and reject the pressing in for more of Christ. The paradox fights human logic.

More Love, More Power story

Other people, understanding the need to press in for more of Christ, cannot grasp the fact that we have all we will ever need already in Christ.

These paradoxes are spoken of in nature. Every child is born with a full set of dna explaining who and what they are to be. Yet they must grow into maturity.

So it is in the Kingdom.
This truth drives our worship. It is part of the essence of Kingdom Theology, and what has been Vineyard’s distinctive theological contribution to Evangelicalism worldwide.

So we minister to people in the presence of the Spirit…AND we ask for more of the Spirit. We minister in love AND we ask for more love.

It is like standing in a rain storm without an umbrella and crying out for rain.
In the middle of a rain shower, we ask for more rain.

Glory in the Cross (Galatians 6:11-18)

2007-01-07T13:13:00.000-06:00

The Cross: Our boast & our new start!

ESV Galatians 6:11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.

Paul finishes Galatians with 8 verses written in his own handwriting. Normally writing was done by a slave who could write (Romans 16:22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Amanuensis-a personal secretary who was able to write…usually a trustworthy slave in Roman times. To authenticate a document often the author (Paul in this case) would write a little bit in his own handwriting which contained an interpretive key to the whole letter or document.

12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

“What had probably happened was this: According to his usual custom, Paul had dictated most of this epistle to his amaneunsis, or secretary. But he finished the document in his own handwriting, personally adding his autograph in order to give his letter to the Galatians the stamp of his apostolic authority. And he wrote his signature in large letters to underscore his conclusion.

The last section of Galatians, therefore, is more than a hastily written postscript, the after thought of an apostle. Instead, these verses constitute a summary of the entire letter. They place circumcision over against the cross, showing that justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus means boasting in the cross alone. To understand this is to understand Galatians. More than that, it is to understand the Gospel.” Ryken

And the goal of all of this is love. For it is God’s love which is the beat of the heart of the Gospel. ESV Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. The real goal of Galatians is not simply faith in Christ Jesus as so many commentators insist. No the real goal is faith working through love.

1) Compelled to be circumcised

Gal. 6:12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
a. Jewish Christian missionaries from Jerusalem insist on keeping the law of Moses, adding that all men who want to enter into true Chrsitianity must become real Jews by being circumcised as Moses required in the law. The entire insistence rested on confusion, not only with the law of Moses, but with the purpose and nature of circumcision. Circumcision had been made the sign of the covenant of Moses (it started with Abraham).
b. They taught Jesus was Lord…he died on the cross…he rose from the dead..and that you must keep the Sabbaath, the law of Moses’ requirement
to be circumcised.

c. Their real motive was to avoid persecution from the Jews. Because of personal security they obscured the gospel message…they mixed it with the law of Moses.

Stephen (Acts 7)

d. Of all the early church leaders, because Paul had persecuted the church, he was probably the most sensitive to detecting fear of persecution in the hearts of church leaders.
e. It horrified the Jews to see the law of Moses violated. To see the boundaries God had set for them between them and the gentiles obliterated in Christian circles. Their ‘good-faith’ effort was to establish bible
Boundaries.

f. Since the New Testament probably was not yet written, the entire bible the
Disciples and the early church were reading from at that time was from
Genesis to Malachi. There was not a single epistle or gospel written yet
that we know of. So the ‘Jewish Christian’ missionaries from Jerusalem
were saying…’the bible says’…and using that to establish their position.

g. Paul has taught that the righteous (believers in Christ) are not under law.
He has taught that the law was not made for us. That Christ is the end of the law for those who believe. This is the root. It is not simply about circumcision and the cross. Circumcision stands for the way of the law of Moses. The cross stands for the way of Jesus. The new creation in Christ which includes the death and resurrection of Christ. It is about the way of our fleshly nature vs the way of the Spirit of God.

An Empty Boast

Not only did these Jewish Christian Missionaries from Jerusalem desire to avoid persecution…but they also wanted to boast back home of the conversions they received. Their missionary newsletters were not about conversions to Christ, but about solidifying the conversions of Christ to Moses’ law....imagine a newsletter that reads…’All Galatia Churches Commence a New Circumcision Program’ with 3,000 circumcised in three weeks!

The problem with circumcision was that it obligated all who went through the Jewish rite to observe Jewish law in total. Unfortunately, not even the Jewish Christian missionaries were able to do that!

It was not just about coming into the Kingdom, but about how to live in the Kingdom. For we live the same way we come in. If we come in by our own effort, then we live that way. But if we come in by faith in Christ through the Spirit of God, then we walk that way. And there is only one of these two options that is the way of Jesus.

ESV Galatians 3:10 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." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." 12 But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." 13 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"-- 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

The Jewish Christian Leaders from Jerusalem were probably using this passage as a key point in their teaching…

ESV Genesis 17:9 And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."

Paul interacts with their teaching by using these scriptures to clarify.

ESV Leviticus 18:5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

ESV Deuteronomy 21:22 "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.

Something to boast about..actually to obsess over

Louw & Nida-Kaukethesthai--to express an unusually high degree of confidence in…

1 Cor 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Gaining confidence in the cross comes from the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
Gaining confidence in the cross comes not from human wisdom or human words…or from a man made presentation…but from the wisdom of God.

Attitudes about the gospel…
Is it a type of music?
Is it the story of Jesus being born in a manger?
Is it basic Christianity we study when we become a Christian?

The exclusive centrality of the Cross

A Whole New World

ESV Romans 8:20 For the creation awas subjected to futility, not willingly, but bbecause of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that athe creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that athe whole creation bhas been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
ESV Galatians 6:15 For aneither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ba new creation.

We are in the epoch of the Old and New Creation….
Caterpiller & Butterfly
Womb of Eternity
Already have been made a new creation…and are eagerly awaiting
The new creation….

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the Cross and it's glory!

The outline is adapted from Ryken's commentary on Galatians.

Much input for the Galatians series was gathered from Bruce, Fung, and several other commentators. Please see my recommended list at www.amazon.com for more information.

The Incarnation

2006-12-24T13:19:00.000-06:00

The Incarnation: What is it? Could it really be true?

ESV John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Fairest Lord Jesus
Text: Munster Gesangbuch; trans. by Joseph August Seiss

1. Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

2. Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.

4. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.

Introduction (outline adapted from 'Systematic Theology' by W. Grudem)

Definition

1. Direct Scriptural Claims

a. The Word God (Theos) Used of Christ (Reserved for God the Father normally)
John 1:1; 18

When Thomas believed he responded with:
ESV John 20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

NIV Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! {5 Or Christ, who is over all. God be forever praised!

NIV Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

NIV Psalm 45:6 Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

NIV Hebrews 1:8 But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.

NIV 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

NIV Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, {6 Or Wonderful, Counselor} Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Calming the stormy sea, multiplying the loaves and fish, transforming real water into real wine….ctonext shows the manifested Glory of God in Jesus-not just the work of the Holy Spirit through a man.

2. Did Jesus Give Up Some of His Divine Attributes While on Earth?

Phil. 2:7 emptying Himself…means to become a humble servant (not to lay aside His divine attributes…) It was His manifest status in heaven that was laid aside, not Himself.

Emptying Himself is defined in the verse itself...it means to embrace humanity...to lay aside His throne. He could not deny Himself, He is still Divine. So He is God dwelling in Mary's womb...born in a manger.

No Jesus did not give up His divine attributes. He did give up His throne position in heaven and embraced humanity in full.

3. Is the Doctrine of the Incarnation Helpful Today?

ESV 1 John 4:1 Beloved, ado not believe every spirit, but btest the spirits to see whether they are from God, for cmany dfalse prophets ehave gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: aevery spirit that confesses that bJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit athat does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and bnow is in the world already.

4. Three Inadequate Views of Jesus

a. Apollinarianism-Zombee view
Human body, but a divine mind & spirit

b. Nestorianism-'Star Trek View' or an Alien & Human spirit battle each other
Human & Divine Natures are completely separate in Christ.

c. Monophysitism-Freak View
Human & Divine natures fused to form a completely new nature

Jesus is God. Jesus is a man. We call Him Saviour because as God he became a man
In order to save us! We worship Him because Jesus is more than a man!

Think of Jesus as more like us than we have in the past. He is a man!
Strengthen your ability to resist temptation knowing Jesus also faced temptation. Jesus was tempted, but never sinned.
Think of Jesus as fully divine. He is God.
Develop anticipation of meeting Jesus face to face.
Cultivate the hope of direct worship of Jesus!

If I put things between me and Christ it is idolatry. If I put Christ between me and things, it is victory! (Adrian Rogers)

SO FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON JESUS! PUT HIM BETWEEN YOURSELF AND THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD. YOU WILL HAVE VICTORY OVER MATERIALISM!

Christmas Message 2006

2006-12-17T10:12:00.000-06:00

(Galatians 4:8-11 & 5:22-24)

Introduction:

The Puritans thought it was wrong to celebrate Christmas. They even banned Christmas in the early days of America in some places. They said it was a pagan holiday. I imagine they quoted from the bible…to abandon the observing of special days…like the Jewish Sabaath. Those who study the gospel know that the observing of special days during the year was abandoned by the early Church…as Paul says in reaction to the Galatians…who had resumed observing special days.

ESV Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature care not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

Have we simply traded ancient Mosaic law and the observances of it for the observing of special days in our modern culture?

If Christmas is a way for you to alleviate guilt and to try to earn favor with God by doing things He will approve of...then you have simply traded ancient Mosaic law for modern cultural religiosity....but if it is a time of joy in the Holy Spirit...then you are free to enjoy whatever God leads you to do this time of year!

Why I decided to emphasize special days in our Church…

Dreams of poinsetta & corn stalks interpreted…certain days are not more holy than others. Our culture has an emphasis that makes people more open to Christianity during this season more than any other season. Starts with Halloween and goes through the New Year. I believe the Holy Spirit has led us to do special things as a church during this season. So we are not saying Christmas is a more holy day than others…no every day is holy for those of us in Christ. Christmas represents an opportunity to present Christ to the world.

So why did Christ come? What did He achieve by sacrificing His life?

What Christmas represents in essence is two things:

1) Jesus is God in human flesh

ESV Philippians 2:7 but amade himself nothing, taking the form of a bservant,1 cbeing born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by abecoming obedient to the point of death, beven death on a cross.

a) Miracle conception

ESV Matthew 1:23 a"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name bImmanuel" (which means, God cwith us).
b) Signs at His birth

ESV Luke 2:15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."

c) Signs at His death

ESV Matthew 27:54 abWhen the centurion and those who were with him, bkeeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, c"Truly this was the Son1 of God!"

d) Resurrection

NIV John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

2) Jesus presents THE gift of life

a) We have eternal life in Christ

NIV 1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

ESV Romans 6:23 aFor the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

b) We have the Holy Spirit now who brings three kinds of gifts into our lives.

Gal 5:16 But I say, awalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify bthe desires of the flesh. 17 For athe desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, bto keep you from doing the things you want to do.

1. The Fruit of the Spirit

ESV Galatians 5:22 But athe fruit of the Spirit is blove, joy, peace, patience, ckindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 agentleness, bself-control; cagainst such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus ahave crucified the flesh with its bpassions and desires.

2. The Gifts of the Spirit

ESV Romans 12:6 aHaving gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if bprophecy, cin proportion to our faith; 7 if aservice, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; athe one who leads,1 with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with bcheerfulness. 9 aLet love be genuine. bAbhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 aLove one another with brotherly affection. bOutdo one another in showing honor.

3. The Wisdom of the Spirit

ESV Isaiah 11:2 And athe Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Conclusion

The whole idea of a real Christian Christmas is to walk in the Spirit during this season. Let the Life of the Spirit flow in your heart. Seek to present Christ to people. If you don’t have the Holy Spirit dwelling in your life, give your life to Jesus and invite God into your heart and soul today!

It’s a life of freedom in the Holy Spirit…not an observance of special days or seasons…but a daily relationship with the God of heaven…our Creator…a life of joy, peace and goodness!

Dealing w/Sin (Four One Another's in Galatians 6:1-6)

2006-12-10T12:51:00.000-06:00

Walking in the Spirit will not only stop us from biting and devouring one another.

Walking in the Spirit will cause us to ‘deal with sin’ by one anothering well.

There are four ‘one another concepts in this segment of Holy Scripture.

RESTORE ONE ANOTHER

Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

First…the whole of Galatians is dealing with the same topic that comes up shortly after Galatians was written. The council in Jerusalem calls the law a yoke…a burden that the people of God…natural Israel…could never bear. It is not accidental that Paul now talks about the burdens of Christians. A backdrop of the burden of the law was already hinted at when Paul called it a yoke of slavery just a few minutes ago…remember Acts 15:1-10

Gentleness part of the fruit of the Spirit, is also represented by a spirit here.

Restoring is like broken arm setting.

1) sometimes we ignore sin
2) Sometimes we notice sin, but never get past diagnosis
3) Sometimes we condemn the person in sin for needing to get help
4) Christians overtaken by sin do not need isolation, amputation or condemnation, they need restoration.

Mending: Matthew 4:21

For those who are walking in the Spirit, who have an abundance of
The fruit of the Spirit in their life, restoring one another is crucial.

BEAR OTHER’S BURDENS

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Illustration: Like one who carries a stretcher...bears weight of others inability to overcome whatever weakness they have.

The law of Christ...

Some say this is a reference to the moral law, or to Jesus’ teachings
As a whole. It really is a simple reference to what Paul has already said
That we are to love one another. This is the law of Christ.

To love one another is not like the burden of the law of Moses. It is the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul does not go from contrasting the law to suddenly implying a fulfillment of Moses' law...no he is continuing his contrast. The law of Christ (love) is another contrast to the law of Moses as represented by circumcision.

Burdens includes all kinds of weaknesses. Romans 15:1.

1 Peter 5:7
Psalm 55:22
1 Cor 9:21

CONSIDER OTHERS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOURSELF

1) HUMBLE YOURSELF
3 For aif anyone thinks he is something, bwhen he is nothing, he deceives himself.

2) ELIMINATE COMPETITIVENESS
4 But let each one atest his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 1Peter 1:7; 1 Cor 11:28

3) DON’T BURDEN OTHERS UNNECESSARILY
5 For each will have to bear his own load. Rom 14:12; 2 Cor 5:10

SHARE WITH OTHERS
BLESS YOUR BIBLE TEACHERS
6 aOne who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.

The one who teaches is a specific term probably coined by Paul to represent Christian Church teachers. It is the first reference to a fixed position of teaching in the local church-rather than the itinerant minister-Paul was not self serving in this comment.

The idea of a local pastor or elder who devotes himself to preaching the word and living off the support of the people he ministers to is the basic idea here. It is popular in some circles to attack the idea of a local pastor/bible teacher who draws his income from the ministry. This popular idea is contradicted here by Paul’s specific instruction. He may mention this right after the point about each one bearing his own load specifically so that local church leaders who live from the tithes and offerings of the flock do not suffer from a misapplication of the previous verse. 1 Cor 9:11, 14; 1Tim 5:17f..

Paul waived his right to receive income from those he ministered to…but insisted it was the right of those who give themselves wholly to preaching the Word.

(outline from Ryken “Galatians REC”-although the specific points match up more with Fung’s comments on this passage in “Galatians NICNT”)

Flesh vs Spirit

2006-12-08T10:40:00.000-06:00

Notes from my sermon on Galatians 5:15-26

ESV Galatians 5:16 But I say, awalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify bthe desires of the flesh.

Flesh here means sinful nature…not simply physical body. The physical body is not evil.

God created our flesh. This refers to our physical bodies. Genesis 2.

Jesus Christ came in the flesh…that is in a real physical body.

ESV 1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that bJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

Paul uses flesh to refer to the desires of our sinful nature sometimes. John does also in

ESV 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--athe desires of the flesh and bthe desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.

17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

There is a war between your fleshly desires and the Spirit’s desires.

The Law of Moses put that into bold fonts…highlighted the fact in neon lights that we are unable to do what is perfect in our sinful nature, switched the letters into full caps AND italicized it for us all to see. We cannot overcome our flesh by following God’s rules or by making up our own rules to live by.

So there is a better way….

The OLD CONTRAST was the law vs the flesh. The NEW CONTRAST is the flesh vs the Spirit.

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

We have changed nations. We no longer are citizens of the nation of Moses’ law. We are now citizens of Christ Jesus and His Spirit’s leading.

The efforts of our flesh are easy to see.

Four categories of flesh works…
Sexual sin, religious deviations, relational sins & wrecklessness.

A) Sexual sins

1) Porneia-fornicatoin, immorality, adultery
2) Akatharsis-Uncleanness, impurity
opposite of holiness
3) Aselgeia-Lasciviousness, licentiousness, indeceny, sensuality, debauchery

B) Religious deviations

4) Idolatry
5) Witchcraft, sorcery

C) Disorders in personal relationships

6) Hatred, enmeities, quarrels
7) Variance, strife, contentious temper, discord
8) Emulations, jealousies, envy
9) Wrath, anger, fits of rage, outburts of anger
10) Strife, factions, selfishness, selfish ambitions,
disputes
11) Divisions, seditions, dissension
12) Heresies, party spirit, factions
13) Envyings, murderous desires, jeallousies

D) Sins of Wrecklessness

14) Drunkenness, Drinking bouts
15) Revellings, Carousing, Orgies

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, adivisions, 21 envy,1 drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

What is the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God is the realm where God is King. It is the realm where God’s power, majesty, authority and rule are recognized and submitted to.

What does it mean to inherit the Kingdom?
To inherit the Kingdom of God is the fruition or completion of our quest to live forever in God’s presence, in friendship with Him and as glorious worshippers of God. To NOT inherit the Kingdom of God is to be destined to an eternal existence apart from Christ, suffering the pain of missing Him and the pain of eternal fire.

The very one thing Paul is NOT saying here is that ‘if you do not do the right things then you are going to hell forever’. What he is saying is that here are features of people who have received the Spirit. Here are features also of people who have rejected the Spirit and are living ‘naturally’. Here to be ‘normal’ is to be destined not to the Kingdom of God.

ESV 1 Corinthians 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: aneither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And asuch were some of you. But byou were washed, cyou were sanctified, dyou were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

In the name of Jesus & by the Spirit refer to coming into Christ Jesus and His covenant. They refer to the reception of the Holy Spirit at conversion.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its bpassions and desires.

These nine fruit of the Spirit are not individually given to each one as the Spirit wills…like the gifts of the Spirit are, but they are all foundational in all believers. The budding of these 9 fruit are resident inside the work of the Holy Spirit in every believer. The king of them is love.

These nine come together as one complete jewel. They are not really nine separate jewels, but nine ‘cuts’ of the same jewel. The jewel is the Holy Spirit. He is love. He grows these qualities in each one who walks by the Spirit.

ESV Romans 6:9 We know that aChrist being raised from the dead will never die again; bdeath no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, aonce for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves adead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

25 If we live by the Spirit, alet us also walk by the Spirit. 26 aLet us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Christian Freedom (Galatians 5:1-15)

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ESV Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free;
stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified1 by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly await for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,1 still preach circumcision, awhy am I still being persecuted? In that case bthe offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

I. Why were we set free?
ESV Galatians 5:1 For afreedom Christ has bset us free;
cstand firm therefore, and do not submit again to da yoke of eslavery.

NIV John 8:30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Freedom is usually ‘freedom from’….Romans 7:3-4 Freedom from the law.

The Council in Jerusalem will concur that the law is a yoke.

NLT Acts 15:10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers1 with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?

Freedom from….
The law Galatians 3:13
Sin Romans 6:18-22
Self Ephesians 4:22-24 Colossians 3:9-10
Death Romans 8:2
Freedom equals
The Spirit of God In Us 2 Corinthians 3:17
The Christian Life Galatians 2:4

ESV 1 Corinthians 16:13 aBe watchful, bstand firm in the faith, cact like men, dbe strong.

II. What really matters? 5:2-6

. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that aif you accept circumcision, bChrist will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ahe is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are asevered from Christ, byou who would be justified1 by the law; cyou have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly await for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus aneither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but bonly faith working through love.

When God says something twice in a row, pay close attention.

ESV Galatians 1:8 But even if we or aan angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, blet him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, alet him be accursed.

Can we get any more stunning?

Paul is inspired to repeat himself here also.

2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that aif you accept circumcision, bChrist will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ahe is obligated to keep the whole law.

ESV Romans 2:25 For circumcision indeed is of value aif you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

1 Cor 6:17 Only let each person lead the life athat the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. bThis is my rule in call the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? aLet him not seek circumcision. 19 aFor neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but bkeeping the commandments of God. 20 aEach one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

ESV Romans 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in athe new life of bthe Spirit.

NIV Romans 7:6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

NLT Romans 7:6 But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

ESV 1 Timothy 1:5 The aim of our charge is love athat issues from a pure heart and ba good conscience and ca sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by aswerving from these, have wandered away into bvain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, awithout understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that athe law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the alaw is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers,

www.wayofthemaster.com check a msg called ‘Hell’s best kept secret’. Shows how to use the law of Moses to bring people to conviction.

III. Who disrupts our freedom? 5:7-12

7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying bthe truth? 8 This persuasion is not from ahim who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view than mine, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers,1 still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

There were problems like in Galatia in other cities…not far away in Ephesus
Paul urges Timothy to stop law preachers as well.

ESV 1 Timothy 1:6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teahers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Leaven reminds us of being cut off from the people of God during the first Passover. Passover is a symbol of Christ’s death and resurrection. So the link to our freedom (Paul’s context in Galatians 5) is a direct link.

ESV Exodus 12:15 aSeven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, bthat person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a aholy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for aon this very day I brought your bhosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 aIn the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 aFor seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, athat person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, bwhether he is a sojourner or a native of the land.

Babe Ruth Baseball illustration

IV. How do we leave the law & walk well as Christians? 5:13-15

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. aOnly do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love bserve one another. 14 For athe whole law is fulfilled in one word: b"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you abite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

ESV Leviticus 19:18 aYou shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but byou shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

ESV 1 John 4:8 aAnyone who does not love does not know God, because bGod is love.
ESV 1 John 4:16 So awe have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. bGod is love, and cwhoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

God is love & God is light. The reason the law is summed up as loving is because God is love. Therefore, if we are led by the Spirit, love will be our hallmark. Therefore we are called to serve each other, not to devour each other.
The moral principles in the law reflect the nature of God. Jesus Christ is God. Therefore, the moral principles in the law will match what Christ’s Spirit leads us to do. We draw our life from our relationship with the Holy Spirit living inside us, and from careful meditation in God’s word. Therefore, we can apply all of scripture, but we must divide it rightly.

Celebrating Freedom (Hagar & Sarah) Galatians 4:21-5:1

2006-11-12T12:58:00.000-06:00

Celebrating Freedom

Galatians 4:21-5:1

Taking the enemies sword and using it to destroy his attack!

1) The Facts of Hagar & Sarah (4:21-23)
Genesis 16 Hagar is Sarah’s slave. She is given to Abraham to bear
an heir for Abraham.

2) The Spiritual Meaning (An Allegorical View 4:24-27)
Any view of scripture that does not line up with the redemption story
Line of the bible leads to error. Any allegory or view of scripture that is
arbitrary leads to error. For example, scarlet rope does not mean the blood of Christ. The five smooth stones of David do not bear five names with secret spiritual meanings. This sort of interpretation of scripture is NOT what the apostles endorsed. That kind of allegory inserts cool sounding meanings into verses that never were intended by God to be inserted there. We must avoid those sort of allegories. Any allegory that seems arbitrary in scripture must be understood as a special revelation received by an apostle who has had the endorsement of Christ through his verified miracles and signs and wonders. That does not give other people a warrant to interpret scripture with special meanings.

We who are not divinely inspired apostles must be careful we do not find ourselves creating new doctrines out of scriptures using arbitrary allegory.
What is arbitrary allegory? It is something the original author of the scripture never had in mind. It has no specific connection to the revelation of Christ as the interpretation of the great themes of the Old Testament. It usually is a ‘secret’ insight into a passage that is obscure. Often arbitrary allegory brings a ‘wow, I never saw that before’ with it. It is an unhealthy interest in discovering the ‘real meaning’ of a text. Sometimes it is accompanied with a misuse of the Greek text.
Unfortunately it is a common error that I run into all too often.

What is the redemptive flow of scripture? Paul ties his allegories into this using
grand themes of scripture.

The bible contains two great covenants. The Old Covenant and the New Covenant.

Mt. Sinai=Jerusalem=Jewish Community Under the Law of Moses

Jerusalem above=Freedom

ESV Hebrews 12:18 For you have not come to awhat may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and athe sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words bmade the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, a"If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." 21 Indeed, aso terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear." 22 But you have come to aMount Zion and to the city of the living God, bthe heavenly Jerusalem, and to cinnumerable angels in festal gathering,

Philadelphia
ESV Revelation 3:12 aThe one who conquers, I will make him ba pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him cthe name of my God, and dthe name of the city of my God, dthe new Jerusalem, ewhich comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own fnew name.

ESV Revelation 21:2 And I saw athe holy city, bnew Jerusalem, ccoming down out of heaven from God, dprepared eas a bride adorned for her husband.

ESV Revelation 21:10 And ahe carried me away in the Spirit to ba great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God,

3) The Significance To Galatia (4:28-30)

The law represents our inability to do what is right. The law proves we are hopelessly bound to sin in our inner most beings. The law demonstrates we are guilty and deserve punishment for sin. Without the law of Moses, people are unaware of how guilty they are before God. People tend to think they are pretty good and that God will accept them because He is a loving God. People tend to downplay their wrong doing and overplay their goodness. The law is like a cosmetic lighted mirror in a jail cell that has no make-up or anything to help us deal with the problems we see in the mirror. So with the law of Moses we can only see what is wrong. We cannot fix the problem.

The law is like a auto mechanic diagnostic computer that tells us what is wrong with the car…imagine being in a mechanic shop with only a diagnostic computer…no tools to fix anything.

Paul is saying…you have a brand new life. You are free. You are delivered. You are healed from all the wrong doing, wounds…penalty of your wrong doing! Why would you keep looking to the lighted mirror of your past that was designed to show you your flaws? Look instead to Jesus. His reflection brings freedom. His life formed in your heart transforms you from death to life. You have a new life.

So Paul shows that the law of Moses which was great for showing us our flaws, but could never help a man over come them, is no longer needed for those who have been made beautiful in Christ. In Christ we have no blemishes to cover up! He is perfect!

So don't go back into your prison cell with a mirror but nothing to help you fix your problems...a computer to diagnose, but no tools to fix the problem. Walk in the power of Christ and His life working in you.

4) The Summary & Appeal (4:31-5:1)

Christ did everything for us so that we could be free. This freedom means that we are no longer living in the law system of Moses. We are free to follow the law of love given by Christ Jesus. Therefore, we are no longer bound to the ten commandments and the rules/regulations associated with them in the Old Testament. Instead these things which led us to Christ, are useful to help us learn principles about God’s Kingdom so that we can be led by the Spirit wisely in all we do for Christ and His Kingdom. So dance for joy in Christ and live for Him with a spring in your step. Celebrate the freedom you have. Freedom from slavery to sinful desires. Freedom from the corruption of human nature. Freedom from the inability to do what Christ longs for us to do. Freedom to embrace one another with a godly love. Freedom to rescue others who are trapped in wickedness.

Sons of God (Galatians 4:1-20)

2006-11-05T17:41:00.000-06:00

Judaizers were probably teaching the Galatians that because Jesus was a Jew, they should pay attention to his Jewish roots. They probably were teaching them not only about Jesus’ Jewishness, but that they needed to embrace Jesus’ law practices. Jesus practiced the law. Jesus was circumcised as a Jew under the law of Moses. So perhaps the argument from the Judaizers was that if Jesus was circumcised, we should all be circumcised too. After all, shouldn't we do what Jesus did? Not only were they drawing from Abraham and his ‘seed’, but were most likely saying that Jesus, who is our head, was circumcised. This is why Paul deals with Jesus in depth here but draws a different conclusion. He is countering the false teachers in Galatia.

A) If Jesus was circumcised shouldn’t we be circumcised?

Answer: No. Jesus was born under the law so that He could redeem us from our inability to fulfill the law.

See Gal. 4:1-5

Our adoption as sons is a play on the term Son. Christ is the Son of God. This is a loaded word, which means He is Divine. He is therefore God, because there is only One God. Immediately we are faced with the trinity.

The law was meant to confine us. ESV Galatians 3:23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.

Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born dunder the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Listen to Ann Jervis comment on this verse: “The role of Christ was to redeem, to buy out of slavery, those imprisoned under law ( ESV Galatians 3:13 Christ aredeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, bc"Cursed is everyone who is hanged con a tree"--)

According to Paul, that which the Galatians are considering as an addition to their faith in Christ is the very thing that Christ was commissioned to bring freedom from. Christ’s Jewishness is not a reason for believers to adopt the Jewish law. It is the means by which God brought in the new age of freedom from the law! Pg 109 NICB Galatians

Now Paul refers to the Galatians receiving the Holy Spirit to prove this to them.
. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent athe Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

Remember what he said in the previous chapter…just three minutes earlier one was reading the text aloud.

ESV Galatians 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? 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 aworks miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith--

The devil tries to make us feel inadequate. He accuses and then tries to convince us that we need to add on to what Christ did in order to be adequate. To try to improve on the cross however, is to deny the true message of the cross.

Faith declares: You are all sons of Abraham. No matter your race, gender or status in life. Paul says to the Galatians…you are sons!

So all that Christ has inherited in his life of miracles, teachings and death and resurrection is now the inheritance of everyone who believes the promise of Abraham. That Jesus is the one who was sent.

Note the term 'hearts' in 4:6....this meant in ancient times the part of a human being that determined action, feeling and thought. The heart is the center of the inner life of man and the source of all forces and functions of soul and spirit. Therefore the Spirit of God's Son in our hearts brings the ability to totally transform us into the likeness of God's Son.
It enables us to do all that we are called to do. Jesus summed that up in:

ESV John 6:29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." Rely on Him. Trust in Him. Put all your confidence not in yourself, but in Christ.

ESV Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then aan heir through God.

You is singular here. You (singular) are a son.
ESV Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called dmy son.

ESV 1 Peter 2:9 But you are aa chosen race, ba royal cpriesthood, da holy nation, ea people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you fout of darkness into ghis marvelous light.

We are one community of believers. There is only one church, all believers through all time bound together in Christ!! Our local congregation is an expression of the church universal as it is often called. Yet we are all really one in Christ...those who put their confidence in Christ and not in themselves..

Relationship drives the rest of Paul's point in this section. see Galatians 4:12.
ESV Galatians 4:12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are.

Paul became law free. He stopped practising the law of Moses. He now appeals to them as brothers...and says: stop practising the law as I have stopped.

So his argument has dealt with scripture (Abraham), experience (receiving the Spirit) and now becomes personal (relationship).

3 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you bat first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, bas Christ Jesus.

No one knows what the illness was that Paul had. But in our weakness Christ often strongly moves through us. In spite of Paul's illness the Galatians treated him like an angel from God. So they had a rich history together and were bonded in the Spirit. Now that is all being overturned by Paul's opponents.

15 What then has become of the blessing you felt? This blessing is the word joy in the NIV. It is the same root word used in the Sermon on the Mount!

ESV Romans 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:

ESV Romans 4:9 Is this blessing then only for athe circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? bWe say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.

ESV Romans 6:10 For the death he died he died to sin, aonce for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

ESV Romans 6:11 So you also must consider yourselves adead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

ESV Galatians 4:17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and anot only when I am present with you,

My friend who wanted to get together and catch up with each other...really wanted to sell me a liquid vitamin.
Zeal is not always good. Our purpose must be for the real benefit of those we are ministering to...and that purpose ultimately is to help them experience Jesus Christ.

19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ cis formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Birth pains are probably one of the only kinds of suffering that we endure willingly and lovingly. This harkens to Isaiah who uses this term 9 times of the total 16 appearances in the Old Testament. In fact, Paul will quote Isaiah on this concept in the next paragraph. We will look more at this concept next week (Lord willing).

As we present the gospel to people, there is intense spiritual warfare. That warfare is around the souls of men who are either able to receive or unable to receive the message of Christ. Our role is to interceded for them until something happens.

What is it that Paul is interceding for in the Galatians lives?? Look at Galatians 4:19 again for the answer.

ESV Galatians 4:19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ cis formed in you!

Christ is born into our hearts! Christ dwells in us! Not only that, but we dwell in Christ.

ESV John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is aborn bagain1 he cannot csee the kingdom of God."

Christ is in us...and we are in Christ! What wonder and glory! The proof is that we have a sense of forgiveness of sins, freedom from the power of the sin, a cry in our hearts that God is our Father...AND we are inheritors of all that is in Christ because we are now in Christ!

Two senses here: It is completed at our true conversion...AND we are in process.
Think of this as the two pedals on a bicycle. We are sons of God conformed to Christ. We are being conformed to Christ. Left pedal, right pedal. They seem contradictory, but they work together to propell us forward in God.

ESV 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, abeholding bthe glory of the Lord,1 care being transformed into the same image dfrom one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

ESV Romans 8:29 For those whom he aforeknew he also bpredestined cto be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be dthe firstborn among many brothers.

ESV Philippians 3:10 athat I may know him and bthe power of his resurrection, and cmay share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

The Law or Christ

2006-10-29T12:58:00.000-06:00

NLT Galatians 3:15 Dear brothers and sisters,1 here's an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement, so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promises to Abraham and his child.1 And notice that the Scripture doesn't say "to his children,2 " as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says "to his child" -- and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God's promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise. 19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people. 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when he gave his promise to Abraham. 21 Is there a conflict, then, between God's law and God's promises?1 Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God's promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. 23 Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. 26 For you are all children1 of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on the character of Christ, like putting on new clothes.1 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,1 slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children1 of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Mary Queen of Scots flees for her life in 1566 A.D. A year later she is imprisoned. Then freed, and reimprisoned later, she was beheaded for plotting against Elizabeth I in 1587.

This was after Christopher Columbus had discovered the North America. This was before the pilgrims had settled on the east coast of America. What was life like in those days? They did not have electricity. Everything was done by hand. The English Colonies were only a dream, not yet established. Back to Mary Queen of Scots.

The year that she fled for her life was about 430 years ago. If Mary Queen of Scots made any legal contracts that were validated by the courts in England and Scotland, can we go back now and offer a completely new contract (even though she has been dead for over 400 years?).

The Promise-Through your descendent, all nations will be blessed: Freedom will come from the bondage of sin.

Story of Sodom’s destruction.

NIV Genesis 18:18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.

The Law-Understand the nature of your sin.

NIV Romans 5:20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

This giving of the law by angels is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

Perhaps this is meant by Paul.

Moses’ final blessing on the tribes of Israel.

NIV Deuteronomy 33:2 He said: "The LORD came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with {2 Or from} myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes.

Stephen mentions this as if it were common knowledge.

NIV Acts 7:53 you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it."

What is the point about the law? It was not negotiated directly but by deputies….Moses representing Israel.

NIV Romans 7:7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet." {7 Exodus 20:17; Deut. 5:21}

NLT Romans 6:14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace.

PEDAGOGOS-A kind of ancient servant who was like a professional nanny, except that he was not paid, he was a slave. The law was like a baby-sitter.

This does not mean each of us need to come under the law until we are older. What it means is that the law was like a baby-sitter until the time of Christ had fully come.

In Christ

One of the greatest affirmations about the new order of liberated existence ‘in Christ’.

The new man of Ephesians is the new man IN CHRIST.

Kind of a play on the concept of slaves is in mind here. He talks about the slave/baby sitter and then turns to talk about what Christ has done for us. He has made slaves/free one in Christ. It is a stunning turn of thought!

What does it mean to be ‘In Christ’?

NLT John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

Does baptism here mean that the water somehow saves us?

Acts 9:17 Paul received the Holy Spirit before his baptism.
It is a reference to part of the whole process of initiation into a Christian life. Paul does not replace an initiation rite of the Law with a new one. He speaks generally as to what baptism signifies.

Ancient prayer: Thank God I was born a Jew and not a Gentile, a freeman and not a slave, a man and not a woman.

NIV 1 Corinthians 7:22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave.

If the Law could impart life, then Christ died for nothing. Since the law cannot impart life, Christ is our life.

“Valves are my life” story.

Galatians 3:1-14 Bewitched Fools

2006-10-22T19:18:00.000-06:00

Witchcraft’s Purpose Against Christians: Mixing Law & Faith

Introduction:
Acts 13 & 14 Introduction to Galatians by looking at Paul’s mission trip through the Galatian region. After being chased out of a couple towns by Jews who hated his msg, he performed a dramatic miracle, only to be attacked and left for dead hours later in the same town, by the Jews who hated him so much. Paul’s demonstration of power, his personal suffering and the flip-flop fickleness of the Galatians are all mentioned in the book of Galatians either directly or by inuendo.

Paul starts Galatians by claiming his apostleship is not by men or from any men. He plants the seeds of his letter in the first paragraph.

We looked at Gal 1:6-10 where Paul pronounces a curse on anyone who tampers with the gospel. Paul then goes on to talk about the radical change that happens when the true gospel is preached. In Chapter 2 he continues his story explaining in more detail the fact that there is only one true gospel. Then in the last part of chapter 2 we have Paul explaining why he had a conflict with Peter the disciple of Jesus and the lead Apostle of Jesus’ twelve. During the explanation of his confrontation with Peter, Paul melts away from an autobiography and into his doctrinal. There are times when doctrine must be focused on. Paul explains why. Although many doctrines, theological points and even applications drawn from them are really minor or irrelevant, we must not make the error of trivializing all doctrine. Some doctrines are fundamental truths which cannot be changed. The clarion call of Galatians is that the gospel cannot be changed. It is eternal, true, and we can only be freed and saved by the true gospel. It is more than doctrine though, it is Jesus Himself. He is the Message of the Cross. He is the Word (LOGOS) who hung on the cross.

Now we are looking at Paul’s message applied directly to the Galatians. He’s not talking now about confronting Peter. No he confronts the Galatians directly with the gospel he preaches and it’s conclusions. He appeals back to the power of God as displayed in Galatia (Acts 14). He appeals to their own conversion experiences! Paul turns the Galatians into witnesses for his position. Their own memories will be a weapon of the Holy Spirit to turn them back onto the right pathway.

What was it exactly that Paul was upset with them about?

Jewish Christian leaders who attacked him.

This passage (Galatians 3:1-14)

I. Recognize That Witchcraft Often Works Through Religious People To Obscure The Pure & True Gospel Message 3:1-5

ESV Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? aIt was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly bportrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: aDid you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by bhearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? aHaving begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by1 the flesh? 4 aDid you suffer1 so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and aworks miracles among you do so bby works of the law, or by hearing with faith--

The word for bewitched relates the concept of an 'evil eye' which casts a spell over those under its power. It's kinda like the Lord of the Rings movie concept. Since the 'who' is singular in the Greek, Stott points out Paul may have in mind the devil himself, but it is not specifically stated. I think that is what Paul has in mind here.

ESV Galatians 5:19 Now athe works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ESV Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, adivisions,

II. Learn & Remember The Bible’s Gospel Conversion Stories

ESV Galatians 3:6 just as aAbraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? 7 Know then that it is athose of faith who are bthe sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that aGod would justify1 the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, b"In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

ESV Genesis 12:3 aI will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and bin you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."1

ESV Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: a"Fear not, Abram, I am byour shield; your reward shall be very great." 2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue1 childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and aa member of my household will be my heir." 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him: "This man shall not be your heir; ayour very own son1 shall be your heir." 5 And he brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven, and anumber the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, b"So shall your offspring be." 6 And ahe believed the LORD, and bhe counted it to him as righteousness..

ESV Genesis 18:18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be ablessed in him?

PETER HEALS THE CRIPPLED BEGGAR & PREACHES THE GOSPEL
Acts 3:17 "And now, brothers, I know that ayou acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God aforetold bby the mouth of all the prophets, that chis Christ would dsuffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 aRepent therefore, and bturn again, that cyour sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ aappointed for you, Jesus, 21 awhom heaven must receive until the time for brestoring all the things about which cGod spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you aba prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen bto him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet ashall be destroyed from the people.' 24 And aall the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 aYou are the sons of the prophets and of bthe covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, c'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.'

PAUL HEALED MANY AND PREACHED THE GOSPEL
ESV Romans 15:17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have areason to be proud of bmy work for God. 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except awhat Christ has accomplished through me bto bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed, 19 aby the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God--so that bfrom Jerusalem and all the way around cto Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, alest I build on someone else's foundation,

III. Remember Your Own Conversion Experience (Yes Experience Matters)
Understand The Enemies Doctrine & Open Up God’s Word To Clarify And Correct False Doctrine (Yes Doctrine Does Matter)

I have had many watershed experiences with the Lord Jesus. Here’s one in particular that I want to share today with you.

I remember when I was in my middle teens, living in Oconomowoc Wisconsin, one night I awoke in the middle of the night. I went to the fireplace, with my bible and began searching. The presence of the Lord was there and He began to draw my attention to Luke 9.

ESV Luke 9:20 Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, a"The Christ of God." 21 aAnd he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 absaying, b"The Son of Man must csuffer many things and dbe rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on ethe third day be raised." 23 And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him adeny himself and btake up his cross cdaily and follow me. 24 For awhoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 aFor what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?

There by the fireplace I knelt and gave my life to the Lord Jesus. The personal communion and presence of the Holy Spirit was overwhelming.

IV. Why The OT Law Is Not For Gentiles/Avoiding Legalism

ESV Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are aunder a curse; for it is written, bc"Cursed be everyone who does not cabide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11 Now it is evident that ano one is justified before God by the law, for b"The righteous shall live by faith."1 12 But the law is not of faith, rather a"The one who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ aredeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, bc"Cursed is everyone who is hanged con a tree"-- 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might acome to the Gentiles, so that bwe might receive cthe promised Spirit through faith.

The Jewish Christian Leaders from Jerusalem were probably using this passage as a key point in their teaching…

ESV Genesis 17:9 And God said to Abraham, "As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a asign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is aeight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bbought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."

Paul interacts with their teaching by using these scriptures to clarify.

ESV Leviticus 18:5 aYou shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; bif a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.

ESV Deuteronomy 21:22 "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 ahis body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for ba hanged man is cursed by God. cYou shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.

ESV Deuteronomy 27:26 a"'Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

A) Christ is the completion of the Law for all who believe.
B) The Law is not made for Christians.
C) The New Testament doctrines govern our interpretation of the OT.
D) Any teaching that is primarily based on OT only is usually off in its focus
E) The OT is packed with principles we can and should use (w/NT doctrine in mind)
F) All scripture is useful: No part of the Bible is to be rejected. We must simply understand how to use it for doctrine, reproof, correction, encouragement, instruction.

Facing Conflict: Changing Paradigms: From Law to Grace Galatians 2:11-21

2006-10-15T19:47:00.000-06:00

Horse-drawn carriage illustration
Grandma Grace's family used to move from one town to another in a horse drawn covered wagon. Today people move from town to town with a diesel powered Ryder Truck. The change from horse-drawn carriages to automobiles and trucks was a massive societal paradigm shift.

We are going to look at a passage that shows the massive paradigm shift in ancient times that the church underwent from a law based system to grace.

First let's look at the city of Antioch for a bit.

NIV Acts 6:5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

NOTE Nicolas was a Gentile from Antioch who converted to Judaism. Gentiles were not yet allowed into the church.

For awhile the only Gentiles in the church were Judaism converts. So there were no believers who did not practice the law of Moses as well...at first. Then God began to speak to the church about this issue.

Acts 10 Peter has his Cornelius/Gentile trance/visions

The Jewish believers with Peter were amazed that the Gentiles with Cornelius received the baptism of the Holy Spirit because they did not believe up to then that God would accept Gentiles. Peter had just received the official revelation from God. No one had processed what it meant yet. No one had actually baptized a single Gentile yet.

NIV Acts 11:19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

NIV Acts 11:27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

It was during this visit from Antioch that Paul privately met with James, Peter & John. In that meeting they discussed Paul's gospel. The blessing of these three was given to Paul.

Not all the Jews accepted Paul's gospel in Galatia. Some of them were so upset they drove him from their cities. So Paul moved on to other synagogues in Galatian towns. In the meantime, some Jews from Antioch were so upset that they travelled over to Galatia. They hunted him down and tried to get the crowd to kill him.

NIV Acts 14:19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.

NIV Acts 14:20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

So Paul was opposed by two groups. The first group was the Jews who rejected the gospel. The second group was the Jews who accepted the gospel, but who wanted to retain the law of Moses.

What is the law of Moses?

Law of Moses (the laws (beginning with the Ten Commandments) that God gave to the Israelites through Moses; it includes many rules of religious observance given in the first five books of the Old Testament (in Judaism these books are called the Torah))
http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=law%20of%20moses

NIV Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

NIV Romans 10:4 Christ is the end (fulfillment) of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
NLT Romans 10:4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.1 As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.

NIV 1 Timothy 1:8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law {9 Or that the law} is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers-- and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

NAU Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the aLaw says, it speaks to bthose who are 1under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and call the world may become accountable to God; 20 because aby the works 1of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for 2bthrough the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21 But now apart 1from the Law athe righteousness of God has been manifested, being bwitnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the arighteousness of God through bfaith cin Jesus Christ for dall those 1who believe; for ethere is no distinction; 23 for all 1ahave sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift aby His grace through bthe redemption which is in Christ Jesus;

2 Corinthians 3:1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant-- not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
A massive shift was happening. A shift from the Law of Moses to the Law of Love. A shift from being under Moses to being under Christ.

NIV Galatians 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. 17 "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

When the automobile was introduced, a massive shift in our nations economy began. A shift in thinking. A shift in living. We have forgotten these things....because time has passed. So it is with the conflict between Paul & Peter. The roots of it are older than the history of a horse-drawn carriage being replaced by the auto.

We are not under Moses' law any longer. We are now in Christ. We are not bound by the ten commandments, the sacrificial system or the dietary laws of Moses. NO! We are not to follow the Jewish holy days or festivals. No!

See the law of Moses is still alive and still works. It is still good…for those who are under the law. It is a self-contained system. Jesus Christ closed the door on the law. It is still there, able to work. But we are now free. Not because Christ destroyed the law…He didn’t…but because we died in Christ. Our death absolved us from our legal binding to the law.

If you buy into part of the law, you must accept it all. Paul recognized this and forbid the law practice of separating from Gentiles. In Christ we are all one. The one new man that Paul talks about in his Ephesians letter is part of this.

So turn to Christ, with eyes of faith! Look on Jesus and receive your redemption! Walk not by the laws of Moses, but in the freedom Christ has given us!

Notice Paul's confession: I am crucified with Christ! It's in this powerful confession that our faith expresses powerfully that we are dead to the law. Because through Christ's fulfillment of the law...and his atoning sacrifical death, we died to the law. It still is in effect. But we are free! We are of GRACE.

The paradigm shifted. No longer law. Now Christ. Just like it was no longer roads with ruts for horse-drawn carriages with metal rimmed wheels...but new paved roads for rubberized tires filled with air. We no longer dwell in the system of the law of Moses. We are in Christ!

Gal. 2.1.10 There is only one gospel

2006-10-12T21:23:00.000-06:00

There is Only One Gospel Galatians 2:1-10

ESV Galatians 2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those awho seemed influential) the gospel that bI proclaim among the Gentiles, cin order to make sure I was not running or had not drun in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, awas not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in--who bslipped in to spy out cour freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery-- 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those awho seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with bthe gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, awho seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul’s Gentile gospel validated by the Holy Spirit’s presence, power and activity.

We should learn to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit, and when we have trouble discerning, yield to the Spirit’s work.

1) Paul visited Jerusalem with Barnabas in part to clarify this issue.

We should seek clarity on essential matters of our faith with those we
are related to, not avoid essential matters.

2) Paul Stood Firm for His gospel.

We should stand firm for the Gospel’s pure form.

Nothing you can do will get you into heaven, only trusting in Christ crucified.

We must understand the point of attack the devil brings and oppose it vociferously.

3) Paul’s Gospel was affirmed by the ‘Pillars’ in Jerusalem.

Our gospel was affirmed by all the Apostles of the early church.
(The modern idea that Paul’s gospel was different from what Jesus and
his disciples taught is exploded by this very passage in the bible).
Jesus, his disciples and Paul all had ONE message.

The work of those who follow God is this: To believe on Him whom God has sent into the world.

4) Paul’s Call & Commission by God is acknowledged and affirmed.

Paul’s whole life was given to spreading the gospel. We should
Focus all of our life energy/gifts/talents on spreading the gospel.

5) The Apostle’s Only Instruction To Paul Matched His Existing Value System
We should endeavor to ‘remember’ the poor as well. Never forgetting.

A Greek Point on Gal 1:18, 21 & 2:1

2006-10-05T22:13:00.000-06:00

Grace Notes

NAU Galatians 1:18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord's brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.)

21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.

2:1 Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.

The Greek word translated as 'Then' coupled with Paul's exceptionally strong oath in 1:20 (see italics above), indicate that he is giving an account that does NOT leave out any visit to Jerusalem. We know that Paul delivered aid to Jerusalem before the Acts 15 council. Paul could not have skipped a visit to Jerusalem like that in his chronology, because he took officials with him from various churches. He has just sworn these were his trips to Jerusalem to date. Paul does not appeal to the Acts 15 decision to allow the Gentiles to remain in the church without being circumcised because that decision had not yet been made. The controversy with Paul would continue after his letter to the Galatians was written. Eventually it would culminate in the Acts 15 council on this topic. See Fung's Commentary on Galatians (NICNT)

The plausible view is that Paul is talking about a visit to Jerusalem before the Acts 15 council happened. When Paul wrote Galatians the conflict with the Judaizers was just beginning. These conflicts led to the Acts 15 council. That is why Paul does not mention the decision there or appeal to it. That decision was still in the future.

It would have been deceptive for him to not include a visit to Jerusalem. So if this is correct (and I think it is), then Paul is writing to southern Galatia, along the established ancient Roman road that was in place during his outreach travels.

On English translations of this passage:

For the English reader, it helps to read carefully in the NAU or ESV, because the punch list style of the Greek text is swept aside for stylistic purposes by the NIV translators in this text. There are many instances of this in the NIV. For this reason, the NIV, which is a great reading bible, is NOT a good translation for detailed study. If you aren not a B-Greek reader, compare the NIV with the NAU or ESV.

Grace Notes are summaries of discussions from Grace LifeGroup.

Radically Changed (2nd point) Gal. 1:18-24

2006-10-01T18:57:00.000-06:00

18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles-- only James, the Lord's brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they praised God because of me.

Paul continues to make the case that he was not deeply influenced by the apostles or others.

Paul did not isolate himself completely, but he did limit his contact with others. He did this because of the dramatic call on his life, so that Jesus could instruct him personally on the truth he was going to give his life to proclaiming.

Paul had a direct revelation from God, which enabled him to discern what teachings were from Christ and what wasn’t. He used that revelation to screen error. We must know the message Paul received from Christ so that we can screen out error today as well.

What was happening behind the scenes as Paul persecuted the church?

Believers were praying for those who persecuted them.

Summary: Before his conversion, Saul was a fanatic. Wholehearted devotion to Judaism and persecution of the church. A man in that mental and emotional state is in no mood to change his mind. No conditioned reflex or psychological appeal could have converted him. Only God could reach him, and God did!

We must believe God can reach those around us who appear to be the greatest enemies of the faith.

There is power in telling your story. What has God done in your life? How can you share your story in a way that blesses and helps others?

Radically Changed Galatians 1:11-17 (part 1)

2006-10-01T18:53:00.000-06:00

What if Osama bin Laden was confronted by Jesus Christ in a direct encounter? What if Osama bin Laden was converted to Christ? What if he started healing people and preaching Christ to people all through the mountains of Pakistan? What if he started planting churches all through the mountains in the Pakistan border?

That would be kinda like what happened in the ancient world. Paul, an avowed enemy of Christians, hell bent on destroying the Churches, was suddenly confronted by Jesus Christ. His personal transformation was extraordinary. He went from killing Christians, eventually to getting beaten until he was left for dead (in ancient Galatia-Acts 14). Now he is writing back to the Galatians. It was his story that would form part of the defense for his message.

So far in his letter to the Galatians, Paul states there is only one gospel and that one gospel is the standard that all human opinion is tested from. Where did Paul get this gospel? Was it something he made up? Was it from the Church leaders in Jerusalem? No. Paul claims it was directly from Jesus Christ. To prove this he tells his story.

NIV Galatians 1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth {15 Or from my mother's womb} and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

When someone you know undergoes a radical change, questions are usually raised?

Have you undergone radical changes in your life? Did others question you at that time?

Zoom into Galatians 1:12 & 16 for a moment. I disagree with the NIV on this phrase...'a revelation from Jesus Christ'. Most translations say 'a revelation of Jesus Christ'. What Paul says here should be interpreted by vs 16. It means Jesus Himself was revealed to or in Paul. It's not a set of doctrines that Paul is talking about. Jesus is the truth! Jesus is what was revealed.

Before his conversion, Paul was driven by a hatred of Christianity because he felt it perverted Judaism. What drove you before you surrendered to Christ?

Paul saw that God marked him even in his mothers womb.

Do you realize that God’s hand has been on you since you were in your mother’s womb?

We need to pray for children who are in their mothers womb. (LifeChain is today).

Paul deliberately avoided human consultation on the gospel.

Learn to hear from God on your own so that you know what is from the Lord and what is not.

Paul takes care in countering the accusations that he got his gospel from someone else. We should learn to when to respond to criticism of our work for God. Don’t tell stories in a boastful way, but tell what God has done in your life with a Christ honoring purpose in mind.

Paul’s preconversion life adds weight to his claim that his gospel came from God because he was destroying the ones he ended up joining.

Summary: Having made the startling claim to a direct revelation from God without human means, Paul goes on to prove it from history, that is, from the facts of his own autobiography. Paul’s situation before his conversion, at his conversion and after his conversion show that he clearly got his gospel not from any human being, but direct from God.

Used Stott’s ‘Experiencing the grace of Christ’ questions.

Standing Up For The Gospel & Not Fearing Men Gal 1:6-10

2006-09-25T06:42:00.000-06:00

Adopt A Fierce Watch Over The Gospel Msg/Speak Out Against Counterfeit Gospels/Rebuke & Warn People Only Over Things That Truly Matter

NIV Galatians 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

The Devil’s strategy is to use false teachers to 'encourage and correct'.
In reality the false teachers are misleading.

Taught three things
1) Circumcision 5:2
2) Observing the law 3:5
3) Keeping Jewish Holy Days 4:10

Martin Luther: Wherefore, let us learn, that this is a special point of the devil’s cunning, that if he cannot hurt by persecuting and destroying, he doth it under a colour of correcting and building up.

It behooves us to pray without ceasing, to read the holy Scriptures, to cleave fast unto Christ, and His holy word, that we may overcome the devil’s subtleties. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Paul’s Reaction
The gospel is not just truth in General, but a specific message. It cannot be tampered with. Nothing should be added. Nothing should be subtracted. So the word which generally means ‘good news’ must be more than just good news in general.

Paul’s astonishment shows that he believed the Galatians had enough of an encounter with God and enough teaching that they should have remained faithful to Christ AND to the message they were given.

Iconium heard Paul clearly preach with Jewish opposition for quite awhile. This means that they were probably well schooled in the gospel and it’s relationship to the Jewish law. The next area, Lystra, had a powerful healing of a well known lame man. The letter to the Galatians was probably written to the churches in these cities and other Galatian cities. So it’s no wonder Paul marvelled…the Galatians had seen the ‘marvels’ of God’s power. They had heard Paul teach extensively. They were choosing to believe another messenger who probably had poisoned their minds against Paul. This messenger(s) was not a Jew outside of the Church. This was a Jew who claimed to represent the true Church.

Sometimes our greatest deceptions come to us from those who are closest to us. Peter trying to stop the Cross. Of all things, he opposed the very event that God sent Christ into the world to actually do.

A parallel thought. The enemy of the best is something usually that seems good.

ESV Acts 14:1 Now at Iconium athey entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed. 2 aBut the bunbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against cthe brothers.1 3 So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for athe Lord, who bore witness to bthe word of his grace, cgranting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 4 But the people of the city awere divided; bsome sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 5 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, ato mistreat them and bto stone them, 6 they learned of it and afled to bLystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country, 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel. 8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was acrippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and aseeing that he had faith to be made well,1 10 said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he asprang up and began walking. 1

Comments on what Paul says will happen to those who are in league with the devil and who change the gospel message.
How do we change the gospel?

What is the nature of the penalty for changing the gospel?

What is a curse?

What is a curse from God?

What are some curses from God in the bible?

Jesus identifies with a curse in the bible. Why?

How does that affect us?His identification from a curse to remove the curse of sin, sickness & death from use is reversed if we reject Him and His gospel.

So many people feel we need to move on from the gospel message to meatier things in God’s word. What was Paul’s attitude towards the gospel? Was he non-chalant about it?

Did Paul have an ‘already been there, already done that, already know that’ attitude about the gospel?

Adopt an attitude that you will speak up in defense of the true gospel when you hear it’s essence being twisted or altered.

ESV Deuteronomy 11:26 "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

ESV Deuteronomy 21:22 "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance.

ESV 1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

OT Background on Curses
Twelve Curses of the Law of Moses
15 "'Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to the LORD, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen.' 16 "'Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 17 "'Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 18 "'Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 19 "'Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 20 "'Cursed be anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he has uncovered his father's nakedness.'1 And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 21 "'Cursed be anyone who lies with any kind of animal.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 22 "'Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 23 "'Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 24 "'Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 25 "'Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' 26 "'Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.'

ESV Galatians 3:10 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." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith." 12 But the law is not of faith, rather "The one who does them shall live by them." 13 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"--

Make it one of your life goals to revolve your life around knowing, growing in and sowing the true gospel to all the people God desires you to reach!

Make it one of your life goals to use all of your God given spiritual gifts to spread the gospel.

Make it one of your goals to see people come to a full understanding of the gospel in your LifeGroups and in our Worship Services.

Refuse To Yield To The Fear Of Man/Pursue An Awe Of God

One cannot be a genuine minister of the gospel and try to please people by compromising the truths of the gospel. 1 Cor 4:3-5. Paul regarded it his duty to speak ‘not trying to please men but God who tests our hearts. 1 Th 2:4. All followers of the gospel must make it their aim to please God, even if it means displeasing some people. Acts 5:29, Eph 6:6, Col 3:22

Divine Authority & Power (Galatians 1:1-5)

2006-09-17T22:12:00.000-06:00

NIV Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle-- sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-- 2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Two Key Points to focus on: The Authority of an Apostle & The Power of the Gospel

Some Christian teachers had come from Jerusalem into Galatia teaching that Paul’s doctrine was not authorized by Jerusalem. They taught that what Paul taught was from Antioch, not from Jerusalem. They opposed Paul’s teachings that one was not able to be saved by obeying the law of Moses, and they taught that Moses must be followed. By challenging Paul, they asserted that he was sent by men and through the aid of men. Paul directly attacks his opponents arguments in the introduction of this letter to Galatian Churches.

Apostleship: What is it? The word apostle means ‘one who was sent’. But not all who were sent were apostles. The sense that Paul uses the word here is as an agent of heaven with a specific mission: preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was an embassador of heaven’s Kingdom proclaiming God’s freedom to everyone: especially the Gentiles.

There were twelve apostles in Jerusalem originally. After Judas’ Iscariots death, he was replaced (see Acts 1). The Twelve were commissioned directly by Jesus. They knew him and were in his small group. They were witnesses of Jesus’ physical resurrection. Over time the term Apostle was extended to include those who were authorized or commissioned to spread the gospel to the Gentiles as well. Barnabas, the Lord’s brother, James, and other unnamed people are mentioned. It is a broader, less formal term for commissioned representatives of churches.

Paul is saying here that even though he was sent out by Antioch and commissioned there, it was the Lord who directly commissioned him. He is claiming to be commissioned by the resurrected Christ. Jesus appeared to him and called him to be an apostle. Therefore, no human confirmation can replace what God actually initiated in him. In the same way, his provisions for ministry are provided by the direct aid of God….so that any offerings he receives from anyone he ultimately ascribes to the Father’s glory.

There were a group of believers with Paul who agreed with his teaching. Because he uses the first singular throughout the lettter he probably is writing with their general agreement, rather than their personal editing of what he writes.

Greeting: Grace and peace….the merging of a Christian Greek and Christian Hebrew greeting.

Grace means favor…demonstrated by God’s redemption of us through Christ’s death & resurrection. Peace means the well being we enter into through faith in Christ.

Paul imparts these two things by announcing ‘grace & peace’. This is the dynamic of being a Kingdom of God authorized agent. He is authorized by Christ to give grace & peace. He gives grace & peace through invocation! There is power in message we give.

Jesus taught the seventy…
Luke 10:5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.'

NIV Matthew 10:12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting.

Paul’s greeting reflects a twofold summation of the experience of receiving the Gospel of the Kingdom. God’s gospel is initiated by grace..it is initiated by favor. It results in a state of well-being in God’s presence. Grace is the cause of the change. Peace is the effect of the change. Grace is the root of the tree, and Peace is the fruit of the tree. See Fung NICNT on Galatians.

A Spirit filled Christian gives both to people.

A failure to understand our power, authority and ability to impart grace and peace results in nothing being done. When we can by the power of the Spirit impart grace and peace into situations we should speak with power and authority. Let your words be seasoned with grace & truth.

NIV Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Note where the grace and peace are coming from. We do not minister of our own resources. We do not generate our own grace or our own peace.

The two fold ascribing of grace & peace identifies God as Father and Jesus as both Lord and Christ.

In verses 1 Jesus is mentioned first…and God the Father is mentioned second. In verse 3 God the Father is mentioned first and Jesus is mentioned second. In the first case, the Father’s action of raising Christ from the dead is emphasized. In the second case Christ’s giving of himself for our sins is emphasized. Both combine to show us the theme of this letter. God has rescued us from this present evil age.

The explanation of a present evil age and it’s power over mankind is being broken by the beginning of the coming (and already present) elect age.

There are two ages overlapping. The present evil age and the coming elect age. The age of the elect is the coming Kingdom of God, which is already among us! This is what we studied so carefully in Revelation. Here Paul makes a reference to the Kingdom of God righteously rescuing people from the kingdom of darkness.

Here you see the Father and Son relating in perfect harmony to rescue us, to call Paul as an apostle, and to impart both grace & peace to the readers. By extension, we also receive grace & peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

NIV Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Since Christ has rescued us from this present age, it will be shown as we study further that nothing is needed from the law (which was made for this present age) to be added to our lives in the next age (which believers in Christ are already partakers of).

Amen is a responsive pledge…yes we agree to give Glory to God.

As believers in Christ, we are embassadors of His Kingdom. That means that we have divine authority and power to impart grace & peace to people around us.

Therefore, understand who it is that has called you. Who you are in this world, an alien…a foreigner called to rescue people…by announcing grace & peace to them. God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ….accessed this present epoch…or time period through the giving of Christ as a redeemer for our sins…and through the Father’s resurrection of Christ from the dead. So the death and resurrection is the breaking into this age point…the entrance point of the coming Kingdom. We as agents must help people escape this present evil world by pointing them to Christ’s death & resurrection. By doing this we show them the door into the future and coming Kingdom which is already here! It is very much like the door in the wardrobe that leads to Narnia. Two kingdoms side by side…with only the Cross & Resurrection of Christ able to bridge us from one into the other.

Introduction to Galatians (Acts 13 & 14)

2006-09-10T19:04:00.000-06:00

Celts (Kelts) migrated from near the Alps several hundred years before Christ to Central Modern Day Turkey. They had a reputation for being warriors, artisans, barbaric, and willing to fight for pay (mercenaries). By the New Testament times, a Roman road enabled military and trade to more easily flow through Southern Galatia. The cities that we know Paul evangelized in Southern Galatia. “Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was bounded on the north by Bithynia and Paphlagonia, on the east by Pontus, on the south by Lycaonia and Cappadocia, and on the west by the remainder of Phrygia, the eastern part of which the Gauls had invaded. The modern capital of Turkey, Ankara (ancient Ancyra), lies in ancient Galatia.” (see www.wikipedia.com)

Roman and Christian Galatia
On the death of the third king Amyntas in 25 BC, however, Galatia was incorporated by Octavian Augustus in the Roman empire, though near his capital Ancyra (modern Ankara) Pylamenes, the king's heir, rebuilt a temple of the Phrygian goddess Men to venerate Augustus (the Monumentum Ancyranum), as a sign of fidelity. It was on the walls of this temple in Galatia that the major source for the Res Gestae of Augustus were preserved for modernity. Few of the provinces proved more enthusiastically loyal to Rome. The Galatians also practiced a form of Romano-Celtic polytheism, common in Celtic lands.
During his second missionary journey Paul, accompanied by Silas and Timothy (Acts 16:6), visited the "region of Galatia," where he was detained by sickness (Epistle to Galatians 4:13), and had thus the longer opportunity of preaching to them the gospel. On his third journey he went over "all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order" (Acts 18:23). During the journeys of Paul he was received with enthusiasm in Galatia. In Acts, xvi, 6 and xviii, 23:"And they went through the Phrygian and Galatian region" (ten phrygian kai Galatiken choran) and "he departed and went through the Galatian region and Phrygia" (ten Galatiken choran kai phrygian). The Galatians were fickle; at Lystra the multitude could scarcely be restrained from sacrificing to Paul (because they assumed he was a god); shortly afterwards they stoned him and left him for dead. Crescens was sent thither by Paul toward the close of his life (2 Timothy 4:10).
The Galatians were still speaking the Celtic Galatian language in the time of St. Jerome (347–420 AD), who wrote that the Galatians of Ancyra and the Treveri of Trier (in what is now the German Rhineland) spoke the same language. (much of this info page is from www.wikipedia.com)
Four cities of Galatia’s First Missions Trip By Paul: Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe

Significant Events in Paul's Journey*
• 48 AD-From Antioch Paul, Barnabas and John (surnamed Mark) begin their first journey. They travel to Cypress (Cyprus) and Perga.
• John Mark leaves Paul and Barnabas at Perga and returns to Jerusalem (see Acts 13:13). After Perga Paul/Barnabas journey to Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.
• Agrippa II (see Acts 25) made king of Chaleis.
• 49 AD-Paul and Barnabas go back to visit the same places they did in 48 A.D. and return to Antioch.
• Cumanus made procurator of Judaea (about this time)
• Chronology/Events taken from The Life & Epistles of St. Paul by Conybeare and Howson

Pisidian Antioch is different than Syrian Antioch. Point out on the map

They left from Antioch and eventually went to Pisidian Antioch.

Pattern of evangelism was driven by Paul’s theological understanding: Jews first, then Gentiles.

NIV Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

NIV Romans 2:9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

NIV Galatians 4:13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you.

NIV Matthew 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
NIV Matthew 10:14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.
NIV Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Stephen’s historical survey dealt with Moses and Jesus as a warning. Paul’s historical survey dealt with David and Jesus as a promise.

Principles from Paul’s journey through these regions.

1) Local Church based mission-sent out through prayer and fasting. Accounts given to the Church on return.
2) Jew first, Gentiles after that
3) Remember what God has done
4) Build off what God has already done
A) Synagogue
B) Common history
C) Open doors presented

5) Know and apply the Beattitudes (Matthew 5) (Blessed are those who are persecuted…rejoice…
6) Demonstrate the power of God
7) Never give up
8) Return where to your point of loss and capture ground for God
9) Walk in the joy of the Lord

Where exactly were the Galatians? (And does it really matter)?

2006-08-20T08:53:00.000-06:00

When one starts studying Galatians, the first thing I encountered was a strong teaching by Lightfoot (19th century), that the churches Paul wrote to were in what is considered to be Northern Galatia. After reading more contemporary authors, I found that this theory is held today primarily only in Germany. The rest of scholars seem to generally hold that Southern Galatia is the region Paul wrote to.

Compare Acts 16:6 and Luke 3:1. The term in Acts 16:6 may be adjectival (see Witherington). So it may be one region, not two that Paul means. More later...the term Galatia was a Roman term that may have been related to the Gauls and Celts.

In 279 A.D. the region was changed by the Romans and the reference to southern Galatia was reasserted in the last century or so.

Commentaries on Galatians

2006-08-20T07:35:00.000-06:00

I've been asked several times which books on Galatians do I recommend for the upcoming series on Galatians. I have to say honestly that I'm still evaluating them. I've got about 28 or so books now either in hand or on the way...and so far it seems to me that the best one for those who read or study in Greek is the NIGTC by Bruce. For the rest of us English readers, Fung has written the NICNT on Galatians. His original commentary written in Chinese is the basis of the work he has done. I'm particularly drawn to this work because of the potential dynamic of a Chinese scholar who is fluent in English...reads Greek, Hebrew and other theological languages...bringing a fresh perspective to the research on Galatians.

Finally, Dunn has a work called 'The Theology of Paul's Letter to the Galatians'. And Vincent Smiles' work 'The Gospel and the Law in Galatia'. These two works are highly recommended by Gordon Fee in his course on Galatians (Regent College).

For the person who wants to read something on Galatians, but is NOT scholarly, Fung's work contains a serious effort to bridge the gap between scholars and non-scholars. So all terms from Greek etc...are translated or explained. Some of the other authors (like Smiles or Bruce) do not do this...they assume a knowledge of Greek.

So I'm tentatively recommending both Dunn and Fung for these reasons. I may change my mind as time goes on, but these seem the best at this time.

Freedom & Love Series in the works

2006-08-08T06:55:00.000-06:00

The sermon series on Galatians will start in September. I'm studying this month for the Galatians series. The topics for our series will revolve around freedom and love. More later...

Books arriving

2006-06-12T15:09:00.000-06:00

I am so excited to see over 14 books on Galatians arriving this past week. I've started some initial studies and I have to say that even though I'm thrilled with the Revelation series we are on right now, I cannot wait to dig into Galatians. It's a great book with a vital message(s) for the church today. Everyone will be blessed in a big way as we look into it together.

A stirring

2006-03-17T14:16:00.000-06:00

I sense a stirring regarding the book of Galatians. I'm thinking that after I finish Revelation...or when we stop that study (even if we're not completely through the whole book) that I may switch focus to look closely at Galatians. I'm thinking about a book study with an excursion into the fruit of the Spirit (love). This would combine a book study and a topical study in the middle of that book study. Since love sums up the Kingdom mandates of Jesus in one word...and love between people forms relationships, it would be a study on loving relationships. Yet the overall context of Galatians deals with a congregation who swerved away from the true gospel. This is a constant battle for the church today, to cultivate a love of the gospel...sound doctrine, and live in right relationships simultaneously.

We shall see how this goes...but that is my current thought...is to go through Galatians after Revelation...perhaps starting in May or June or sometime this summer.

Galatians studies site

2006-03-06T23:44:00.000-06:00

If we start a series through Galatians this year, it will be posted here.