L i v i n g in f r e e d o m Studies in Galatians

Background: The Jewish teachers couldn’t understand Paul’s success in ministry. They were very suspicious about his success among the gentiles.

P e r v e r t i n g t h e G o s p e l P e r v e r t i n g t h e G o s p e l

2)Learning Goal: To change, add to, or take from the Gospel is to destroy or to pervert the Gospel! Key verses: Gal.1:6-10

Remember: Most of the epistles are normal letters/ s from normal people to normal people; experiencing normal problems and having normal questions (but NO BIBLE!); living in a certain time and dealing with certain life issues! Acts 13 – 15

Danger: Confusion If you believe a lie, you will start to live the lie! and your feelings are lies You will always live what you believe! what you believe!

Danger: Confusion If you believe a lie, you will live the lie! you will live the lie! and your feelings are lies You will always live what you believe!

Confusion in the Church: It was not about how to become a Christian, but…how to continue to live as a good Christian. (Gal.3:3+5:4) Trying to be justified by the law (make yourself acceptable for God) (make yourself acceptable for God)

The heart of the problem: Gal. 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…. our Father 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. How do we serve God? As a Father or as a master???

Teaching of the Jews Teaching of the Jews: 1) Become more “spiritual” by practicing the Law (demands and practicing the Law (demands and disciplines.) disciplines.) 2) You are not complete, if you do not keep the Jewish rules not keep the Jewish rules (= get circumcised ) (= get circumcised ) Conclusion: dealing with God on basis of rules and not relationship

Relating to God! The Jewish teachers (2:4) who came into the church were presenting a whole different way of relating to God! They insisted on ‘Christ + anything-else‘ as a requirement for full acceptance by God

Problem: Christ + something else Christ + Baptism, Christ + quiet time Christ + praise songs /instruments Christ + gifts /miracles /tongues Christ + Clothes Christ + Law Christ + Judaism Christ + Bible school + my Church

What is so good about the real Gospel? Why was Paul so angry? What about me and the gospel?

The Gospel and Abraham: Read : Gal.3:8. What was the message of that gospel? Answ: RIGHTEOUSNESS through faith!!!

Gospel = Righteousness: Rom.1:17 Gospel For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Rom.3:20-22 observing the law 20 Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. righteousness from God 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. righteousness from God 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

Rom.4:6 -8 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

COMPLETE! The best news about the gospel: You are complete again through Christ's life, which is given to you This is what the Bible calls 'Righteousness' 2 Cor.5:

2 Cor.5:21 God made him who had no sin (=righteous) to be sin (unrighteous) for us, so that in HIM (=Jesus) we might become the righteousness of God. Rigtheousness = having no sin =like Jesus

1) an act = it is not a process 2) It is an act of God (3:8)= it is not the result of man’s character or works or feelings. A legal term!!!

3) God declared the sinner righteous/clean = NOT a righteous behavior 4) Because we are IN CHRIST 5) We can stand right and clean before Him

Haagon and Mette Marit

The Gospel means a salvation from unrighteousness to righteousness. The Gospel is not about you going to heaven, but about heaven coming back into you!!!

Not Salvation is Not a future addition It is a present transformation; It is restoration of life ! This transformation occurs at Spiritual birth, not at physical death !

2 Cor.3: If the ministry that condemns men(Law) is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness(grace)! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Being righteous = being justified = being Clean Being clean = being acceptable for having fellowship with God How? By being in Christ – 1 Cor.1:30

J.I. Packer: “To justify in the Bible means …to declare…of a man on trial, that he is not liable to any penalty, but is entitled to all the privileges due to those who have kept the law. Justifying is the act of a judge pronouncing the opposite sentence to condemnation-that of acquittal and legal immunity.”

2 Cor.1:22 Eph.1:13 Eph.4:20

“The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is by the New revealed.” “The New is in the Old contained; the Old is by the New explained.”