Galatians  Chapters 1-4 ◦ Explaining the problem ◦ Teaching the truth  Chapters 5-6 ◦ Encouraging them to move forward ◦ Encouraging them to avoid these problems ◦ Encouraging them to hold to the truth

Who Is Writing This Letter?  Galatians 1:1 ◦ Paul ◦ An apostle ◦ Not an apostle of men ◦ Not an apostle by men ◦ An apostle by Jesus Christ & God the Father  Also works in the reminder that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead

Who Is Writing This Letter?  Introduction: Regarding Jesus ◦ Paul reminds them Jesus gave Himself for our sins ◦ Paul reminds them why  “That He might deliver us from this present evil world”

Why Is Paul Writing This Letter  Churches of Galatia had problems ◦ Gal 1:6-9 ◦ Gal 3:1-5 ◦ Gal 4:8-11 ◦ Gal 4:21 ◦ Gal 5:7-12  This entire letter has the focus of correcting the problems they had

Paul Explains The Problem  Gal 1:6-9 – He tells them they have strayed  Gal 1:8-9 – He reminds them that no person of any stature can change what they have been taught  Gal 1:10-24 (11-12) ◦ The Gospel he preaches is not of men ◦ Received by the revelation of Jesus Christ ◦ When called by grace he didn’t seek out the apostles to learn what they taught

Paul Explains The Problem  Gal 2:1-10 – Seems to be reference to Acts 15  Gal 2:3-5 ◦ He had not previously said how they had strayed ◦ Circumcision  Gal 2:6-10 ◦ Apostles agreed with him  Gal 2:11-21 ◦ Paul confronted Peter ◦ Why?

Paul Explains The Problem  Gal 3:2-5 ◦ How did you receive the Spirit?  Gal 3:6-9 ◦ Who are the children of Abraham?  Gal 3:10-14 ◦ Justification is not by the law  Gal 3:15-18 ◦ The law did not void the covenant to Abraham

Paul Explains The Problem  Gal 3:19-24 ◦ The purpose of the law  It was never to give life  Concludes all under sin  Gal 3:25-29 ◦ Not under schoolmaster ◦ Baptized  Put on Christ  Now Abraham’s seed – heirs according to the promise

Paul Explains The Problem  Gal 4:1-7 ◦ Under the law  As a child (an heir), did not differ from a servant ◦ Jesus was sent to redeem  We receive adoption as sons ◦ No longer a servant, now a son, an heir of God through Christ

Paul Explains The Problem  Gal 4:8-11 ◦ When you did not know God you served things which were not gods ◦ Now, how do you turn back to such bondage  Gal 4:12-20 ◦ You would have given me your own eyes ◦ Am I am enemy now because I tell the truth? ◦ I stand in doubt of you

Paul Explains The Problem  Gal 4:21-31 ◦ Ishmael & Isaac were both sons of Abraham ◦ Ishmael the son of the bondmaid  Represents the old law – bondage ◦ Isaac the son of the freewoman  Represents the new covenant ◦ V. 30 “Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman ◦ We are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free

Moving Forward  Gal 5:1 ◦ Stand fast in liberty ◦ Not in bondage  Gal 5:2-6 ◦ Circumcision profits nothing ◦ Debtor to do the whole law ◦ Christ becomes of no effect ◦ Ye are fallen from grace ◦ In Jesus Christ, faith works by love

Moving Forward  Gal 5:7-12 ◦ You ran well ◦ This persuasion did not come from Jesus ◦ A little leaven leaveth the whole lump ◦ I have confidence in you to be none otherwise minded ◦ He that troubles you shall bear his judgment  Gal 5:13-15 ◦ Called to liberty ◦ By love serve one another ◦ If you bite and devour one another, all will be consumed

Moving Forward  Gal 5:16-18 ◦ Walk in the Spirit ◦ Spirit and fleshly lusts are contrary ◦ If led by the Spirit you are not under the law  Gal 5:19-21 ◦ Works of the flesh  Gal 5:22-26 ◦ Fruit of the Spirit

Moving Forward  Gal 6:1-10 ◦ The spiritual should restore those overtaken in fault ◦ Bear one another’s burdens ◦ Do no think highly of yourself ◦ Prove/Test your own works ◦ Communicate to him that teaches in all good things ◦ Whatever a man sows, that he shall reap  Sow to flesh, of the flesh reap corruption  Sow to the Spirit, of the Spirit reap life everlasting ◦ Do not be weary in well doing ◦ As we have opportunity, let us do good to all men  Especially those of the household of faith

Moving Forward  Gal 6:11-13 ◦ They teach circumcision to avoid persecution ◦ They do not keep the law ◦ They seek to glory in your flesh  Gal 6:14-18 ◦ I glory only in the cross ◦ In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything

Galatians  Galatians is one book used especially in “grace only” denominations ◦ Gal 3:11 “But no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for ‘the just shall live by faith’” ◦ Gal 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” ◦ This letter must be kept in context ◦ Paul does not teach that any law is contrary to grace & faith ◦ Gal 5:14 “For all the law is fullfilled in one word…” ◦ Gal 6:2 “…And so fulfil the law of Christ”

Conclusion  God’s word/will is contained in the gospel  Man distorts God’s word/will  We can not follow men and their teaching  We will be accountable to follow God through His word  God’s word teaches that we must ◦ Hear, believe, repent, confess Jesus as our Savior, be baptized, & follow faithfully