Israel Update Abbas: Palestinians want full UN membership Palestinian leader says PA to proceed with UN bid in September because President Obama endorsed Palestinian state; 'I’m going to the UN in order to demand our legitimate rights and secure full membership,' he says. Roee Nahmias Israel ups West Bank forces before Palestinian UN bid Sep 16 12:08 PM US/Eastern

Israel Update McClatchy Washington Bureau Posted on Sat, Sep. 10, 2011 Israel facing 'diplomatic tsunami' with Arab neighbors Sheera Frenkel | McClatchy Newspapers last updated: September 11, :50:58 PM In Israel, Cairo attack deepens sense of siege By Joel Greenberg, Published: September 11Joel Greenberg Is Israel Over? No longer the liberal, democratic, egalitarian society it once was, Israel is fighting the Arabs—and itself. by Benny Morris | September 11, :0 AM EDTBenny Morris

GALATIANS

Galatians Summary Outline I. I. Ch 1-2: Defense of Message and Messenger II. II. Ch 3-4: Grace-Faith versus Law-Works III. III. Ch 5-6: New Life in the Spirit

Galatians Doctrines The Gospel The Gospel Justification Justification Grace Grace Law Law Legalism Legalism Liberty Liberty Spirituality Spirituality Sowing & Reaping Sowing & Reaping

Legalism: Points of Context Grace Grace

Legalism: Points of Context Grace Grace Worldly Virtue Worldly Virtue

Worldly Virtue 1. Good people go to heaven 2. Good people live good lives 3. Good lives = keeping rules of goodness According to Gal 4:3,8-10: such thinking corresponds to the elemental things of the world

Legalism: Points of Context Grace Grace Worldly Virtue Worldly Virtue Text of Galatians Text of Galatians

Legalism Irreconcilable with Christianity 1. Legalism antithetical to Grace 2. Legalism mutually exclusive with Liberty 3. Legalism incompatible with Spirituality

Legalism: Points of Context Grace Grace Worldly Virtue Worldly Virtue Text of Galatians Text of Galatians Gravity of Error Gravity of Error

Infected by Legalism George Meisinger “Like some diseases we tend to think others have legalism, but not us. Yet one sign it infects a person is that a happy, consistent and fruitful Christian walk becomes apathetic characterized by coldness, routine and futility. “Some infected Christians try to prove to themselves and others they are right with God. How? By working hard to make sure they have repented enough, and by squeezing out enough good works to reassure themselves God has forgiven them.”

What Legalism is Not 1. Presence of Laws or Rules

What Legalism is Not 1. Presence of Laws or Rules 2. Imposition of Laws or Rules

What Legalism is Not 1. Presence of Laws or Rules 2. Imposition of Laws or Rules Charles Ryrie “Neither the presence of law nor the imposition of law is the key to understanding legalism.”

Legalism Charles Ryrie “[Legalism] is a wrong attitude toward the code of laws under which a person lives. Legalism involves the presence of law, the wrong motive toward obeying that law and often the wrong use of the power provided to keep the law, but it is basically a wrong attitude. Thus legalism may be defined as a ‘fleshly attitude which conforms to a code for the purpose of exalting self.’…the motive is to exalt self and gain merit rather than to glorify God because of what He has done; and the power used to obey the code is that of the flesh, not that of the Holy Spirit.”

Legalism Ray Stedman “Legality [i.e., legalism] is a mechanical and external behavior growing out of reliance on self, because of a desire to gain a reputation, display a skill, or satisfy an urge to personal power. That is legality. It is religious performance, scrupulous and meticulous in its outward form but inwardly, as Jesus described it, ‘filled with dead men’s bones.’ It is relying upon self, personality, background, training, and talent or skill instead of the Spirit of God. And it is operating for and on behalf of one’s own personal glory. That is full-orbed legality.”

Legalist Martin DeHaan II “A person who thinks he can gain God’s approval by outward conformity to a list of rules, and who minimizes the importance of motives, the work of Christ, faith, and the dynamic role of the Holy Spirit in daily living.”