Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”

Galatians 5:1

agenda

• Introduction and Background (50 minutes)

• Break (15 Minutes)

• The Reason for Writing (15 minutes)

• The Reasoning in the Writing (35 Minutes)

• Break (15 Minutes)

• The Reckoning of Righteousness (35 Minutes)

• Closing Thoughts (15 Minutes)

Introduction and background

What events led to the writing of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians?

A Brief introduction of Paul

Saul’s Conversion (AD 33)

Journey to Arabia

Trip to Jerusalem

3 Years Later

Returns to Taurus

Sent by Antioch

to Jerusalem 14 Years After His

Conversion (with

Barnabas, Titus)

Discourse with Peter

First Missionary Journey

with Barnabas

(and Mark)

Paul’s first missionary journey

• Departed Antioch in Syria with Barnabas and Mark

• Travelled via boat from port city of Seleucia to Salamis on Cyprus (Acts 13:4)

• Paphos (Acts 13:6-12)

• Home of Aphrodite Temple

• Elymas the sorcerer is blinded at Paphos

• Proconsul Sergius Paulus is converted

Paul’s first missionary journey

• Cyprus become a Christian stronghold

• Sailed to Perga in Asia Minor• Known for worship of Artemis (Diana), goddess of

nature and “queen of Perga”• Mark returns to Jerusalem

• Paul and Barnabas Continue to Galatia before returning home to Antioch

galatia• Galatia was named by the

Gauls who controlled the Halys River valley in central Asia Minor during the third century before Christ

• Pompey (64 B.C.) conquered this land for Rome and it was renamed, “Galatia”

Key Events in Galatia

• Pisidian Antioch - Paul preaches; Jewish leaders oppose The Gospel (Acts 13:16)

• Iconium – Many believe, persecution arises (Acts 14:1)

• Lystra – Paul and Barnabas called gods; Paul stoned (Acts 14:8)

• Derbe – Paul continued on to preach after being stoned

break

The reason for writing“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you

into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:”Galatians 1:6

• Paul preached the Gospel to the Galatians at great physical cost to himself

• Upon returning to Antioch, he learns that many have embraced a mixture of law and grace – “some other doctrine”

• Paul had already fought against this on two other occasions:• At the Jerusalem Council (Galatians 2:1-10; Acts 15:1-35)• At a private meeting with Peter (Galatians 2:11-21)

• Cue the Judaizers• It was not necessary to become a Jew to be saved

• Jews are sinners too• Galatians 2:15: We who are Jews by nature, and not

sinners of the Gentiles,• Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the

works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

• Galatians 2:17: But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

• All are crucified with Christ• Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I

live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

• Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The reasoning in the writing

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been

evidently set forth, crucified among you?”Galatians 3:1

• Paul’s approach in dealing with the Judaizers was two-fold• Personal – Chapters 1 and 2

• By his own testimony• By the example of Titus• By the shame of Barnabas• By the confrontation with Peter

• Doctrinal – Chapters 3 and 4

• O foolish Galatians• Galatians 3:1: O foolish Galatians, who hath

bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

• Galatians 3:2: This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

• Galatians 3:3: Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

• Galatians 3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.• Abraham’s righteousness was not out of obeying

the law, but rather by believing God (Galatians 3:6)• Judaizers taught that Gentiles could only be made

children of the covenant was through circumcision and obedience to the Mosaic law

• Who is cursed?• Galatians 3:10: For as many as are of the works of

the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

• Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

• Christ’s curse frees us from the curse of the law• Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from

the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

• The true seed of Abraham was Christ• Galatians 3:16: Now to Abraham and his seed

were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

• The covenant was of promise• Galatians 3:18: For if the inheritance be of the

law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

• Heirs according to promise• The law is our schoolmaster• To bring us to Christ• To justify us by faith• Because faith is come, we are no longer under

the law

• Neither Jew nor Greek• All are one in Jesus Christ• Galatians 3:29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye

Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

• Servants to Sons• Galatians 4:1: Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a

child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

• Galatians 4:2: But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

• Galatians 4:3: Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

• Galatians 4:4: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

• Galatians 4:5: To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

• Galatians 4:6: And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

• Galatians 4:7: Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

• A Tale of Two Sons• Galatians 4:22: For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a

bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

• Galatians 4:23: But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

• Galatians 4:24: Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

• Galatians 4:25: For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

• Galatians 4:26: But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

• Galatians 4:27: For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

• Galatians 4:28: Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

• Galatians 4:29: But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

• Galatians 4:30: Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

• Galatians 4:31: So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

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The reckoning of righteousness

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Galatians 5:1

• Stand fast• Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty

wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

• If you keep one, you must keep them all• Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if

ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.• Galatians 5:3: For I testify again to every man

that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

• If you cling to the law, you are fallen from grace• Galatians 5:4: Christ is become of no effect unto

you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

• This is not of Christ• Galatians 5:6: For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision

availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

• Galatians 5:7: Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

• Galatians 5:8: This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

• Galatians 5:9: A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

• The law is fulfilled in this• Galatians 5:13: For, brethren, ye have been called unto

liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

• Galatians 5:14: For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

• Galatians 5:15: But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

• The works of the flesh versus the fruit of the Spirit• Galatians 5:19: Now the works of the flesh are

manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

• Galatians 5:20: Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

• Galatians 5:21: Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

• Galatians 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

• Galatians 5:23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

• Live and walk in the Spirit• Galatians 5:24: And they that are Christ's have

crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.• Galatians 5:25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also

walk in the Spirit.• Galatians 5:26: Let us not be desirous of vain

glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Closing thoughtsGalatians 6

• Be forgiving• Galatians 6:1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a

fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

• Be compassionate• Galatians 6:2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and

so fulfil the law of Christ.

• Be humble• Galatians 6:3: For if a man think himself to be

something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

• Be focused• Galatians 6:5: For every man shall bear his own

burden.

• Be sober• Galatians 6:7: Be not deceived; God is not

mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

• Be good• Galatians 6:10: As we have therefore

opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

• Be faithful• Galatians 6:11: Ye see how large a letter I have

written unto you with mine own hand.• Galatians 6:17: From henceforth let no man

trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Fin