SUMMARYA church where people are told to add laws if they want to be in Gods family and receive the promise. But, the promise was made to one person, the crucified Christ (3:16, 3:1), his gospel blessing of the Spirit (3:14,3:2) is for all peoples in him (3:8). A self-centred story of religion is the same as a self-story of irreligion. Both enslave people to flesh/law. Both are narcissistic. Both are man curved in on himself.Both play the comparison game to win or lose. Both devour others. The gospel story is union with Christ in the Triune God. This gospel radically includes any into sonship. The people of the Triune God are not marked by the outward of law but by the indwelling of the Spirit of the Son. Christ-formation and Spirit-fruitfulness leads to a rich self-giving love, joy, peace, patience, kindness etc.

Galatians is written to answer the question: how are we to live the Christian life? The believers in the region of Galatia had heard the good news of the crucifixion of the one Son Jesus for all the peoples of the world and then been led astray by having external rules imposed as a condition of righteousness and belonging to the church. Paul exposes this false move by calling them back to live again as adopted sons in the Triune God. Their life will come through repenting and believing the gospel (hear with faith). As they participate in the divine life the Spirit will change them, bearing fruit and a harvest in their lives. Theyre to pursue the Spirits footsteps as members of the Christian community, knowing they no longer live, and that their living in their crucified flesh in a life of faith in the Son of God who loved them and gave himself up for them. For the Christian: Christ our life! And therefore the old guardian of Israel, the law, isnt needed. Neither should it be replaced by a neo-law of things to do. The Christian life is Christ. Its marked by the singular fruit (not fruits) of the Spirit and issues in a community that resembles the vision of the law where the fatherless, widow and foreigner are welcomed into the family freely with equality, and where the sinner is generously restored to unhindered communion with God and all his people.

OVERVIEW1. How does Paul know about the Galatians? 3:1, 4:12-14He was their evangelist. He spent time with them. He was sick. They cared for him.2. What does he think of them? 3:1, 4:19-20 Hes bewildered and perplexed and astonished by them. He considers them to be foolish. He is anguished for them wanting to see Christ formed in them. (for their Christian formation)3. What false teaching is he worried about? 1:6, 3:1-3. 4:9, 5:1, 6:12-13A departure from the Father and his gospel. A divergence from the gospel to law/works/flesh. A loss of freedom. An avoidance of the cross.4. So what is the primary aim/purpose of this letter? 5:1, 4:19, 6:1Freedom. Formation. Restoration5. And whats the letters primary theme(s)/melodic line(s) 5:1, 4:7, 6:14Stand in your freedom. Be sons. Boast in the cross. 6. If we apply the main theme (q5) to its purpose (q4) what is the message of Galatians?Return to live as sons in Christ by the cross rather than living as cross-denying slaves.

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

1:1-2:10 ALL ABOUT THE SON 1:1-10 CHRISTIAN IS GOSPEL 1:11-24 CHRISTIAN IS SONLY 2:1-10 CHRISTIAN IS TOGETHER 2:11-3:9 LOVED BY THE SON 2:11-3:1 CHRISTIAN IS CRUCIFIED 3:1-9 CHRISTIAN IS FOR ALL PEOPLES 3:10-4:7 ADOPTED AS SONS 3:10-3:14 CHRISTIAN IS SPIRIT 3:15-3:26 CHRISTIAN IS CHRIST 3:27-4:7 CHRISTIAN IS ADOPTED 4:8-6:18 SPIRIT-FILLED SONS 4:8-20 CHRISTIAN IS FORMATIONAL 4:21-5:1 CHRISTIAN IS FREE 5:1-14 CHRISTIAN IS LOVE 5:15-26 CHRISTIAN IS INHERITING 6:1-10 CHRISTIAN IS COMMUNITY 6:11-18 CHRISTIAN IS NEW CREATION

SHORT BIBLE REFLECTIONSThere is value in reading the Bible quickly and in reading it slowly. Itd be worth reading Galatians quickly in one sitting, as a letter from Paul to his friends that wouldve been the way it was first read.

Its also worth reading slowly, taking time to chew over what is said. A quick and slow read through this letter are things you could do on your own, or perhaps over coffee with a friend.

1:1-2:10 ALL ABOUT THE SON

1:1-10 Christian is gospelWhat does Paul write about what the Father has done?To turn from the gospel message is to desert [The Father] (1v6). How does that shape the importance of the gospel for life? What do you think a life that pleases this God might look like?

1:11-24 Christian is son-like[The Father] was pleased to reveal his Son to [Paul] (1v16)Where can we go to find God?Who does God want to know him?How is this good news for you?

2:1-10 Christian is togetherWhat words describe the Christian life, from your experience or observation of it?What does Paul say those in Christ have? (2v4)What does Paul do to protect this?

2:11-3:9 LOVED BY THE SON

2:11-3:1 Christian is crucified What can we say about the Son of God? (2v20)What does he ask of us?What happens to those who trust him?

3:1-9 Christian is for all peoples What did Paul speak about? How did he speak?What do you have to do to get the blessing?Who do you have to be to get the blessing?

3:10-4:7 ADOPTED AS SONS

3:10-3:14 Christian is Spirit Why did Jesus die?What is the promise?What can we tell about the intention of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

3:15-3:26 Christian is Christ 3v16 says that only one person will inherit the promise, who?How can anyone else get in on this promise?What can we say about someone who does that?

3:27-4:7 Christian is adopted When the Father turns his eye to someone who trusts Christ what does he see?When the Father turns his ear to someone who trusts Christ what does he hear?How would it feel to be known like that?

4:8-6:18 SPIRIT-FILLED SONS

4:8-20 Christian is formational What has happened to someone who has trusted Christ? (4v9)What should the present experience be for such a person? (4v15)Compare the approach of the false teachers here with Pauls desires for them what is Pauls hope for their future (4v19)?

4:21-5:1 Christian is free Why are rules attractive?Whats the future of such slavery?Whats the alternative?

5:1-14 Christian is loveWhat does it look like to trust Christ? (v1, v6)What ways can Christian freedom be expressed?How might this change things in your life?

5:15-26 Christian is inheriting What does the life of a slave to rules look like?What does a life indwelled by the Spirit look like?What do those who belong to Christ do?

6:1-10 Christian is communityWhat two things will happen in a Christian community?How does this compare and contrast to your experiences of community?What would it look like for you to be in a Christian community?

6:11-18 Christian is new creationWhats the focus for someone who trusts Christ?Why might we not follow in their footsteps?What basis is given for evaluating what counts in life?

FACT SHEETDate and Location:South Galatian TheoryWritten around Acts 15, approx 49AD. Lystra/Derbe etc.2:1-10 fits with Acts 11:30North Galatian theoryWritten around Acts 18, 53-55 or 55-58AD. 2:1-10 fits with Acts 15.I favour the South Theory because it fits 2:10 into Pauls collection for the famine hit Jerusalem poor. Remember the poor is then a mark of Jew-Gentile unity, different mission but a shared care.ESV STUDY BIBLE GOES WITH THE SOUTH GALATIAN THEORY.GalatiansEventActsEvent

1:1517Pauls conversion9:125Pauls conversion

1:18three years after conversion, first visit to Jerusalem9:2630with Barnabas in Jerusalem

2:11014 years after conversion (or after first trip?), Paul meets with pillars of the church11:2930famine relief visit to Jerusalem

2:1114dispute in Antioch15:12dispute in Antioch

Paul writes Galatians

15:229council in Jerusalem

Who3:1 tells us that Paul was the church planter. He came, in illness (4:15) and was warmly received. He publicly portrayed Christ as crucifiedThey were pagan followers of not gods (4:8) who embraced the gospel.

BRIEF GLOSSARY1:4 The present evil age. A catch all term for slavery to flesh and law (Judaism, traditions of my fathers 1:14)1:23 Persecute. Opposition by slaves to sons. Can include mockery as Ishmael of Isaac (4:29), is provoked by the cross (5:11) and done by cross avoiders (6:12).2:2 In vain (also 3:4, 4:11). Refers to labour and suffering because of the gospel that is then pointless because people turn to false gospels. Pauls labour in Galatia wouldve been in vain if its undone by false teaching polluting the stream and flowing in behind everything he has done.2:2 Revelation. God reveals his Son to Paul reliably (also 1:15-16). God calls him to Jerusalem to check on them, not so they can check on him.2:10 Remember the poor. Generally good but here it particularly has to do with unity. Paul is called to the Gentiles but makes provision for the Jews a vital part of his ministry. See the collections from the Macedonians/Phillippians and Corinthians (2 Cor 8, Phil 4 etc.) Also Romans 11, the material blessings of the Gentiles flow to the Jews as the spiritual blessings of the Jews have flowed to the Gentiles.2:12 The circumcision party. Not representative of the Jerusalem churches but they came from Jerusalem, equated with the false brothers of 2:4. 2:20 Christ lives in me I live by faith in the Son A reference to Union with Christ. A cruciform and resurrection life.3:1 Foolish Galatians. As contrasted with wise, wisdom fitting with the gospel. Its not an insult but bewilderment at his brothers and sisters. From Proverbs Dame Folly is a pictured as a woman in the street seducing sons to their death. Lady Wisdom also sings but her song is the gospel.3:1 Publicly portrayed. Painted with words in preaching. The Galatians were not eyewitnesses of the crucifixion.

3:8 The gospel. In you shall all the nations be blessed. This is about Abrahams seed being the Christ who will lift the curse and bring blessing to all kinds of people. Inclusion of all kinds of peoples is vital to the gospel in Galatians. Hence the denial of the gospel by excluding certain kinds of people.3:8 Gentiles = Nations = Peoples. Greek is ethnos. 3:16 ChristThe one Spirit-anointed seed of Abraham. Those in him share his anointing. To receive the gospel is to receive the Spirit (3:1-15).3:29 Abrahams OffspringThe Christ (3:16)4:15 BlessednessExperiential joy from the Holy Spirit of believing the gospel and being united to Christ.4:24 AllegoricallyOr, Typologically. Events, institutions and people in the Old Testament find true significance in the gospel. Allegory can be fanciful but Paul approves here.5:21 Will not Inherit the kingdom of GodSlaves dont inherit, sons do. Slaves are under the law and do the works of the flesh (5:18-19)5:24 Crucified the fleshUnion with Christ, as in 2:20 by believing the gospel.6:14 BoastOr, glory, obsession.6:16 New creationThe goal of the gospel is the re-creation of all things.6:17 The Marks of ChristContrasted with circumcision, the crucifixion of the flesh and persecution because of the cross.

DISCIPLESHIP 1: OBSERVATIONSSix observations from Paul disciple-ing the Galatian churches in Galatians 1:1-3:1 with the gospel of Christ.1. DISCIPLESHIP IS PERSONAL HOW YOU RELATE TO THE FATHER & THE SON. Discipleship is about relationship with the one who called you by the grace of Christ in the gospel. 1:6. False pathways are desertions of the Father and turns to a different gospel which is really no gospel at all (v6-7). This is foolish (3:1) which is to say it is a relational betrayal, giving ones heart to Dame Folly instead of Lady Wisdom.Folly and Wisdom are not always easy to discern the wise and the fool both build houses, in Jesus parable, but when the storm hits the difference becomes obvious. Ensuring youre not a fool but are growing in wisdom would be a good idea. See Proverbs, 2 Timothy 2-3 for more on Wisdom.

2. THE GOSPEL IS TRINITARIAN FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT FOR ALL PEOPLES. The gospel is a revelation of the Son by the Father for all peoples (1:16)The Father ensures that the Son is available to be called on.a. From the Fatherb. Concerning the Sonc. For all peoples (Gentiles)Where do you start when you talk about God? The first thought should be Jesus. Seeing Jesus as the Son we know God as Father. All other attributes and considerations flow from this basic divine shape. The two major events in the Biblical story are the Exodus and the Crucifixion-Resurrection. Israelites say God is whoever rescued us from Egypt God says I am Father, let my son go and his Son leads his adopted son to himself. The Christian says Yes, and God is whoever raised the crucified son from the dead. Trinity series coming to Grace Church on Sunday evenings in July 2015.

3. DISCERN WHERE TO FIGHT. Sometimes the frontline isnt where the fight is 2:5. Paul fights for the truth of the gospel to remain with the Galatians by going to Jerusalem. He does this so that the source of the gospel in his culture (Jerusalem) isnt polluted. Where does the battle rage today? Read the Bible fast cover to cover in 90 twenty mins sittings reading about 10 chs at a time. Read the Bible slow study a book in detail. Do a Bible Overview (coming to Grace Church in the autumn).

4. HOW DO TO PASTORAL CARE. Pauls pastoral care of Peter in Galatians 2:11-3:1 is unusually public because of the nature of Peters failing. Not only was it public at Antioch it gets put in Scripture. But Peter is used to this.

Paul tells Peter what he already knows.Paul walks Peter back to the cross.Paul tells Peter what he knows but cant see well enough to tell himself.This is why we form Christian communities so we can gospel one another back to the cross. Who is gospel-ing you? Who can you gospel?

5. INCLUDE ALL WHOM THE GOSPEL INCLUDES. The story Paul tells in 2:11-3:1 is about broken relationships. Peter was eating with Gentiles like a Gentile but he separated from them and re-imposed Jewish food laws. Paul confronts him to say that he knows this isnt right.

Justification is by faith in Christ. a) Legal right standing with God doesnt require performance of laws.b) Belonging to the community doesnt require outward ethnic markers like food laws rather the inward work of the Spirit.c) We join the family of God in the courts of adoption through faith in Christ who loved us and gave himself for us (2:20).The ethical concern of the Old Testament law was largely about caring for the widow, orphan and foreigner those who couldnt provide for themselves. In a world indoctrinated with survival of the fittest we might easily leave the weak behind. But the gospel welcomes all comers no performance is necessary. What might we need to change so we can include others without requiring change of them? Who can you eat with? You have 21 meals a week, how many could you share with others in the next week and express unity with? What adjustments should be made in your life? How can you become like those in your life?2:9-10. To include all doesnt mean including every. Paul and Peter had different callings though Paul remains committed to provide for others (2:10) and this is central to the plot of the NT.

6. TELLING THE STORY Paul appeals to the Galatians with three stories invite them home. Paul appeals to the Galatians by taking them back to seeing the cross painted in his preaching (3:1) Paul embodied his message in weakness (4:13)

DISCIPLESHIP 2: GOSPEL IS A VERBPray and read Galatians 3:1-14

How is the Christian life begun?

How is the Christian life continued?

Discuss: The gospel isnt just the ABC but the A-Z of the Christian life.

Work through the exercise WHAT DO YOU LOVE? in groups.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE?

Everyone has a worldview, a story that makes sense of the world as they see it. These can be held consistently or inconsistently, may be true, partial true, or false, conscious or sub-conscious. We are inconsistent thinkers and passionate lovers. Were prone to see the world wrongly. John Calvin wrote: There is no colour in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice and yet, the heart is an idol factoryWe should tread carefully around our idols and myths

It is our painful duty to wake the world from an enchantment. The real universe is probably in many respects less poetical, certainly less tidy and unified, than they had supposed we must treat the myth with respect. It was all (on a certain level) nonsense: but a man would be a dull dog if he could not feel the thrill and charm of it. For my own part, though I believe it no longer, I shall always enjoy it as I enjoy other myths... CS Lewis

If you really knew me youd know that my life only has meaning if.[which of these describes you] [footnoteRef:1] I have power and influence over others (Power) [1: List of idols from Tim Keller]

I am loved and respected by___ (Approval) I have this kind of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life. (Comfort) I am able to get mastery over my life in the area of _____. (Control ) people are dependent on me and need me. (Helping) someone is there to protect me and keep me safe. (Dependence) my parents/other family members are happy, and happy with me. (Family) I am completely free from obligations or responsibilities to take care of someone. (Independence) I am highly productive and getting a lot done. (Work) I am being recognized for my accomplishments, and I am excelling in my work. (Achievement) I have a certain level of wealth, financial freedom, and very nice possessions. (Materialism) I am adhering to my religions moral codes and accomplished in its activities. (Religion) this one person is in my life and happy to be there, and/or happy with me. (Individual person) I feel I am totally independent of organized religion and am living by a self-made morality. (Irreligion) my race and culture is ascendant and seen as superior. (Racial/cultural) a particular social grouping or professional grouping or other group lets me in. (Inner ring) Mr. or Ms. Right is in love with me. (Relationship) I am hurting, in a problem; only then do I feel worthy of love or able to deal with guilt. (Suffering) my political or social cause is making progress and ascending in influence or power. (Ideology) I have a particular kind of look or body image. (Image)

Part 1. IDOLS. Share your story with your group. Whats your idol? (or the myth enchants you) [from the list above] How did/does that show in your life and drive your behaviour? How does your idol make sense to you emotionally? How does your idol make sense to you intellectually? Tell your story as persuasively and attractively as you can talk about why you love your idol/myth.Part 2. JESUS. Help one another to apply the gospel How did and does the gospel of Jesus confront the longings you pursue from your idol? How did and does the gospel of Jesus comfort the longings you pursue in your idol? What does it cost you to follow Jesus? How is Jesus a better Saviour? Therefore, behold, I will allure her andspeak tenderly to her. Those who were not my people I will call my people and her who was not my beloved I will call beloved Hosea 2

DISCIPLESHIP 3: SONSHIPPray and read Galatians 3:15-4:7.The Old Testament law is used in many and various ways in the New Testament. Paul highlights a particular usage in Galatians. He argues that the promise of God was particularly made for Christ (3:16) and having been ratified was unbreakable. The law then, 430 years later, cannot modify this promise. Rather the law acted in a preserving and fencing-in way to keep Israel until the Christ would come from their family, 1400 years after the promise.Now the Christ has comeConsider these questions:

When the Father turns his eye to someone who trusts Christ what does he see?

When the Father turns his ear to someone who trusts Christ what does he hear?

How would it feel to be known like that?

DISCIPLESHIP 4: INHERITANCENo longer slaves but sonsWhat happens to slaves? (4:30, 5:21)What happens to sons? (3:29, 4:7)

Sons inherit the SpiritTrace through Galatians for every reference to the Spirit and note what is referred to.Note that references to Jesus as the Christ imply the Spirits work, as the Father anoints him with the Spirit.

Sons share in new creationWhat counts is a new creation? (6:15)Discuss this:Paul believes that this God has a purpose for the created world.More specifically, he believes that the present evil age will give way, in Gods good time, to the age to come, in which Israel and the world will be redeemed from the power of the false gods.This apocalyptic belief was widespread in Pauls Jewish world, certainly in sectarian Judaism but also in groups that would not have thought of themselves in that way.This belief is not, or at least not necessarily, dualistic; indeed, insofar as it envisages the present world being set to rights rather than being abandoned, it emphasizes the goodness and God-givenness of creation, while allowing fully, perhaps too fully sometimes, for creations having been invaded, taken over, distorted, and deceived by forces of evil and destruction.Pauls understanding of God in Galatians includes the belief that the true God has broken into the world, in the person of Jesus and the power of the Spirit of Jesus, to usher in the long-awaited new age and so to redeem Israel and the world N.T. Wright To further your conversation here you may want to watch Episode 1 of For the Life of the World.

SERIES SHAPEWeekPassKeyVSubjectFelt need/ apologetic

11:1-231:16Father of the SonThe experience of not knowing God. Can God be known and if so how From creation to God of power from the Son to God of love.

22:1-102:5Foundations

A message for all peoples? Exclusive, imperialistic or beautifully inclusive?

Groundwork precedes fruitfulness.

32:11-3:83:8For all peoples

Excluding stories.Broken community.Religion is about fear, hypocrisy, guiltLiving for what others think of you

43:1-143:14Faith comes by hearingChristians are all about moral crusades...Hypocritical Christians telling others what to doHolier than thou

53:9-4:73:16Family

Do I have to work for God?Can I be part of his people?Who can be saved?Is God against certain kinds of people?

6 4:8-204:19 (4:9)Formation

How to grow.Religion = manipulative= draining= oppressive= egoistic

7 4:21-5:125:6 Freedom

How to be free.

Religion makes people kill people

8 5:14-265:24Fruitfulness

How people change.

Self help...

9 6:1-106:2Friendship

How to build community.

Friendship

106:11-186:14, 6:15Future presentHow to remake the world.

Reputation

IrreligionReligionGospel

Flesh/Works-of-Law/SlaveSpirit/Faith/Son

1Im the author of my story I am god.Im the author of my story I discover god.Christ has been revealed to all peoples so believe in him.

2My freedom to be, regardless of youI will restrict your freedom for my own endsChrist sets people free together stay with christ and with people

3Im not acceptable because of x,y,zYoure not acceptable because of x,y,zChrist loved and gave himself for all peoples so look to him from A-Z, welcome those he welcomes.

4I dont care what you tell me to doI do what Im toldChrist did what you couldnt and wouldnt do hear with faith!

5Slaves to self I define myselfSlaves to rules the rules define meChrist the son shares his sonship be in him. Christ defines me.

6 I choose my futureI choose your futureChrist is your future -

7 Me killing me to be freeMe killing others to be freeChrist was killed to give us freedom so live in that freedom by loving

8 I decide what I will do,I devour you to enjoy myselfI decide what I will do,I devour you to prove myselfChrist can be trusted to change me, so i pursue the spirit of the son and he bears fruit in me

9 I survive by casting off othersI survive by crushing othersChrist cared for us so we carry others

10I make my worldI make my worldChrists cross is Gods way to a renewed creation

INTRODUCTIONWhat would you know if you really knew me? Youd know that Im the kind of person who is inclined to think that I can be a Christian. Im a good person. I have Christian Organisations on my CV. I grew up attending church and knowing that I was better than other people. Not everyone is like that. Some are the reverse. A friend said you me: I fear that if you really knew me you wouldnt want to be my friend. He asked if I felt the same. I took a moment before answering that I dont feel like that. Im outwardly unimpressive and I dont tend to make a great first impression but deep down I think that if you really knew me youd like me. My friend and I are similar really. Both of our lives readily orbit around ourselves and what we think of us. Martin Luther said that the problem with humanity is incurvature: man curved in on himself.Incurvature. Self-obsession. Self-centredness. Self-righteousness, whether viewing ourselves well or poorly. Its a common trait in 21st Century culture and in humanity for millennia. When Paul wrote a letter to Christians of Galatia, Turkey in the first century it was exactly this that he was responding to. He knew these people well. Hed visited them when they were pagans, worshipping idols and going about their own business. Hed told them about the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth and its relevance to their lives and they had looked out from themselves to Jesus, entrusting themselves to him. Itd turned their lives inside out.Before long Paul moved on to tell others in other places this good news. Influential voices took his place and began to teach that though Paul had served them well by teaching them of Jesus, hed only given them the ABC and not the A-Z. There was more to see. The Galatians being devout and keen believers had listened in and begun to follow this teaching. It seemed plausible since it was rooted in the same Scriptures Paul had shown them that had explained the meaning of Jesus death. They began to get circumcised and to keep special holy days among other practices. And as they sought to grow their joy faded. The tangible blessings they had enjoyed as those in Christ diminished. Something had gone wrong. Word reached Paul and he responds in a letter that helped them and has served people for centuries. Martin Luther was deeply affected by the message of Galatians and called it My Katherina after his wife. Broadly speaking Pauls approach is to represent to the Galatians what he had previously taught them. He gives them a Trinitarian Gospel applied to their incurved approach to life. The great cure to self-devotion is Triune. They had drifted from the story of the Father who revealed his Son, the Son who loved them and gave his life for them, and whose life they had entered into by the Holy Spirit. Paul exposes the folly of their divergence from the gospel and seeks to win them back, with love and anguish for them.In April 2014 media coverage was given to Josie Cunningham. This young woman had received cosmetic surgery on the NHS. This had not been popular. She was then reported to want an abortion so that she could appear on a reality TV show. The headlines were damning. And we might want to agree that this seems bad. We might also note that having grown up in the UK in the past 20 years she had grown up in a world that considers abortion to be a legitimate career move and in which a reality TV show appearance and the hope of a big house and a pink Range Rover are worthy aspirations. For right or wrong, and of course culpably, she conformed to the story she lives in. Later she decided against the abortion, perhaps beginning to see through the story that the same media who condemned her had paraded before her throughout her childhood.THE ONE SONAt the heart of Pauls message to the Galatians is 3:16.[16] Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, And to offsprings, referring to many, but referring to one, And to your offspring, who is Christ.(Galatians 3:16 ESV)

We will return to the context of this verse later but at this stage its vital to see how this is Pauls response to the Galatian heresy.

Paul states that Gods promise (the gospel) was made to Abraham and his offspring. Paul quibbles over the grammar and states that though Abraham was indeed to have many offspring, at the truest level this needs to be understood as a promise of a singular offspring. Not Isaac or Ishmael or the 12 tribes or any other number. But one. The one offspring. And that offspring is not Moses or David or Solomon but Christ.

All Gods promises are for the Christ. The Old Testament anticipates his coming. And the New Testament writers say: this Jesus is that long expected Christ. There is to be one who receives the promise. The Spirit-anointed Son of the Father, Jesus. Messiah (Hebrew) = Christ (Greek) = The Anointed One.

He will get everything. No-one else gets anything. He will receive the Spirit. He will receive the New Creation. Its terribly exclusive. And yet, in its exclusivity is the beautiful inclusivity.

Religions of self make sweeping offers of life. Accept this culture and youre blessed! Practice these practices and youre blessed! Be from this ethnicity or class or gender and youre blessed! Theyre all excluding.

But the Christ will graciously welcome any. Anyone can look to him and be included in him. Anyone can be in Christ. And anyone who is in Christ will get everything just as he does. We want it to be about us but the gospel is the antithesis of that. The gospel story is all Christ. And because it is, it can be for any one.

THE OLD AND NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAULTeachers were visiting churches in Galatia and teaching them to add works of the law to their faith in Christ.The Old Perspective on Paul. The mainstream view says that they were advocating an effort based righteousness, do these things and you will be counted righteous. Against this the Christian says, have faith in the Christ and youll be counted legally righteous. Following Jesus is being counted righteous.The New Perspective on Paul. This says the teachers were saying that belonging to the people of God entails bearing ethnic markers, like circumcision, food and clothing laws and holy days. These are the works of the law. Against this the Christian says, have faith in Christ and you belong to his people by the Spirit. Following Jesus is belonging to his family.The Vanhoozer Solution. Kevin Vanhoozer brilliantly argues[footnoteRef:2] that UNION WITH THE CHRIST / ADOPTION are the key to resolving the tension. In his witty lecture he says that if we take legal righteousness to the courts of adoption we can cast this in familial and relational terms within the doctrine of our union with Christ. We need to think of being counted righteous and we need to think of belonging to the family. Both matter. Both are evident in Galatians. [2: VIDEO: http://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/the-wright-piper-debate-resolved-by-the-kjv]

PART 1: HE REVEALED HIS SON FOR THE PEOPLES (1:1-2:10)In the opening sections of Pauls letter we can observe a difference from other letters. The deeply troubling Corinthians are met with thanksgiving but the Galatians with astonishment (1:6). There is an urgent problem to address.The letter begins with instruction on the gospel (1:1-10) before the telling of three stories from Pauls life, each relevant to the Galatian situation (1:11-3:1) which set Paul up to address the Galatians and make an appeal to them. Telling stories is a common approach in letters (see Gordon Fee on Phillippians). A small amount of personal testimony will feature later in the letter in 4:13-15, 5:7-12, 6:17 though there will be substantial instruction in chapters 3-6.1:1-10 CHRISTIAN IS GOSPEL1:1-5 WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?Paul gives an extended summary of the gospel which includes reference to God the Father. This is vital in Galatians and fits with Pauls Trinitarian emphasis. The gospel is the Triune plan to deliver us from the present evil age. Its a filling up of the Exodus deliverance in which Jesus led his people out of Egypt, to meet their God at the heart of their camp at the Tabernacle and to be his people in this world, living like their God. The present evil age may be understood as any fleshly life, whether religiously devout by the laws demands or the pursuit of not gods. Paul was delivered from being extremely zealous for religion, the Galatians from pagan idolatry.1:6-10 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE GOSPEL IS LOST?A world without the gospel experiences alienation from the Father, good news is twisted into bad news, peoples lives are in turmoil, people feel good about competing with others, those who seem to have good news are deathly.

THE FATHER DESERTED. Turning from the gospel represents a relational abandonment of the God who called the Galatians into his family. Keeping with the gospel isnt about being picky its about relationship with God himself. A world without the gospel is a world without God and a world of relational abandonment. THE GOSPEL DISTORTED. Evidently changing the gospel means that it is represented falsely. A world without the gospel is without good news, and even presents good news as bad news. THE PREACHER DAMNED. The gospel preacher is meant to be a messenger of hope. Without the gospel they are dead men walking. Grievously representing a false story about God and doubtless believing their own message. Doubly dead. THE WORLD DELIGHTED. The world, humanity, loves its own story. Without the gospel, at least for a while, we will enjoy the freedom to disappear into ourselves. People pleasing rules in a gospel-less world and The Comparison Game rules. Compare to win, or compare to lose, but in its each man for himself. THE CHURCH DISTURBED[footnoteRef:3]. The gospel establishes the church well. A gospel-centred church is messy but able to unite, to grow, to be a place of safe welcome. Without the gospel the church is troubled and in the end unworthy of the name church. [3: I found this alliteration on The Gospel Coalition website]

Christian is gospel.1:11-21 CHRISTIAN IS SONLY1:11-21 WHAT HAPPENED WHEN PAUL WAS CONVERTED TO CHRIST?Paul here tells his conversion story. This story is told repeatedly in the New Testament. He says that Jesus was revealed to him. Moreover he changed from being a persecutor to a preacher, he was deeply zealous for his religion but had his life turned in a new direction. He was rescued from this present evil age of self-serving religion.Its not uncommon to call such dramatic turn arounds a Damascus Road experience. Note here that Pauls experience is fundamentally that God the Father revealed His Son to Paul that he might be preached to the Gentiles (nations, peoples. Gk = ethnos). Every Christian has received a revelation of the Son. Its what it means to be a Christian. Our experience of that, and memory of that beginning, may vary, but there is no Christian without knowing the Son.Luther notes that in the gospel God conveys to us his inestimable treasures.Curiously Paul states his independence. Any other new believer insisting theyd responded to a supernatural revelation and made no attempt to verify and test it would be treated with suspicion. For Paul its establishing his case.He establishes that it was divine revelation not human teaching that gave him his gospel. He missed nothing. He knows the Triune God. And he bends over backwards to establish his apostolic independence. His testimony is supported by the Judean churches who didnt know him but said: the persecutor has turned preacher. And they praised God for him. Hes confident, not in self, but in the gospel of the Son.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVEAthanasius was born in Egypt in the days of Diocletians persecution of Christian. The Early Christians werent Western, they were Middle Eastern, Turkish and North African. The gospel isnt Western its a message with Middle Eastern origins intended for all the peoples of the world. Christians were commonly martyred.Constantine became Emperor and made Christianity the mainstream religion of his empire. Division began to arose as martyrdom ended, in peace-time you have time to fall out. That wouldnt have been good for the empire so Constantine called 1800 Bishops to Nicaea, Turkey to resolve this dispute.Over 300 came to hear the teaching of Arius who claimed that Jesus was not the eternal Son of God. The council condemned him. In The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown writes that this was the invention of Christianity, but it was one of many defences of the faith against spurious ideas. Urban legend suggests that St. Nicolas (Santa) was so furious he punched Arius on the nose. When Athanasius became Bishop of Alexandria soon after he continued the churchs defence against Arianism. The followers of Arius shelter their heresy under the word 'unoriginate. [without origin] ' A similar sense may be found in the words 'Almighty,' and 'Lord of the Powers . But, God is not Almighty and Lord over Him, he exercises power through the Word. The Arians define God from creation, and use Unoriginate to dishonour the Son. They fail to read that those who do this dishonour the Father (John 5:23). If they had any concern at all for reverent speaking and the honour due to the Father, they would acknowledge and call God Father,.. ...it is more pious and more accurate to signify God from the Son and call Him Father, than to name Him from His works only and call Him Unoriginate. All they do is signify that Gods works have an origin. Father has its significance and bearing only from the Son. Unoriginate is a word of the Greek philosophers who do not know the Son. Father is what the Son said: I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me and, He that has seen Me, has seen the Father, and I and the Father are One; but nowhere is He found to call the Father Unoriginate. The Son teaches us to pray saying: When you pray, say, O God Unoriginate, but rather, When you pray, say, Our Father, in heaven Luke 11:2. We are not baptised into the name of the Unoriginate and originate, but into the Name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are made sons in the Son and use the name Father. The Arian name for God is fantasy. Note that Arius knows God by looking at creation, for Athanasius by looking at The Son. Note that Arius prays to the Unoriginate, for Athanasius to The Father. For Arius God is Power, whereas for Athanasius God is Love. For Arius God is The Omni-god, omnipotent, omniscient (after Greek Philosophy). For Athanasius God is Triune. Arianism tends towards self-focussed obedience of God or angry Atheism.This was 300 years after Paul wrote to Galatia but the fight remains the same. Paul tells Galatia, this is no miserable self-religion. The Galatians as Christians had entered into the new creation life of sons in the Son. God has made himself known, in the Son. Therefore we signify God as Father.2:1-10 CHRISTIAN IS TOGETHER2:1-10 WHY DID PAUL GO TO JERUSALEM? WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF HIS VISIT?Paul tells another story. He went to Jerusalem a second time. He goes because of a revelation (2:1). He goes to ensure that hes not running in vain (2:2). Hell ask the Galatians later if theyve suffered in vain (3:4) He goes to preserve the gospel for the Galatians. (2:5) Sometimes you serve someone best not by going to them but by work done elsewhere.Is Paul checking his own theology or that of Jerusalem? He wouldve run in vain if his own gospel was false. His lack of deference to the Jerusalem leaders who seemed influential (v6) suggests hes not going to get himself checked out. It seems unlikely that he ever thought this given the previous story, and given that he has just told this story. REMEMBER THE POORThey add nothing but ask that Paul remember the poor. This is no addition but rather a statement of unity. Paul is to take the Spiritual blessings of the Jews to the Gentiles, and as famines come to Israel they can share material blessings with the Jewish churches. Paul does this on his travels, and takes a detour to Jerusalem to deliver this money on his way to Rome. This answers Agabus prophetic warning in Acts 11. This is about concrete expression of gospel unity more than the needs of the poor, though Christians should do good to all, especially the church (Galatians 6:10)

However, if the Jerusalem church has strayed then a polluted source will undermine all his church planting by adding to the gospel he preaches. He takes Titus as a test-case (will they force him to be circumcised), and encounters false brothers who spy on freedom. Later hell get Timothy circumcised to enable his work in the Synagogues but here it wouldve been evidence of a divergence from the gospel. God sends Paul back to Jerusalem by a revelation and he finds that the Jerusalem churches have not strayed. This is cause for celebration and the right hand of fellowship. One gospel but different callings.

The South Galatian Theory: The letter was written around Acts 15. Approx 49AD. Lystra, Derbe etc. Paul and Barnabas are together in Galatians 2 so the events must precede their separation. Aligns 2:1-10 with Acts 11:30 which explains remember the poor with reference to the famine and Pauls collections for the Jerusalem churches, so that the Gentile Churches share their material blessings with the Jewish churches who shared their Spiritual blessings with the Gentiles.The North Galatian Theory: The letter was written around Acts 18 when Paul visits Galatia for a second time. 53-55 / 55-58AD. The main historical view. Paul visits the north Galatian region in Acts 16:6, 18:23. Aligns Galatians 2:1-10 with Acts 15.In summary 1:1-2:10: Christian is gospel. Christian is sonly. Christian is Together.

THE MESSAGE OF 1:1-2:10 ANYONE CAN KNOW THE SONImagine (its easy if you try) a world of alienation, disturbance, where everyone competes to get to the top of the ladder. Imagine a self-centred world. Its not difficult to imagine. Know how such a world is divided. And know that such a world imagines that religion - especially Christianity - is the last thing it needs. A God imposing himself on us? How excluding! How divisive! And yet Paul says, God is a Father who has made his Son known, and not just known to an self-righteous superior few, but actually to all peoples (1:16). A personal introduction from a personal God made for all people in every culture. Not to impose, nor to divide, but to unite people. A new humanity where the Comparison Game can die, and where the rich care for the poor. A story worth telling everywhere.

PART 2: 2:11-3:9 THE SON LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR MEAnother story and then a return to speak to the Galatians.The passage is framed by reference to the gospel. Peter is seen to be out of step with the gospel (equivalent to the later sense of being out of step with the Spirit). And we end (3:8) with a statement of the gospel.There are endless ideas about how to summarise the gospel and Galatians isnt necessarily offering a definitive answer but it gives us an answer. Scripture preached the gospel to Abraham.In him will all nations (peoples) be blessed.This seems brief but if we consider that in him means Abrahams offspring, the one Christ. And that this one brings blessing by his being cursed. Then this is a statement akin to Christ crucified, the message Paul gave in 3:1. Whats often missing is the reference to all nations or peoples. We easily preach individualistically, Jesus is for you. But the message is bigger. Jesus is crucified for all peoples, for any of the peoples of this world to receive. Divergence from the message of the cross, or implying it isnt for all peoples is going to be a divergence from the gospel.2:11-14 WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? WHY WAS IT A CATACLYSMIC MOMENT? WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES MOTIVATION MAKE TO THE MEANING OF THE EVENT?Turn on the CCTV and observe the scene Paul records of his clash with Peter, recorded for Peters humility and our benefit in Scripture as are many of his failings.A group are sat at a table in a room with two tables. Theyre wearing diverse clothing and appear to represent different ethnicities. A hog roast is on the table. Another group arrive and sit at the other table. One man gets up from the first table to join them. A few more follow him. Then another figure gets up and confronts them for doing this.On the surface it looks like someone getting angry at his friend for being hospitable and welcoming newcomers. But Paul says this is a fear-driven hypocritical denial of the gospel. Christian ethics are complicated. Here Peter re-imposes food laws on himself, and implicitly on the Gentile believers at his table, by breaking fellowship with them to eat with law-keeping people. This is gospel denial. But in Romans 14 Paul will say that to give up certain foods can be the very pinnacle of gospel-centred life for the sake of another. Likewise the possible circumcision of Titus wouldve denied the gospel, whereas the actual circumcision of Timothy advanced the gospel. Paul will later write that neither circumcision or non-circumcision counts for anything, only faith expressed through love and a new creation.Outward life is an unreliable measure because what counts is belief. Jonathan Edwards argues that such behaviour is evidence of nothing[footnoteRef:4]. Youd expect to see a changed life if someone believes the gospel but a changed life doesnt prove they have. [4: See Jonathan Edwards: Religious Affections or Sam Storms: Signs of the Spirit]

A Christian can be quite inconsistent outwardly and be utterly consistent with the gospel. Self-centred religions tend to require much more conformity.Peters failing here is that he lives by fear of people (2:12) people-pleasing instead of God-pleasing (1:10). Hes living for people which effectively means hes living for himself and his own reputation rather than for the pleasure of the Triune God.He is also hypocritical (2:13). He knows better, and lives better, than hes living that day. He leads people astray into hypocrisy, even Pauls gospel partner Barnabas, not by words but by his actions and becomes a silent preacher of a false gospel as he adds to the gospel and particularly does so by implying that the gospel is only for those who carry the ethnic markers of Old Testament Israel, therefore excluding brothers and sisters. In this he stands condemned (2:11, 1:8) for his crime and for believing his own message.WALK ME OUT OF HEREWe argued and people who care do. And it was ridiculous. The conversation rolls on and you start to think, how did we get here. We dig in deep and theres no face-saving way to get out of the hole. Take the spade off me! and better still Walk me back to the cross again. I need people who can take me back through everything I know, back to the level ground at the foot of the cross of Jesus who loved me and gave himself for me. Maturity isnt sinlessness, but it might be something close to repenting back to Christ readily, quickly, and even asking someone to help you. A true friend can do that. Restoring (6:1) you back in step with the gospel, back in step with the Spirit.

Paul confronts him because so much is at stake (2:11). He records the story in this letter, because what happened at Antioch is happening in Galatia, though the issue presents slightly differently.2:15-21 WHATS THE EFFECT OF ADDING LAW TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? WHERE IS THE CURE TO BE FOUND?Peter is hypocritical because hes out of step with himself as much as the gospel. His own convictions dont fit his behaviour.But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?

The argument is presented in a chiasm.

[15] We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; [16] yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

i.e.Justification is not by works of lawJustification is by faith in Jesus ChristSo we believed in Christ JesusTo be justified by faith in ChristAnd not by works, since works dont justify

They believed in God to be justified by faith because thats how it happens. Whether justification is about being counted righteous or belonging to the family, the way to righteousness and the way to belonging is faith in Christ. Paul walks Peter through things that Peter knows. The conversation is reported one-sidedly. Peter need say nothing. He knows all that Paul says. Theyre Jews not Gentiles Sinners but they live like Gentiles. They dont keep the food laws Jesus repeatedly told Peter about this. They know that its not works of law but faith that justifies. And so theyve believed in Jesus and been justified. They stand righteous because of Christ. They belong in the people of God by faith. So do the Gentiles.GOSPEL CAREWhat is the gospel? (3:8)How are Peter and the Galatians getting out of step with the gospel?How does Paul supply gospel care for Peter and the Galatians?

An objection is anticipated. If Peter is found to have sinned by breaking food laws, will that imply Christ loves sin? Paul says no. Actually, if Peter puts the law back in hell only prove that he sins. This is not news. The law was a good thing that served Peter and Paul by putting them to death so they could believe. But it had done that role already.They had died with Christ. Where is the Christian on Good Friday? On the cross with Jesus. Dying with Christ we no longer live. The antidote to self-religion: Im dead. RIP. I was born. I died with Christ. I was born again. A new creation.

What life we do live, is lived in this flesh, in our dying corpse of a body with its old habits and desires, waiting for our new creation body. And we live that life by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us. The alternative of works of the law is a life that says the Christs death was meaningless. Peter wouldnt want to say that but that day in Antioch he was saying that by his actions. His life told a false gospel.The story Paul tells Peter leads him not to focus on his failing but to return to the cross. The story Paul tells is of UNION WITH CHRIST. Peter is focussed on the life he can live. Paul says what happened to Christ happened to you.

Rory Shiner illustrates this with a plane in his book One Forever.[footnoteRef:5] He asks, what relationship do you need with a plane? Do you need to be under it? To follow it? To be inspired by it? (The plane-spotter say: I believe I can fly! but they cant) What you need is to be in the plane. And if you are then where the plane goes you go. [5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7AKATss18s]

Get on the plane. Get in Christ.3:1-9 WHERE DID THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BEGIN? HOW SHOULD IT CONTINUE?DID PETER REPENT?Paul leaves the story, like the end of Jonah But this is an early letter and the message of 1 & 2 Peter isnt the meaninglessness of the cross, and more importantly there are reasons to tell stories. If Paul writes to Galatia and says Peter made your mistake and refused to repent, how about you? thats not as compelling as Peter made your mistake, and repented, will you?

Paul takes Peter back to the cross and he does the same for the Galatians in 3:1. Theyve been foolish, bewitched. Deceived into Spiritual Adultery, lured away. Thats how folly works in Proverbs.[footnoteRef:6] Lady Wisdom sings the gospel song. Dame Folly sings words that at times sound identical and yet are false gospels. Folly entices Sons away from Wisdom into her home so she can kill her Slaves. Outward actions reflect our heart. Conformity to outward standards isnt enough. [6: http://www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblical-horizons/no-43-the-dramatic-structure-of-proverbs/]

The gospel way is a question of heart and desire not just behaviour.So why dont Iif Im really honestfind God attractive? I answer from my own conversion as I realized, He cares for me! And all I have to do is enjoy his love! For others maybe its a matter of telling the Spiritwho shares Gods lovethat you long for a taste of that love. Be humble: dont add conditions. Just come to him to enjoy him as he is in himself. Start by telling the Father you want to know and enjoy his Son.[footnoteRef:7] [7: http://spreadinggoodness.org/?p=1693 (Ron Frost, Our Attractive God)]

If your eyes dont catch a glimpse of the cross as you turn the pages of Scripture, youre likely to spend much of your day staring at yourself, wallowing in endless introspection, rather than staring at your Savior, delighting in his costly love.[footnoteRef:8] [8: http://www.justinbuzzard.net/2007/11/06/bible-reading-are-you-making-it-to-the-cross/]

In Galatia, Paul had preached. He had publicly portrayed Christ as crucified.3:1 LUTHER - So vividly had he described Christ to them that they could almost see and handle Him. As if Paul were to say: "No artist with all his colours could have pictured Christ to you as vividly as I have pictured Him to you by my preaching. Yet you permitted yourselves to be seduced to the extent that you disobeyed the truth of Christ."Preaching isnt informing, its painting a picture with words. Saying: look! We see this illustrated in the painting from Luthers church in Wittenberg by Lucas Cranach that pictures Luther and his people as he preaches Christ Crucified to them.

Unlike Peter who couldve seen Jesus crucified, the Galatians had seen through his preaching. How blessed they were! They began their Christian lives by hearing with faith to receive the Spirit, even in persecution, even in seeing miracles. Every step by faith. The gospel isnt just the ABC but is the A-Z. At its heart the sent Son who loved us even to his own death in our place.The Gospel is better than unconditional love. The Gospel says, God accepts you just as Christ is. God has contra-conditional love for you. Christ bears the curse you deserve. Christ is fully pleasing to the Father and gives you His own perfect goodness. Christ reigns in power, making you the Fathers child and coming close to you to begin to change what is unacceptable to God about you. God never accepts me as I am. He accepts me as I am in Jesus Christ. The centre of gravity is different. The true Gospel does not allow Gods love to be sucked into the vortex of the souls lust for acceptability and worth in and of itself. Rather, it radically de-centres peoplewhat the Bible calls fear of the Lord and faithto look outside themselves. (David Powlison, Idols of the Heart and Vanity Fair)The love of God tells the greatest story but were so perverse that we sometimes even turn Gods love for us in on ourselves. Charles Simeon:The Christian is not contented with acknowledging the love of Christ to mankind in general; he views it especially as it respects himself; and delights in contemplating his own personal obligations to him. O how wonderful does it appear, that Christ should ever love such a one as him, and give himself for him! That for such a wretch as him, he should submit to all the shame and agonies of crucifixion! And though he cannot perhaps at all times say, My beloved is mine, and I am his, yet the most distant hope of such a mercy fills his soul with joy unspeakable and glorified.THE MESSAGE OF 2:11-3:9 THE SON LOVED AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ALL PEOPLES Were sucked into the vortex of our souls lust for acceptability in ourselves. Its devastating for us and leads us to define ourselves against others, to be suspicious of them, to want people to do things our way or hit the highway. Its deathly. But the Son of God loved us. He took our place in death to give us life whoever we are, wherever were from. And he asks only that we look to him and find our life in him. Its not about following his rules, nor about being inspired by him but by having our self-life ended so we can live a new life with him and with all his people. A new story.PART 3: 3:10-4:7 ANYONE CAN BE ADOPTED IN THE SON3:10-14 WHERE DOES THE LAW LEAVE PEOPLE? HOW DOES CHRIST DEAL WITH THE EFFECT OF THE LAW? WHATS THE IMPACT ON THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD?Triune life is about the Father revealing his Son. Its about the Son who gives himself. And its about the Spirit who catches people up in divine life.The Spirit is the great promise of the gospel, its the Spirit (of the Son) who is sent into the hearts of those who find their life in the Christ.Paul writes strongly against the appeal of the law. He argues from the law that the law itself says reliance on law is the way to curse. Besides which, righteousness (whether legal right standing or belonging in the family) comes by faith, as Habakkuk wrote. Faith looks, whereas the law by contrast is a doing thing. Israel had found themselves cursed though they shouldve enjoyed blessing. But, under the terms of law (born under law) the Son came and averted the curse from them. The blessed Son hung on a tree (cursed) to bring blessing to those who were under curse. By doing this the Son bought blessing to Jewish Christians and blessing to the Gentiles. God will bless the peoples in the gospel. With his promise. A promise that isnt, as we might expect, righteousness but the Spirit! Those who have the Spirit are counted righteous like Abraham. But when telling the Triune Gospel its insufficient a Christian lives in God. The church fathers were wise to speak of DEIFICATION. We enter into Gods life, into the Sons relationship with the Father by the Spirit. Christian life is about INDWELLING, and PARTICIPATION in the life of the Triune God. THE LAW 3:15-21 HOW DOES THE PROMISE WORK? WHAT DOES THAT TELL US ABOUT THE LAW? WHY THE LAW? ARE LAW AND PROMISE ENEMIES? And now to understand the law! The New Testament draws many lessons from the Old Testament law which build together into a beautiful portrait of the role of law in the Christians life. Here Paul is addressing the specifics of the Galatian problem.Paul sets his illustration (3:15). Man-made covenants arent changeable. When you agree the deal you cant change the terms. When the house sale has been completed the deal is certain. Whats the point? God made his promise to Abraham for Abrahams offspring and when the gospel had been so stated thats the gospel. Nothing else that happens can change how inheritance is to come. Its Christ (3:16).Yet, 430 years later (3:17) the God who promised to Abrahams offspring gives Israel his law at Sinai. What we can know is that this cant change the promise. If law was the way to inherit then it would, but it isnt so it doesnt (3:18).As Paul writes Q&A we know we understand him if we would ask what he asks. If the promise cant be changed and the law isnt the way to inherit then one ought to be asking what exactly God was doing giving the people the law at Sinai.Why then the law? (3:19) Law: Because of Transgression. Law and sin are related. Straightforward enough. Law: Until the offspring to whom the promise had been made had come. i.e. until Christ.The Scripture says:It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made

Which more plainly means:

It was added because of transgressions, until Christ

Sin makes the law necessary for Israel until the singular offspring of Abraham comes. Law (3:19) comes from God to angels to Moses to Israel, whereas God is One i.e. the promise is direct from Father to Son. The law is qualitatively lesser than the promise, though that doesnt mean the law isnt good. This sentence about mediators is difficult!If we understand what Paul says we should anticipate the question he will ask. God has given two things The Promise and The Law. Are the law and promise contrary? Has God got two conflicting approaches? No, says Paul. They dont exist for the same purpose. I have an oven and a fridge. They do different things but theyre not enemies. The fridge serves the oven and ensures that what it cooks is edible.3:22-25 WHAT WAS THE GOOD PURPOSE OF THE LAW FOR ISRAEL?[22] But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [23] Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. [24] So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,

The theme is fairly clear.Scripture imprisons under sin [Israel] were held captive imprisoned [under a] guardian until Christ but now no longer under a guardian. The law serves to imprison and guard Israel until she reaches maturity, and Christ comes.So, why does Israel need a guardian to imprison them because of sin until Christ comes?People differ, heres my reading from this passage.Getting from Abraham to the Christ is the big deal here. Matthew needs to be able to write his genealogy. Following the line is easy in Genesis. A son, a grandson, 12 sons, easy to ask is any of these the Christ. A family goes to Egypt and is contained in the region of Goshen until the Exodus. Theyre identifiable, even when there are a million of them.But, by Sinai the people are free. Free to worship, free to sin. And repeatedly to sin by intermarrying with the peoples and whoring after their gods. The people begin to disappear. Tribe after tribe falls. By the exile only a remnant will remain. And thats with the law to mark them out as holy as I am holy a people like their Christ.Most of the law is about the tabernacle which means you can understand Christ Crucified, bearing the curse etc. The rest is largely about ensuring this people live differently, by their clothes and their food and their holy days and their care for the fatherless, widowed or foreigner. A Christ-like people. A community who fulfil the law is an attractive people.Without law Israel wouldve vanished into the nations by their sin. With the law the line continues until Christ, and indeed to this day (nearly 4000 years later) we can find people who look back to father Abraham. Biblically, after Christ the law is no longer needed for this purpose. The line has completed as Abrahams offspring has come. And for those who find their life in the one offspring, it will be the Spirit will mark this family distinctively. There are no more generations to be preserved and guarded, but all who live in Christ by the Spirit. They grow up into inheritance as the law finishes its role and returning to follow the guardian when you can relate to your parents is peculiar.SONS, ORPHANS, SLAVESIn Galatians the opposite of sonship is slavery not being an orphan. A slave is nonetheless fatherless and futureless.

Its possible for rules to apply to a certain group of people for a certain time, but not to all people in all times. The law is Triune God revealing Scripture, but that doesnt mean all law is law for all people. Today the Sinai law means we can understand the grammar of the gospel by interpreting the cross as Hebrews does by reading Leviticus. Law reveals the character of God from the kind of people who would look like him. In an ironic twist Paul will write that those who live by the Spirit are people of love, which is what the law filled-up looks like. Try to keep law and you feed the flesh and divide from people, repent and believe the gospel, pursing the Spirit, and you end up filling up the law by loving people. The law is deeply reflective of the priorities of the Triune God. His love is jealous (Exodus 20:1-3). His concern is for the fatherless, the widow and the foreigner, and so his people will adopt orphans, care for widows and gladly include those from different ethnicities and cultures. All these vulnerable groups will find a home in the Christ. Each would struggle to come with strong credentials to prove themselves but each can look to Christ and be welcomed.ADOPTIONWhen the Father turns his eye to you, what (or who) does he see?When the Father turns his ear to you, what (or who) does he hear?How will he regard you?How does that feel?

Paul says now Christ has come, the guardian can stop guarding, and we can all be sons of God. Charles Simeon: Every Christian, from a rebel and an enemy, becomes a son.WHEN THE FATHER TURNS HIS EYE3:25-29 WHAT DOES A CHRISTIAN LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY? WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR CHRISTIAN FUTURE? WHEN THE FATHER TURNS HIS EYE TO YOU, WHAT DOES HE SEE? HOW DOES THAT AFFECT YOU?[25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, [26] for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Sons by faith are baptised into Christ, clothed in Christ. They look like Christ. Theyre unified with other sons. The old divides of Jew and Gentile, Male and Female, Slave and Free can no longer divide. Theyre real differences, beautiful differences at times, but the gospel gathers all together. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspringWhich is to say: And if you are Christ's, then you are [Christ]Those who belong to Christ are now Abrahams offspring. We become the one offspring. As the church fathers put it, in terms that feel to us like theyre on the edge of heresy, God became man so man could become God. We think of divine substance. God thinks relationally. Those who belong to Christ are Christ. They look like Christ, will be treated like Christ, related to as Christ, inherit like Christ. He gets all, so they get all.Charles Simeon: By believing in Christ, we become perfectly one with ChristWhen the Father turns his eye to the Christian he sees his son. As one Bible teacher puts it, Stop and let the paint dry on that.WHEN THE FATHER TURNS HIS EAR4:1-3 WHATS THE PICTURE FOR ISRAEL AND THE LAW?Sons and slaves as children look the same. They live under a guardian. The difference is what happens when the guardian stops guarding them. Israel lived as a slave (under law, after the Exodus). At the right time she would either continue as a slave or mature to sonship in the gospel. This summarises the teaching of chapter 3.4:4-7 IDENTIFY THE TWO SENDINGS OF THE FATHER? WHATS THE EFFECT ON THE PEOPLES? WHEN THE FATHER TURNS HIS EAR TO YOU WHAT DOES HE HEAR? HOW DOES THAT FEEL?The Father sent his Son at the right time. Through the cross we gain adoption as sons. Here is the centre of the Trinitarian gospel. The goal of the gospel isnt just righteousness but adoption into the divine family.Slaves to self can become sons of God. The Father sends his Son and then the Spirit of the Son. The Spirit cries out from believers Abba Father. Romans states that we can cry that too, but here the emphasis is all on what God does not what we do. He cries. As you sleep, as you walk down the road, as you sin: youre caught up in Triune life. Not just dressed up as a son, but filled up as a son is. No longer a slave, now an heir! Christ gets all, so in Christ we get all.ABBA FATHERPeople debate whether the Hebrew Abba is the childish cry to Daddy, or a more mature cry to Dad. The point is more that it is Jesus cry to his Father. Abba is the cry of the Lords Prayer, of Gethsemane, of Father, your will be done and Father forgive them and Father, into your hands I commit my spirit The point is that we get Jesus relationship with his Father. All that he has, those adopted in him also have. So the Son says to those asking him how to pray, not say, Jesus Father but say, Our Father. Enter the Sons relationship with the Father.This opens up a rich vein of inquiry to explore the nature of the Sons relationship with the Father. One might read the Psalms to hear this conversation. The Son saying The Lords my Shepherd (Psalm 23), the Father speaking of his Spirit-anointed son as My heart overflows, with a song concerning the beautiful, beautiful of Adams sons (Psalm 45) for example. Just as the Christian can appreciate the Spirit crying Abba and then join in, so too we can hear the Christ using the Psalms in his relationship with his eternal Father and then we can join in the conversation as we approach the Father as our Father in Christ.Adopted Sons in Christ, live by being crucified with Christ and faith in the Son of God who loved them To repent and believe the gospel is to pursue the Spirit and sow to the Spirit. A life that does this bears fruit (not fruits) in relational character.The Incurved Story is about what I do its self-centred, divisive, complicated, joyless, its futureless. The Triune Story is self-giving, uniting, repenting, joyful, inheriting.

PART 4: 4:8-6:18 SPIRIT FILLED SON4:8-20. CHRISTIAN IS FORMATIONAL WHATS IT LIKE TO BELIEVE THE GOSPEL? WHATS THE GOAL OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE? HOW DOES IT FEEL TO MINISTER THE GOSPEL TO OTHERS?4:8-11 The Galatians past is worship of not gods. In adding law to Christ theyve turned back to the weak and worthless principles of the world. Not pagan idolatry but religion. In chapter 5 hell call it falling from grace not in scandalous sin but in the horror of self-religion.In the gospel they came to be known by God. The gospel reconciles God to us. And they came to know God. As they embrace holy days Pauls gospel labour seems in vain. 4:12-20 Paul wants the Galatians back, not following him but like him. He preached to them in a time of illness and they embrace his words and him. They received Pauls gospel as if Paul was Christ himself. The preaching of the word of God is the word of God, especially on the lips of a cruciform life.Self-centric messages drain joy, whereas the gospel refreshes. Gospel-centred people are refreshing people. V15: What has become of your blessedness? or the blessing you felt? or your joy? (Depending on your translation). They had the blessing of the gospel, the Holy Spirit who produced joy and tangible blessing in them. That joy has diminished. The life of law is deathly as all flesh and sin life ultimately is.The false teachers are manipulating the Galatians. The way of the false teachers is persecution and mockery, and sometimes with a sweet tongue that seems appealing. But the motive is bad.Paul however labours to see Christ formed in them. Theyre clothed in Christ. Theyre filled with the Spirit of the Son. Yet, Christ is yet to be fully formed in them. Christian discipleship is formational. Christ is our life and as we repent and believe the gospel, the Spirit will form Christ in us.Gospel ministry is perplexing and marked by anguish that is comparable to the pain of childbirth. Paul longs to be with them.4:21-5:14 CHRISTIAN IS FREE WHATS THE CHRISTIAN STORY? HOW DO SLAVES AND SONS RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER? HOW IS A SON TO LIVE? WHY IS SLAVERY APPEALING? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SON LIVES AS A SON?21-27 Paul writes words which put terror into modern Bible readers. This may be interpreted allegorically. The contemporary reader has been educated to hate allegory, despite it being carefully and commonly used in church history. What he has in mind isnt a fanciful allegorical method, but like the best Bible teachers in the history of the church, a Typological method, that sees a gospel story told in the story of Israel.

Sarah - the free

Jerusalem above whose children Christians are

Hagar the slaveSinaiJerusalem present- enslaved with her children

Two lines to trace the story of the gospel and the false gospel. The gospel goes straight from Abraham to his Offspring. The false is seen repeatedly. Sinai isnt the problem but its mis-read and mis-applied as a way to life and thats deadly.Isaiah tells that the barren woman will be fruitful.Against what youd expect to happen, life will come. 28-31 Were reminded of the way that Ishmael persecuted Isaac. Slaves will oppose the free. Paul persecuted the church before he became her preacher to the peoples. Slavish religion is suspicious and fearful of gospel freedom. The slavish teacher of false gospels should be ejected. Dont listen to them! Slaves will not inherit, only sons. The church is Sarahs true son, in her true son Christ. We are children of the promise.5:1 The rallying cry is raised. Youre free. Dont enslave yourself.5:2-6 To accept circumcision is to cut yourself off from Christ. Such a person obligates themselves to the whole law by relying on it. It is a severing from Christ, to play on the image of circumcision. Such law keeping means a fall from grace! Note that circumcision isnt the Sinai law but should be seen with Sinai as a temporary measure marking out the people until the Christ comes. The promise preceded circumcision and its completion does away with this outward sign. Repentance and faith, baptism and the indwelling of the Spirit mark the free.Yet understand, that circumcision and non-circumcision count for nothing in Christ. What counts is faith expressed through love. 5:7-12 The Galatians were running well. They made a good start in the gospel. They enjoyed life in the Triune God. Theyve been hindered, persuaded by a persuasion that does not come from him who called you (1:6) the Father has not imposed law on them. Leaven has got into the lump. But Paul is confident of their repentance and restoration to freedom. And the false teachers will get their sentence.Paul doesnt preach circumcision (11), for if he did he wouldnt be persecuted. The cross offends and thats why he gets opposed. The additions of rules are people pleasing. The flesh loves a to do list. Paul suggest that the teachers who trouble/unsettle them by insisting on persecution could do with being emasculated. Give them a full measure of what they peddle to others.5:13-14 Returning to the theme of v1 Paul reminds them that theyre called to freedom, brothers. But the question is what do you do with your freedom? Freedom can be used to indulge the flesh and revive it from its crucified state. Or freedom can be used to love one another. Love fulfils the law.I am Free

Try to Keep the law by loving

I become a slave who persecutes

I am freeUse my freedom to loveI fulfil the law

5:15-26 CHRISTIAN IS FRUITFUL WHATS THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING A CHRISTIAN? WHAT DOES SLAVERY LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES SONSHIP LOOK LIKE? WHAT HAPPENS IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN?A warning frames this section in v15 and v26 against devouring and biting and provoking and envying and being conceited.The instruction is simple: walk by the Spirit and you wont gratify the desires of the flesh. It doesnt say DONT gratify the flesh and youll walk by the Spirit. This isnt a call to be anti-flesh (and flesh-centric) but to be pro-Spirit. The Spirit and flesh have opposite desires. And because of this well at times be kept from what we want to do. The Christian has new desires from the Spirit. The war is won but the battle will be lost at times. The Christian life will be messy and inconsistent and marked by sin and repentance rather than a flawless record.Those led by the Spirit are not under law. Those under law do the works of the flesh. Law and flesh look like opposites, one is devout and the other licentious but they stand together. Those who pursue the law live fleshly lives of self-righteous meanness.There are obvious evident works of the flesh. Theyre nasty. Theyre divisive. Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (21)This cannot mean those who sin sometimes. The mixed desires of the free keep them from always following the Spirit. Christians will sin. The issue is that those ruled by law and flesh are slaves. Slaves dont inherit. Sons believe the gospel and will inherit. They are heirs.Those who pursue the Spirit will see fruit in their lives. These arent a list of fruits but a singular fruit.If youre in the singular offspring then the singular Spirit who lives within you will gradually produce a singular fruit which transforms your relationships. Be suspicious of yourself if you experience fruit in serious imbalance because that might just be slavish imitation.24: Those who belong to Christ (those who are Christs 3:29) have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. We live the Christian life by dying. I no longer live! My union with Christ in his crucifixion is the end of me. And now I live by faith in the crucified one. My flesh is mortified. And so, If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.Peter imposed law and got out of step with the gospel he was out of step with the Spirit. But life in the Spirit is the opposite. Spirit-pursuing is gospel believing from beginning to end. And the Spirit who marks out this new family is the one who builds this new family. The flesh would have us eat one another, but the Spirit calls us to feed on Christ and find life together in him.6:1-10 CHRISTIAN IS COMMUNITY WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY? 1-5 Friendship at the foot of the cross is something beautiful. A community of slaves imagines that no one ever sins were too good for that. And when something undeniable happens everyone is scandalised. But among sons sin is expected. Brothers will sin. They will fail to do what they want to do. Their sin wont mean that Christ endorses sin, itll mean they need the gospel.The Non-Gospel ChurchMy sin is scandalous or swept under the carpet.My sin is rule-breaking.My sin is my effort to be holy.My sin is an opportunity for you to trample me under foot.My sin is why I want to avoid the cross.My sin is overcome by effort.

The Gospel ChurchMy sin is to be expected.My sin is relational betrayal and return to slavery.My sin is when I follow the flesh instead of the Spirit.My sin is an opportunity for you to restore me, to carry my burdens as Christ bore them to Calvary. My sin is, therefore, why I need the cross.My sin is overcome by God's work of new creation.

And in this community we dont reject those who sin, we dont rejoice over their fall as it elevates us in the comparison game. Spiritual people will seek to restore sinners and carry them.We should be warned that we too can be tempted and we shouldnt take this caring community as an excuse not to watch ourselves and carry ourselves. If we fall others will lift us but let us seek to avoid falling.To carry one another is to fulfil the law of Christ. He carried us. Let us carry others.6 In a seemingly isolated thought Paul says they should share what they have with their teachers. The false teachers manipulated them to love them. It would be a false move not to honour true gospel teachers.7-9 The gospel is not a game. Dont mock God. Sowing and reaping is how nature works, its how life works. If youre sowing to the flesh youll reap its corruption. Whereas sowing to the Spirit reaps eternal life. Its not about how you live but how you live is reflective of who you are. Sons embrace sonship, slaves cant help but be slaves. Sons desire the Spirit, but fail at times. Slaves desire slavery though they may present as good religious types.10 Sons will do good. Theyre members of the community first of the church family and of the wider human race. Theyll do good to all, especially the household of faith.6:11-18 CHRISTIAN IS NEW WHATS THE MUSIC OF INCURVED STORIES? WHATS THE MUSIC OF THE GOSPEL? WHAT COUNTS FOR THE CHRISTIAN? WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT IF YOU LIVE IN THE TRIUNE GOD?11 Paul writes this. Hes emphatic.12-13 The false teachers want to make a good show in the flesh. Theyre all about pleasing people and impressing them. They want to avoid persecution for the cross. They live for self. And they dont even live up to the standards they impose on others so they can boast about their followers and try to deceive the world.14- 18 Paul is utterly different. His boast is the cross, hes obsessed with the cross. Its his glory. Hell take any persecution it entails. You want to see marks on Pauls body outwardly he has the marks of Christ (17).Charles Simeon (cited in Stott The Cross of Christ):A nominal Christian is contented with approving of the way of salvation by a crucified Redeemer: the true Christian loves it, delights in it, glories in it, and shudders at the thought of glorying in anything else.There has been crucifixion between Paul and the world. The relationship that bound him to please the world has been put to death. He no longer lives to the world. The flesh is dead. The old is gone.Once more he says, its not that circumcision is a big deal. What counts is new creation (15). The gospel is creating a new world to be inherited by sons in the Son. The world as it was always meant to be has begun. The present evil age will pass away. A renewed creation comes in which humanity will live in the Triune God. This is the rule if you want rules. New Creation! God and man dwelling together on earth, heirs in the heir.Charles Simeon:Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth. Let all your joys flow from the contemplation of his cross. Thus shall you dwell in God, and God in you: you shall be one with God, and God with you: and the very instant that the ties between the world and you shall be finally dissolved by death, you shall soar as on eagles wings, to take possession of the crowns and kingdoms that await you in a better worldPeace and mercy on such people, and on the Israel of God. This is for Galatia, this is for all the true family of Abraham, all who live in the one offspring, Christ.As a person with incurvature I still tend towards making my life about me. I revive my dead flesh. I take myself seriously. I make it about what I do. The cure, the only cure, is to hear again with faith the good news of Jesus the Spirit-anointed Son of the Father who is my life.

Photos in this document Gabe Rodriguez NW Aeropress Competition - Creative Commonshttps://www.flickr.com/photos/gaber/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/ 43