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1. INTRODUCTION Faith and Freedom in Christ
· If you are a parent, how would you feel if someone was trying to teach your child values that you knew to be false? · In your workplace, how do you feel when someone aggressively promotes values that are opposed to what the Bible teaches?
Some use "religion" to control others. There was a group in Galatia attempting to "straighten out" the new converts to their own crooked ways of thinking (Gal. 5:7). This group was known as the "Judaizers" because they wanted to Judaize the believers - to make them Jews as well as Gentiles. They taught Gentile converts that "Unless you are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1). Paul was dramatically stopped in his prescribed course of persecuting the church because of it's departure from Jewish tradition. These Jewish leaders looked at the Law as a means to obtain God's favor. Their faith, therefore, was not in Christ and His completed work on the cross but upon what they themselves must do and be. What Paul learned when God confronted him on the way to Damascus, was that God was not an impersonal force to be used to make people behave in certain ways, but a personal Savior who set us free to live a free life. God does not coerce us from without, but sets us free from within. Paul, on his missionary journeys, sought to tell others of this wonderful truth. Galatia was one of the areas in which he shared the gospel. A few years later, he learns that some teachers of the "old school" had infiltrated the church, questioning his views and authority and tried to reinstate the "old bondage" of rules and regulation. This letter (which may be Paul's earliest epistle) is addressed to the churches in Galatia, and is probably his sternest attack against false teaching. The Bible contains no more passionate, comprehensive, yet concise statement of the truth of the gospel than that found in the book of Galatians. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Paul immediately begins with a condemnation; no gentle, loving salutation here! He then plunges into his counterattack against the Judaizers. Paul was angry! Angry with the teachers who were preaching the "old bondage" message and intimidating the Christians into giving up their free life in Christ, and furious with the Christians for giving in to this teaching. Like a parent with his children, he bares his heart in an effort to steer his converts to the truth (see Gal. 4:19).
For Discussion & Interaction .... TRUTH: Chapter 1-2 Paul defends his gospel message against perversions that followed. The gospel must be kept PURE (implied). 1:10-24 Paul's gospel came from GOD, not MAN. 2:1-10 The apostles recognized Paul's GRACE. 2:11-21 Even PETER (Cephas) needed PAUL'S correction.
FAITH: Chapters 34 Relationship with God is based on faith, not on following the law. 3:1-14 FAITH has always done what the LAW could not do. 3:15-25 The LAW can never replace God's PROMISES .(vs.t7) 3:26-4:11 In Christ we are HEIRS and SONS, not SLAVES. (vs.4:7) 4:12-31 Like Issac=, we are born for FREEDOM
SPIRIT: Chapters 5-6 Christian living is to be directed by the Spirit, not by the flesh. 5:1-15 God wants us FREE to live by LOVE .(vs.6) 5:18-25 Only the SPIRIT can help us over come the FLESH . 6:1-10 SPIRITUAL living is an ongoing, group pursuit. (Implied) 6:11-18 INTERNAL change is important, not EXTERNAL rituals. (Vs.15)
2. POLLUTION CONTROL Galatians 1:1-9Have you ever looked through the glass of an old, turn-of-the-century window? Did you notice that the image beyond the glass "moved" as you moved your head from side to side? Or have you ever been driving your car at night with a dirty windshield, but didn't know how dirty it was until the next morning when the sunlight shone through it? Or how about that convincing advertisement for a product that would simplify your life, or take pounds off your body, with very little effort on your part? Somehow, life consistently offers us impure commodities, whether they be material things, relationships, or choices on the use of our time. Just as dust will accumulate on the window sill without invitation, spiritual pollution waits to settle on the Christian who doesn't keep his/her home dean. The Worst Kind What kind of stains are the toughest to get out? (Those applied under both heat and pressure.) What degree of influence can one person have on another: Degree of Influence (1 to 10 scale) · Parent to child? · Sibling to sibling? · Spouse to spouse? · Friend to friend? · Christian to Christian? · Non-Christian to Christian? What factors contribute to the rating you listed above?
The Secret to Staying Clean (The secret to pleasing to the Lord) · Know what dirt looks like. "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident..." (Gal. 5:19) · When you see dirt, separate yourself from it.
"Abstain from every form of evil. " · If you get dirt on you, wash it off. "if we confess our sins, He is faithful ..." (1 Jn. 1:9) · If you have to be in a dirty environment, be the one clean person there! "...among whom you appear as lights in the world. "(Phil. 2:15) Qualities of Dirt (Qualities of false teaching) · Abrasive. False teaching should rub you the wrong way. · Attracts more dirt. The more of if there is, the dirtier it gets. · Distorts the appearance of clean things. If you get too close to it, you look a little dirty also. So, be careful how and where you spend your time. · Weighs you down. Entertaining false teaching inhibits your spiritual growth. You're getting dirty when ..... (You're getting caught up in false teaching when . . . .) · Your clean friends don't recognize you. That's not like you, Dan! "Faithful are the wounds of a friend..." (Prov. 27:6) · God's Spirit says to you, "wash the dirt off!" "The sheep heart his voice...."(John 10:3) I can hear Him, if I listen. Can you distinguish the voices in the mixed ensemble? · You feel the abrasion caused by the dirt. I know when I'm not pleasing Him. · You feel comfortable in dirty places with dirty people. "Do not be conformed to this world . . ."(Rom 12:2) For Discussion & Interaction .... 1. According to verse 6, how tenacious were the Galatians in standing firm in the truth of the gospel? 2. What seemed to be the goal of the Judaizers who added to Paul's message? (v. 7) 3. How can you tell if someone is "distorting the gospel"? 4. Should you take into consideration the experience or position of a person who challenges your beliefs (or qualifies your faith)? 5. What does Paul say should happen to someone who deliberately pollutes God's gospel message?
3. Please, PLEASE!! (I Hear You Calling, Lord) Galatians 1:10-24 Introduction When you were a kid, who was your idol? Your mom or dad . . . . a
relative . . . . a teacher, or maybe a public figure or a sports star? Did you try to
follow their example; did you try to adopt their values? Is it O.K. to follow another person's example? Look at what the
Bible says: 2 Thes. 3:7, "For you yourselves know how you ought to , because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you," Phil. 3:17, "Brethren, join in , and observe those who walk
according to the you have in us." What seems to be the prerequisite for following another's example?
Who is currently following YOUR example? Should they be?
According to verse 10, is it wrong to seek the approval of people? - Should a child try to please his or her mom/dad? - Should an employee strive to please his or her employer? - Can you please both people and God? When is striving to please people wrong in God's eyes? Col. 3:23, "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the
Lord rather than for men;" When you accepted Christ as your Savior, who did you agree to serve
before all others?
SPEAK, LORD!
"But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood" (Gal. 1:15-16) set me apart called me was pleased to reveal that I might preach did not immediately consult
Oswald Chambers writes that, "When God speaks, never discuss it with anyone as if to decide what your response may be. Belief is not the result of an intellectual act, but the result of an act of my will whereby I deliberately commit myself." He adds that, "Beware when you want to confer with flesh and blood, or even
your own thoughts, insights, or understandings; anything that is not based on your own
relationship with God."
What is the danger if you ask others about what God might be saying to you? What was the pattern of Paul's actions AFTER God spoke to Him? Vs. 16 He did not consult with others. Vs. 17 He did not go where other Believers were. Why? Vs. 18 He waited 3 years before going to where the other apostles were gathered. Vs. 18 He choose one Christian, Peter, and spent two weeks getting to know him. Vs. 19 He more or less avoided the other Apostles. Vs. 21 He traveled to the outlying areas, rather than to home area. (Implied) Vs. 22 He was Mostly unknown by sight to most churches. Vs. 24 People saw Christ in Paul, and Glorified God.
To lessons 4,5 & 6 of Galatians
© 1998 Dan Kinnoin |
