|
|
!--COMETZONE CURSOR CODE - PLACE ABOVE /BODY TAG AT BOTTOM OF WEB PAGE-->
Galatians
Introduction
In a geographical The book of Galatians is writen by Paul (49 or 55 A.D.) The term “Galatia” was used both and in a political senseChristians in South Galatia.. It is not sure if it is writen to Christians in Norht Galatia or to
Why this letter?
Paul’s work in Galatia had been succesful. Great multitudes, mostly Gentiles, had accepted Christ. Sometime after Paul had left Galatia, certain Jewish teachers came along insisting that Gentiles could not be Christians without keeping the Law of Moses. The Galatians gave heed to their teaching with the same whole-heartedness with which the had at first recieved the message of Paul. There was a general epidemic of Circumcision among these Gentile Christians. Paul heard of the movement. And then it was that Paul wrote this Epistle to explain to them that Circumcision, while it had been a necessary part of Jewish National Life, was not a part of the Gospel of christ and had nothing whatever to do with Salvation.
The Problem
How can men (sinful by nature) come to God (holy by nature)? Paul writes that there is only one way – accept the salvation God’s grace makes available through Christ’s death and resurrection. Forget the salvation through obedience to the law of Moses. Paul proclaimed the doctrine of justification by faith plus nothing, and of salvation by the Holy Spirit, not the Mosaic Law.
Application
We have to learn to grow constantly in the Spiritual world, to have a constant relationship with our Heavenly Father. We do not need several steps to get into the presence of God, we live in the presence of God constantly.
Nowadays people are like the Galatians, they were once set free in Christ but through traditions they are putting themselves under the law again. Because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. (Galatians 2:4)
The law doesn’t saves us?
2:16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Christ Jesus. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.
2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (21)…for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
The law (of Moses) is very complicated and nobody is able to follow these rules, if you rely your righteousness on the law (or expecting it from the law), you are cursed!
3:10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the law.”
How can we be set free from the law?
3:11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
For whom is the promise of the Spirit?
3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds.” Meaning many people, but “and to your seed”, meaning one person, who is Christ.
Why then a law?
3:17 The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. Is the law, therefor, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Why is faith in Jesus important?
3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Why is Abraham’s seed important for us?
3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Why is it important to have Spiritual growth?
4:1-3 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
When do you become a son and how can you feel that you are a real son and not an adopted one?
4:4-7 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
4:22 4:23 4:24-31
Son from a slave woman born in ordinary way never get inheritance
/
Abraham had two sons
\
Son from a free woman born result of a promise get inheritance natural way
Why set Christ us free?
5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
What if you still try to be justified by law?
5:4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.
Warning!
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
What has this to do with a constantly relationship with God?
Old testament relationship is: New testament relationship is:
· Slave worship and attitude Father and son/daughter relationship
· Relationship from the flesh Relationship in the Spirit
· Giving 10% Giving everything 100%
Do we have a true deep relationship with Him? Or are we still trying to get closer to God the Old Testaments way? Paul is trying to tell us that we can run to the throne of God, we can enter whenever we want the place of Holy of Holies. Only the priest in the Old Testament was aloud to enter the Holy of Holies only once a year, and even then he wasn’t sure he would survive the awesome presence of God. Secondly we need to grow spiritually, we need to become a son of God. The normal thing in nature is, if the process of growth is stopped the process of death starts immediately. Even so is it in the spiritual, if you are not growing, you are spiritually dying.
by Patrick Frank van der Heijden
