NICARAGUA Puerto Cabezas

Transcription

1 NICARAGUA Puerto Cabezas March 2018

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4 Billy Graham

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7 Paul s Connection with the Galatian Churches 1. After his conversion Paul spends 3 years in Arabia & Damascus (Gal. 1:16-17). 2. Paul & Barnabas meet privately with Peter & James in Jerusalem (Gal. 1:18-24; Acts 9:26). 3. Paul & Barnabas bring a relief offering to Jerusalem (Acts 11:29-30) & stand for the gospel (Gal. 2:1-10). 4. Paul & Barnabas plant churches in Galatia on the first Missionary journey (Acts 13:13-14:20). 5. Paul and Barnabas re-visit the Galatian churches to strengthen & encourage them (Acts 14:21-28). 6. Antioch incident; Paul rebukes Peter (Gal. 2:11-14). 7. Judaizers began to teach that the law and circumcision are necessary for salvation (Acts 15:1). 8. Paul writes Galatians to defend the true gospel of grace. 9. The Jerusalem Council affirms Paul's position on justification by faith in Christ alone (Acts 15:2-35). Judaizer's Teachings 1. Attacks on Paul's authority and message (1:1-2:21). 2. The Law is essential for salvation (2:15-16; 3:1-5; 3:23-25). 3. Ritual observances are required for God's favor (4:10). 4. Circumcision is necessary for all Christians (5:2-3; 6:12-15). Galatians: Epistolary Prescript: Salutation and Greeting Background: Dueling Gospels? There is only one gospel and it is by grace through Christ! Personal Defense of Paul's Authority The Gospel of Grace = Free from the Law Doctrinal Defense of Justification by Faith Practical Defense of Christian Liberty 1:1-5 1:6-9 1:10 2:14 2: :1 4:31 5:1 6:10 6: :18 Introduction Body Conclusion Prescript Exordium Thesis: My message comes from Christ. (1:10-12) Defense: I am independent of others. (1:13-2:21) Independent of Human Teachers - I went away (1:13-17) Independent of Major Churches - I had one brief visit (1:18-24) Independent of Jerusalem Church Leaders - they added nothing (2:1-10) Independent of the Apostle Peter - I stood against him (2:11-14) Narratio Main Idea: Justification and life come through faith in Christ, not obedience to the law. Justification by Faith (2:15-16) Life in Christ (2:18-21) Propositio Thesis: The Gospel is of faith not law. (3:1-5) Defense: Scripture and Human Experience. (3:6-4:31) Biblical Defense (3:6-25) The Old Testament: Abraham was justified by faith. (3:6-14) The Covenants: The law does not replace the covenant of faith. (3:15-18) The Law: The law leads us to our need for faith in Christ. (3:19-25) Experiential Defense (3:26-4:31) Sonship: The law made us slaves; faith makes us sons. (3:26-4:7) Appeal: Paul's labor for them was to set them free in Christ. (4:8-20) Midrash: Faith and Law have always been incompatible. (4:21-31) Thesis: We are free in Christ. (5:1) Application: Live in freedom. (5:2-6:10) No More Bondage to the Law (5:2-12) No More Bondage to the Sinful Nature (5:13-15) Free to Live in the Spirit (5:16-26) Free to Serve Others (6:1-10) The Weak and Sinful (6:1-5) Teachers (6:6-9) All men, especially believers (6:10) Probatio When Paul heard that the Galatian churches were being persuaded to follow a different gospel that emphasized the law and circumcision, he wrote a passionate appeal defending his authority as an apostle to the Gentiles, demonstrating the superiority of the faith principle over the law, and delineating the practical application of living in the freedom of grace in order to call the church back to the true gospel of grace through faith in Christ alone. Summary: Paul s Signature and Final Appeal Peroratio Epistolary Postscript: Benediction of Grace Postscript Ken Wilson 2017

8 Thesis 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. Galatians 5:1

9 Definition: Christian freedom is not a freedom to live as you please, but a freedom to live as you were designed.

10 Having set before his readers the ways of the flesh (5:19-20) and the ways of the Spirit (5:22-23), Paul emphasizes that both of these lifestyles will have their respective judgments or rewards. Although we may fool ourselves into thinking we can somehow escape the laws of harvest when it comes to sowing to the flesh, God will not be mocked. There will be consequences, even for believers saved by grace through faith and secure in their salvation. Chuck Swindoll

11 One of the prime indications of life in the Spirit is concern for others manifested in practical ways. Tom Schreiner

12 Christian Ministry: The church should never have a poor pastor. Galatians 6:6

13 Lazy pastors are/should be poor pastors. Stingy congregations have poor pastors.

14 Christian Ministry: Let the one who is taught the word share all his good things with the teacher. Galatians 6:6 (CSB)

15 Teach (κατεχηεω) There are numerous words for teaching and preaching in the New Testament. This particular word emphasizes the idea of teaching in a detailed and systematic manner. This particular Greek word is the basis for the word catechism.

16 Christian Ministry: The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17 (NASB)

17 Work Hard, Labor, Toil (κοπιάω) The New Testament has numerous words for work. The emphasis of this word is that it causes you to grow weary, get tired, or feel exhausted. The exhaustion can come from either working hard or as a result of burdens or grief. Perhaps a good modern term is to be worn out.

18 Double Honor (διπλης τιμης) This phrase is literally double honor and denotes both respect and remuneration. This person is worthy of honor plus honorarium.

19 Application: Qualified, hard working pastors serving generous churches please the Lord.

20 Christian Investments: Christians should not be surprised by their lives. Galatians 6:7-8

21 Don t fool yourself (6:7a). You can not pull one over on God (6:7b). Investing in your sinful nature leads to destruction of life and relationships (6:8a). Investing in your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit leads to real life (6:8b).

22 Christian Investments: Don t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Galatians 6:7-8 (CSB)

23 It is probably the case that what Pauls says in 6:7 cannot be limited to giving, that we have a principle that sums up life as a whole. Still, the focus is on giving. Tom Schreiner

24 This principle is an immutable law of God. In order to emphasize it, the apostle prefaces it with both a command ( do not be deceived ) and a statement ( God is not mocked ). John Stott

25 Mocked (μυκτηρίζω) The first part of this word is the word nose. The idea in Galatians 6:6 is that you should not turn up your nose or sneer at God. The word carried the idea of mocking, or perhaps even thinking that you are above the rules or you could even outwit God.

26 Sowing to the Spirit means living a life of love toward others by caring, meeting needs, encouraging, and confronting. It means actively participating in concrete expressions of the fruit of the Spirit, knowing that God Himself is working in you to grow those seeds so that you may eventually reap an abundant harvest of blessing. Chuck Swindoll

27 To sow to the flesh is to pander to it, to cosset, cuddle, and stroke it, instead of crucifying it. John Stott

28 Christian Investments: Don t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Galatians 6:7-8 (CSB)

29 Eternal Life But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (CSB)

30 The harvest of sowing to the Spirit is eternal life. The meaning of eternal life must be understood within the already-not yet structure of Paul s thought in this letter. From Paul s perspective, Christians have already been delivered from the present evil age (1:4) and are already in the new creation (6:15). But the battle between the Spirit and the sinful nature is not yet over (5:17). Walter Hansen

31 In Christ we already have new relationships with God and with one another: we now relate not as slaves but as children who call God Father (4:6-7); and we relate to one another not as people divided by racial, social and gender barriers but as people united in Christ (3:28). But since the battle between the Spirit and the sinful nature continues, we do not yet experience total harmony in these relationships. Walter Hansen

32 Those who continue to grow in these relationships by the power of the Spirit will ultimately experience the fullness of eternal life perfect harmony in relationship with God and others. Walter Hansen

33 Application: In the Christian life you get out exactly what you put in.

34 To grow well, we have to sow well. Chuck Swindoll

35 Christian Endurance: The Christian life is a long obedience in the same direction. Galatians 6:9-10

36 Take the long-range view of the Christian life (6:9a). The rewards of the Christian life will pay off fully in the end (6:9b). Love others well every time you get the chance (6:10a). Prioritize loving other believers well (6:10b).

37 Christian Endurance: Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. Galatians 6:9-10 (CSB)

38 Application: Long-term investment in loving others will be rewarded.

39 The Freedom Factor: Invest consistently and deeply in your spiritual growth and the reward will be great in the end.