Sunday, February 19, 2017 Lesson Text: Galatians 5:1-17 King James Version (KJV) I. THE GALATIANS WERE CALLED TO REMAIN IN LIBERTY (Galatians 5:1-6) 1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
II. THE THREAT TO THE GALATIANS LIBERTY (Galatians 5:7-12) 7. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8. This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12. I would they were even cut off which trouble you. III. THE PROPER USE OF LIBERTY (Galatians 5:13-17) 13. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16.This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. New International Version (NIV) I. THE GALATIANS WERE CALLED TO REMAIN IN LIBERTY (Galatians 5:1-6) 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. 2. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,christ will be of no value to you at all. 3. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been
alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. II. THE THREAT TO THE GALATIANS LIBERTY (Galatians 5:7-12) 7. You were running a good race.who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8. That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9. A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough. 10. I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view.the one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?in that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
12. As for those agitators,i wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! III. THE PROPER USE OF LIBERTY (Galatians 5:13-17) 13. You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh;rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself. 15. If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16. So I say, walk by the Spirit,and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. PRACTICAL POINTS:
1. We must guard the freedom that Christ gives us so that our old ways won t enslave us (Galatians 5:1). 2. No one can be saved by tradition, rituals, or customs (Galatians 5:2-4; Romans 10:9). 3. Since righteousness is an attribute of God, our goal should be to be like Him (Galatians 5:5; II Timothy 4:8). 4. Love unifies the body of Christ and overcomes obstacles, breaks barriers and creates opportunities for service (Galatians 5:6; Matthew 22:38-39; II Timothy 1:7). 5. If we remain firmly rooted in God s Word, deceivers and false teachers can t sway us with foolish notions (Galatians 5:7-10). 6. The church should give no place to those who contradict Scripture (Galatians 5:12). 7. Each of us can fulfill the law by loving one another (Galatians 5:13-17). ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***