For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God s gift Adult Learner Guide large print summer 2009 not from works, so that no one can boast. Galatians, James A WALK to remember
Meet the Writer Luther Dorr wrote these lessons based on Galatians and James. Having served as a pastor for 24 years and a seminary professor for 20 years, Dr. Dorr brings to these Bible studies a world of experience in teaching about the Christian s walk. He vividly recalls the time at age 17 when he placed his faith in Christ. He was attending a church study taught by his mom on the subject of you guessed it the plan of salvation! Dr. Dorr received undergraduate degrees from Clarke College and Mississippi College. He earned the B.D. and Th.D. degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Now retired, Dr. Dorr continues to serve the Lord by teaching, preaching, and writing Bible study materials. He and his wife, Nell, are members of First Baptist Church, Oneonta, Alabama. Explore the Bible: Adult Learner Guide (Large Print) (ISSN 1556-3731) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. Copyright 2009 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail subscribe@lifeway.com, fax 615.251.5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail orderentry@ lifeway.com, fax 615.251.5933, or write to the above address. We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. The suggestions in this resource for pronouncing Bible names are from That s Easy for You to Say: Your Quick Guide to Pronouncing Bible Names by W. Murray Severance, Copyright 1997 by Broadman & Holman Publishers. Used by permission. Adult LEARNER GUIDE This periodical is designed for adults using the Explore the Bible Series. Volume 2, Number 4 Summer 2009 PRODUCTION & MINISTRY TEAM David O. Briscoe Editor in Chief David Wilson Graphic Designer Pat Phillips Copy Editor Denise Wells Technical Specialist Alan Raughton Lead Adult Ministry Specialist David Apple Adult Ministry Specialist Send questions/comments to Editor, Explore the Bible: Adult Learner Guide One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0175 Or make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL Bret Robbe, Director Leadership and Adult Publishing Ron Keck, Ron Brown Managing Directors Leadership and Adult Publishing David Francis, Director Sunday School Bill Craig, Director Leadership and Adult Ministry Gary H. Hauk, Director Publishing, LifeWay Church Resources Printed in the United States of America Explore The Bible: Adult Learner Guide 3
Contents Summer 2009 Adult learner guide How to Become a Christian...2 A Walk I Remember.................................................... 6 Daily Bible Readings...7 Introduction to Galatians, James...8 Digging Deeper: The Churches of Galatia...114 Unit 1: WALKING in truth (Gal. 1:1 4:31)... 10 June 7 Talking About the Gospel...11 Galatians 1:1 2:10 June 14 Receiving the Gospel...18 Galatians 2:11 3:25 June 21 Living by the Gospel...26 Galatians 3:26 4:31 Unit 2: Walking In Freedom (Gal. 5:1 6:18)... 34 June 28 Claim Your Freedom...35 Galatians 5:1-15 July 5 Follow the Spirit...42 Galatians 5:16-26 July 12 Be Responsible...50 Galatians 6:1-18 about the cover Eastern shore of Lake Limnir (modern Egirdir) in Pisidia, Asia Minor (Turkey) Illustrator Photo by David Rogers (5/11/20) 4 Explore The Bible: Adult Learner Guide
Unit 3: Walking every day (Jas. 1:1 5:20)... 58 July 19 When Common Sense Isn t Enough...59 James 1:1-18 July 26 August 2 How Genuine Are You?...66 James 1:19-27 Let s Be Fair About It...74 James 2:1-13 August 9 Show Me Your Faith...82 James 2:14-16 August 16 How to Sail Through Life...90 James 3:1-18 August 23 Who Is Your Best Friend?...98 James 4:1-17 August 30 How to Live with Confidence...106 James 5:1-20 Explore the Bible Series Study Plan FALL WINTER SPRING SUMMER *2008-2009 1 2 Samuel 1 2 Thessalonians Isaiah, Micah Galatians, James (Chron.) (Good Words for (Live for God (A Walk to (Finding Growing Today) Remember) Stability in a Christians) Turbulent World) **2009-2010 Psalms Mark Exodus, 1 2 Corinthians (Songs of Life) (How to Live Leviticus (What s a New in Stressful (Becoming Testament Times) Holy by God s Church Like?) Design) *Each Fall quarter this chart will be updated to reveal an additional year of the study plan. **Access a copy and description of all eight years of the new cycle at www.lifeway.com/curriculumguide/ Explore The Bible: Adult Learner Guide 5
Background Passage: Galatians 1:1 2:10 Lesson Passages: Galatians 1:6-9,11-12,15-16; 2:1-6 Week of June 7 Talking About the Gospel Biblical Truth Unless Christians are clear about the true gospel, they may be deceived about its content. LIFE IMPACT To demonstrate you have a clear understanding of the gospel Comstock Images / Jupiterimages Unlimited Imagine that one Sunday your pastor gave each worshiper a response card entitled Requirements to Be Saved. He explained these were actual responses he had heard over the years during witnessing conversations. Then the pastor asked worshipers to mark each of the statements True or False as to whether they agreed any or all are requirements to be saved. Believe there is a God. Live by the Ten Commandments as best you can. Join a local church and be baptized. Be raised in a Christian family. Do nothing. God will save everyone in the end. Just be sincere about your beliefs, whatever they may be. Week of June 7 11
Study Questions 1. Why was Paul concerned about the churches of Galatia? (1:6) 2. What is the true gospel? (1:9) 3. What was the Source of the gospel Paul preached? (1:12) 4. Why did Paul believe he was a true messenger of God? (1:15) 5. How did Paul respond to the teachers of a false gospel? (2:5) How would you have marked the card? The pastor s list shows that people today still need to hear a clear explanation of the Christian gospel. Paul wrote the Letter to the Galatians to clarify the message of salvation for some believers who were falling for a false gospel a message of salvation by works. BACKGROUND PASSAGE OVERVIEW There Is One Gospel (1:1-10) The only true gospel is the good news of God s grace revealed in the cross of Christ. The Gospel Is Divine (1:11-24) The gospel message came to Paul from God, not from any human source. The Gospel Is Unchangeable (2:1-10) The leadership of the church in Jerusalem agreed with Paul s ministry and message and rejected the message preached by the false teachers. Recognize the True Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9) Holman CSB 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel 7 not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! 9 As we have said KJV 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 12 Talking About the Gospel
before, I now say again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him! 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Following Paul s first missionary journey, the early church had to settle a basic issue. Paul preached that salvation was by grace through faith in Christ alone. Other teachers insisted that converts to the faith must also adhere to Jewish laws and traditions. The debate came to a head on the mission field, particularly in Galatia, where converts Paul had led to faith were falling for the Jerusalem teachers false gospel. Verse 6. An amazed Paul accused the Galatian Christians of turning from the God of grace to a different gospel. (See Study Question 1.) The word different means of another type. This is the first indication that Paul judged the teachers message as not just a different emphasis but a gross distortion of the gospel. He reminded his readers that God had called them to salvation through the grace of Christ. Verse 7. The word another in this verse means something of the same type. The false teachers may have insisted they were presenting the same gospel Paul preached, only theirs was the complete message. They insinuated that Paul s message was lacking. Paul declared forcefully that their message, if accepted, would radically change and pervert the message of God s gospel of grace. Verse 8. The reference to we shows that Paul put himself under the same accountability as the Jerusalem teachers. He declared, in fact, that not even an angel from heaven should be believed if the message were a gospel other than what we have preached to you. Paul s reaction was forceful because the issue was vital: a curse be on anyone who preaches salvation by any other means than through faith in Christ. The word curse, a translation of the Greek word anathema [uh NATH uh muh], means eternal damnation, separation from God forever. The apostle gave absolutely no grounds for a gospel other than the one the Lord revealed. What is the clearest way you can state the one true gospel? (1:6) Week of June 7 13
grow Read the book A Different Gospel by D. R. McConnell. It is an in-depth look at how the Word Faith Movement of today deviates from biblical truth. Verse 9. In no uncertain terms, Paul repeated the curse to drive home his point. The Galatians needed to recognize that what the Jerusalem teachers were peddling was a gospel contrary to what Paul had preached and the Galatians had believed. The stakes couldn t be higher because the gospel message was being perverted. Christians today also need to be able to recognize when someone is distorting the gospel. How can we do so? We can learn a lesson from those whose job is to spot counterfeit money. We can become so thoroughly familiar with the currency of the true gospel that counterfeit teachings stick out like red dollar bills. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone with nothing added to it. (See Study Question 2.) Realize the Gospel Is Divine (Gal. 1:11-12,15-16) Holman CSB 11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on a human point of view. 12 For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.................. 15 But when God, who from my mother s womb set me apart and called me by His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me, so that I could preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. KJV 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ............................. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Verse 11. To further undermine the message Paul preached, the false teachers called into question his claim to be an apostle. Can t you imagine their cutting remarks? Paul never sat at the Master s feet during Jesus time on earth. Who is he to claim authority? He s just preaching his own opinions! 14 Talking About the Gospel
In response, Paul asserted that the gospel he preached was not based on a human point of view. It was divinely revealed truth, not human reasoning. Verse 12. Paul was an apostle because the gospel had come to him in a revelation from Jesus Christ. This revelation likely refers to Paul s encounter with the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4-5). Paul had not received the gospel from the apostles in Jerusalem or from any teacher or council in Jerusalem, but from God. (See Study Question 3.) Verse 15. Having asserted the divine Source of his message, Paul defended his call to ministry. He declared his ministry was ordained of God and was part of God s sovereign plan when Paul was yet in his mother s womb. God revealed that plan to Paul when He called him by grace to salvation in Jesus Christ. (See Study Question 4.) Verse 16. The expression to reveal His Son in me means that Paul s encounter with Christ on the Damascus road was first of all personal. Paul needed to repent and believe in Jesus for his salvation, and he did. God then revealed the ministry He had for Paul: to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Gentiles. Gentiles refers to all people who are not Jews. How had Paul prepared for his preaching assignment? He reminded the Galatians that he did not immediately consult with anyone. Neither his message nor his authority for preaching came from human sources. In verses 17-24, Paul described having spent time in Arabia and later returning to Damascus. Not until three years after did he go to Jerusalem and meet with any of the original apostles then only with Peter and James. Afterwards he returned to the regions of Syria and Cilicia, the latter being the region of his hometown, Tarsus. The point Paul seemed to be emphasizing is that the Holy Spirit, not other people, had worked in his life to give him the message he was to preach. When we are clear about the true gospel being from God, we will reject other so-called gospels that thrust their advocates or their ideas above Him, above the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, or above both. In these days when it seems anything goes doctrinally, Christians need to remember the gospel s divine origin and to reject false teachings. How do you know that Jesus is the one true gospel? (1:15) Week of June 7 15
Refuse to Accept a Compromise (Gal. 2:1-6) Holman CSB 1 Then after 14 years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 I went up because of a revelation and presented to them the gospel I preach among the Gentiles but privately to those recognized as leaders so that I might not be running, or have run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 This issue arose because of false brothers smuggled in, who came in secretly to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, in order to enslave us. 5 But we did not yield in submission to these people for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain for you. 6 But from those recognized as important (what they really were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism) those recognized as important added nothing to me. KJV 1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: Verse 1. More than a decade passed before Paul again visited Jerusalem. On this visit he was accompanied by Barnabas, Paul s companion on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:2), and Titus, a trusted Gentile Christian whom Paul later 16 Talking About the Gospel
assigned to help churches on the island of Crete (Titus 1:5). Apparently the Galatians knew both of these men well. Verse 2. Paul declared that the visit was in response to a revelation. The Holy Spirit led Paul to lay out before recognized church leaders in Jerusalem the gospel message he preached to Gentile hearers. The aim was to provide assurance both to the leaders and to Paul that he had not been working in vain by preaching an inaccurate or incomplete gospel. Verse 3. If obeying rituals such as circumcision were a requirement for salvation, the Jerusalem church leaders could have instructed Paul during that visit; but they did not. They could have insisted that Titus, Paul s coworker whom they knew to be a Greek convert, be circumcised. But they did not. Verse 4. The Judaizers were false brothers, meaning they were professing but not genuine Christians. Instead they were Jews who had been smuggled into the churches. Their mission was nothing less than to countermand the message of Christian freedom and to enslave believers under legalism. Believers who fell for this false teaching would not lose their salvation, but they would surrender their precious liberty in Christ. Verses 5-6. Paul remembered how it felt to collapse under the weight of legalistic shackles. He knew the liberating effects of the gospel. For Paul there was no room for compromise on this issue. He would never yield in submission to the Judaizers. (See Study Question 5.) Neither would he rest until the Galatians had returned to the truth of the gospel. If the Galatians required further convincing, they needed only to recall that Jerusalem s important Christian leaders had added nothing to Paul s message. May the Lord also help us to never accept a compromised gospel. WHAT ABOUT YOU? We have learned some vital truths about the gospel in this lesson: The one true and sufficient gospel is that God s salvation in Christ is received by faith alone. The gospel of Jesus Christ is from God and is clearly explained to us in the Scriptures. We are to reject any efforts to distort or compromise the gospel of salvation by faith alone. In what way(s) do you think the gospel is compromised by people today? (2:5) Answers to Study Questions 1. They were turning from the true gospel to a false gospel. 2. The true gospel is salvation by faith in Christ alone. 3. The Source of Paul s gospel was God. 4. God saved him and called him to preach. 5. He refused to give in to them or compromise the true gospel. Week of June 7 17