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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 2:15-21 3:1 4:31 5:1 6:10 6:11-17 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
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
Definition: Christian freedom is not a freedom to live as you please, but a freedom to live as you were designed.
Distinction #1: Christian freedom is not lived out by the efforts of the flesh, but empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Distinction #2: Christian freedom is a response to the already present grace of God, not an effort to earn the grace of God.
Distinction #3: Christian freedom is a mindset that must be reaffirmed on a regular basis.
[This section is] a series of abrupt expostulations, like snorts of indignation. James D.G. Dunn
Question: Where did this false teaching come from? Galatians 5:7-9
You were growing spiritually. You were running well. Galatians 5:7a (CSB)
Notice that to run well in the Christian race is not just to believe the truth (as if Christianity were nothing but orthodoxy), nor just to behave well (as if it were just moral uprightness), but to obey the truth, applying belief to behavior. His creed is expressed in his conduct; his conduct is derived from his creed. John Stott
Someone has drawn you away from living out the truth. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth? Galatians 5:7b (CSB)
The false teaching did not come from God. This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. Galatians 5:8 (CSB)
False teaching spreads and permeates a community. A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough. Galatians 5:9 (CSB)
Application: A stunning start is no guarantee of a faithful finish.
Confidence: I know you will get it right and embrace grace. Galatians 5:10-11
You will embrace the truth of grace and grow in the Spirit. I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view. Galatians 5:10a (CSB)
The Power of a Wordplay. (πείθω): obey, persuade, confidence You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth? This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough. I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view.
think, consider, accept (φρονέω) This is much more than just thinking about something. This is a settled mindset. This is a controlling conclusion which you come to after serious consideration.
Application: Considered Mindset The Gospel is relevant every day. God is not impressed with you. God loves you anyway and always. God s gracious provision is abundant. Embracing grace inspires response. Freedom is living under grace. Think this every day.
You will embrace the truth of grace and grow in the Spirit. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)
The false teachers will be judged. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. Galatians 5:10b (CSB)
I have not ever stopped preaching the grace of the cross. Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. Galatians 5:11 (CSB)
Why would Paul suddenly bring up the issue of his own alleged preaching of circumcision? The answer is almost certainly that Paul thinks he needs to respond to an accusation made by the agitators and well-known to the Galatians. The NLT brings this out by inserting as some say I do midway through the opening rhetorical question. Douglas Moo
The Scandal of the Cross Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:22-25 (NIV)
offense, stumbling block (σκάνδαλον) Specifically, this is the movable stick or trigger for a trap. It can be any impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall. This can easily trip someone up and will likely lead to eventual ruin.
The cross, however rejects any and all human attempts to be right with God. Righteousness is found only in what Christ Jesus has done for sinners. The message of the cross is a scandal or a stumbling block because it is an affront to human pride. Human beings take umbrage at being told that even their best works are stained with evil, that everything they do is insufficient to be right with God, and that the only basis for right standing with God is the cross of Jesus Christ. Tom Schreiner
Circumcision signifies a way of salvation that focuses on doing the law (5:2-4), while for Paul, Christ's crucifixion signifies a way of grace and faith (21:21;3:1-6; 5:5). The offense of the cross, then, may include the need for human beings to give up any means by which they might by their own efforts secure their status before God. Douglas Moo
Application: The central message of the cross is a cause worthy of our life.
Rhetoric: If you start with circumcision then go all the way. Galatians 5:12
If you start with circumcision then go all the way. I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated! Galatians 5:12 (CSB)
troubling, confusing (ταράσσω) The basic idea of this word is to agitate or trouble. It means to cause one inward commotion or take away his calmness of mind. It can even mean to provoke fear and dread. The result is that a person is anxious or distressed. At the very least the person is full of doubts and may even be paralyzed.
If you start with circumcision then go all the way. Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. Philippians 3:1-2 (NIV)
Application: The message of grace is worthy of passion.
The Freedom Factor: Embracing grace involves an ongoing decision to connect the truth of grace to Christian Living.