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Fellowship Bible Church

Operation Christmas Child A Project of Samaritan s Purse

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

Law or Promise Under Law Slaves Under Sin Under a Curse Under a Custodian Under Promise Under Christ Under Grace Sons Under Faith

Thesis Stated: Faith in Christ makes us sons of God. Galatians 3:26-29

Faith in Christ makes us sons of God. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, Galatians 3:26 (NASB) Galatians 3:26 (NIV)

To claim that all believers and especially, of course, Gentile believers such as the Galatians are sons of God is to claim that they enjoy full status as God s people. Douglas Moo

Baptism into Christ identifies us with Christ. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27 (NASB)

Baptism into Christ identifies us with Christ. Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 (NASB)

Baptism in the New Testament Paul (Acts 9:1-19) Inclusive Close to Conversion Philippian Jailor (Family) (Acts 16:25-34) Believers at Pentecost (Acts 2:41) First Gentiles (Acts 10:24-48) Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) Responders to Phillip s Preaching (Acts 8:9-13) Corinthian Converts (Acts 18:8) Lydia (Household) (Acts 16:11-15) Peter Preaching in Jerusalem (Acts 2:38) Paul Preaching in Jerusalem (Acts 22:16) Exclusive After Clear Commitment Public Confession of Faith Optional Step of Obedience Witness of Christ s Work Commitment to Church Membership Necessary for Salvation Inclusion in Body of Christ Commitment to Follow Christ WET (Water Baptism) Connection Col. 2:12 (Wet Pictures Dry) 1 Cor. 1:13-18; 15:29 Rom. 6:3; 3:27 DRY (Spirit Baptism)

Baptism in the New Testament Paul (Acts 9:1-19) Inclusive Close to Conversion Philippian Jailor (Family) (Acts 16:25-34) Believers at Pentecost (Acts 2:41) First Gentiles (Acts 10:24-48) Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) Responders to Phillip s Preaching (Acts 8:9-13) Corinthian Converts (Acts 18:8) Lydia (Household) (Acts 16:11-15) Peter Preaching in Jerusalem (Acts 2:38) Paul Preaching in Jerusalem (Acts 22:16) Exclusive After Clear Commitment Public Confession of Faith Witness of Christ s Work Commitment to Church Membership Step of Obedience Inclusion in Body of Christ Commitment to Follow Christ WET (Water Baptism) Connection Col. 2:12 (Wet Pictures Dry) 1 Cor. 1:13-18; 15:29 Rom. 6:3; 3:27 DRY (Spirit Baptism)

Theology of Baptism Baptism does not save, it is an outward symbol of an inward reality. Baptism is always a post conversion event proclaiming the gospel. Baptism is a step of obedience and follows the example of Christ. Immersion is the best picture of the reality. Sadly, some have lost the significance of rituals and symbols. Just because a ritual or symbol can become meaningless does not mean it must. A symbol carries the significance we assign to it.

Baptism Application In the NT salvation and baptism are closely connected and baptism is expected, it is not optional. There is no good reasons for a mature believer to not get baptized. Anyone here who has never had a meaningful, postconversion water event should get baptized when you embrace what it means.

Baptism Application Spiritual baptism identifies you with Christ. Are you living consistent with that profession? Water baptism is a symbol of union with the body of Christ. Are you relationally and functionally involved with the visible expression His body a local church? Water baptism is a outward sign of your commitment to walk in the new life that Christ provides. Are you consistently walking in that new life?

Unity in Christ brings equality to all believers. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (NASB)

All believers are united in Christ regardless of their ethnic background, their social class, or their gender. Tom Schreiner

A word of caution must be added. The great statement in verse 28 does not mean that racial, social and sexual distinctions are actually obliterated. Of course every person belongs to a certain race or nation, has been nurtured in a particular culture, and is either male or female. When we say that Christ has abolished these distinctions, you mean not that they do not exist, but that they do not matter. John Stott

Equality Application Do you recognize that every human being is created in the image of God and should be treated with respect? Respect does not mean agreement or even support. It does kindness. This respect is due every human regardless of race, social status or gender. Christianity is revolutionary in this way. The biblical evidence is clear that bearing the image of God begins at conception. Are you pro-life in a way that speaks the truth in love? Every believer is a valued member of the body of Christ. Do you value and honor people who have different personalities and are gifted differently than you?

Belonging to Christ makes us heirs of the promise made to Abraham. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham s descendants, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:29 (NASB)

The last four verses of Galatians 3 are full of Jesus Christ. John Stott

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29 (NIV)

Thesis Illustrated: An heir does not receive full benefits until the Father says so. Galatians 4:1-2

An heir is treated like a slave when he is a child. Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. Galatians 4:1 (CSB)

child, minor (νήπιος) A child or a minor, as described by this word, is foolish in his understanding and behavior. In this youthful, untrained condition the minor does not make responsible choices on his own and still needs guidance from others.

An heir has guardians and managers until the Father grants his benefits. Instead, he is under guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. Galatians 4:2 (CSB)

Thesis Applied: The law remained until the gospel of faith in Christ arrived. Galatians 4:3-7

Before Christ, God s people were enslaved by the law. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, Galatians 4:3-4 (NASB)

The fullness of times After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! Mark 1:14-15 (NIV)

The fullness of times In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Ephesians 1:7-10 (NIV)

The fullness of times These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 1 Corinthians 10:11 (NIV)

When the fullness of time had come, God did two things. First, God sent His Son (4,5). Secondly, God sent His Spirit (6). In verse 7 Paul concludes this stage of his argument,... you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir. And this changed status is through God. What we are as Christians, as sons and heirs of God, is not through our own merit, nor through our own effort, but through God, through His initiative of grace, who first sent His Son to die for us and then sent His Spirit to live in us. John Stott

Christ redeemed us from slavery to make us sons. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5 (NASB)

redeem, redemption (εξαγοραζω/exagorazō) This word is central to Paul s understanding of salvation. The original idea comes the the OT where the Israelites are redeemed out of Egyptian bondage/slavery. In the NT the word creates images of being purchased out of (εξ) the marketplace (αγορα). A modern connection could be made to something being bought back from a pawn shop by the original owner.

Adoption Adoption, then, is deliverance from the past (similar to regeneration and justification), a status and way of life in the present (walking by the Spirit, sanctification), and a hope for the future (salvation, resurrection). Peter Davids

Adoption Adoption is the act of God which places the believer in His family as an adult. In contrast, being born again emphasizes the idea coming into God's family as a babe with the attendant need for growth and development. But adoption teaches the idea of adulthood and full privileges in the family of God. Charles Ryrie

Because we are God s sons we are His heirs. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father! Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:6-7 (NASB)

Transition: From Slavery to Sonship The Aramaic word Abba is a term of familiar affection for the head of the household, emphasizing that we have become God s children and enjoy an intimate relationship with Him. Interestingly, the term is used elsewhere in the New Testament when Christ himself refers to God the Father as His Abba Father (Mark 14:36). Chuck Swindoll

Believers are no longer minors, living in the old age of redemptive history, slaves under the tyranny of sin. They have now reached full adulthood as God s sons. They have been redeemed from the law and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Since they are sons, they are also heirs. The promises of Abraham are theirs. Tom Schreiner

The Gospel Truth: God s plan was to use the law to manage his children until Christ came and brought them into the privileges of full sonship and the benefits of being an heir of Abraham s promises.