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Chapter 5 – Rank is Jeopardized by False Doctrine (5/7) The works of the flesh; the fruit of the Spirit (5.13-26) (2/4)

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Galatians 5.16-18).

The primary lesson in this text has to do with the Law of Moses and the fact that it had ceased to exist as an authoritative…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 5 – Rank is Jeopardized by False Doctrine (4/7) The works of the flesh; the fruit of the Spirit (5.13-26) (1/4)

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!" (Galatians 5.13-15). The key thought in this text is "through love serve one another." We will examine this phrase in this…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 5 – Rank is Jeopardized by False Doctrine (3/7) Judaizers threaten Christian Liberty (5.1-11) 3/3

"A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased." (Galatians 5.9-11). The proverb of Galatians 5.9 needs no proof. The Corinthians had also been told through this proverb that sin is like a leavening…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 5 – Rank is Jeopardized by False Doctrine (2/7) Judaizers threaten Christian Liberty (5.1-11) 2/3

"For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you." (Galatians 5.5-8).

"The hope of righteousness" is the prize which righteousness makes available; it is eternal life with God and the redeemed of all ages. …  ( Click for more )

Chapter 5 – Rank is Jeopardized by False Doctrine (1/7) Judaizers threaten Christian Liberty (5.1-11) 1/3

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace." (Galatians 5.1-4).

This passage…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (10/10) The symbology of Hagar and Sarah (4.19-31) 2/2

Paul writes, "…Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children —— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all." (Galatians 4.25-26).

These words are in the midst of an extended symbolic passage which depicts two Jerusalems – one that was currently in earthly existence, and another that was "above." These two Jerusalems are further described as being "bondage" and "free,"…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (9/10) The symbology of Hagar and Sarah (4.19-31) 1/2

A gentle greeting and a stern rebuke form the introduction to the analogy of Hagar and Sarah contained in Galatians 4.19-20).

John, the Apostle of Love, used the phrase "my little children" some seven times in his first general epistle. Jesus used this same term in John 13.33 in comforting his disciples on the night He was to be betrayed. Paul referred to the Galatians as "dear children" because that is what they were; he had "birthed" them through tribulation and…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (8/10) Zeal must be directed by Truth (4.16-18) 2/2

The false teachers had an agenda in Galatia; they always do. The purveyors of error there were styled as Judaizers. They allowed Christians to hold to their faith in Christ but imposed the keeping of certain parts of the Law of Moses upon the believers. This concept was wrong because it was not of God's design. Their doctrines originated with uninspired men and not from a Divine source. Consider their agenda as you continue to read.

Hear Paul's explicit statement: "They…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (7/10) Zeal must be directed by Truth (4.16-18) 1/2

Truth sometimes hurts. When we are wrong and we are confronted by truth it is seldom painless. The Galatians doubtless felt some pain from Paul's straightforward rebuke of their journey into error. Perhaps it was their reaction to his words of truth that prompted him to write, "Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 4.16). Whatever the background, Paul was not the first to become an enemy because of his stand for truth.

Ahab, king…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (6/10) Emulate Paul, a son through Faith (4.12-15) 1/1

"Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me." (Galatians 4.12-15).…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (5/10) If Sons, do not go Back (4.8-11) 2/2

The Galatian Christians were making some very bad choices. They were choosing bondage to the Law over servitude to Christ and in so doing were choosing fleshly appetites over spiritual matters. Hear another of Paul's indictments: "You observe days and months and seasons and years." (Galatians 4.10). The context makes plain the substance of Paul's indictment as we will note in continuing to examine this text.

The Law of Moses had many ordinances which had to be remembered. Many…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (4/10) If Sons, do not go Back (4.8-11) 1/2

Irrational behavior is always surprising to those who think rationally. Paul saw the Galatians brethren acting in an irrational manner by the choices they were making. He addresses their puzzling behavior in saying, "But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (Galatians…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (3/10) Slaves and Sons; Children and Men (4.1-7) 3/3

God sent His Son "… to redeem those who were under the Law." (Galatians 4.5a). The Law was not able to provide the ransom price; that was the function of the Son. For that reason John would declare concerning Jesus, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1.29).

God sent His Son "… that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4.5b). This word translated "the adoption of sons" occurs some 5 times in the scripture and has…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (2/10) Slaves and Sons; Children and Men (4.1-7) 2/3

The analogy is one of slaves to children and sons to mature men. The Law of Moses corresponds to slaves and children; the gospel corresponds to sons and men. In that analogy, Paul wrote, "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law…" (Galatians 4.3-4).

God sent forth His Son! This simple declaration is one of unexcelled significance.…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 4 – Christians Rank as Sons (1/10) Slaves and Sons; Children and Men (4.1-7) 1/3

The task was still the same – Destroy the error of the Judaizers! The souls of men were at stake as well as the veracity of God. Paul's passion was in preaching and defending the truth. Troublers were preaching another gospel, a gospel which had it origins in the minds of men and not in the heart of God (Galatians 1.6-9). The 4th chapter of Galatians presents 5 distinct arguments against the doctrine of the troublers and for the pure doctrine which Paul preached. The first…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (13/13) The Inheritance Obtained through Faith in Christ (3.26-29) 2/2

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3.26-27).

Three specific things are identified as being irrelevant to one's standing in Christ. Neither genealogy (Jew/Greek), gender (male/female), or social status (slave/free) has any effect on whether or not one has…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (12/13) The Inheritance Obtained through Faith in Christ (3.26-29) 1/2

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3.26-27).

What a marvelous affirmation – "You are… sons of God!" The recipients of this letter were, at least many of them, Gentiles. Do you know what kind of response one would have gotten if he had asked the average Hebrew a few years earlier, "Can a Gentile be a full-fledged member of God's family?" In…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (11/13) The Law was Temporary until Faith Came (3.19-25) 3/3

"But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." (Galatians 3.23-25).

Theses verses obviously speak of a progression; some things were before others and were to have temporary status pending the arrival of the other things. There is also a metaphor in…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (10/13) The Law was Temporary until Faith Came (3.19-25) 2/3

"Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3.21-22). The argument here by Paul as guided by the Holy Spirit is ironclad! In these two verses he answers the voice of the objectors even before they speak.

In…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (9/13) The Law was Temporary until Faith Came (3.19-25) 1/3

"What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one." (Galatians 3.19-20). Two significant facts stand out in this text. First, the law (i.e. the Law of Moses) was added due to transgressions, and secondly, God is one. We will consider these two facts.

The law…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (8/13) The Law Can't Alter the Covenant with Abraham (3.15-18) 2/2

"And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise." (Galatians 3.17-18).

Two expressions are of particular interest here; first is the idea of the "confirmed covenant." An offer is just and offer. It has no binding…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (7/13) The Law Can't Alter the Covenant with Abraham (3.15-18) 1/2

"Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ." (Galatians 3.15-16).

Some things are so obvious that one would think they need no explanation. But in matters religious as in more mundane things, people still overlook the obvious…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (6/13) Faith Justifies; The Law Condemns (3.6-14) 3/3

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3.13-14). This text speaks of the vicarious suffering and death of Jesus, a fundamental truth that undergirds the entirety of the Christian faith.

No person but Adam was or is…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (5/13) Faith Justifies; The Law Condemns (3.6-14) 2/3

"So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.'" (Galatians 3.9-10). These verses speak of two classes of religious people; one class is "of faith" and the other class is "of the works of the law." One class is blessed with believing Abraham and the other class is…  ( Click for more )