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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 )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (4/13) Faith Justifies; The Law Condemns (3.6-14) 1/3

The Bible-believer knows that Abraham was justified by faith. Passages such as "Abraham 'believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness'" (Galatians 3.7).

There are several scriptures that state that Abraham was justified. There is one scripture that states when he was justified. Hear James: "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?" (Genesis 22. We have James' inspired commentary that attests to that fact. …  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (3/13) We Must Begin and End with Faith (3.1-5) 3/3

God Himself was being challenged in Galatia. The Judaizer's challenge to Paul was a challenge to God who authored his gospel. God's way of revealing the gospel was one that offered absolute proof of it authority and truthfulness. When someone challenged the gospel, they, by implication, challenged God. Paul asked a simple rhetorical question aimed at reminding his readers of this fact; his question was this: "Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (2/13) We Must Begin and End with Faith (3.1-5) 2/3

Sarcasm is a tool to be used sparingly but it has its place. Paul under the inspiration of the Spirit of God sees its place in combating the error of the Judaizers among the Galatian Christians. His words literally drip with sarcasm as he asks: "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 3 – The Inferior Rank Law (1/13) We Must Begin and End with Faith (3.1-5) 1/3

There is a huge difference in being a fool and doing a foolish thing! All of us do foolish things from time to time, but that does not make us fools. The Galatians were not fools but they had done some foolish things. Paul wrote, "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?" (Galatians 3.1). We will consider this statement.

The term foolish means that which…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 2 – Paul – The Equal Rank Apostle (5/5) Peter's Rebuke (2.11-21) 3/3

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2.20). This verse is so packed with meaning that it is impossible to do it justice in such a forum as this. Nevertheless some comments are in order.

"Living by faith" as Paul expresses it is the defining difference between the Law of the Old Testament and the Law…  ( Click for more )

Chapter 2 – Paul – The Equal Rank Apostle (4/5) Peter's Rebuke (2.11-21) 2/3

"For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor." (Galatians 2.18). This commonsense illustration needs no explanation. The force of the argument is this: To the extent that I, by my actions, restore the things which I have previously destroyed, there is no external law needed to see that I am wrong; I make myself a transgressor. Paul cited this principle when he condemned Peter for playing the part of the hypocrite regarding Jew and Gentile relationships. …  ( Click for more )

"Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed." (Galatians 2.11). With these words, Paul introduces a second set of arguments to confirm that he was a legitimate apostle of Christ and equal in every way to the other inspired apostles. Consider these additional arguments.

We simply do not know when Peter came to Antioch, nor do we know the purpose of his visit. We do know, however, that Peter came to the city where the disciples…  ( Click for more )

Paul continues to give evidence that his authority as an apostle is equal to that of every other true apostle. Galatians 2.6-10 provides yet two other lines of evidence to support this position. This message examines these two other arguments.

First, Paul argued, "… [T]hose who seemed to be something added nothing to me. But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to…  ( Click for more )

The Jerusalem Conference took place about 20 years after the establishment of the church. The superstructure of human traditions was slow to bend even under the weight of God's direct revelation. God had made it clear about 10 years before the conference that He fully accepted the Gentiles into the Body in just the same measure and through the same methods as the Jews. For various reasons, these facts were slow to catch on; men resisted the change, even good and godly men. …  ( Click for more )