Galatians

I. Paul’s Opening Words A. His Qualifications Vs. 1, 2a 1. Paul begins his letter with a very strong statement about his divine calling. a. He was writing both instructionally and correctively. b. He was combatting those who sought to defame and disqualify him....

I. Not Designed To Please Man A. The Gospel Isn’t Designed To Please Man V. 10 1. V. 10a- Persuade- To please or gain favor. a. Neither the Gospel nor those who declare it are designed to be men pleasers. b. The main desire of people pleasers is to please them, and...

I. Legalism Makes You Defend Yourself A. The Necessity Of Paul’s Explanation 1. This narrative is a continuation of Paul’s explanation and defense of both his calling by God and the veracity of his message. 2. Paul had to defend himself against those who tried to...

The Setting 1. Paul, Barnabas, Peter, and the church at Antioch are together, sharing a common meal. 2. The church at Antioch included Gentiles who did not grow up with the religion of the Old Testament. They didn’t know about the Ten Commandments, or the religious or...

19 "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. A. Man’s Laws of Behavior There is in every culture, a code of ethics, a law of acceptable behavior. A system which governs the way people live. An idea about living that describes what is acceptable...

The Galatians struggled with the idea of how they could be righteous before God. Was their faith in Jesus’ work on the cross enough? Was the death of Jesus enough? Or did they need to add works to their faith in order to be saved? Paul had first answered these...

Example of a promise- If someone offered you a million dollars and you could have it by one of two methods, which method would you choose? 1. I will give you a million non-transferable dollars now, if you believe that I will actually do it. 2. I will give you a...

I. The Law As A Guardian Vs. 23-25 A. Kept Under Guard, For Faith Vs. 23, 24 1. The Christian’s life is described in two conditions: Before faith and after faith. 2. V. 23- Before faith: A person is kept “under guard” by the law. a. Kept- To keep inward under lock and...

I. How Young Children Live Vs. 1-3 A. Under The Authority Of Law Vs. 1, 2 1. Child- nepios- “one that does not speak”. One who is intellectually and morally immature. 2. Slave- doulos- a slave. The child was like a slave who had no authority to make decisions. 3....

I. Understanding Two Approaches To God 4:21-31 A. Understanding What Legalism Means 4:21 1. The Galatians had been born again by believing the Gospel. 2. They had been saved out of some form of legalism: man made religion with its rules. 3. But they had been deceived...

I. Turning Away From Grace A. Their Lives Before Knowing Jesus V. 8 1. Prior to having a true relationship with the true and living Go, the Galatians had some form of religion with false gods (demonic forces). 2. They didn’t know the true God, and were involved in...

I. The Basis For Holiness Vs. 1-6 A. Stand Firm In Liberty V. 1 1. V. 1- The Galatians needed to maintain their position of freedom from the law. 2. Life under the law- 613 commandments for the Jews. Impossible to remember. a. Living Like A Child-Paul compares that to...

I. Misunderstanding Christian Liberty A. Liberty From The Law Is God’s Idea V. 13a 1. V. 13a- Christians have been called to liberty. a. The liberty which Paul speaks of is liberty from having to live under law. b. Freedom from having to approach God according to...

19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:  Paul had exhorted the Galatians to not misuse their freedom from the law as an excuse to indulge themselves in the works of the flesh (5:13).  He now identifies those works of the flesh.  This list serves as a tool...

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Paul is not speaking of a hard hearted, determined sinner. Instead, the idea is of someone who has...

I. Restoring A Fellow Christian Vs. 1, 2 A. Two Possible Scenarios 1. Scenario #1-Paul is exhorting them to not be like the legalists when dealing with others. a. Don’t be like the legalists who are harsh when correcting someone. b. The legalists don’t examine...