Spiritual Living

Introduction (1:1-2:10)

‘A Church with a Problem’ (Gal. 1:1-12)

‘Setting the Table’ (Gal. 1:13-24)

‘Looking Back’ (Gal. 2:1-10)

‘A Church with a Problem’ (Gal. 1:1-12)

I. The Prayer of Paul (v1-5)

Defense; Disposition; God’s Deliverance Praised

II. The Perversion of the Gospel (v6-9)

The Gospel has been Perverted (def) transmuted, corrupted, distorted from it’s true use and end.

Write this down: “It’s either All by Grace, or it’s not at all by Grace” - Me. It’s either by Faith, or it’s by Works.

The Church had been Effected (v6-7a); the Offenders Cursed (v8-9)

III. The Preeminence of Christ (v10)

A Choice v10a); a Consequence (v10b)

IV. The Providence of Christ (v11-12)

Not Received by Man (v11-12a); Given by Christ (v12b)

‘Setting the Table’ (Gal. 1:13-24)

I. Times Past (v13-14)

A Religious Man; a Self-Righteous Man; a Man of Renown

II. Transformation & Tutelage (v15-19)

A Calling (v15); A Change (v16a); A Cause (v16b); a Communion (v17-19)

III. Testimony Observed (v20-24)

Truth Exposed; Change Evidenced; God was Exalted

‘Looking Back’ (Gal. 2:1-10) - (At the ‘Counsel of Jerusalem’ meeting - Act. 15)

I. Following the Call (v1-2)

Faithfulness in Service (v1a); Fellowship in Ministry (v1b); Following the Spirit (v2)

II. False Brethren Emerge (v3-5)

Tension (v3); Tares (v4); Resistance (v5a); Reason (v5b)

III. The Furtherance of the Gospel

No Partiality of Persons (v6); A Perception of Purpose (v7-9); A Plan for the Poor (v10)

Repudiation (2:11-4:31)

‘Apostles at Odds’ (Gal. 2:11-14)

‘The Doctrine of Justification’ Pt. 1&2 (Gal. 2:11-21)

‘A Confrontation of Questions’ (Gal. 3:1-5)

‘The Seed of Abraham - pt. 1’ (Gal. 3:6-18)

‘The Seed of Abraham - pt. 2’ - (Gal. 3:19-29)

The Contention of False Doctrine - (Gal. 4:1-20)

‘The Inferiority of a Fleshly Gospel’ - (Gal. 4:21-31)

‘Apostles at Odds’ (Gal. 2:11-14)

I. The Person (Peter)

Loved by Christ; Labored for Christ; In the Lineage of Christ

II. The Problem

A Confrontation Over Cowardice; A Confrontation that was Correct; A Confrontation that was Not Concealed

‘The Doctrine of Justification’ Pt. 1&2 (Gal. 2:11-21)

I. The Prelude

The People had been Troubled; The Gospel had been Perverted; The Church had been Parted; Paul Confronted Peter

II. The Position (v16)

Justification is a Judgment of Innocence Rendered; It’s Not a Pardon; It’s God who Justifies; It’s an Act, not a Process; It’s Obtained by Faith, not by Works

III. The Power (v15; 17-20)

A Testifying Power; A Transformative Power; A Transitioning Power; A Transfiguring Power

IV. The Proof (v21)

Either Grace is Important; Or the Sacrifice was Ineffective

‘A Confrontation of Questions’ (Gal. 3:1-5)

I. Who hath Bewitched You? (v1)

They were Spellbound; They Rejected Truth; They Should have Known Better

II. How was the Spirit Received? (v2)

What Work did you Do to Merit the Spirit?; Didn’t you Receive when you Believed?

III. Has your Flesh Made you Better? (v3)

He Marvels at their Mindset; He Acknowledges their Beginning; He Illustrates the Absurdity

IV. Have you Suffered for Nothing?

Their Faith brought Persecution; It Meant Nothing if Faith is Abandoned

V. How is God’s Work Completed? (v4)

Keeping the Law Yourself doesn’t Manifest the Spirit in Others; Keeping the Law doesn’t Produce Miracles

‘The Seed of Abraham - pt. 1’ (Gal. 3:6-18)

I. A Progenitor to Consider

His Condition [Righteous] (v6); His Children (v7); His Covenant (v8); Paul’s Conclusion (v9)

II. A Premise to Understand

Those Under the Curse (v10); The Law is Contrary to Faith (v11-12) - FOR SALVATION; The Curse of the Crucified (v13); The Cause of the Crucified (v14) - FOR US

III. A Promise to Claim

The Surety of the Promise

Whether Confirmed by Man (v15)

Or Especially by God (v17)

The Subject of the Promise (v16); The Simplicity of the Promise (v18)

‘The Seed of Abraham - pt. 2’ - Gal. 3:19-29

The Insufficiency of the Law

It’s Dependent (v19a); It’s Determinate (v19b)

It’s Deficient

It Requires an Intermediary (v19c-20)

It’s Insufficient for Righteousness (v21)

The Intent of the Law

The Condemnation of the Law (v21-22a); The Cooperation of the Law (v22b-23); The Counsel of the Law (v24); The Conclusion of the Law (v25); The Children are by Faith (v26)

In Identification in Christ

A Baptism is Required (v27); A Balance is Found (v28); We’re Beneficiaries of the Promise (v29)

The Contention of False Doctrine - (Gal. 4:1-20)

Sonship Examined

Progression Assuymed (v1-3); Redemption by Christ (v4-5a); Adoption Enjoyed (v5-7); Inhabitation Experienced (v6)

Stunted Growth

A Regenerate Position (v8-9a); A Regressive Mindset (v9b-10); A Restless Under-Shepherd

A Forsaken Servant

A Plea for Unity (v12); Their Previous Devotion (v13-15); Their Present Distain (v16)

A Sorrowful Situation

They were Negatively Affected (v17-18); Paul was in Angst (v19-20)

‘The Inferiority of a Fleshly Gospel’ - Gal. 4:21-31

The Allegory

There was Intention; Intervention; a Celebration; Contention & Separation

The Application

Two Covenants:

Mosaic (Hagar) v. Abrahamic (Sarah)

In Bondage < at Liberty; of Man < of God; was Added < was Intended; Barren < Fruitful

Two Children

The Law (Ishmael) v. Grace (Isaac)

Of Flesh < of Promise; brings Bondage < brings Freedom; was Cast Out < is the Only Heir

Two Creations

Old Nature v. New Nature

Born of Flesh < born of the Spirit; Condemned < Cleansed; Enslaved < Free

Application (5:1-6:18)

Liberty or Law? (Gal. 5:1-15)

‘Spirit or the Flesh?’ (Gal. 5:16-26)

‘Liberty or Law?’ (Gal. 5:1-15)

Living in Liberty (v1-6)

The Contrast w/ Bondage (v1); The Curse of the Law (v2-3); The Change in Lifestyle (v4-6)

Leaven’s Effect (v7-12)

Confronting the Cause (v7-8); The Consequence of Pollution (v9); Condemning the Offender (v10-12)

The Love of Liberty (v13-15)

Liberty not Licsentiousness (v13a); Love Fulfills the Law (v13b-14); The Lack of Love Leads to Destruction (v15)

‘Spirit or the Flesh?’ (Gal. 5:16-26)

Foundational Truths

The Cause and Effect (v16); A Crippling Conflict (v17); A Cure for the Condemned (v18)

Works of the Flesh

Sensual Sins (v19); Spiritual Sins (v20a); Social Sins (v20b-21a); A Stern Warning (v21b)

Fruit of the Spirit

The Description; The Deployment; The Duplication

Freedom in Christ

A Submissive Position (v24); A Sensible Plea (v25-26)

In the next to last message in this book we’re going to look at 2 of the 3 divisions in the final chapter.

As we have said this is the application portion of the letter, so while the Judaizers were trying to get the Galatian church to live by the letter of the Law, Paul is giving different advice on what it means to live as a Christian.

The first thing that we see here is he speaks on Restoration

I. Restoration (v1-5)

The Call (v1)

Why - Some overtaken

The wording specifies something significant. ‘If a man be overtaken in a fault’ - this speaks to accidental lapses vs. premeditated sin.

We’re all susceptible to sin. (Ill.) Anyone here ever fell prey to sin? It’s because of our sin nature. However, there is a difference between falling prey to sin and purposefully living a sinful lifestyle.

I say that not to say that some are worthy to restore than others - but for the fact that once sin sets in, it’s hard to bring one to a place of repentance so that restoration can take place.

What - Restore them

Restore (def) repair, mend.

The picture is to care for one whom has been wounded.

(Ill.) As a doctor would take a patient who has broken their arm - they would set the bone, put a cast upon it & place it in a sling. This is the kind of care we should place upon them.

Consider this though - just as the bone being set can be painful, a Christian confronted with their sin and shown their need for repentance can be equally painful. However, unless it is addressed, it will never heal quite right!

We’re to Restore them

Who - the Spiritual

Those who are led by the Spirit of God.

Flesh-led Christians have no way of restoring the fallen Christian.

How - in Meekness and Consideration

Restoration doesn’t happen without recognition and repentance.

(Ill.) I have in ministry dealt with many Christians who were ‘overtaken in a fault’. They allowed the flesh to bring them into a place of sin and disfellowship. And as much as I would like to restore them, they must first recognize their sin & repent in order to enjoy restoration. There are Christians who Justify their sin, and those cannot be restored.

Restoration however isn’t a condemnation of the person - as if you are better than they - but it’s a condemnation of the sin and a desire to rescue that person from the snares therein.

I do not look at anyone’s sin as if it’s something that I could never do… as the Scripture says: 1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”

We see the Call

The Carry (v2)

Speaking of bearing one anther’s burdens. There’s two things that I want to really point out concerning this verse:

The Legalist

Those Judaizers & Legalists today they are not interested in bearing one another’s burdens - they are interested in placing burdens upon you!

Those in that day weren’t interested in helping their brethren, they were interested in placing more burdens upon them. At the counsel at Jerusalem (which Paul spoke of in Gal. 2), Peter testified (Read Act. 15:6-10)

DEFINE LEGALIST

Some people today would accuse me of being a legalist, even though I’m as far from a legalist that you’ll find in an IFB church. It’s only because they don’t truly know what that means. WRITE THIS DOWN: Liberty isn’t the absence of standards, nor is Legalism the preaching of Biblical Truth.

Some think of me as a legalist because of my strict distinction concerning music.

Holiness is not Legalism, it’s Biblical principle: 1 Peter 1:15–16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Sanctification is not Legalism, it’s Biblical principle: 2 Timothy 2:20–21 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Some think me a legalist because of my expectation of faithfulness to the House of God

Faithfulness is not Legalism, it’s Biblical principle: Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

Church, I’m not a legalist - I am a Bible-believing preacher! I am not placing a yoke upon you, I am preaching God’s expectations of you!

The legalist will tell you got to wear a dress & not cut your hair

The legalist will tell you you can’t wear makeup

The legalist will tell you what YOU need to do to get to Heaven - I preach what the Bible says you SHOULD DO BECAUSE YOU’RE GOING TO HEAVEN! - And there’s the difference!

That’s the Legalist

‘The Law of Christ’

The entire letter, Paul has been condemning the use of the Law of Moses as a tool to live the Christian life, and is now commending the church to fulfil the ‘Law of Christ’ - but what is that Law?

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

Consider that for a moment:

‘Love one another’ - that’s not too difficult, is it. (For some it is), but generally speaking, we can at least be kind to each other even if we can’t stand one another.

(Ill.) I remember a time when I was at a funeral in NC and I encountered a man who despised me. Not too long earlier, he’d tried to run me out of the church, led a contingent of people against me in the most ungodly church business meeting you’d ever hope to be in. I greeted him & he was pleasant for the most part. Many would consider that ‘Christian love’ - not tearing into one whom you despise. But that’s not the love Jesus is speaking about…

‘…as I have loved you’ - that’s where he rubber meets the road.

That’s the ‘Law of Christ’ - loving one another as Christ loved others. And how did Christ love others? ‘THIS MUCH’. He loved them enough to die for their sin. To take their sin upon Himself and be the substitute so that they didn’t have to go to Hell.

The depth of His GREAT LOVE was displayed as Jesus hung upon the Cross with those around reviling Him, casting lots for His vesture and He says ‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do’!

BUT IT EVEN GOES DEEPER THAN THAT! He loved those who would forsake and flee from Him! He loved those who didn’t love Him back!

Jesus ‘bore our burden’ upon the Cross of Calvary - to fulfill the Law of Christ, we are to bear one another’s burdens!

We see the Carry

The Confusion (v3)

The first thing to consider in this verse is the first word… ‘FOR’. It’s a condensed version of the word ‘Therefore’. In other words, what he’s getting ready to say is connected to what he’s already said.

The verse is presenting someone who is filled up with pride - for no reason.

Now let’s go back and examine v1:

We’re to seek to restore, not condemn. To condemn another is akin to stating that you are above such a thing. (Again church, we don’t condemn people, we condemn sin - knowing that we’re no better than they).

Consider those who brought the woman caught in adultery. (Read Joh. 8:2-11) The scribes & Pharisees thought they were something. They were set on condemning that woman - but then Jesus intervened! But notice the chain of events:

They condemned her

Jesus silently brought conviction upon them

They her there with Jesus

Jesus said he didn’t condemn HER, but then told her to ‘go and sin no more’. He most certainly condemned her SIN, but sought to RESTORE her!

Next consider v2:

‘Bearing one another’s burdens’ - I wonder how many of us would consider ourselves to be ‘good Christians’, but are not bearing one another’s burdens? How many of us are reaching out and helping others to the point it costs you something?

(Ill.) I will take this opportunity and thank all those who have helped bear my families burdens lately, with food & prayers. It most certainly is a help and blessing when that takes place!

But church, we must be careful that we are not deceiving ourselves! CHURCH, YOU DO KNOW THAT’S POSSIBLE, RIGHT? How many of us know someone who told a lie so much that they started believing it themselves? We do that when we convince ourselves that by coming to church once a week makes us a ‘good Christian’!

We see the Confusion

The Consideration (v4-5)

At first glance, it appears almost contradictory v2 w/ v5 - however, follow the trail of logic here:

Paul speaks of

Restoring the fallen (v1)

Bearing one another’s burdens (v2)

Not being high minded (v3)

Then in v4, Paul is now speaking about proving our own work - it’s in regards to what has come before - how we restore the fallen, bear one another’s burdens & not being high-minded towards others.

So the breakdown is this:

v4 - Paul says for ‘every man to prove his own work’. Prove (def) to test; approve. In other words, we must take a good look at what it is we’re doing.

He’s literally preaching about what I do preach about constantly - self examination!

(Ill.) I went to the Walmart the other day for one thing - Cookies for Mali. I parked looked up on my phone where they were walked there & searched for the cookies. I went to the register, and it wasn’t till then that I realized I didn’t have my wallet. Walmart doesn’t take Apple Pay, so you know what? I left there without any cookies.

Why do I tell this story - because it’s an example of how I thought I had it taken care of, until I realized too late that I didn’t.

Which leads to the next verse…

v5 - The bearing of burden here is not a burden of this world that we carry, but the burden of Judgment that we will face.

(Ill.) I wonder how many people are going to leave this world thinking that they are set to get the cookies, only to find out that they are left wanting?

The Consideration

We see Restoration. Next we see Renumeration

II. Remuneration (v6-10)

Remuneration (def) To reward; to recompense; to requite; to pay an equivalent to for any service, loss, expense or other sacrifice

It’s in essence to be compensated for something

Pastoral Compensation (v6)

In his final instructions, Paul begins telling this church to take care of the preachers.

Let me begin by saying that this is not necessarily a topic I am comfortable preaching on, as it seems self-serving. However, it’s Bible and we’re here, so I will address this. Before I do, I will say a couple things:

First, I appreciate all that the church does for me, so this is not a hint at getting a raise.

Secondly, there are varying thoughts & (I think) crazy positions concerning pastoral compensation. You have some who think that the pastor should work for free, and you have others who think they should be the highest paid people in the church. I don’t think that it should be either, but let me ask you this: Why is it that everyone expects a doctor to make a bunch of money when the most they can do it temporarily heal your body and others expect the pastor to make so little who feeds eternal truths and guides you into a better life today with ramifications that last all eternity?

That word communicate (def) share; distribute. In a very abbreviated statement, Paul is saying that those that are receiving end of the teaching need to be sharing / distributing in ‘all good things’ to those that are doing the teaching.

Paul would speak much more on this topic:

1 Timothy 5:17–18 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

In v18, Paul references both:

The Law that was Written by God (De. 25:4)

The Word that was Spoken by God (Mat. 10:10; Luk. 10:7)

The full mention principle is found in 1Cor. 9 (Read some - esp. v4-6; 11)

v6 is a good summary statement for the mind of God on pastoral compensation - but know this: That it’s not there on an island by itself - you can’t read that vers in isolation! Because we see next that there are Promises Connected

Promises Connected (v7-9)

v6-10 are all connected together, we know this as he speaks first about teachers in v6, then the ‘therefore’ in 10 speaks about ‘especially unto them of the household of faith’.

But what are these promises?

What you sow, you reap (v7)

The law of reaping and sowing church is universal. Jeremiah 17:10 “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

(Ill.) There’s not been one farmer who went out to a corn field and say ‘What is this? I sowed wheat!’

Flesh brings Corruption, Spirit brings Life (v8)

You find where a man spends his money, and you’ll find what he truly cares about.

Let me ask you this: Where’s your money go? Are you investing in the Spiritual? Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Are giving your tenth unto the LORD? Are you giving freewill offerings for missions?

What do you want - corruption or life? (‘Life everlasting’ is not speaking about buying your way to Heaven, but if you’re investing in ministry, you’ll see ‘life everlasting’ come from it!)

Reaping is assured, if we faint not (v9)

There’s NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! As long as we continue therein!

There are Promises Connected

A Plea to Consider (v10)

As opportunity arrises, let us do good - but look at the qualifiers:

‘unto all men’ - we’re not to be good to some and mean to others. But we should seek to do good to all men.

‘especially…’ - we should seek to make it priority to bless & be a blessing to the people of God.

We see a Plea to Consider

III. Reflection (v11-18)

A Care Demonstrated (v11)

A Constraining of Concern (v12-13)

A Cross to Cling (v14)

A New Creature to Be (v15)

A Confidence Displayed (v16-18)

Conclusion