Sermon Tone Analysis

It’s for freedom that Christ has set you free!

Faith and freedom, that is what this book is about, just telling you that from the start.

We start a journey tonight into what is known as an apologist “magna carta” that defends justification by faith to counteract false gospels that are out there.

Key verses in Galatians

Freedom (Gal5:1)

(freedom picture)

Can you picture it?

Can you see it?

Can you hear it?

FREEDOM not just some timid freedom but freedom that frees you from sin, freedom that was costly, freedom that is eternal as you walk in the Light.

Freedom that is yours, but it is also freedom that is under attack.

IT was under attack in Galatia and under attack here today.

Out of the ordinary of how I typically do an intro, I want to get the reason, the purpose, the occasion for the letter right from the get go.

Purpose of letter:

To counter, combat the threat coming against the churches of Galatia

To defend Paul’s apostleship

To demonstrate, illustrate the gospel of grace free from the Law

Some good reminders and instructions about Christian living

I think there is no doubt that today we live in a troubling time just as there was a troubling time then.

The gospel and the validity is under attack, there are false gospels that are being proclaimed that lead people into further slavery and not to the freedom that is in Christ.

Or that lead people into a false sense of security in Christ when there is no “in” Christ.

Sin is being accepted, under the guise of “tolerance.”

Heaven is believed, but Hell is not really a subject matter much less the consequences of sin considered.

As Paul penned this letter to the churches of Galatia in a troubling time, he could be penning one very similar today, couldn’t he?

Immorality runs rampant

Good morals, virtue, integrity is not the common ground anymore

Religions are many, yet ineffective, misleading, misguiding or even leading people away, luring people away from the truth.

That leads me to our next key verse, key theme from the letter.

Faith (Gal2:16)

Our faith, our freedom, are founded, rooted, grounded in Christ.

It is not by any works.

Our faith in the finished work on the cross is central for our salvation and our life as believers.

Our faith is confirmed, sealed, empowered by the Holy Spirit who plays a vital role in our walk, and is clearly seen in the letter.

Now onto the rest of the introduction stuff.

Author and recipients

May we look at the scripture to see who the author is, who are the recipients and maybe some other key people, figures along the way.

Author - Paul (Gal1:1-2; Gal5:2)

Look at what the scripture says

So, Paul identifies himself here as the author of the letter and where his authority came from.

Now look at another confirmation

Paul again identifies himself in the midst of the letter too.

Interesting fact, scripture says who it is, but in the early 19th century there was a portion of scholars who challenged authorship of many of the books of the New Testament, but there was no dispute over Paul’s authorship of the letter.

So, here we have Paul, an apostle, not of man, but of God through Jesus Christ, who was formally Saul of Tarsus (Act9:1-2)

Champion to the Gentiles (Act9:15)

Little did Saul/Paul know to what extreme he was going to go to as an apostle.

Author of many books of the N.T. and great truths like this (Eph2:8-9)

Paul identifies himself as an Apostle and tells us more about his apostleship, it is from God the Father through Jesus Christ (v.1).

He tells, or starts to make his defence of his apostleship right from the start by saying it is not by man or through man.

Being an apostle could only be through the power of God, that raised Jesus from the dead.

While Paul and his apostleship and his gospel have been challenged by some as mentioned before, Paul makes an excellent defence throughout the letter, hence why called an apologist “magna carta”

Apologist: (noun) a person who offers an argument in defense of something controversial.

Synonyms: defender, supporter, upholder, advocate, proponent, exponent, propagandist, apostle, champion, backer, promoter, campaigner, spokesman, spokeswoman, spokesperson, speaker, arguer, enthusiast

Paul was not alone look again at (v.2)

He had others who were with him, travelling with him and by doing such are showing support of Paul and the gospel he is preaching.

Now that leads us to the recipients.

Recipients (Gal1:2)

Look again at (v.2) you can see it is “churches” meaning more than one body of believers, but they were located in Galatia.

When that is said, it is said both of geographically and politically according to (ISBE).

Geographically we are looking at the northern part of Asia Minor in which Paul visited on all three of his missionary trips (Act13:14-14:25; Act 16:1-7; Act18:23)

1st Trip

In the first trip, Paul along with Barnabas established several churches in the Roman province of Galatia.

You can read much more about that trip in Act13:13-14:25

2nd Trip

During the second trip he is travelling with Silas and he visits them again and comes to Timothy he wants to travel with them.

I thought it was important to put all of these verse there so you see the cities he is visiting again, also that this is where Timothy was from.

3rd Trip

And the third trip, again passing through the area, this time strengthening all the disciples.

So here are churches that are loved, visited, but under attack too and Paul is writing to them.

But first I mentioned geographically and Politically so let me give you a map of area and a few words more before moving on.

(Galatia Map Picture)

Politically seems to point to the southern region of the Galatia a Roman province including cities such as Antioch Pisidia, Iconinum, Lystra, Derbe)

Time of Writing (after AD48)

It had to be after the Jerusalem counsel noted in Act15 (look at Act15:12; Act15:22) that happen according to history books, especially works of Josephus in AD48).

We also know that it transpired after the prophesy of Agabus of the famine that occured under Claudius Caesar (41-50AD).

The Jerusalem counsel was held to discuss the problem that was happening in Galatia as well as other places about the law and grace having to work together, Peter spoke up (vv.7-8) and judgment was handed down that it was by grace through faith and that the gentiles did not need to be circumcised and follow Jewish law (vv.13-21)

and then look at

The Jerusalem counsel in agreement sent them back out!

More on the purpose

The church is being infiltrated by the bringing of disturbing and distorted gospel.

Paul wastes no time with many of the pleasantries seen in other letters, there is a problem and part of it is with the churches of Galatia.

Disturbing and distorted gospel (Gal1:6-7; Act15:1)

This is what is mentioned in the Jerusalem counsel

Paul even calls the Galatians fools (Gal3:1)

People can be easily swayed can’t they?

That is why Paul calls them fools is they give in so easily

This is so serious it is a salvation issue (Gal5:4)

This form of teaching that Paul is speaking of which is disturbing and distorted, that they are foolish to believe and they are being bewitched is a salvation issue.

Content of letter

Paul’s defence of his apostleship (Gal1-2)

Paul’s defence of justification by faith (Gal3-4)

Paul’s call to standfast in Christian Liberty (Gal5-6)

Freedom! - The Letter to the Galatians

Freed with a purpose, freed the the provisions of man.

Liberty that was given at a great cost and we should always be ready to defend this “Magna Carta” of Christian liberty (freedom).

Theme verses (Gal5:1; Gal2:16)

Freedom!

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Freedom from bondage of sin (Gal2:16)

Freedom from the Law of Moses (Gal4:4-5)

Freedom “to” serve one another in love (Gal5:13)

Freedom from works of the flesh (Gal5:16-21)