Route 66: Galatians
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Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Theme: The battle for the Gospel: set free from bondage
Paul is making the argument for salvation through faith and faith alone
Not salvation through faith plus the law as we will see
Freedom from the Law
The Romans Cliff notes
Author: Apostle Paul and others
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
Audience: The Churches of Galatia
The specifics are debated between the churches of North Galatia or south Galatia
Most likely the southern galatian churches
Antioch
Iconium
Derbe
Lystra
The audience doesnt change the interpretation, but does effect the timeline of Paul’s life and journeys.
We will work with the understanding that the letter is most likely written to the south Galatian Churches
Which would mean that this letter pre dates the Jerusalem Council
Date: 48AD the first of Paul’s letters to the churches
Also the second of the books in the new testament written after James
Outline
Outline
Vindication (Galatians 1-2)
Paul defends his apostleship
Galatians 1:1-2, 11-2:10.
Galatians 1:1–2 (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
Paul’s calling was not from men nor was it given to him by men
Paul was called by Jesus on the road to damascus
8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Paul understands his place and his calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
This Gospel is not a man’s gospel
This not a gospel that men came up with
He is setting the stage for his argument of adding on man made rules to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Even further evidence that Paul was not called by men is seen in Galatians 1:15-19
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.
Paul was not called by men nor did he go and seek out the approval of men immediately
He waited he went away to learn from the Lord and study the scriptures
He them three years later went to visit Cephas
This was a short visit relatively
Not long enough to really change Paul or teach Paul anything substantial
in our day we want to give the one minute gospel, but there is no way even in 15 days to understand all the mysteries of the gospel to a level so as to preach them
This was a visit to get acquainted
Only after another 14 years does he look for approval in Galatians 2:1-2
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
Even then he wasn’t looking for a stamp of approval for his apostleship, bu tot ensure he was not running in vain.
To make sure the Gospel he proclaimed was in line with the other apostles
Paul gained nothing from them except the right hand of fellowship Galatians 2:6-10
Galatians 2:6–10 (ESV)
6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Paul was only recognized as an apostle not called or confirmed or made an apostle by the other apostles
He was recognized to have a gospel for a specific group
The uncircumcised
And he had to preserve that Gospel
Paul preserved the Gospel to the gentiles Galatians 2:3-5
Galatians 2:3–5 (ESV)
3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
Paul is setting the scene for the Gospel message that he is defending here
In verse 4 he shows that the argument he is confronting is not new and he has had to confront it before
There are those Jewish Christians who want to bring everyone under the law
Paul defends his Gospel Galatians 1:6-10
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul was given a ministry to the gentiles
To deliver the Gospel of grace and grace alone
He is disturbed that this gospel has been so quickly perverted
perverted by people trying to add to it
Paul’s Apostleship is not from men nor is his gospel
Salvation is only through grace not man made laws
Further evidence of Paul’s apostleship and authority Galatians 2:11-21
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Paul’s independence form the apostles is shown here
They extended the right hand of fellowship, but he also wasn’t going to bend to them
He will confront when needed
Peter why do you waiver back and fourth
Galatians2:14 “14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?””
Peter we cant set a double standard either we are free by grace or we are bound under the law
Turning to the problem at hand Galatians 2:15-21
Galatians 2:15–21 (ESV)
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Paul’s appeal to Peter as a fellow Jews
Peter you should understand that no one is justified by the law
We cant promote this belief otherwise we nullify grace
We must not rebuild what the Gospel has torn down
Sin and transgression have been crucified with Christ
The only way they can be destroyed through the death of Christ
Otherwise Christ died for nothing
Exposition Galatians 3:1-4:31.
Salvation come through grace alone by faith alone
Paul argues their experience should have taught them this Galatians 3:1-6
1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
Who has bewitched you
Who has lead you astray
Did you not see the death of Christ portrayed to you
Where you not told and convinced of Christ crucifixion?
You saw/heard of Christ crucifixion and believed how did you believe?
Through your righteousness and works under the law?
Remember these are gentile believers he is talking with
Some Jews mixed in
Or through the spirit
So since you started through the spirit will you now look to the law to be perfected?
This is the main arguments of those who are teaching this other gospel
Salvation was from christ but for one to be truly saved they must also conform to the law
Are not the salvation miracles you see done among you through people understanding and living under the law or is it by hearing of salvation through grace and believing in the death and resurrection of Christ?
Paul turns to a scriptural understanding next Galatians 3:6-4:31.
First starting with Abraham and all those who are counted as his descendants or in his family
Abraham because he was before the law
His faith was counted to him as righteousness
The promise given to him because of that faith
He uses this promise made to Abraham to illustrate faith apart from the law Galatians 3:15-18
15 To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. 17 This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. 18 For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Paul as a theologian is hard at work here expositing the truths of the old testament as he writes new scripture
Clarifying who the offspring is and how the promise makes its way through the generations to us the believer
The promise made to Abraham was not changed one but by the law
So he continues to answer the next logical question well then why the law? Galatians 3:19-29
Galatians 3:19–29 (ESV)
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
The law was added as a guardian until Christ came
The sacrifices demanded by the law were by faith
The requirements aspired to were by faith
If I uphold these things even if imperfectly God will save us
The catch was that it was never about what they did it was their faith in that salvation the whole time
A LOT OF TENSION HERE
But now that the offspring is here, its now about faith in what the offspring has accomplished
The law was always a stop gap until christ
Before faith we were in bondage to the law
But now we are heirs according to the promise
Heirs according to the promise Galatians 4:1-7
1 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
This is the christians new standing an heir
Paul continues on this line of comparison though
Saying even heirs until the time has come are under a guardian
Before we were redeemed in theses evil times as Paul referred to back in chapter 1 we were enslaved
Paul will use this imagery again later
wondering why the Galatians desire to go pack into bondage
We are transformed from slaves to sons and thus heirs Galatians 4:7 “7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Paul’s questions why would you revert to the law Galatians 4:9
9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
Final illustration of freedom Galatians 4:21-31
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Hagar vs. Sarah
The free and the enslaved
Hagar the enslaved
In bondage to the flesh
In bondage to a covenant from mount Sinai
Under the law as present Jerusalem is
Is ultimately kicked out has no inheritance
Sarah the free women
Child of the promise
heirs to the promise of Abraham
persecuted by the one who is under the law
Paul’s wants the Galatians to see that the Gospel of grace alone is far superior to the Gospel plus the law
These Judaizers are trying to bind these young converts to the works Gospel of the law
Paul is trying to get them to understand that thats going backward
Application Galatians 5:1-6:18.
We have freedom in Christ, that is why Christ came Galatians 5:1-6
1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
If they revert back to the law they have lost all the benefits of the cross
If salvation comes through the cross plus works or even worse through works you have rendered the cross worthless
You have severed yourself from Christ
The outward works mean nothing for those in Christ
A warning to those who add requirements to the gospel Galatians 5:7-15
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
Remember earlier Paul makes a similar plea in Galatians 1:8-9
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
A false gospel or adding to the gospel has serious consequences and Paul is trying to fight them with everything that is within him
The warning in verse 15 to watch out what we require of each other lest we consume each other is one to be heeded through all of history
We see plenty of evidences for this today
Live out our freedom in the spirit Galatians 5:16-26
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
We dont need the law to keep us from doing the wrong things this is the work of the spirit in us
Our desire changes with our new spirit
The law doesnt keep us from sin our desire change and we no longer desire it
Evidence of the spirit in our lives will not be outward in the form of circumcision but rather inward in our demeanor . The circumcision of our hearts.
We will have the fruits of the spirit Galatians 5:22-24
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Final exhortation to live according to the spirit Galatians 6:1-10
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
If there is command from the law that we are to keep let it be to love on another
Bearing each others burdens fulfills the law of Christ
Those who do works through the spirit and not according the flesh or man made rules will reap spiritual rewards
Dont grow weary and do good to everyone especially those who profess the faith
Dont try and hinder them with man made rules
Conclusion and final warning Galatians 6:11-18
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
There are those who want to claim your faith as a trophy because it strokes their ego not because it glorifies God
They will want to manipulate you and add rules to the gospel
But for those who walk in the spirit they know it is no their works that save people so they have nothing to boast in
God knew the hearts of men and their desire to win to boast to do evil so salvation could only come from a system in which no one can boast
Outward expressions of faith mean nothing without a changed heart without being a new creation
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Let us not live by the works of the flesh, but let us live by the spirit walk in the spirit and have love for one another.