Galatians

ILL. Grand Junction- up to Colorado Monument- where is the middle of the road?

The Galatian body had a hard time living in the middle— at least, where Jesus is.

From chapters 1-4, Paul defends the gospel from the work of Judaizers which sought to bring works into salvation, but

from chapters 5-6, Paul defends the gospel from the work of the licentious who sought to abuse the grace of God by living as they pleased.

To say it another way,

Galatia was filled with legalistic believers who were reflecting the works of the law, rather than the liberty that is in Jesus Christ

Galatia was filled with licentious believers who were reflecting the wicked culture of Corinth, rather than the purity and glory of Christ

BOTH POSITIONS WERE WRONG.

The Apostle Paul has been called the “Apostle of Liberty” or the “Apostle of the Free Spirit”

PHIL 3- he was free

Philippians 3:1-6: “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; “Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

Galatians 1:13-14: “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”

Theologically-rich writing: Paul quotes Moses (Gen, Lev, Dt) , Habbakuk, and Isaiah

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Citations of Scripture)

3:6- Gen 15:6, “Just as” (Καθὼς, Kathōs)

3:8- Gen 12:3; 18:18; 22:18 “The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham” + ὅτι (hoti) of citation (προϊδοῦσα δὲ ἡ γραφὴ ὅτι ἐκ πίστεως δικαιοῖ τὰ ἔθνη ὁ θεὸς, proidousa de hē graphē hoti ek pisteōs dikaioi ta ethnē ho theos, προευηγγελίσατο τῷ Ἀβραὰμ ὅτι, proeuēngelisato tō Abraam hoti)

3:10- Deut 27:26 “for it is [or stands] written” (+ ὅτι, hoti; of citation) (γέγραπται γὰρ ὅτι, gegraptai gar hoti)

3:11- Hab 2:4 “Because” or “for” (ὅτι, hoti)

3:12- Lev 18:5 “But” (“rather” or “on the contrary”) (ἀλλʼ, allʼ)

3:13- Deut 21:23 “for it is [or stands] written” (ὅτι γέγραπται, hoti gegraptai)

3:16- Gen 12:7; 13:15; 24:7 “It [Scripture] does not say … but …” (οὐ λέγει, ou legei; … ἀλλʼ, allʼ; …)

4:27- Isa 54:1 “for it is [or stands] written” (ὅτι γέγραπται, hoti gegraptai)

4:30- Gen 21:10 “But what does the Scripture say?” (ἀλλὰ τί λέγει ἡ γραφή, alla ti legei hē graphē;)

5:14- Lev 19:18 “For the entire law is fulfilled in one word, in the [statement]” (ὁ γὰρ πᾶς νόμος ἐν ἑνὶ λόγῳ πεπλήρωται, ho gar pas nomos en heni logō peplērōtai, ἐν τῷ, en tō)

PAUL’S USE OF RHETORIC AND PURPOSE IN THE BOOK:

juridical—used to persuade an audience to make a judgment about events in the past

deliberative—employed to persuade an audience to take some action in the future

epideictic—used to persuade an audience to hold or reaffirm some viewpoint in the present

Paul’s Defence:

of the gospel- 1:6-7

of his salvation- 1:13-14

“Paul is concerned in letter form to re-preach the gospel in place of its counterfeit”

“The Epistle to the Galatians and that to the Romans taken together “form a complete proof that justification is not to be obtained meritoriously either by works of morality or by rites and ceremonies, though of divine appointment; but that it is a free gift, proceeding entirely from the mercy of God, to those who receive it by faith in Jesus our Lord.”

of his apostleship and revelation- 1:15-24

of his theology

of his liberty

Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Purpose and Theological Teaching > Galatians, Letter to The)

Nevertheless in contesting the doctrine of works the apostle lends no support to spiritual license. He sees clearly that the alternative to legalism is not the absence of all restraint. Although Christ has secured freedom for the believer, that freedom must not be used to indulge the flesh (5:13). Indeed, Paul’s exposition of the Christian life in this letter is of a high moral order. He sets the standard himself by declaring that he has been crucified with Christ (2:20). Not only is this letter a charter for Christian liberty, but also a chart for Christian living.

Of Liberty:

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Letter Body (Gal 1:6–6:10))

In 5:1–6:10, Paul spells out the freedom and responsibility that the Galatians bear as recipients of the Spirit and as sons of God (compare 3:2–3, 5, 26; 4:6). They are to stand fast in freedom (5:1), which means that circumcision is not a legitimate option for them (5:2–6). They are to refuse the message of the troublemakers (5:7–12). Above all, they are to pursue the ethical implications of Paul’s gospel of freedom. This involves not an opportunity for the flesh (5:13), but rather a life characterized by the Spirit’s direction (5:14–26) and by mutual responsibility within the believing community (6:1–10).

Liberty in Christ (2:4; [3:28]; 4:22, 23, 26, 30, 31; 5:1, 13) and obligation in Christ (5:13–6:10), with discussion of specific topics including:a.

law and faith (Gal 3:6–14)

the old and new covenants (Gal 3:15–18)

the Abrahamic promise and Christ (Gal 3:16; compare 4:1–7)

the Abrahamic promise and the law (Gal 3:17–18)

the purpose of the law (Gal 3:19–25)

Furthermore, Christians who tend to vigorously promote such liberties can sometimes fall into a loose lifestyle of undisciplined living, while, on the other hand, Christians who tend to vigorously limit such liberties can sometimes fall into a legalistic lifestyle of being defined by what they are "against." So, it is wise to seek God in prayer and His Word to determine whether or not a particular activity is actually forbidden in Scripture. If it is, it should be avoided. If it is not forbidden, then we should seek to determine how the activity reflects on our reputation as Christians and whether it will help us or hinder us in representing Jesus to unbelievers around us, whether it edifies them or not.

Galatians 5:13: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

A WORD ABOUT LEGALISM: The conception of *ethics that identifies *morality with the strict observance of *laws or that views adherence to moral codes as defining the boundaries of a *community. Religious legalism focuses on *obedience to laws or moral codes based on the assumption that such obedience is a means of gaining divine favor. Someone noted that Legalism focuses on God’s laws more than relationship with God.

Nicolas Batzig notes that doctrinal legalism can also creep into our minds through the back door of sanctification. Galatians 3:1-4: “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.”

What does it mean to be liberated?

from what?

liberty to do or to leave off those things that have no relationship to salvation- I Corinthians 10:29: “Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?”

I Peter 2:16: “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”

liberty from the power of fleshly desires

James 1:25: “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

James 2:12: “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”

liberty from the “restraints and miseries of earthly frailty”

Romans 8:21: “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

liberty is living as we should, not as we please

the opposite of this? LICENSE, the liberty to do as one pleases

II Peter 2:19: “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”

FREEDOM IS AN INNER-LIFE EXPERIENCE. We speak of chains and bonds, but what about minds, and hearts, and souls? ANYONE BOUND IN SPIRITUAL FETTERS…INCARCERATED IN A MIND BENT AGAINST OUR GOD?

In his book, Soul Keeping, pastor John Ortberg describes his first conversation with Dallas Willard, who would eventually become his spiritual mentor. In this early conversation, Willard begins to re-route Ortberg’s life direction, helping him see that more important than anything else is who you are in Christ:

“The most important thing in your life,” Dallas said, “is not what you do; it’s who you become. That’s what you will take into eternity. You are an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe.” Huh? “You are an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe. That’s the most important thing for you to know about you. You should write that down. You should repeat it regularly.

Brother John, you think you have to be someplace else or accomplish something more to find peace. But it’s right here. God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are. Your soul is not just something that lives on after your body dies. It’s the most important thing about you. It is your life.” Long pause.

When I thought about how my life was going, I always thought about my outer world. It is the world of reputation and appearance. It consists of how much I have and of what people think. It is visible and obvious. In my outer world, it is easy to keep score.

I always thought that improving the circumstances of my outer world is what makes me feel happy inside. But this was an invitation to another world — what Gordon MacDonald would call a “private world.” It is unseen, unknown, hidden. It would garner no applause. It could be chaotic and dark and disordered, and no one might know.

John Ortberg, Soul Keeping (p. 19). Zondervan.

What does it mean to be fettered?

Galatians 5:7-10: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.”

-to be bound to the law

what does that produce? guilt and shame!

Galatians 3:10: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

-to be bound by public opinion

-Galatians 1:1-3: “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,” Galatians 1:10: “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

-Galatians 1:15-17: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.” (see also 2:1) DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU RECEIVED WHAT YOU HAVE?

Acts 5:39: “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

-to be bound by self-identification and self-validation

Do you seek yourself in Christ or are you using religion for your own purposes?

Galatians 1:13-14: “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.”

-to be bound by a lack of assurance

Do you ever wonder why the Judaizers were so aggressive? Why so mad? Why so persuasive? IS NOT THEIR DEVOTION TO THE LAW AND AGGRESSIVENESS OVER OTHER PEOPLE’S CONSCIENCES NOT A TELL-TALE SIGN THAT THEY ARE NOT AT PEACE WITH GOD? If you live long enough you will discover that people that will not allow liberty of conscience to others have not themselves a free conscience towards God.

What does it mean to serve others?

What’s interesting here:

5:13- doulos-

5:14- you want to talk about the law? How about this? The law is all about love— love your neighbor as yourself!

Therefore, in light of that definition, the real law breakers were were the Judaizers! They had broken the law of love and been harsh to one another.

The modern type of freedom (“I can do whatever I want…”) can lead many to all kinds of slavery (bondage) to sin. Such examples include the problems resulting from the sexual revolution, marriage, abortion, sex and gender. This modern definition of ‘freedom’ can actually lead one to being addicted to or controlled by that sin (Ex. pornography, sex, drugs, [or pick your own vice], etc). Even in a non-sinful context, this could apply to the excess or overindulgence in other things (food, sweets, materialism, wealth, internet, gaming, and other technological devices, etc). Too much of something can potentially lead to unfortunate results.

I Corinthians 10:29: “Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?”

Modern freedom is individualistic, but the freedom we find in Christ is familial, and its greatest expression is found in community. Maybe our Founding Fathers planted something in our cultural and spiritual consciousness that has failed us, when they noted that all men have inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Liberty, as an American, is found in community. We are all free or all bound. There seems to be no in between.

Commenting on this passage, Carolyn Osiek observes, “Paul understands freedom not as the opportunity to pursue one’s own interests but to be even more at the service of others. That this is costly service can be seen in the fact that in this charter of Christian freedom he also refers frequently to the cross....

For now, as Martin Luther wrote, "A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one."

Sinclair Ferguson threaded the needle well when he noted: “John Calvin puts the point well when he says that we restrain the exercise of our freedom for the sake of weak believers, but not when we are faced with Pharisees who demand that we conform to what is unscriptural”

what are we supposed to do with this liberty?