Sermon Tone Analysis

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.