The Epistle to the Galatians “Freedom in Christ”

The Epistle to the Galatians“Freedom in Christ”

Book of Galatians in the New Testament

Time Period in NT History Period 1 Period 2 Period 3 Preparation for the Church / Life of Christ c. A.D. 1 – 30 ( Matthew through John ) Establishment of the Church c. A.D. 30 – 60 ( Acts through Philemon ) Latter Developments in the Church c. A.D 60 – 90 ( Hebrews through Revelation )

Book Background • Title: “Galatians” refers to the Christians who live in the area of “Galatia” (Asia Minor) – see Acts 16:6; 18:23; 1 Cor. 16:1; Gal. 1:2; 3:1; 2 Tim. 4:10; 1 Pet. 1:1 • Northern Galatia? The ethnic area of the Gauls in north-central Asia Minor • Southern Galatia? The provincial area of the Romans in south-central Asia Minor (Lyconia, Pisidia, Phrygia) • Authorship: Paul (1:1; 5:2; 6:11)

Book Background • Audience:“The churches of Galatia” (1:2) • Northern Galatia? The churches would be unnamed churches established during Paul’s second or third preaching trip (Acts 16:6; 18:23). • Southern Galatia? The churches would be those established on Paul’s first preaching trip: Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (Acts 13:13 – 14:23). • Paul had personally preached and established churches in this area (Gal. 4:12-15).

Book Background • Audience:“The churches of Galatia” (1:2) • Paul preached “throughout all the region” (Acts 13:49) and “the region round about” (Acts 14:6). • Paul had performed miracles in this region which demonstrated his apostleship (Acts 14:3,8-10). He would later defend his apostleship in the book of Galatians (1:1).

Book Background • Date: A.D. 47-49 (churches established), A.D. 50 -53 (epistle written) • Occasion: • False teachers (Judaizers) came into the churches of Galatia and spread a perverted gospel of salvation by works of the Law (namely, circumcision), resulting in bondage (1:6-7; 2:4; 3:1; 4:9-10,17,20,21; 5:7-12; 6:12-13,17; see Acts 15:1,5,24) • Paul defends the true gospel of freedom in Christ against this false teaching (2:4; 4:21-31; 5:1,13)

Book Background False Teachers (2:4) Paul (1:1) True gospel from Jesus Christ Justification by faith in Jesus Christ Freedom Hope of righteousness Walk by the Spirit Glory in the cross • Perverted gospel from man • Justification by works of the Law • Bondage • Fallen away • Walk by the flesh • Glory in the flesh

Book Background

Keys to the Book Key verses: 2:4; 4:31; 5:1,13 Key word: “freedom” (liberty in Christ) – the book of Galatians is the Christian’s “Declaration of Independence”

Outline of the Book“Freedom in Christ” • The Gospel of Freedom Defended(Gal. 1-2) • Biographical explanations: man vs. Jesus Christ • The Gospel of Freedom Reaffirmed(Gal. 3-4) • Doctrinal expositions: works of Law vs. faith in Jesus • The Gospel of Freedom Applied(Gal. 5-6) • Practical exhortations: works of flesh vs. fruit of Spirit

Apostleship of Paul“An Apostle … Through Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:1)

Galatians 1Lessons for Today Christians are not “apostles,” but they are still commissioned by God to preach the gospel today (1:1; 2 Tim. 2:2; 4:2). New Testament Christians get their authority in religious matters, not from men, but from God (1:1; Mt. 21:25; Col. 3:17; 1 Pet. 4:11) God displayed his great power in raising Jesus from the dead (1:1; Acts 2:24; Eph. 1:19-20). The same power will raise all mankind from the dead in the judgment day (Jn. 5:28-29).

Galatians 1Lessons for Today Preaching the gospel and converting souls in a new area may involve great obstacles, great oppositions and great opportunities (1:2; Mt. 16:15; Mt. 28:19; Acts 1:8; 8:4; 13:2-3) “Grace” and “peace” are still part of the Christian’s life today (1:3; 2 Thess. 2:16-17). God is our heavenly “Father” and provides for all our needs (1:1,3; James 1:17).

Galatians 1Lessons for Today Jesus Christ is our “Lord” and rules over us (1:3; Phil. 2:9-11). We desperately need to be delivered out of this “present evil world” by obedience to Jesus Christ (1:4; 2 Pet. 1:4; 2:18-20). We should be grateful and thankful for this deliverance. God must be given glory for his greatness and the great things he has done (1:5; Rom. 11:36).

Main Characters in Galatians

Galatians 1Lessons for Today A Christian can quickly remove himself from the truth of the gospel if he is not careful (1:6). The many perverted gospels that exist today are different from the one, true gospel of Jesus Christ (1:7). Some perverted gospels today are: the faith-only gospel, the social gospel, the unity-in-diversity gospel, and the gospel of health and wealth.

Galatians 1Lessons for Today Preaching another gospel other than the one, true gospel of Jesus Christ troubles people (1:7; Acts 15:25). Preaching another gospel other than the one, true gospel of Jesus Christ will result in being cursed by God (1:8-9). The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is found in the message, not the messenger. We must focus on the message, not the messenger when seeking to follow the one, true gospel of Jesus Christ (1:8-9).

Galatians 1Lessons for Today Like Paul, we must decide and be determined to please God, not men (1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4).

A Brief Biography of Paul’s LifeDefense of Paul’s Gospel and Apostleshipin Galatians 1:11 – 2:10 ** Paul does not record the trip to Jerusalem during the famine visit of Acts 11:30, because it does not fit the line of defense he is making in this section.

Paul’s Travels in Galatians 1:17-2:10 Cilicia Syria Arabia

Galatians 1Lessons for Today We do not receive revelations from Jesus like Paul did, but the gospel we preach must be the true gospel of Jesus Christ, not the false gospels of man (1:11-12). We are called by God like Paul; not by direct revelation, but by the gospel (1:15; 2 Thess. 2:14). People can make a drastic and dramatic change in their life and bring glory to God by it (1:23-24; 1 Tim. 1:12-16).

Galatians 1Lessons for Today Preaching the gospel (1:11) is the same as preaching Jesus (1:16) and preaching the faith (1:23; Eph. 4:5; Jude 3)

Galatians 2Lessons for Today We must run the Christian race faithfully so that our running will not be in vain (2:2; Gal. 5:7; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; Phil. 2:16; 2 Tim. 4:7). False teachers often work privately so we must always be vigilant and on guard (2:4; Mt. 7:15; 28:29-30; Rom. 16:18; 2 Tim. 3:6; Jude 4). We must never let anyone rob us of our liberty in Christ through false teaching (2:4; Col. 2:18; Jas. 1:25)

Galatians 2Lessons for Today Like Paul, we must not subject ourselves to false teaching for one moment and we must uphold the truth of the gospel (2:5; Jude 3). God is no respecter of persons (2:6; Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11). Like Paul, we must be zealous to remember the poor and do what we can to help them (2:10; Gal. 6:10).

Galatians 2Lessons for Today We must use the truth to rebuke sin even among those who are close to us (2:11,14; Lk. 17:3; 2 Tim. 4:2). We must be willing to personally confront sin in those who are close to us (2:11; Prov. 27:5-6; 28:23). We must not fear others around us and allow their influence to cause us to violate the truth of the gospel (2:12,14; Mt. 10:31; 1 Pet. 3:14). Consider how strong fear can be: Peter, on other occasions, stood up for Gentiles (Acts 10:34-35; 11:3,17; 15:6-11; Galatians 2:9), but not on this occasion because of fear.

Galatians 2Lessons for Today The Christian who acts hypocritically stands condemned (2:11,14; Mt. 7:1-5). We must always have a love and faith “unfeigned” (Rom. 12:9; 2 Cor. 6:6; 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:5; Jas. 3:17; 1 Pet. 1:22). Our life as a Christian, good or bad, will have an effect on others around us (2:13; 1 Tim. 4:12; Tit. 2:7). Otherwise good Christians like Barnabas can be negatively affected by our unfaithfulness.

Galatians 2Lessons for Today Justification by faith in Jesus Christ does not exclude acts of obedience (2:16). For example, one must be baptized into Christ as an act of faith (3:26-27) and one must continue to have a faith that works through love (5:6). We must not build up again what God wants destroyed: the Old Law, sins, errors, worldly ways, etc. (2:18-19; 2 Cor. 10:4-5).

Galatians 2Lessons for Today Our life as a Christian must be a life that is completely controlled by Christ and not by self or others (2:20; Rom. 8:10; Gal. 4:19).

“O Foolish Galatians”Galatians 3:1,3

Two Systems of Justification ContrastedGalatians 3:1-14

Galatians 3Lessons for Today Christians are foolish to be led astray by false teaching and they can be easily tricked into believing false teaching (3:1; Rom. 16:17-18) The “hearing of faith” lets us know that faith comes by hearing (3:2,5; Rom. 10:17). We will be suffering in a vain as a Christian if we start off right but then follow after false teaching (3:6; Gal. 6:8-9).

Galatians 3Lessons for Today We are “they that are of faith” when we are baptized into Christ (3:7,9; see 3:26-29). We can sing “I’m redeemed…” and “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it…” because Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law having become a curse for us (3:13; Eph. 1:7).

The Law Did Not Disannul the Promise( Galatians 3:15-18) Seed Promise to Abraham Fulfilled in Christ P 430 Promise to Abraham Genesis 12 Law of Moses Exodus 20 Cross of Christ Galatians 3 430 Years

The Law Was Added Because of Transgressions( Galatians 3:19-23) The Law of Moses at Mt. Sinai P Identified the sin Controlled the sinner Confined mankind within sin Made the need for salvation clear

The Law Was A “Schoolmaster”to Bring One to Jesus Christ( Galatians 3:24-25) 430 1500 Years P Schoolmaster OT Prophecies OT Types OT Sacrifices OT Priesthood All Point to Jesus

Justification by Faith Summarized

Galatians 3Lessons for Today We are not under the Old Law today (3:25; Rom. 7:6; Eph. 2:14; Col. 2:14; Heb. 10:9) Faith leading to baptism in necessary to become a son of God (3:26-27; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 8:12-13; 36-37; 18:8) Baptism unites us all as “one man” in Christ (3:28; Eph. 4:4-6)

Galatians 4Lessons for Today As sons of God, we should have a close relationship with our Father (4:6; Rom. 8:14-15) Faithful Christians should press forward toward the goal of heaven and never “turn back” to the things of the world (4:9; 2 Pet. 2:21) Will all your work as a Christian be “in vain” because of unfaithfulness and apostasy (4:11; 1 Cor. 15:2; 2 Cor. 6:1; Phil. 2:16; 1 Thess. 3:5)?

The Epistle to the Galatians “Freedom in Christ”