Schedule
| Week | Topic | Cult / Religion Spotlight |
| 1 | Salvation – Introduction and Chapter 1 | |
| 2 | Justification by Faith Defended: 1:11-2:21 | Mormonism |
| 3 | Justification by Faith Explained 1- 3:1-22 | Jehovah’s Witnesses |
| 4 | Justification by Faith Explained 2 – 3:23-4:31 | Islam |
| 5 | Justification Applied 1 – 5:1-26 | Orthodox Judaism |
| 6 | Justification Applied 2 & Conclusion 6:1-18 | Liberal Christianity |
The Gospel – Freedom:
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” Galatians 5:1
The Letter to the Galatians is Paul’s warning and admonition to the Christians in Asia Minor to steer clear of people who “knew better” than the simple truth of Paul’s proclamation of the Gospel: Jesus plus zip, zero, nada.
Let’s put that myth to rest. The Gospel is easily added to. But if it were necessary to add to, or gain salvation by anything other than the atoning death of Christ, that death would be meaningless. Yet, the notion persists because of many reasons.
http://youtu.be/QiLatwTFUhw?list=PLtTderf–PWqc85donU6MLFkJk4u05iPU
It was the freedom of the Gospel that compelled John Wesley, English evangelist, to convert the Indians of North America. Using the Letter to the Galatians, he himself was converted.
He then began a revival, among those saved was John Wilberforce, who was instrumental in the stoppage of the slave trade in the British Empire.
This freedom comes through the emancipation of the Gospel of grace through faith. J Vernon McGee says grace is a way to life and a way of life. Source: JV McGee Note on Through the Bible Epistle to the Galatians Introduction.
There study of Galatians is Paul’s polemic against the Judaizers who came in and taught that (in essence) since Jesus was a Jew, the Law still applied and therefore was a necessary part of salvation. Paul stridently refutes the notion. It is his harshest, there being no personal greetings, instead moving forcefully against the teaching of another Gospel, Jesus plus works.
That is apse how Christianity differs from all other religions.
Summary / Thoughts
Why add to the Gospel? (Discussion) 1:1-10
| Eph 2:8-10 | How is one saved? Why is he saved? What is required of man?What is not possible for man? |
| Eph 2:7 | Why is he saved? |
| Romans 1:16 | The power of the Gospel |
Introduction & Reason for the Letter
The Galatian were descended from a fierce tribe of Gauls (modern France). Galatians are of a specific sub-race and place, Galatia.
The Celtic Gauls, sacked Rome in 4th cent BC, moved to Bithynia at the request of the king. .They are blond Orientals. They had a temper, and are said to be very much like Americans. They had cults and “isms”
It has no commendations, no prayer requests, no one is called by name. Paul has on his war paint here, he becomes strident for the pure Gospel.
Paul seeks to emancipate the people, by freeing them from the shackles of legalism.
| Galatians1:1 | Consider Acts 1 story of Matthias and the fallacious alternate of choice logical fallacy committed by Peter (before the Church Age and before the indwelling of the HS.) Paul, instead asserts his Apostleship as not a laying on of hands, burning straw, or hocus locus, but selected by God. |
| Galatians1:3 | Grace & peace. Greek chars was the Gentile greeting of the day, while shalom, peace, loosely, is the Jewish greeting. |
| Galatians1:4 | The present evil age. The Jews believed (as do we) that this time is evil, and the one to come will be holy. See also http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/to-deliver-us-from-the-present-evil-age |
| Galatians1:6 | to the point: The facts are Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead. Without this, it isn’t the Gospel. The interpreters of heresy (Judaizers) would say that hey, you also need to follow the Law (or whatever, as we shall see as we go through the series. |
| Galatians1:7 | to distort, Greek metastrepho, to distort, pervert or change, in a catastrophic way. |
| Galatians1:9 | Romans 4:5 |
Memory Verse – “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” -Gal 1:8
Application – The Gospel is precious and to be shared.