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Galatians
Galatians 1
- From Paul, an apostle.
- Grace and peace.
- Paul is a amazed that the Galatian churches are turning away from the gospel of Christ.
- Some are distorting the gospel of Christ.
- Woe to anyone who preaches a different gospel.
- Paul talks about his own ministry. Being a servant of Christ does not please people. Outlines his contact with the Jerusalem church.
Galatians 2
- Fourteen years later went to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus.
- Titus, a Greek, was not forced to be circumcised.
- False brothers trying to take away our freedom in Christ.
- I have been entrusted with the gospel to those not circumcised, as Peter to the circumcised.
- Peter was a hypocrite when he came to Antioch. He stopped eating with Gentiles after men came from James. All the Jews followed him - even Barnabas.
- We have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law.
- I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3
- Foolish Galatians! Why are you returning to the Law?
- Abraham's sons are those who live by faith.
- To live by the Law you must do everything written in the book of the Law.
- Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.
- The promises to Abraham and to his seed (Christ) were given 430 years before the establishment of the Law.
- The Law was given to help guide the Israelites until the promise to Abraham was fulfilled.
- But since that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
- Through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
- For those baptised into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
Galatians 4
- Under tutors until the time of completion came when God sent His Son to redeem those under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as children.
- Because you are children, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"
- Also an heir of God through Christ.
- Why go back to observing days, months, seasons and years?
- Paul recalls the care of the Galatians when he originally preached the gospel due to an ailment.
- Tell me, you who want to be under the Law, don't you hear the Law?
- Paul recalls the difference between the child (Ismael) of the slave Hagar, and the promised child (Isaac) of Sarah. We are children of the free woman.
Galatians 5
For freedom Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don't submit to a yoke of slavery.
- If you get circumcised Christ will not profit you - you are obligated to keep the whole Law.
- What matters is faith working through love.
- Called to be free - but don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.
- Serve one another through love.
- Walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
- But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
- God's Spirit - the fruit of the Spirit - is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
- No laws against these things.
- Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh and its passions and desires.
Galatians 6
- Restore a person overtaken in any wrongdoing - considering yourself lest you be tempted.
- Carry one another's burdens.
- Examine your own work.
- For each person will have to carry his own load.
- Share all good things with the one who teaches the Word.
- What a person sows, that they will reap.
- Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up.
- As we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially those who belong to the household of faith.
- Paul's handwritten ending:
- the ones wanting you be be circumcised want to avoid persecution and look good in the flesh.
- But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.
- Both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.
- Brothers and sisters, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Paul is writing at a time when many confused circumcision and the Law with being God's chosen people. They wanted to add Christianity to these. But Christ brought in a new covenant. It is now about following Christ's Holy Spirit - not about keeping rules. The fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Rather than being about rule-keeping it is about how we spread God's love to other people.
