Galatians Study

Chapter One

Galatians 1:1-1O Week One

During Paul and Barnabas first missionary trip, they planted many churches, I think 5, in the Roman province of Galatia. This region would be modern day Turkey. After Paul and Barnabas left word got to Paul that other teachers had arrived in the region and were preaching a very different Gospel. They were being misled by a different gospel. A Gospel that most definitely was not a true Gospel. Paul sat down and wrote-them a letter confronting them about their behavior, reminding the people what the true Gospel is.

Galatians 1:1-10 New International Version – http://www.biblegateway.com

1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— ²and all the brothers and sisters^[a] with me,

To the churches in Galatia:

³Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

⁶I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! ⁹As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

¹⁰Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Reflection

Greg and I love to go out to dinner. We love our conversations that flow when we are at dinner. Just the two of us. We’ve had some great ones over the years. We also have great conversations in the car! One of the conversations that we had many times would start with Greg saying, “You can’t tell me that good people don’t go to heaven.” We were on this topic for a couple years, at least. I said in the Bible, it says the only way for eternal life, salvation, is through Jesus Christ. And he would name off these people that do-good deeds and he said, “You can’t tell me that that person’s going to go to hell.”

The thing about the truth is, sometimes the truth is hard to hear, and sometimes you don’t like the answer. And Greg did not like my answer. Fast forward to this January when Greg was baptized, and he said out loud to the Church, he finally understood that it takes more than good works, more than being a good person, he finally understood the Grace of God.

What did I say when I heard his public declaration, I said, “Amen, Hallelujah, thank you Jesus! In fact, your good_ works, those do nothing because you can’t earn your way to salvation. Salvation is only found through the grace of God through Jesus Christ. “it is finished, paid in full.” Nothing else is needed, nothing else will do, nothing else is good enough. Tetelestai!!

Let’s read John 19; 28-30

What did Jesus mean when he said tetelestai (“it is finished”) on the cross?

Tetelestai is in the perfect tense in Greek. That’s significant because the perfect tense speaks of an action which has been completed in the past with results continuing into the present. It’s different from the past tense which looks back to an event and says, “This happened.” The perfect tense adds the idea that “This happened and it is still in effect today.”

When Jesus cried out “It is finished,” he meant “It was finished in the past, it is still finished in the present, and it will remain finished in the future.” Note one other fact. He did not say, “I am finished,” for that would imply that he died defeated and exhausted. Rather, he cried out “It is finished,” meaning “I successfully completed the work I came to do.”

Tetelestai, then, is the Savior’s final cry of victory. When he died, he left no unfinished business behind When he said, “It is finished,” he was speaking the truth.

Exploration

Why is it hard for us humans to accept the concept of grace?

In our day in age, if something is free, it implies there is no value. The more something costs the more valuable it is, the more people want it.
Things are validated when they are earned, when we are given something for free, it’s uncomfortable.
When we put something into someone else’s hands we are no longer self-sufficient. You must let go of pride to accept the gospel. Your way, well that stubbornness is going to land yourself into hell.

The truth is we are not good enough and we will never be. To understand this we must compare ourselves not to one another, but to God. Then you will see that He is the only perfect one and by comparison we will never be. That is why we need Jesus and only Jesus.

Application

The error of the people of Galatia still happens today. It happens in other sectors of Christianity. Christian leaders are adding on to the gospel. Do not be fooled, the law can’t make you righteous. You can’t work off your sin. That my friends is something called purgatory and there is no purgatory in the bible. That is something the Catholics added in. Along with praying to Mary and sprinkle baptism, and other things. You don’t have to keep a special diet, nor go to church on Saturday, those are the Adventist. This is called religion and man-made traditions. It is not God. It is not Jesus. It’s not the gospel. So, stop living to religion and start living with Jesus. SAY NO to religion, be free of living in slavery. It is only Jesus.

How will you respond the next time you hear someone share a distorted version of the gospel?

Galatians 1: 11-24 Week Two

Paul is defending the gospel in his letter to the churches in Galatia. He can defend the gospel
because he used to be on the other side of the gospel. He will use his “old” life as an example.
He has great knowledge of Judaism because he was a great prosecutor of believers before he
became Paul-that sort of makes him an expert of what the gospel is not. In modern day times
he was a terrorist. I say terrorist and it sounds harsh because it is, but it has to be! Somehow
saying, he was a bad man, just doesn’t quite put it into perspective, so I’m using a modern-day
word to describe this person that we know now as Paul, but before God changed him, he was
Saul. Saul of Tarus and he was a terrorist. He would enter every Christian household and drag
off men and women, he put them in prison, he stoned them, he made havoc of the church.
This is why Paul understands what the grace of God is and what it means. God didn’t write Paul
off. God made Paul an apostle. God can change your life, just like he changed Paul’s life. In
Christ you are a new creation. Maybe this is why I love baptism so much! Rebirth is glorious!

Galatians 1: 11-24 New International Version, http://www.biblegateway.com

Paul Called by God

¹¹I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹²I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

¹³For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. ¹⁷I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

¹⁸Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas^[a] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

²¹Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. ²²I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴And they praised God because of me.

Let’s read Acts chapter 9: 1-31 NKJV to find our how Saul became Paul.

The Damascus Road: Saul Converted
9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high
priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who
were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from
heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you
persecuting Me?”
5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [a] It is hard for you to kick against
the goads.”
6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no
one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But
they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without
sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Ananias Baptizes Saul
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a
vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of
Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a
man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much [b] harm he
has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind
all who call on Your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name
before Gentiles, kings, and the children [c] of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he
must suffer for My name’s sake.”
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord [d] Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me
that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from
his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was
baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the
disciples at Damascus.
Saul Preaches Christ
20 Immediately he preached [e] the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on
this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound
to the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in
Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
Saul Escapes Death
23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to
Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by
night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.
Saul at Jerusalem
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of
him and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the
apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had
spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 So he
was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. 29 And he spoke boldly in the name of the
Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, [f] but they attempted to kill him. 30 When the
brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.

Reflection

God has loved you since the day you were created in your mother’s womb. God
already has a plan for you and your life from infancy! A plan for your good. Think
about the that for a minute. Paul’s conversion although appears sudden in Acts
Chapter 9, did not just begin on the road to Damascus. In the letter to the Galatians,
Paul says that God set him apart before he was born. Charles Spurgeon said, “God had
thoughts of mercy toward him from his birth….The road to Damascus was not the first
occasion on which eyes of love had darted upon this chief of sinners, but Paul declares
that God had separated him and set him apart even from his mother’s womb, that he
might be called by grace and have Jesus Christ revealed to him.” God didn’t write him
off. God knew exactly what Paul was destined for and God changed the course of his
life. Paul had nothing to do with it, it was all through the grace of God.

Application
What was true for Paul, is also true for you and your life. If you steer yourself away
from God’s plan He can intervene in a miraculous way. Let the miracle happen. Carry
on in faith that God will do His work in your life to turn things around for you and your
family. My faith throughout my life has carried over to my children and my husband.
Think of the phrase, God works in mysterious ways. Right? Yes! How else can you
explain when a Pharisee (Paul) consumed with Mosaic Law, that has a PhD for the law,

does a complete 180 -that doesn’t include the law at all. Paul’s salvation has nothing to
do with the laws. It’s just Jesus!!!! How does that man change, God!
Another thing to remember is God used an “ordinary” person, Ananias to do a great
work in Paul’s life. God didn’t choose John or Peter, He chose Ananias to lay hands-on
Paul, so he could receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God can also
choose you to do a great work in someone’s life. Living in grace means we don’t write
people off. You never know when the villain is going to become the hero. That is faith,
that is miraculous, that is God!

Chapter 2

Galatians 2:1-21 Week Three

²¹I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Galatians 2:1-21 NIV, http://www.biblegateway.com

Paul Accepted by the Apostles

2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. ²I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. ³Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. ⁴This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. ⁵We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

⁶As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. ⁷On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,^[^a^] just as Peter had been to the circumcised.^[^b^] ⁸For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. ⁹James, Cephas^[^c^] and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. ¹⁰All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

Paul Opposes Cephas

¹¹When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹²For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. ¹³The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

¹⁴When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

¹⁵“We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles ¹⁶know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in^[^d^] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

¹⁷“But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! ¹⁸If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

¹⁹“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰I 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. ²¹I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Don Felming writes, “For without such patience sinners could never be saved. Paul gave similar advice in his letters, but certain people twist the plain meaning of his words. Paul taught that sinners are saved by God’s grace, not by their good deeds, but ignorant and mischievous people distort his teaching to mean that good deeds are not important. They therefore do as they like and so ruin their lives (15-16).
The best way for Christians to protect themselves against the destructive influence of such false teaching is to learn more about Jesus Christ. They should concentrate on developing within themselves the qualities that are found in him (17-18).

Let’s read 2 Peter 3:8-18 to read a little bit more on how to live as a Christian through grace.

I love the scripture in 2 Peter because it clearly defines for us how we live as Christians – to be in constant readiness for the day of the Lord. For all of us to keep working at developing our relationship with Jesus, diving deeply into our intimacy with Him because He is so gracious to us, and He is patient with us. Instead of trying to do things/works for your glory or the glory of someone else, work on learning the word, work on your praise -crazy praise- work on aiming yourself with the wonderful words of Gods to equip yourself with battles from the enemy. Battles sometimes that you will not see right away. Connect yourself with Jesus! He is all we need.

Reflection

²¹I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

The last sentence in chapter two of Galatians, I feel, is one of the most profound sentences in the New Testament. If you have not memorized this verse, please try, because this verse has been life changing for me. Whenever I begin to fall away from grace, this scripture immediately enters my soul and completely and immediately turns me back to grace. Did Christ die for nothing? If we think we can do it on our own, if we think we must work off our sin for salvation, if you think there is more than Jesus, then you are saying the He did die for nothing.

If we are saved by doing good things and being good people, and following all the 618 laws, then why did Jesus come and die. If it depends on you and me being good people than Jesus died for nothing. Think about that for a minute, meditate on it. Jesus is the answer to everything, to all things. Jesus is it, there is nothing in addition. Jesus the only way to salvation, the key to happiness. It is a true love, it is loving the things He loves and hating the things He hates. This relationship with Jesus is what matters and it is something He desires with every one of us.

Exploring more

In the beginning of chapter two, Paul talks about the council at Jerusalem. This is the first disagreement in the church. How is one saved. Is it by grace or circumcision? Is it for only Jews or Gentiles too? James and the elders settled it once in for all Let’s read about it. Let’s read Acts chapter 15: 1-35.

Acts 15 New International Version, http://www.biblegateway.com

The Council at Jerusalem

15 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” ²This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. ³The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the believers very glad. ⁴When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.

⁵Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.”

⁶The apostles and elders met to consider this question. ⁷After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? ¹¹No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

¹²The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³When they finished, James spoke up. “Brothers,” he said, “listen to me. ¹⁴Simon^[a] has described to us how God first intervened to choose a people for his name from the Gentiles. ¹⁵The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

¹⁶“‘After this I will return
    and rebuild David’s fallen tent.
Its ruins I will rebuild,
    and I will restore it,
¹⁷that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
    even all the Gentiles who bear my name,
says the Lord, who does these things’^[b]—
¹⁸    things known from long ago.^[c]

¹⁹“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. ²⁰Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. ²¹For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

The Council’s Letter to Gentile Believers

²²Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. ²³With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:

Greetings.

²⁴We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. ²⁵So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— ²⁶men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. ²⁸It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

³⁰So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. ³¹The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. ³²Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. ³³After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. ^[34]^[d] ³⁵But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

Application

Righteousness through works does not exist, it is only Jesus. Stop caring about what others think of you. Only care what Jesus thinks of you. Do not let other people’s statements influence you or make you feel inferior. We are not less than anyone else. For example, it’s okay to have a TV, and it’s okay to watch TV, its okay for women to wear pants, and cut their hair short, it’s okay to be vegan or not be vegan, circumcised or uncircumcised, democrat, republican, or in between. Because food, clothing, phones, and TV have nothing to do with Jesus. Where we fall into trouble though is if we are letting what we watch on TV or hear on the Radio or see on our Instagram feeds begin to influence us away from Jesus. If it is, then do as the scripture in 2 Peter says, repentant and course correct, because the Lord is patient with us.

Paul says in chapter two that God does not show favoritism, Jew, or Gentile, He is at work in all of us. Don’t act one way on Sunday and then act differently on Tuesday or Wednesday because God knows your heart and He can’t be fooled. Stop fooling yourselves and others because you’re not fooling God. Be you, be authentic, trust the Holy Spirit in you and blaze forward in this life, being free of man-made laws and traditions. Live in grace that you can be your authentic self because God loves you and Jesus died for you. Don’t let that be for nothing.

Chapter 3

Galatians 3: 1-9 http://www.biblegateway.com

NIV

Faith or Works of the Law

3 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. ²I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? ³Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?^[^a^] ⁴Have you experienced^[^b^] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? ⁶So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”^[^c^]

⁷Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. ⁸Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”^[^d^] ⁹So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

NKJV

Justification by Faith

3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you ^[^a^]that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed ^[^b^]among you as crucified? ²This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? ⁴Have you suffered so ^[^c^]many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

⁵Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— ⁶just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” ⁷Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. ⁸And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” ⁹So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

AMP

Faith Brings Righteousness

3 O you foolish and thoughtless and superficial Galatians, who has bewitched you [that you would act like this], to whom—right before your very eyes—Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified [in the gospel message]? ²This is all I want to ask of you: did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying [the requirements of] the Law, or was it the result of hearing [the message of salvation and] with faith [believing it]? ³Are you so foolish and senseless? Having begun [your new life by faith] with the Spirit, are you now being perfected and reaching spiritual maturity by the flesh [that is, by your own works and efforts to keep the Law]? ⁴Have you suffered so many things and experienced so much all for nothing—if indeed it was all for nothing? ⁵So then, does He who supplies you with His [marvelous Holy] Spirit and works miracles among you, do it as a result of the works of the Law [which you perform], or because you [believe confidently in the message which you] heard with faith?

⁶Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, [as conformity to God’s will and purpose—so it is with you also]. ⁷So understand that it is the people who live by faith [with confidence in the power and goodness of God] who are [the true] sons of ^[^a^]Abraham. ⁸The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news [of the Savior] to Abraham in advance [with this promise], saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” ⁹So then those who are people of faith [whether Jew or Gentile] are blessed and favored by God [and declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with Him] along with Abraham, the believer.

Reflection

Paul is writing this letter because he thinks their hearts have been stolen away. Did they receive the spirit by works of the law or believing what they heard. It’s not about works. When we start to listen to views and ideas of other people that are not Christians, sometimes they make us question if what we believe is true, we start to question, and unbelief can sink in. Questions can come into your mind, like “How do I know if I received the Holy Spirit.” If I had to work for it, then I would have earned it and then I would know it. When unbelief comes into the picture, human nature gets a foothold, and this is dangerous territory. God’s plan is contrary to human nature. Human nature says, If it cost then we are invested. God says, It’s only faith in Jesus, nothing else, nothing in addition to Jesus. Paul calls them foolish. If you think about it, foolish sums it up pretty good. Your flesh can’t improve the work of God and if you think so then you most certainly are foolish.

In verse 7, Paul mentions that those who have faith are children of Abraham, let’s talk about Abraham’s faith a little more. Let’s read Genesis chapter 12; 1-9 to see why Paul says, “so those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.”

How strong is your faith? If God asks you to move your family to a foreign land, would you?

Charles Spurgeon calls Abraham, the “father of the faithful”. He goes on to say, “it required great faith of Abraham to be so obedient to God. He went out to find a land he had never seen. Abraham’s obedience-, I want you to notice that while it involved much loss, and required a vast amount of faith, yet it was based upon a very great promise, a promise most vast and unexampled. All were to be blessed who blessed him, and he was to become a blessing to the whole universe. Here is a strong inducement to obey, if faith can but believe the promise true; and brethren and sisters, when we venture for Christi’s sake to strike out into the path of separation, and to walk by faith, what a multitude of promises we have to cheer us onward.” “Certainly, I will be with you.” “No good thing will I withhold from them that walk uprightly “. “Trust in the Lord and do good, “ I will never leave thee nor forsake thee”……

Application

Paul believed that all suffering was useful and beneficial for your good. Does God move in your life more because you keep laws or because you have faith in His Word? If you don’t toe the line, does God not answer your prayers? If you don’t follow all 618 laws, will He not listen to you? We, I am not worthy and I, we, can’t perform our way to blessings and salvation and God’s love. There is no performance track with God. You can always ask God for help, no matter what. God’s love for you does not waiver! Your mistakes do not change His love for you! All works of God in our own lives are based on our faith. We must remember in our day to day that Holy Spirit is not earned, it is received by faith when we are reborn in Christ Jesus. Do not be foolish and bewitched.

What are some ways the enemy has tried to “bewitch” when it comes to your faith?

Galatians 3:10-18

Reflection

Paul continues to warn the Galatians about the false teachings that Jesus is not enough. The teachings that told the Galatians that they are not free in Christ but are still slaved to Jewish law. Paul has explained that the council at Jerusalem honored his teachings of the Gentiles (non-Jewish Christians), and confirmed that Gentiles did not first have to be converted to the Jewish religion. That faith in Jesus was enough. Jew and Gentile there was no favoritism by God, they were equal in the eyes of God. Paul has explained his path to redemption and spoke about his conversion to Christianity. Paul asks the Galatians to recall their own stories of their salvation to remember that feeling. Last week we learned that by faith we are all sons of Abraham, and we will be blessed.

Let’s reflect a little on our rebirth stories! Being in the water and coming out of the water changes you, remember what that felt like and hold on to it dearly.

What did you feel when you came out of the water? Let’s share our stories.

Here is what I felt.

My baptism in the Jordan River was completely life changing. When I professed my faith at 50 years old compared to when I was 7 years old was different. The declaration of faith and the entire experience was on a completely different level. The amount of love that I could feel from the heavens was unspeakable, meaning I can’t find a word in the English language that could adequately convey what I felt. In that moment although it was just a second or two was enough for me to tell my Savior, I’m getting it Jesus, I’m just starting to understand a little bit. Keep teaching me oh Lord! Thank you for not giving up on me, from now until the end of my days I will do everything that you ask me to do even if it’s scary. I will trust you in everything and I will not stop declaring your goodness and I will not hide my testimony from anyone because you saved me! You help me to realize that I have no enemies, that I want everyone to be saved. Even the people that don’t like me because I do not want anyone to go to hell. I want everyone to feel your love I want everyone to receive miracles from you, I will do everything for you because I love you! That is what my baptism was in the Jordan River. It was all of those things and so much more.

NIV

¹⁰For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”^[^a^] ¹¹Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”^[^b^] ¹²The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”^[^c^] ¹³Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”^[^d^] ¹⁴He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

The Law and the Promise

¹⁵Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[^e^] meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

NKJV

The Law Brings a Curse

¹⁰For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹But that no one is ^[^a^]justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” ¹²Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

¹³Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ¹⁴that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Changeless Promise

¹⁵Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. ¹⁶Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. ¹⁷And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God ^[^b^]in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. ¹⁸For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

AMP

¹⁰For all who depend on the Law [seeking justification and salvation by obedience to the Law and the observance of rituals] are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed (condemned to destruction) is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, so as to practice them.” ¹¹Now it is clear that no one is justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing] before God by the Law, for “The righteous (the just, the upright) shall live by faith.” ¹²But the Law does not rest on or require faith [it has nothing to do with faith], but [instead, the Law] says, “He who practices them [the things prescribed by the Law] shall live by them [instead of faith].” ¹³Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs [crucified] on a tree (cross)”— ¹⁴in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we would all receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith.

Intent of the Law

¹⁵Brothers and sisters, I speak in terms of human relations: even though a last will and testament is just a human covenant, yet when it has been signed and made legally binding, no one sets it aside or adds to it [modifying it in some way]. ¹⁶Now the promises [in the covenants] were decreed to Abraham and to his seed. God does not say, “And to seeds (descendants, heirs),” as if [referring] to many [persons], but as to one, “And to your Seed,” who is [none other than] Christ. ¹⁷This is what I mean: the Law, which came into existence four hundred and thirty years later [after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah], does not and cannot invalidate the covenant previously established by God, so as to abolish the promise. ¹⁸For if the inheritance [of what was promised] is based on [observing] the Law [as these false teachers claim], it is no longer based on a promise; however, God granted it to Abraham [as a gift] by virtue of His promise.

Covenants, what is a covenant. A covenant is an agreement/contract between two parties. Back in these times there was no drawn up contracts with notaries public, and 20 signatures later you had a binding agreement, no, back in these times, If two people wanted to enter into a covenant they would slaughter an animal and cut it in half. The one person would walk between the cut in half animal and say they agree to the terms and then the next person would do the same. The bloody mess and the cut apart animal symbolized what would happen to the person if they broke the covenant.

Read about the Lord’s covenant with Abram in Genesis 15:1-18 (Abram’s name is changed by God in Genesis 17 to Abraham). This covenant was made in a unique way, it was an unconditional covenant. Abraham fell asleep, this covenant wasn’t made the way in the traditional way because it was a made with only one person agreeing to the covenant. Abraham never walked through/between the pieces of the animals to declare his side of the covenant. It was only God making the promise. This covenant God made with Abraham was not conditional. Man couldn’t ruin it. No one could add anything to it. God gave it to Abraham by promise. We receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Application

God’s promise to us is real. Man could not break or change God’s promise to Abraham. Faith! We receive the sprit by Faith in the seed (Jesus). Remember God’s promise to us. Stay close to God and He will stay close to you. Don’t forget what it felt like to be baptized (Born Again)! Keep that feeling inside of your heart. It cannot be taken away from you.

Galatians 3:19-29

Reflection

The Jews were demanding the Gentiles that they had to submit to right of circumcision and follow the Mosaic Law. The law was otherwise known as the Mosaic Covenant this covenant was between God and the Nation of Israel promising blessing, safety, and prosperity in return for obedience to the precepts of the law. God made the law binding on Israel; He did not make the church bind to it.

Our birthright does not make us automatically Christians. Just because you are a Christian doesn’t mean your kids are. What is “born again” mean. You are not automatically born a Christian; you have to be born again a Christian. Every person has to make the decision for themselves to make Christ Lord. By faith (believing without seeing) we are blessed through the covenant God created with Abram. Paul tells us, that all who believe by faith are children of Abraham. Blessings do not come from the law they come by faith. In the Old Testament Jeremiah told us about the New Covenant. The New Covenant is not like the old covenant. The law is to show you how sinful you are, but Christ redeemed us.

NIV

⁹Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. ²⁰A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.

²¹Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. ²²But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Children of God

²³Before the coming of this faith,^[^a^] we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

²⁶So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, ²⁷for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

NKJV

Purpose of the Law

¹⁹What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. ²⁰Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

²¹Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. ²²But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, ^[^a^]kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. ²⁴Therefore the law was our ^[^b^]tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Sons and Heirs

²⁶For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

AMP

Purpose of the Law

Sons and Heirs

Let’s take a look at two covenants.

The Mosaic Covenant was not like the covenant with Abram. Read Exodus 19 – 24. This Mosaic covenant God established with the people of Israel at Mt. Sinai after He led them out of slavey in Egypt. The law was meant to govern and shape the people of Israel in the Promised Land. This covenant was a set of conditions God decreed to Moses that were outlined as the Ten Commandments. This was a conditional bilateral covenant because if the Jewish people otherwise known as Israelites, did not follow the laws (God’s commands) they would be punished. This is works, this is follow the law and be blessed. This is performance based. The law was never intended to impart life.

Now let’s look at the New Covenant

The New Covenant Jeremiah 31; 31-34 “God would make a new covenant unlike the one which Israel had broken. This coming day would bring forgiveness of sin, internal renewal of the heart, and intimate knowledge of God.” God’s promise

Luke 22; 14-23. The night of the Last Supper, “Jesus takes the cup and declares that his death would be the inauguration of this new covenant.

Application

God keeps his promises to us through the New Covenant. Love, Salvation, Grace, all through faith in Jesus! We live in the New Covenant (Jesus) Today! When we are in sin we live to self, but when we are renewed, we live to God. Grace through Jesus Christ changes us. It’s only Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic covenant. By faith we keep the law. In the OT they sacrificed animals as a substitute for washing sin away, but God gave us Jesus as a sacrifice for all because God knew we couldn’t keep the law. There are no walls with Christ. In Christ there is no Jew, no Greek, no Slave, no male, no female, it doesn’t apply in Christ! We are all sons of Abraham by faith. We need to stop putting new wine in old wine skins.

What is the problem with trying to pay off spiritual debt by doing good works?

Fellowship with other believers is so important to keep us close to God. This fellowship is the glue that holds us firm when we start to go off course. Remember we are not perfect, only God is perfect. We will go off course. That is why we need to be in God’s Word every day. We are lucky today because there are so many ways to stay connected to the Word of God. If are not connected in your church, start! Join in and volunteer, meet people, go to the events, etc. We have many apps that will read the Bible to us, we have You Tube and Google that we can read and study Bible verses. We have so many faith-based books we can also turn to. All of these things are tools we have today in our modern times.

Chapter 4

Week 7

Galatians Chapter 4 v1-11

NIV

4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. ²The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. ³So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces^[^a^] of the world. ⁴But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.^[^b^] ⁶Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[^c^] Father.” ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

⁸Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces^[^d^]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ¹⁰You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

NKJV

4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, ²but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. ³Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. ⁴But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born^[^a^] of a woman, born under the law, ⁵to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

⁶And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ^[^b^]“Abba, Father!” ⁷Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir ^[^c^]of God ^[^d^]through Christ.

Fears for the Church

⁸But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. ⁹But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

AMP

Sonship in Christ

4 Now what I mean [when I talk about children and their guardians] is this: as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave even though he is the [future owner and] master of all [the estate]; ²but he is under [the authority of] guardians and household administrators or managers until the date set by his father [when he is of legal age]. ³So also we [whether Jews or Gentiles], when we were children (spiritually immature), were kept like slaves under the elementary [man-made religious or philosophical] teachings of the world. ⁴But when [in God’s plan] the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the [regulations of the] Law, ⁵so that He might redeem and liberate those who were under the Law, that we [who believe] might be adopted as sons [as God’s children with all rights as fully grown members of a family]. ⁶And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ^[^a^]“Abba! Father!” ⁷Therefore you are no longer a slave (bond-servant), but a son; and if a son, then also an heir through [the gracious act of] God [through Christ].

⁸But at that time, when you did not know [the true] God and were unacquainted with Him, you [Gentiles] were slaves to those [pagan] things which by [their very] nature were not and could not be gods at all. ⁹Now, however, since you have come to know [the true] God [through personal experience], or rather to be known by God, how is it that you are turning back again to the weak and worthless elemental principles [of religions and philosophies], to which you want to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰[For example,] you observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored [to the point of exhaustion] over you in vain.

Reflection

The words of Paul might be confusing when he compares a child to a slave. This aspect of family life in the biblical times is very unfamiliar to us in today’s time and culture. Back then, in Jewish culture a child did not have rights to comment on scripture until is was of the age of 12 or 13. A Bar or Bat Mitzvah is a coming of age ceremony for Jewish boys and girls when they reach the age of 12 or 13. This ceremony marks the time when a boy or girl becomes a Jewish adult. This means that they are now responsible for their own actions and can decide for themselves how they would like to practice Judaism. Before we (you and I) came to Christ we were children, we were slaves being directed by the elementary principles of the world. This worldly principals are hard wired into our DNA. Principals of, karma, you get what you deserve, hedging our bets, knocking on wood, for good luck so things will turn out better than what we deserve. We are slaves to this thinking.

God sent Jesus, His son to redeem those under the law (vs 5) and basic principles of this world. Stop living with Karma, you are now free from captivity. You are free of anything that fear imprisons us in. Grace contradicts the principle you get what you deserve, Thank you Jesus!

Let’s read Psalm 103 v8-12 (David got it, he understood grace)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹²as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Let’s read Romans 8:15-17

¹⁵The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[^f^] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[^g^] Father.” ¹⁶The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Application

Do you know and understand grace? Are you walking in grace? Do you realize its not possible to earn it and have you stopped trying and striving to earn his favor. The life we are called to live is a life of faith. The faith in God and the power of the Holy Spirit. He does not treat us as our sins deserve. If you are having a hard time connecting to Jesus, communion offers us a time to declare that only Jesus is needed, just the cup, the blood of Jesus. Don’t let religion fool you into thinking only a preacher can administer communion. You can do it anytime, and you can do it in your home. You are known by God. You are loved by God. He is your Father.

Luke 22:19-20

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Mark 14; 22-24

²²While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”

²³Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

²⁴“This is my blood of the^[^c^] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.

Week 8

Galatians chapter 4 v 12-20

Faith and unity in Christ is what Paul is begging the people of Galatia to remember. When Paul was there, he ate with them, lived peacefully with them, he never tried to change their culture. They have history together. God worked Paul’s poor health brought him to the Galatians where he shared the Gospel with them the first time. The people would have done anything for Paul. You treated me so well, why are you turning away from me and listening to people that want the opposite of what I preached. Don’t forget the relationship with Jesus. Stop defaulting to the performance relationship. That is a job that is not a relationship with God.

NIV

¹²I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. ¹³As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, ¹⁴and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. ¹⁵Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

¹⁷Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. ¹⁸It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. ¹⁹My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

NKJV

¹²Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. ¹³You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. ¹⁴And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an ^[^a^]angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵^[^b^]What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. ¹⁸But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

AMP

¹²Believers, I beg of you, become as I am [free from the bondage of Jewish ritualism and ordinances], for I have become as you are [a Gentile]. You did me no wrong [when I first came to you; do not do it now]. ¹³On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time; ¹⁴and even though my physical condition was a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵What then has become of that sense of blessing and the joy that you once had [from your salvation and your relationship with Christ]? For I testify of you that, if possible, you would have torn out your own eyes and given them to me [^[^a^]to replace mine]. ¹⁶So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? ¹⁷These men [the Judaizers] eagerly seek you [to entrap you with honeyed words and attention, to win you over to their philosophy], not honorably [for their purpose is not honorable or worthy of consideration]. They want to isolate you [from us who oppose them] so that you will seek them. ¹⁸Now it is always pleasant to be eagerly sought after [provided that it is] for a good purpose, and not just when I am with you [seeking you myself—but beware of the others doing it]. ¹⁹My little children, for whom I am again in [the pains of] labor until Christ is [completely and permanently] formed within you— ²⁰how I wish that I were with you now and could change my tone, because I am perplexed in regard to you.

Week 9 Galatians Chapter 4 v21-31

Reflection

God’s promises are true, and He will keep them. Paul continues to urge the people to remember their freedom in Jesus. In the end of Chapter four he tries to appeal to them by recalling an Old Testament scripture that they will remember. A story from Genesis 16, Hagar and Sarah, that will beautifully illustrate the old covenant and the new covenant that God made with his people.

In today’s modern time we can forget the truth that we are daughters of the King. We tend to still carry our last disappointment into our next venture, into our next thing. Why do we continue to live in slavery. Why don’t we forget the last disappointment and move forward. Why do we play it safe. Why do we water down our dreams. We must always remember the faithfulness of God and that His plans for us are far greater than we could ever imagine for ourselves. Why do we think we know better. Why do we give into the flesh. Why do we get stuck in fear that the enemy casts on us when we know that our God parted the Red Sea. Why do we give up and turn around when the fear sets in, we run away so quickly. Why don’t we pray and go to God and remember our faith. We do these things because we are human. We must make a choice to seek Him first in all things. It takes practice and discipline; it takes reading the Word and embracing yourself with the tools to fight off the enemy and the flesh. God doesn’t call on us to be perfect, He calls on us to be firm in our Faith. He calls us to not drift away.

We are going to go into Genesis 16, 17, and 21 and read the stories of Hagar and Ismeal, we are also going to read about the Covenant of Circumcision, and the story of the birth of Issac, but first let’s share what Old Testament story you find to be spiritually inspiring? Or what is an OT story that you remember or something that you just learned directly from the Bible that has stuck with you once you read it or heard it.

Genesis 16;1-16

Hagar and Ishmael

16 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; ²so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Abram agreed to what Sarai said. ³So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. ⁴He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.

When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. ⁵Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”

⁶“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

⁷The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. ⁸And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.

⁹Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” ¹⁰The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”

¹¹The angel of the Lord also said to her:

“You are now pregnant
    and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,^[^a^]
    for the Lord has heard of your misery.
¹²He will be a wild donkey of a man;
    his hand will be against everyone
    and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
    toward^[^b^] all his brothers.”

¹³She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen^[^c^] the One who sees me.” ¹⁴That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi^[^d^]; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

¹⁵So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. ¹⁶Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

Genesis 17; 1-27

The Covenant of Circumcision

17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty^[^a^]; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. ²Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

³Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, ⁴“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. ⁵No longer will you be called Abram^[^b^]; your name will be Abraham,^[^c^] for I have made you a father of many nations. ⁶I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. ⁷I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. ⁸The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

⁹Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. ¹⁰This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. ¹¹You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. ¹²For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. ¹³Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. ¹⁴Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

¹⁵God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. ¹⁶I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

¹⁷Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” ¹⁸And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”

¹⁹Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac.^[^d^] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. ²⁰And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. ²¹But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” ²²When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

²³On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. ²⁴Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, ²⁵and his son Ishmael was thirteen; ²⁶Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. ²⁷And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.

Genesis 21 1-7

The Birth of Isaac

21 Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. ²Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. ³Abraham gave the name Isaac^[^a^] to the son Sarah bore him. ⁴When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. ⁵Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

⁶Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” ⁷And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

Ok, now back to our study in Galatians.

Chapter 4 v21-31

NIV

Hagar and Sarah

²¹Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. ²³His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.

²⁴These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷For it is written:

“Be glad, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband.”^[^a^]

²⁸Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. ³⁰But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”^[^b^] ³¹Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

NKJV

Two Covenants

²¹Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. ²³But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, ²⁴which things are symbolic. For these are ^[^a^]the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— ²⁵for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— ²⁶but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷For it is written:

“Rejoice, O barren,
You who do not bear!
Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor!
For the desolate has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”

²⁸Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. ²⁹But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. ³⁰Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” ³¹So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

AMP

Bond and Free

²¹Tell me, you who are bent on being under the Law, do you not listen to [what] the Law [really says]? ²²For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman [Hagar] and one by the free woman [Sarah]. ²³But the child of the slave woman was born according to the flesh and had an ordinary birth, while the son of the free woman was born in fulfillment of the promise. ²⁴Now these facts are about to be used [by me] as an allegory [that is, I will illustrate by using them]: for these women can represent two covenants: one [covenant originated] from Mount Sinai [where the Law was given] that bears children [destined] for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵Now Hagar is (represents) Mount Sinai in Arabia and she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶But the Jerusalem above [that is, the way of faith, represented by Sarah] is free; she is our mother. ²⁷For it is written [in the Scriptures],

“Rejoice, o barren woman who has not given birth;
Break forth into a [joyful] shout, you who are not in labor;
For the desolate woman has many more children
Than she who has a husband.”

²⁸And we, [believing] brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children [not merely of physical descent, like Ishmael, but are children born] of promise [born miraculously]. ²⁹But as at that time the child [of ordinary birth] born according to the flesh persecuted the son who was born according to [the promise and working of] the Spirit, so it is now also. ³⁰But what does the Scripture say?

“Cast out the bondwoman [Hagar] and her son [Ishmael],
For never shall the son of the bondwoman be heir and share the inheritance with the son of the free woman.”

³¹So then, believers, we [who are born again—reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] are not children of a slave woman [the natural], but of the free woman [the supernatural].

Application

Jesus said Flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirt, he told Nicodemus that’s why he must not be just born, that we must be born again. (see John 3 vs 1-12) People living of the flesh will never understand living in faith. This is no inheritance for the slave child. Inheritance only comes to one child, the child of the promise. You can’t mix legalism and grace. Remember the faithfulness of God instead of the failures of your past. God parted the Red Sea then and He is the same God that is with us now. Our God does not make mistakes and He does not change, and He tells you the truth. It might not be the Red Sea in front of us, but whatever is holding you back pray to God to part it for you. He hears the cries from His people. He is faithful. He keeps His promises.

Hagar and Sarah Recap

Two Women, two covenants; law vs grace
Hagar is the old covenant, old covenant gives birth, law gives birth to law children who are slaves for the rest of their lives, they are condemned. They are under the curse of the law. Ishmeal born work of the flesh.
Jews who have not come to faith in Christ are no different than Ishmael. Spiritual they are Ishmaels. They are unbelievers and they are in bondage.
Sarah was free, Isaac was the promise from God, supernatural birth. Supernatural does not please the flesh.

Chapter 5

Week 10

Chapter 5, v 1-15

Reflection

In the last four chapters of Galatians Paul has told us and given us many examples of how legalism is slavery. Now in the last two chapters, these last 3 weeks we will talk about application, how-to live-in Christ apart from rules. We are used to rules. Rules are easier, rules are safe. The questions is, how do we live in grace and how does that grace help us walk in righteousness. How do we live in Christ. We do what the Bible tells us, “we hold firmly to the word” 1Corinthians 15; v2, “we hold our original conviction (faith) firmly to the very end.” Hebrews 3;14 Firm, firmly means not flexible. Merriam Webster defines the word firm as “securely or solidly fixed in place-not weak or uncertain.”

We must not cherry pick, we must not be on the fence, we can’t have one foot in and one foot out. It’s all or it’s nothing. Paul begins this chapter with a warning to Christians, that if you embrace the teaching of the Jews that tell you there are laws for salvation then Christ is no benefit to you. What does that mean for us? If we fall back into legalism (trying to earn our way to salvation through works of our own), then Christ died for nothing. Then you don’t believe in the finished work of Jesus. Unbelief is a choice. If you have disbelieved the Gospel, then you are calling God a liar. The Gospel says Jesus is enough. We must believe this, and we must embrace faith. Today, now, we are saved by faith, but we are not wearing the crown of righteousness. Jesus wears that crown for us. It’s Christ’s righteousness that we put on like clothing everyday so we can stand before God, we are able to approach God, because we know that God receives us in the righteousness of his Son. We don’t earn standing with God, He gives it to us, he imputed to us. What does impute mean, “Imputation thus refers to the way that Jesus’s full obedience that meets the demands for what is required for peace with God can count on behalf of his people. Imputation describes the legal means by which our perfect representative’s actions can benefit us by faith.”

Chapter 5, 1-15

NIV

Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

²Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. ⁴You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. ⁵For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

⁷You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. ¹¹Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. ¹²As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Life by the Spirit

¹³You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^[^a^]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[^b^] ¹⁵If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

NKJV

5 Stand^[^a^] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ²Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is ^[^b^]a debtor to keep the whole law. ⁴You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. ⁵For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁷You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. ⁹A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

¹¹And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. ¹²I could wish that those who trouble you would even ^[^c^]cut themselves off!

¹³For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. ¹⁴For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

AMP

Walk by the Spirit

5 It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed].

²Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], Christ will be of no benefit to you [for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation]. ³Once more I solemnly affirm to every man who receives circumcision [as a supposed requirement of salvation], that he is under obligation and required to keep the whole Law. ⁴You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be ^[^a^]justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing]. ⁵For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. ⁶For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

⁷You were running [the race] well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth? ⁸This [deceptive] persuasion is not from Him who called you [to freedom in Christ]. ⁹A little ^[^b^]leaven [a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers] leavens the whole batch [it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church]. ¹⁰I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view [contrary to mine on the matter]; but the one who is disturbing you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty. ¹¹But as for me, ^[^c^]brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision [as I had done before I met Christ; and as ^[^d^]some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation], why am I still being persecuted [by Jews]? In that case the stumbling block of the cross [to unbelieving Jews] has been abolished. ¹²I wish that those who are troubling you [by teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation] would even [go all the way and] castrate themselves!

¹³For you, my brothers, were called to freedom; only do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the ^[^e^]sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness), but through ^[^f^]love serve and seek the best for one another. ¹⁴For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].” ¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another [in bickering and strife], watch out that you [along with your entire fellowship] are not consumed by one another.

Let’s explore a few more scriptures about loving others.

Leviticus 19:18

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁸Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community but love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

Romans 12:17-18

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁷Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. ¹⁸If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Philippians 2:3

Christian Standard Bible

³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.

Application

Be a believer in God’s LOVE. He Loves You! Love fosters faith, which means trust. We believe in the One that was sent. We trust Jesus’ love for us. The useful application of loving your neighbor as yourself, is do not think of yourself more highly than you ought. Always go to Jesus as the example. Jesus was fine with being called a carpenter and happy to be mistaken as the Gardner. He served his followers by washing their feet, He welcomes us to sit at his table and he will serve us. Look at Paul in Acts, Chapter 18, he made tents with the people and in Acts 28, he picked up sticks to use as firewood. Romans 12 tells us to “be devoted to one another in love.” Our actions and service should be a reflection of Christ and how he loves. Our freedom in Christ doesn’t mean we have permission to do whatever we want. It frees us of the prison of self-absorption. He frees us of the prison of fear. Beware of coping mechanism of fear which can lead to indifference. Beware of being offended. When we live as daughters of the King, WE understand that Christ in us means we are changed, we are different, we are set apart and we should treat others as Christ would treat them. With love. When we serve others, when we love others, when we are kind to others, it is pleasing to God. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.

Romans 12: 1-16

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ²Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[^a^] faith; ⁷if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[^b^] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

⁹Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹²Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[^c^] Do not be conceited.

Who is someone the Holy Spirit is putting on your heart for you to commit to serve this week with love? What will you do?

Week 11

Reflection

How do we know if we are living in Faith and living by the Spirit, well what does Jesus say in the scriptures, let’s look in Matthew Chapter 7. Specifically verses, 18-20, (18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20) Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Jesus said you can tell a lot about a person by looking at the fruit that his or her life produces.

How have you found this to be true in your life?

Last week, Paul told the Galatians what freedom in Christ was and how they should humble themselves and serve one another in Love. This week let’s explore how we get in step with the Holy Spirit and put to death selfish desires and the fruit of the flesh. First, who is the Holy Spirit, as the Holy Spirit can be misunderstood. I know this because I have misunderstood this part of the Trinity. I met with Pastor about the Holy Spirit, and he gave me a book to study by John Bevere, it’s called The Holy Spirit. This book is helping me know Him better.

Here is what John Bevere says, “The Holy Spirit is infinite in majesty, glory, splendor, wisdom, knowledge, and holiness, and if we believe that He, as a Person (not human), has an accord with the Father and Son to take possession of our lives and make good out of them, then we will fall on our faces in holy awe.”

The Holy Spirit has a mind – Romans 8:27, a will – 1 Corinthians 12:11, emotions, such as love and joy – Gal 5:22, He comforts – Acts9:31, He speaks – Hebrews 3:7, He speaks clearly – 1 Timothy 4:1, He teaches – 1 Corinthians 2:13, He can be made to feel sorrow – Ephesians 4:30, He can be insulted – Hebrews 10:29, He can be resisted – Acts 7:51, and He can be lied to – Acts 5 1-11. – John Bevere

The Holy Spirit is the most amazing, wonderful, kind, tender, sensitive, mighty person on the face of the earth. God is not here, and Jesus is not here, but the Holy Spriit, He is here!! If Jesus never left the earth, then the Holy Spirit would never have come alongside us.

Let’s read;

John 14; 16-18, 26

Acts 1:4

The gift of the Father – The Holy Spirit. He speaks internally. Are you listening?

We have to desire the Holy Spirit – to want to be close to Him, just like we desire to be close to Jesus. In order to do this, we must be focused on Him and not on the flesh. If we focus on desires of the flesh, we are dead. If you are not living a life led by the Holy Spirt, How do we start. First, we can stop wanting instant gratification. We tend to want everything right now; we don’t want to wait. We want quick answers. We don’t wait on the Lord. We don’t sit in his presence. We are not patient, we are constantly filled with worry and fear, and we pray but we don’t expect God to answer our prayers. So, have faith and believe God for the answered prayer, expect the Lord to save. Stop being scared. Learn His word and be committed to the end. Be okay in the suffering. Don’t take matters into your own hands, don’t doubt what God can do, and don’t put your trust in People over God. Stay connected to Him.

Chapter 5 v 16-26

NIV

¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[^a^] you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

NKJV

Walking in the Spirit

¹⁶I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[^a^]adultery, ^[^b^]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹envy, ^[^c^]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³^[^d^]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

AMP

¹⁶But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the ^[^a^]sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. ¹⁷For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the ^[^b^]sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. ¹⁹Now the practices of the ^[^c^]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), ²⁰^[^d^]idolatry, ^[^e^]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], ²¹envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the ^[^f^]sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

²⁵If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. ²⁶We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

Application

Does Good Friday make more sense than Pentecost? Jesus dying on the cross and paying for our sins so we can have eternal salvation is a remarkable event that we embrace as believers. But, the supernatural idea of the Holy Spirit sweeping into the Upper Room on Pentecost makes us a little cautious. Why does hearing someone speak in tongues freak us out sometimes. When Jesus was here on earth, He dwelt among the people teaching, and healing, and comforting, and convicting. Jesus is not here now, and He won’t be back until He comes on the cloud on the Day of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is with us now, He indwells us, the believer, in the same way, as Jesus did back then when he walked on this earth. Unlike Jesus, the Holy Sprit can be everywhere and with everyone all at once! He is not limited by time or space. That is why Pentecost is so important. The Holy Spirit is not an “it” or a mystical power, He is God. He gave power to the church, the Holy Spirit changed Peter and moved 3000 people together, as one body in Christ. He was involved in the lives of early believers and He wants to be involved in every area of our lives today. Invite the Holy Spirit to do work in you, invite the Holy Spirit into your home, invite the Holy Spirit to your workplace. Give Him permission to be supreme authority in your life. Run to Him and desire to be so close to Him that if He stopped moving you would crash right into Him. Pray to the Lord to give you His peace and His Spirit.

How do you know if you’re living in grace, it’s easy, grace makes you a servant.
Stay connected to Him, the fruit will come.

If you want to read about Pentecost see Acts chapter 2.

Chapter 6

Galatians Chapter 6

Reflection

We are at the last chapter in Galatians, our last week of this Bible Study. One of the many reasons why I like Galatians is because it is different than the other letters that Paul wrote. Paul has a different tone with these folks. They have angered him. This letter in many ways is harsh. He starts Galatians defending his credentials and let’s face it, when you have to start your letter, your text, your conversation in defense, well that is not good. The Judaizers, (people that were Jewish Christians that told Gentile Christians that you first had to convert to Judaism in order to be saved, that Jesus wasn’t enough-you needed Jesus and circumcision, and keeping a kosher diet, etc.), these people were like Santa Claus with their naughty and nice list and this is why Paul was so angry because the Galatians were being foolish, they were bewitched by these people. They were sewing up the veil that God ripped down when Christ died for our sin.

I heard a Pastor put it this one once and I’m going to share it with you –

“You go into a restaurant sit down and enjoy your dinner and then when you are finished, the waitress stops by your table, clears your plates, and says, it’s your lucky day, you tab has been paid for. You got a free dinner tonight! And then you say, well can I go back and wash the dishes, I mean I must do something to work off my meal.” What an insult that is to the good news that you got a free dinner, what an insult to the one that paid for you. WE must get used to accepting our free gift from Jesus! In fact, BOAST about it to everyone you know. It is the only thing you should ever boast about!

In the closing of the letter, Paul is encouraging the people to do good to all, even those that are caught in transgressions. When you see a brother or sister in Christ break a boundary steer them back on the path, and when they come to you and admit their transgression, don’t point your finger at them and say shame on you instead embrace them with love and say I’m so glad you have come home. Restore them in gentleness instead of condemning them. The truth is we need others to help us in this life. God didn’t want us to do it alone. In fact, the next time someone comes into your life to help you, don’t be so proud that you don’t receive it, that person might have just been sent by Jesus himself. An answer to your prayers. Remember sometimes God answers our prayers in ways we were not expecting.

Who has God sent to you in your life to be an answered prayer or someone to help carry a burden?
Looking back over your life, have you ever turned away someone that might have been sent by the Lord out of pride?

Chapter 6 vs 1-18

NIV

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ²Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. ⁴Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, ⁵for each one should carry their own load. ⁶Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

⁷Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

¹¹See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

¹²Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. ¹⁴May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which^[^a^] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. ¹⁶Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to^[^b^] the Israel of God.

¹⁷From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

NKJV

Bear and Share Burdens

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[^a^]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ²Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵For each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

⁶Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

¹¹See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! ¹²As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ¹³For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by ^[^b^]whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

¹⁶And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁸Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

AMP

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. ²Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love]. ³For if anyone thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] he is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself. ⁴But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitudes, and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable ^[^a^]without comparing himself to another. ⁵For every person will have to bear [with patience] his own burden [of faults and shortcomings for which he alone is responsible].

⁶The one who is taught the word [of God] is to share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his spiritual and material support]. ⁷Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. ⁸For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in. ¹⁰So then, while we [as individual believers] have the opportunity, let us do good to all people [not only being helpful, but also doing that which promotes their spiritual well-being], and especially [be a blessing] to those of the household of faith (born-again believers).

¹¹See with what ^[^b^]large letters I ^[^c^]am writing to you with my own hand. ¹²Those who want to make a good impression in public [before the Jews] try to compel you to be circumcised, just so they will escape being persecuted for [faithfulness to] the cross of Christ. ¹³For even the circumcised [Jews] themselves do not [really] keep the Law, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh [that is, in the fact that they convinced you to be circumcised]. ¹⁴But far be it from me to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵For neither is circumcision anything [of any importance], nor uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [which is the result of a new birth—a spiritual transformation—a new nature in Christ Jesus]. ¹⁶Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule [who discipline themselves and conduct their lives by this principle], and upon the [true] Israel of God (Jewish believers).

¹⁷From now on let no one trouble me [by making it necessary for me to justify my authority as an apostle, and the absolute truth of the gospel], for I bear on my body the ^[^d^]branding-marks of Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me].

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my ^[^e^]brothers and sisters. Amen.

Psalm 84:10-12

The Message

10-12 One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship,

beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches.

I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God

than be honored as a guest in the palace of sin.

All sunshine and sovereign is God,

generous in gifts and glory.

He doesn’t scrimp with his traveling companions.

It’s smooth sailing all the way with God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Acts 13:42-43

The Message

^42-43When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to preach again the next Sabbath. As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism went along with Paul and Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick with what they’d started, this living in and by God’s grace.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The Message

^7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

James 4:4-10

The Message

^4-6You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”

^7-10So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him make himself scarce. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

Application

The one thing that is truly important in this life on earth is, have you been born again? Have you accepted His payment for your sins, have you received Jesus as your Savior. Be born again! Be the new person God has made you through the work of Jesus on the cross. If we sow to the flesh we will reap the flesh, but if we sow to the Spirt, we will reap from the Spirit. A life of peace and joy led by the Sprit will resist a life living in the flesh. Be slow to anger and don’t respond in anger, as anger and jealously are traps of the flesh. That is reaping from the flesh. Keep serving others and doing good, don’t give up because you will not see an immediate harvest. You will be seen on the day of the Lord. You harvest will come on the day of the Lord. We must be good to all, but especially to our brethren because they are family. Stop being convenient and start caring about people. Do the work, Spread the Good News, and boast of Jesus to everyone. Do not fear the scars that come with being a believer. You will experience social suffering, you will be mocked, people will be hostile, you will be unfriended and unfollowed by people living in the flesh and let them unfollow and unfriend you. In closing, if you need a law to follow, if you need a rule to follow in order to feel worthy of what Jesus did on the cross for you, then follow this rule- John 13 v. 34. If you want to fulfill the law then go bear someone’s burden, love one another, be kind to one another.

John 13:34-35

The Message

^34-35“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

Galatians Study

Chapter One

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

The Law Brings a Curse

The Changeless Promise

Intent of the Law

Children of God

Purpose of the Law

Sons and Heirs

Purpose of the Law

Sons and Heirs

Chapter 4

Fears for the Church

Sonship in Christ

Two Covenants

Bond and Free

Chapter 5

Love Fulfills the Law

Walk by the Spirit

Leviticus 19:18

Christian Standard Bible

Romans 12:17-18

Christian Standard Bible

Philippians 2:3

Christian Standard Bible

Romans 12: 1-16

A Living Sacrifice

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

Love in Action

Chapter 6

Doing Good to All

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

Bear and Share Burdens

Be Generous and Do Good

Glory Only in the Cross

Blessing and a Plea

Bear One Another’s Burdens

Psalm 84:10-12

The Message

Acts 13:42-43

The Message

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The Message

James 4:4-10

The Message

The Message

Share this:

Welcome to God’s family.