Teaching (no posting) The Book of Galatians Study

So yeah, this should be fun. Let me preface this by stating under no circumstances am I trying to come across as a subject matter expert here, just wanting to contribute in a meaningful way. I will quote mostly from the Berean Study Bible, annotations when something else is being used! I will try my best to be fairly consistent with my updates to this, but for certain each new post I will try to make no later than a week apart.

So I won't follow a standard, verse by verse format for this. Reason being is Paul begins the book with intertwining thoughts. He begins with a pretty typical Pauline style introduction and then jumps right into this statement, "I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ." But then he kind of diverts his thoughts back to a different area before picking back up again with this idea of a false gospel.

So let's table this initial thought of what is this false gospel and why does Paul pronounce a curse on anyone who preach it, and let's begin with the introduction.

"Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead— and all the brothers with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

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

Paul identifies himself and provides a foundation for his legitimacy as an Apostle.

So who was Paul?

We first meet Paul in scriptures in Acts 7:58 and not long after he had a radical encounter with the risen Lord on his way to persecute more followers in Damascus. We know from other books that Paul was born in Tarsus (Acts 22:3) in the tribe of Benjamin (Philippians 3:5), he studied under the famed teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).

We also know that Paul once was known as Saul. Saul, meaning "prayed for", changed his name to Paul, meaning "small or humble", after converting to Christianity.

It's this aspect I'd like to focus on for my thoughts on this passage. That Jesus takes who we are at the moment we believe, and makes it who we were. Those former things do not need to be anymore. He gives us a new name, and sets us on a new path.

Philippians 3:13, "one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead"
Revelation 2:17, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it."
Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

More to come in my next post as we walk through the book of Galatians together.

Some things to think about:

1) In what ways has God made you new? What areas did you feel enslaved to that God has granted you freedom from? Take a minute to thank Him for that!

2) Meditate on the poem below, it's very popular Christian literature. What's in your life story? Looking back over the journey God has brought you on, can you see the journey and how God has led you through the good and the bad?

"Footprints"
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

Discussion thread here: Peanut Gallery - The Book of Galatians Study

Before I get going on this I think it may be helpful to share an itinerary of sorts so we can all see where I'd like this discussion to head. Again I emphasize, I am not a subject matter expert here. Some of you, most of you, would likely do better at presenting this than I. I am only trying to garner some thought and discussion on this one particular book of the Bible at the moment, so I won't be as thorough as what others may like. That's fine, we are all here to learn together.

1. Paul's Apostolic Authority (Galatians 1:6-2:14)
2. Do you want the good news or the bad news? (Galatians 2:15-3:14)
3. God's multi-ethnic family (3:6-4:31)
4. FREEDOM! (5:1-15)
5. Do you like fruit? (5:16-26)
6. Sowing and Reaping the harvest (6:1-18)

Now allow me the freedom to change these if I feel compelled to. I'm not looking at this as a hard guide, but rather a loosely designed pathway to navigate the book. Truth be told, a lot of Galatians intertwines with each other. It's like a very finely crafted rebuttal in a debate match. Paul really establishes the basis of the gospel and hits it over and over again.

I really look forward to the interactions and pray for the grace and wisdom to share some edifying thoughts.

Discussion thread is here: Peanut Gallery - The Book of Galatians Study

Before I begin, let me lead us in prayer:

Father, we seek you with our whole heart! Enlighten us through your word! Fill us with wisdom and understanding and may what we read and share be edifying! May your word take root in our hearts, and may it guide into a deeper understanding of who you are! We love you and we praise you for your goodness in the name of Jesus, Amen.

So in my first post here, I established some of what made Paul who he was, so I don't really want to rehash those items. But in these opening statements, Paul shares quite a bit of personal information about himself and his ministry's early days. He does this not as a means of recording a mini auto-biography, but rather a means to establish his Apostolic Authority. He is doing so to help reinforce why his message can be trusted as the true message.

So clearly one issue we need to realize is the infancy of the Church in these days. Galatians is estimated to have been written around 55 AD. Likely written just before the Jerusalem Council that Acts 15 records. Not just the infancy of the Church, but the infancy of those with whom Paul is writing. Gentiles had never before been allowed access to God, certainly not in the way they were now in Christ. I can imagine the difficulty that would come with trying to keep spiritual infants in line with truth when there are a number of wolves seeking to destroy.

Paul needed to establish his authority and credentials for sharing the gospel and why he can be trusted when he says the message he gave is the legitimate one.

SO what were Paul's credentials exactly? Well truth be told, he only had one.

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ga 1:11–12.

Paul's only claim to any kind of Apostolic Authority is that Jesus Himself gave it to him. Paul explains that immediately after his conversion on the road to Damascus, he went off into the wilderness and there learned directly from Jesus what the true gospel really is.

Now this is a rather interesting bit in itself. The wilderness is where Paul got the message. How many times in scripture do we see great people of faith finding God, or drawing near to God in the wilderness?

1. Moses and the Burning Bush
2. Moses receiving the Law
3. David running from Saul
4. Elijah experiencing the still small voice
5. John eating locust and wild honey
6. Jesus being tempted

There's great spiritual connection between being in a wilderness and yet drawing near to God in that environment. I believe it's a connection between losing the distractions of every day life, and just separating ourselves for the purpose of finding God. Now not all these people found God in the wilderness intentionally, but they still did, just as Paul grew in his knowledge out in the wilderness. I pray for myself to get off into a wilderness of sorts to seek the Lord.

Now Paul continues with his credentials and says something rather interesting.

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me,

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ga 1:15–16.

Paul had been chosen before birth. Now people use this verse along with others (Ps 139:13, Jeremiah 1:5, 1 Peter 1:1-2) to support the doctrine of pre-destination. It's an interesting topic and one we will discuss in the discussion thread. But Paul realized rather quickly that his life had meaning and purpose because God had chosen him.

It was only after Paul had received the gospel and had already preached it for some time that he visited with the original Apostles, he mentions Peter and James specifically. This visit I believe is the one recorded also in Acts 9:26-30.

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 9:26–30.

Barnabus was such a help to Paul in his ministry and it was because of Barnabus' encouragement that Paul got these opportunities to visit with the Apostles. Now this visit was likely not very long, Paul only mentions a couple of weeks in Galatians 1:18, but he would return some time later by revelation of the Spirit. I believe this is the visit recorded in Acts 11:25-30.

So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 11:25–30.

Again we see Barnabus having a hand in getting Paul involved in the ministry. Now you almost wonder if perhaps Peter returned to Antioch with Paul and Barnabus, for the next portion of Galatians discusses a rather intense exchange Paul has with Peter in Antioch.

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ga 2:11–14.

Peter is in Antioch visiting with the Gentile believers and because some Jewish Christians come to visit he backs away from them and no longer associates with them out of fear. Paul defends not necessarily the Gentiles, but he does defend the integrity of the gospel through this interaction. How could Peter tell anyone that they had only to have faith in Jesus to be saved, when he was treating them as less than worthy because they weren't circumcised? This is what the whole book of Galatians is really about. What is the real gospel? What are it's effects on life?

So that's a brief sort of overview here. I'd like to jump into some discussion topics. For reflection, I'm going to stick with the "Footprints" poem as it really kind of hits that wilderness theme.

"Footprints"
One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You'd walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."

Questions for discussion:

1. Paul received his message via revelation from Jesus. In what ways has Jesus revealed Himself to you (if you are comfortable sharing)? Did what he say to you give you cause for great joy? Did it frighten you in any way? How did it help shape you?
2. Looking back over your walk with God, what are some wilderness periods you've experienced and how have they helped shape your current walk with the Lord? Perhaps you are in one now, how can scripture's teachings on this encourage you?
3. Barnabus "was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith" (Acts 11:24), he was absolutely instrumental in getting Paul started on his ministry. Who are some of the people from your own lives and walk that were Barnabus like figures to you? How did they help set you on the path of serving the Lord? How did they help encourage you?
4. Sometimes we have to defend the gospel, even from those we might consider friends. What are some ways we can engage other believers in a way that defends the integrity of our faith, and is still loving and compassionate? It's very easy to just launch off into a debate trying to prove ourselves right, and forget that we are called to be loving in all we do.
5. On the topic of pre-destination, how do you understand the scriptures? Do you see all believers as being pre-selected like maybe Calvin would lead a person to believe? Do you believe in complete free will? Do you think it's a a mixture of the two? Perhaps there are some who are absolutely pre-determined for specific purposes, but the vast majority have free will to decide?

Thanks for hanging in there with me through this! I appreciate all the feedback and thoughts, I'll try to do better next time and until then, God bless!

Link to Discussion Thread: Peanut Gallery - The Book of Galatians Study

Sorry for the delay on these, this next one was rather intimidating but I began this teaching series not from a position of authority, but rather cooperation. So in the spirit of cooperation with you all my family in Christ we will continue this study soon. I had the next lesson ready, but I felt the Spirit tell me not to post it yet. So I will give it some more time.

Love you all in Christ!

The next lesson will be covering the gospel vs the Law. I promise I will keep it brief as it can be a very thorough topic of course. But while we wait, let’s discuss in the Peanut Gallery.

Topics to discuss:
1) What are some false gospels being preached in the world today? How can we as believers combat these false teachings in love?
2) Galatians 3:5 talks about the Spirit working miracles through believers, what are some miracles that you have witnessed or been part of in your walk with God?

Again, forgive me for the delay, but let us continue this study together. This post will cover the true issue facing the Galatian believers and the purpose for Paul to write this letter. What is the true gospel of Christ? I tried my best to keep this brief and I'm sure my words here will likely leave some wanting. I do apologize about that, but for the sake of brevity, I wanted to keep my thoughts shorter. As always, reflection questions are below, join me in the discussion in the Peanut Gallery (link at the end)

First before we begin, a prayer!

Father, we seek you with our whole heart! Enlighten us through your word! Fill us with wisdom and revelation so we may know you! May what we read and share be edifying! May your word take root in our hearts, and may it guide into a deeper understanding of who you are! We love you and we praise you for your goodness in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Gal 1:6-7 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

What is the gospel of Christ? What does the word gospel even mean? The word itself comes from the Greek word, euaggelion. It basically means just good news. So for example, when Jesus said Go into all the world and preach the GOSPEL to every creature, He literally meant, Go and tell everyone the good news. So what is the good news that Paul is desperately trying to defend here?

Well you can't have highs without lows, you can't have mountains without valleys, and you can't have good without bad. To really understand why the good news is good, we must know what the bad news is! So what is the bad news? Well without taking this too far off the trail here, as we are trying to study Galatians, the bad news is that our sins have separated us from God. They have caused an impassable divide that no man can traverse, no matter how hard they may try.

Rom 3:10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.

Even in our best efforts to please God, we fail. God gave us His standard of living back when He gave Moses the Law on Mount Sinai. He said, Keep My statutes and My judgments, for the man who does these things will live by them. I am the LORD. (Lev 18:5) The problem with this is our flesh. The power to keep the Law depends entirely upon my own flesh and ability. Our flesh, we ourselves, are too weak to keep God's Law perfectly. So condemnation came to all as a result.

Jas 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Rom 7:10 So I discovered that the very commandment that was meant to bring life actually brought death.
Rom 7:11 For sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through the commandment put me to death.

So the bad news is that we can't keep God's standard of righteousness on our own and as a result we stand condemned before Him. So where does the good news come in?

(Gal 2:16) know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal 2:21) I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.

God gave us all the gift of grace and said, "I know you can't keep my Law, but My Son did. Believe in Him and you shall live!" Those who put their faith in Jesus will find they've been justified in God's sight and will be declared righteous before Him.

Gal 3:11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”

That is indeed, great news! God doesn't ask me to be good enough to be pardoned, only that I believe. So what does that have to do with what is going on in Galatia?

Well Paul travelled through this region likely sometime around 47AD, likely just a couple decades after the ascension of Christ if we are to believe that happened around 33AD. The faith for the most part at this time was still very much a Jewish centered one. Those Jewish believers were teaching these Gentile converts that in order to be truly part of God’s covenant, they had to be circumcised and obey the Law of Moses. They were putting man-made requirements on top of God’s divine work.

These perverters of the gospel were telling people that God’s work, God’s grace (Gal 2:21) wasn’t enough, that they had to do in order to receive the full blessing as well. Their insistence was so fierce that when they visited Antioch to meet with Peter, Paul, Barnabus and others, Peter backed away from the Gentile believers and wanted nothing to do with them. That is until Paul stood up in defense of the gospel.

You see the gospel isn’t just a message we preach, it’s a lifestyle. The good news doesn’t just affect my spirit and soul, it should affect my physical reality as well, Paul gets to this later in the book so I won’t cover that too much just now. By Peter backing away from the Gentiles, he was rebuilding the wall of division and hostility between Jew and Gentile (Eph 2:14-16). This was especially heinous because it was Peter who was the first to preach to Gentiles. In the book of Acts, chapter 10, we can read the story about Cornelius. The struggle that Peter had when told to go and preach to these Gentiles, and the vicious response he received after returning from Jewish believers. It was Peter who began to teach others that Gentiles were now to be included in full fellowship of the church, no longer separated from the presence and body of Christ. Now he was rebuilding that wall and bringing harm to the message of the gospel that says God loves all and wants to save all, not just some.

17 But if, while we seek to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, does that make Christ a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 If I rebuild what I have already torn down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker. Galatians 2:17-18

Peter was committing a horrible sin by acting in this way and Paul stood up to him. The Law’s only real purpose now that Jesus has come is to lead people to Christ (Gal 3:23-24). Through the Law, we gain knowledge of our sin (Romans 3:20) and the knowledge of how sinful we are should lead us to Christ. Once we are in Christ though, the rules and regulations of the Law hold us no more. It’s as though we die.

Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? 4 Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. Romans 7:1, 4

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:19-20

When I see just how utterly hopeless and helpless my situation is through the Law, the only recourse I have is to put that old life on the cross, and believe in God to give me new life through His Spirit.

This glorious news is available to all people of every ethnicity and gender.



Join in the discussion in the Peanut Gallery