The Epistles the Practical Christian Life Galatians as

The Epistles & the Practical Christian Life Galatians as an Example of Genre © John Stevenson, 2008

What does it mean to you that the Bible contains personal letters to various churches?

tia Gala

The Question How does one become right with God? Faith in Christ alone Faith in Christ plus circumcision

Key Points in Paul’s Purpose • To establish his apostleship as being independent of Jerusalem and the other apostles. • To demonstrate that a man is justified through faith alone. • To establish the method of Christian living that is not according to the keeping of the Law, but through the Spirit’s work in our lives as we live in faith and in love.

Galatians Chapters 1 -2 Chapters 3 -4 Chapters 5 -6 History Doctrine Practice Vindication Exposition Application Paul’s apostleship and vindication come from the Lord Man is justified through faith alone We are to walk by faith and love Source of the gospel Defense of the gospel Application of the gospel

Style of Writing This epistle is short and to the point. Its style is abrupt, passionate and full of strong emotion. • I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him (1: 6). • If any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (1: 9). • You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? (3: 1). • Are you so foolish? (3: 3). • I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves (5: 12).

Romans Galatians • Calm reflection • Passionate, emotional • Christianity in the study • Christianity on the battlefield • Later Epistle • Earlier Epistle • Justification by faith set forth systematically • Justification by faith defended from attacks • Our Constitution • Our Declaration of Independence

Galatians 1: 1 -3 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…

Past Tense Present Tense Future Tense Who gave Himself for our sins So that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father To whom be the glory forevermore

Galatians 1: 6 -9 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 6

Paul and Jerusalem • Paul’s Gospel did not come from Jerusalem (Chapter 1) • Paul’s Gospel did not change in Jerusalem (2: 1 -10) • Paul’s gospel was not changed by Jerusalem when they came to Antioch (2: 11 -16) Antioch Jerusalem

Who has Bewitched Does God give You? Did you receive the Spirit and the Spirit by the Miracles by the works of the Law or by Faith? Law, or by Did you suffer hearing with so many things faith? in vain? Are you Having begun by so foolish? the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Salvation is through faith Appeal to of Abraham Appeal to Scripture Appeal to friendship Appeal to Adoption Appeal to the Law Appeal to the Covenant Promise Appeal to the Tutor

If you are free… Don’t be entangled in a yoke of bondage Do good to all men Don’t turn your Freedom into an Opportunity for The flesh Walk by the Spirit Share all good things Bear one another’s Burdens

Galatians 6: 14 -16 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

Three Steps in Bible Study Observation Interpretation Application

Galatians 1: 8 -9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

Principles of Biblical Interpretation • Consider the Genre • Consider the Author – His purpose in writing – His relevant background – His use of words • Consider the Context – The immediate context – The overall argument of the book – The context of the rest of the Bible

Examine Galatians 5: 2 -12 • If you were to teach this passage to an adult Sunday School class, how would you apply it to them, based on the meaning of the text? • Present both your application as well as how you arrived at that application.

Share one or two favorite verses from Galatians and explain why they are so significant to you