rosegarden

Q1. (Galatians 6:1-5) What does Paul mean, “caught in a sin”? What would restoration of a such brother or sister look like in his or her life? Who should restore this person? In what spirit should it be done? What is the result of trying to restore a person without humility? 1.a. Caught in sin means, if you are not walking in the Spirit and into the Word of God, it sneaks up on you in a way that you do not recognize it and before you know it you are caught. b. & c, You know you are wrong and need to be restored, you seek the counsel of someone who is filled with the Spirit of God, you turn from your sin and ask God's forgiveness. If we confess our sin, He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousnes. We have a mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus. d. The restoration should be done gently and in love. e. The result of trying to restore a person without humility is that they should not think they are better than the person they are trying to restore because they could fall into sin just as easily.

Q4. (Galatians 5:24-25) What does it mean to “crucify the flesh with its passions and desires”? Can a person be a Christian without “crucifying the flesh”? How have we produced such a crop of lukewarm Christians? 4.a. Crucifying the flesh means to put it to death, turn away from sin and not by your own will power but by the Holy Spirit. b. Not really, maybe a very weak one. c. Some Christians don't believe they have to die to self. They do their own thing, overeat, watch whatever they want on TV, are distracted by everything. Dying to self, repentance, is not taught in a lot of Churches today.

Q3. (Galatians 5:22-23) How does the Holy Spirit produce this fruit in our lives? What theological term would you use to identify this process? How can it be that a person who has been a “Christian” for years displays few or none of these fruits? Are they saved, but just immature? What does James 2:17-19 say about this? Is that too harsh? 3.a. The Holy Spirit produces this fruit in our lives as we walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. When we walk in the Spirit we are being changed from glory to glory. b. This process is called "Sanctification". c. The reason that I believe few of these fruits are being displayed in Christians, that have been saved for years, is because they are still walking in the flesh. d. Yes, they are saved,but immature and need to repent and start being lead by the Spirit. e. Faith without works is dead, then he goes on to say. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. d. Yes, it is harsh, but needs to be said to shake them up.

Q2. (Galatians 5:22) The fruit of patience should be understood as forbearance, that is, putting up with people around us without exploding. Why is this patient forbearance such an important personal character element? Why is it so important for peace in the family and in the Christian community? 2.a. Patient forbearance is an important personal character element because it is a testimony of how much of a follower we are of Christ and showing His love and forbearance. We can only do this by walking in the spirit and not in the flesh. We can never win someone to Christ if we are impatient and irritated. b. In working so close with people we, certainly, can get aggravated with some of their idiocyncrities but we need not forget we have some too. In order to have peace we need to let go of a lot of things. We need to ask for God's love in these situations.

Q1. (Galatians 5:22a) Love is the first and primary fruit of the Holy Spirit, but joy and peace are inseparable from love. Why can’t joy and peace exist apart from love – love for God and love for our neighbors? Joy and peace cannot exist without love. God loved us first that is why we can love Him. He give us the love to love Him with. I love the song "Thank you for loving me" by Tommy Walker. When we have God's love, He fills our heart with joy and peace and with that filling we can love others.

Q4. (5:21) Why do some Christians resist accepting Paul’s warning in 5:21 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11? What statement might these Christians desire to substitute for Paul’s warning if they could reword the Scripture? 4.a. Because they are deceived. They believe, once saved always saved. They keep sinning and think grace covers it. God requires holiness. They need to repent, turn from their sin, submit to the Holy Spirit and walk in the Spirit. b. You can live like you want, after the flesh, and all you have to do is confess your sins.

Q1. (Galatians 5:13-15) Have you ever seen Christians act as if they were lawless? How do Spirit-led Christians fulfill the spirit of the law? What does backbiting and rudeness in a congregation say about the spiritual climate of that congregation (5:15)? 1. a. Many Christians act as if they are lawless, pleasing their own selves and living after the flesh and not by the Spirit. b. Spirit-led Christians fufill the spirit of the law by serving one another in love. The word says that thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind and all thy strength and thy neighbor as thyself. c. Backbiting and rudeness in a congregation says that they are not walking in the Spirit but after the flesh, satisfying their own selves and not walking in love. They are sowing to the flesh and not to the Spirit. There is envying and strife, there is confusion and every evil work.

Q5. (Galatians 5:11) What is “the offense of the cross” that offended the Jews? How does the cross offend people in our day? Have you noticed Christians softening their proclamation of the cross? Does this help them communicate more clearly to our age or does it compromise the true message? 5.a. They crucified the Holy One of Israel (their Messiah). They preached circumcision rather than being persecuted for preaching the cross of Jesus Christ. b. They do not believe they sin and that they need a savior who shed His blood for them. c. Yes, it is not preached as it should be and once was. d. No it does not, it compromises the true message. We fear man and not God.

Q3. (Galatians 5:19-21) If you were to divide the works of the flesh into several groups, what would those groups be? Sexual Immorality Idolatry (other gods) Not loving your neighbor Unrestrained partying.

Q1. (Galatians 5:13-15) Have you ever seen Christians act as if they were lawless? How do Spirit-led Christians fulfill the spirit of the law? What does backbiting and rudeness in a congregation say about the spiritual climate of that congregation (5:15)? 1.a. Many Christians act as if they are lawless, pleasing their own selves and living after the flesh and not by the Spirit. b. Spirit-led Christians fufill the spirit of the law by serving one another in love. The word says that thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind and all thy strength and thy neighbor as thyself. c. Backbiting and rudeness in a congregation says that they are not walking in the Spirit but after the flesh, satisfying their own selves and not walking in love. They are sowing to the flesh and not to the Spirit. There is envying and strife, there is confusion and every evil work.

Q2. (Galatians 5:16-18) We are told that it’s impossible for a Christian to live a sinless life. What do these verses teach about that? In what way does yielding to the Spirit suppress the power of the old nature (the flesh)? If Spirit-led living is possible, why do people claim that it’s impossible not to sin? 2. a. The Holy Spirit frees us from the bondage of the corrupt sinful nature. If we walk in the spirit we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The Spirit and the flesh are contrary one of another. b. If we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the law. When yielding to the Spirit it puts the Spirit in control and delivers us from our sinful nature. c. People claim that it’s impossible not to sin because they are walking in the flesh. The Holy Spirit restrains us. When we walk in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit is present to keep us from doing what the flesh wants.

Q4. (Galatians 5:5-6) Circumcision had been the primary “mark of identity” for a believer in God. In what way has the Spirit become the new “mark of identity” for the believer? What is the evidence of the Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life according to verse 6? 4.a. When we ask Jesus into our heart, the Holy Spirit comes in to take up residence in our heart and is the new "mark of identity" for the believer. b. The evidence of the Spirit's presence in a believer's life according to verse 6 is faith expressing itself through love.

Q3. (Galatians 5:4) Exactly what does Paul mean by “fall from grace” here? What has occurred that has caused this fall? How can present-day Christian legalism cause such a “fall from grace”? 3. a. Fall from grace means - not trusting Christ to be your Savior but trusting the Law to save you. b. In committing themselves to be circumcised, they became lawkeepers, which alienated themselves from Christ and therefore, have fallen from grace. c. By falling into unbelief, obeying rules and regulations, doing good things believing these things will save them. In losing God's favor we are left to our own devices.

Q2. (Galatians 4:19-20) How is Paul’s grief over his spiritual children like that of a parent seeing children stray? What does it look like when Christ is formed in a person? What is the process involved in this spiritual formation? 2.a. You can feel Paul's plea and pain for his spiritual children. It is the same as a parent who's child has gone back into the world and a parent crying out to God for them. b. It is person walking in faith, believing God and walking in love and in the Spirit. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him. Col 2.6 c. Salvation, deliverance, renewed mind. This is obtained thru surrender, submission and obedience. A person is to be discipled in the truth of God's Word.and to grow in Him. 2 Peter 3:18

Q1. (Galatians 4:10-11) Is celebrating different special worship days essentially wrong? Why did Paul grieve over the Galatians’ observances? What significance did these have in terms of their movement towards Judaism? How can we be blessed by observing special days in our era? How can observance of special days become legalistic for Christian believers? 1.a. No, b. Because they had received Christ and had experiened the Holy Spirit setting them free from sin and went back into being slaves thinking they had to be circumcised to be saved and not operating in the liberty with which Christ had sent them free. c. Because they were going back into legalism. d. We can be blessed because it is a special time of appreciating what God in Christ Jesus has done for us and it is a special time to witness to unbelievers. e. If we regard these special days as a legal obligation or something to make us feel pious or righteous they can lead us into legalism.

Q4. (Galatians 4:6-7) How does the Spirit’s filling demonstrate we are full sons? What is the special sense in which the Aramaic word abba is used to speak to one’s father? What is the significance of being heirs of God? Are we sons in the same sense that Jesus was God’s Son? 4. a. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. The Spirit of His Son in us cries out, "Abba, Father" b. It is a term of endearment. It means "father". c. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. d. Yes, we are sons in the same sense that Jesus was God's Son. Hard to comprehend, but true. Lord, Thank you for your Grace.

Q3. (Galatians 4:3-5) In what sense were both the Gentiles and the Jews enslaved? What does “redeem” mean in verse 5? What are the implications of adoption regarding a person’s legal and spiritual rights? 3.a. The Gentiles and Jews were both enslaved by sin. b. Jesus came to redeem us (to buy us back, deliver us, liberate us from sin) that he might set us free. c. We have been adopted with full status as sons and daughters of the living God, brothers and sisters of Jesus himself. Since we are a son, God has also made us an heir. We are seated with Him in heavenly places. What Christ inherits, we inherit. What Christ receives, we receive. What an awesome God, who made a way where there was no way. Thank you Lord!!

Q2. (Galatians 4:4) Why do you think it took so long to send the Messiah? What about the first century world made it fertile ground for the revelation of the Messiah and the spread of the gospel? 2.a. God waited until the time was right to send forth His son into the world to redeem mankind. b. God arranged the time perfectly. The time was right religiously - at this time there was an expectation of the Messiah coming, The time was right culturally - there was a common language and the Greek culture was now widespread. The time was right commercially - The Roman systems of roads now connected the empire and makling it easier for the Gospel to be spread. The time was right politically - Rome had instituted a law that resulted in the Roman peace and it was enforced across the empire, there was little armed conflict, the roads were safer and travel from one country was easier and safer;.

Q1. (Galatians 4:26-29) Do you think Jewish Christians regarded Gentile Christians as second-class citizens? What is the basis of our unity in Christ? In what way does this unity pull down barriers? Do any groups continue to be regarded as second-class citizens in our congregations? What should we do about this? 5. 1.a. Yes, because they believed they were God's chosen people. Paul is contending that in Christ we are all at the same level. Circumcised Jews are not superior to uncircumcised Gentiles. .b. The basis of our unity in Christ is being buried with Christ in Baptism. c. This unity pulls down barriers for the scripture says, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for we are all one in Christ Jesus. d. Our church does not regard its people as second class citizens. We are a multi-cultural church. I am sure some do because I have been in those churches that are of the same race and they are dead churches. e. We should welcome them with open arms because we are all one in Christ Jesus.

Q4. (Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law? Was it intended to justify a person? In what ways did it restrain sin? In what ways did it expose sin? 4.a. The purpose of the law was to restrain fallen nature from sin, that sin might be recognized as sin, and that it was our school master to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. b. The law was never intended to justify a person because it could not change their character or justify them before God, only the Spirit can. c. It restrained them because the law pointed out their sin and if a Holy God was to dwell in their midst, they had to be holy. d. It showed them clearly their sin, For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We cannot keep the law, we all need a Saviour. The law cannot impart life, only the Spirit which is sent by the Messiah can do that.

Q3. (Galatians 3:10-14) What is Paul’s argument for salvation by faith based on the concept of the “curse of the law”? On what basis do the Gentiles receive “the promise of the Spirit” (3:14)? 3.a. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse. No one is justified before God by the law, because the just shall live by faith. Jesus took on that curse for us when He hung on the cross at Calvary. Hab. 2:4 NLT "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteouse shall live by their faithfulness to God." b. The Gentiles receive "the promise of the Spirit" by faith.

Q2. (Galatians 3:6-9) What is Paul’s argument for salvation by faith based on Abraham? In what sense are we “children of Abraham”? 2.a. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. The just shall live by faith. b. God told Abraham that all nations will be blessed through you. So we who have faith are blessed with faithful Abraham and are children of Abraham.

Q1. (Galatians 3:2-5) What argument for salvation by faith does Paul give from the presence of the Spirit? What does this tell us about the spiritual environment of the Galatian churches? How can we regain this dynamic environment in our own congregations? 1. a They received the Holy Spirit by faith not by the works of the law. God worked miracles among them through the Spirit, were they now going to do them by human effort. b. They were foolish in believing that obeying the Jewish Law that they could be made perfect and be stronger Christians, but obeying the Jewish Law never gave them spiritual life. c. We can regain this dynamic environment in our own congregations when we are totally committed to God, believe His Word, walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Signs, wonders and miracles have not ceased. He is waiting for His Church to awake from sleep.

Q5. (Galatians 2:20) In what sense have we been “crucified with Christ”? What does that mean? In what sense do “I no longer live”? Whose life now motivates us? How does this verse relate to Paul’s closing comments about the “new creation” (Galatians 6:15)? What does Galatians 2:20 teach about Christ’s attitude toward us? 5. a.& b. By going through the waters of baptism we identify ourselves with Christ in his death. c. Our old self was crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed. I am no longer controlled by my sinful nature, but by the Spirit of God living in me. d. I am motivated by Christ's Spirit lilving in me. e. It's not by being circumcised or uncircumcised that counts, it is a new creature. I am a new creation. Christ lives in me. f. Jesus loved me and gave himself for me. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son; that whosoever believe's in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Q4. (Galatians 2:15-21) What happens to the importance of Christ’s death if circumcision is deemed necessary to salvation? Why was this issue of the sufficiency of the Messiah’s death so important in Paul’s day? Why was this issue important to Luther and the reformers? Why is it so important in our own day? How does it affect the relative legalism of our congregations? 4. a. The scripture states that if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing. b. Because it showed both Jews and Gentiles alike that Christ's death for our sins put us all on the same level. One not better than the other. We are all the same under grace. c. Luther got a revelation from God that the just shall live by faith in Jesus Christ, not by works. d. It is so important in our day because we know by the Word of God that we are saved by the once and for all sacrafice of Jesus Christ dying on the cross to justify us from our sins and that brings us freedom. e. They need to be taught and brought into freedom. We are saved by grace, through faith and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God. When we trust Christ for our salvation, His Holy Spirit come in us and changes us and shows us what is wrong in our life. He write His laws in our hearts and keeps us. From glory to glory He is changing us.