courageous1

As the Holy Spirit lives in us he begins to work a change in us slowly. The theological term would be sanctification. The question of how can it be possible to be a Christian and not display much fruit I can describe based on my own experience. Many times it is easy to accept Christ as your savior but the idea of giving over your WHOLE life to him can be incredibly difficult. By withholding from giving God complete control, you can very easily display few (if any) fruit. After living my whole life around the church, including accepting Christ as my savior when I was a child, it wasn't until I really gave up my - SELF and handled my life through God in the Holy Spirit. I can finally say (and see) that I do have the fruits of the Spirit. Praise God.! Was I a Christian then? Of course because we are saved by faith. Was I immature? Yes I believe so. Maybe even a little resistent, rebellious. I don't think the verses in James are too harsh. I definitely feel more alive living in the Spirit.

Forbearance is important because it is necessary if we are going to love others the way God wants us to. Forbearance will make loving others more possible. If we react to every little thing that happens to or around us we could never be loving to others in the way God wants us to be. I believe it is important for peace in the family and for peace in the church community because we are meant to relect God to others in our lives. If we don't have the ability to accept how others are, we can't let our light shine. Especially not in the way it needs to shine for those who need to see it.

Joy and peace cannot exist without love because they are the result of love. They are the result when love we love God, ourselves and our neighbors.

For some, the idea of living a life in the Spirit is a tall order. It is a challenge some do not want to accept. They fear boredom, they fear what the Spirit may actually lead them to do. Some Christians are quick to accept Christ as Lord and quick to love Him. But are not so quick to give up the things of the flesh they may find joyful. It's a work in progress. They may not necessarily be resisting.. it may just be a more difficult process. I believe if they could reword the Scripture, it would just state that you have faith and love and freedom. They would probably just omit Paul's verses all together.

I would divide as: 1. Sins by act of the mind 2. Sins by act of the body (with or without others)

Q4-1 It is demonstrated by the spirit calling 'Abba, Father'. Q4-2 The word was used in prayer and in the family circle. Q4-3 The significance of being heirs to God is that we do not need to fear speaking to Him, we do not need to be formal. We call Him 'Abba' as a term of endearment. Like saying 'Daddy'. Q4-4 We are sons in the same sense in that we can be comfortable talking to God. But I don't think of myself as an 'equal' to Christ.

Q3-1 Gentiles and Jews were all born under law. Q3-2 Redeem means to deliver us, our debt being paid (in Christ). Q3-3 What adoption does: gives full status of son, releases from slavery, freedom, full heir. We are full sons of God. We belong to a wealthy spiritual family. We are free in Christ! Amen.

Question 2-1 asks why do I think it took so long. As we all may have experiended, God has his own timing on things. Clearly, many things needed to occur before HE felt the world was ready. I wouldn't necessarily call it long. It was just right. 2-2 The first century had many things in place that made spreading the gospel safe and easier. The conditions of roads were safer, there was a common language, it was the 'new testment age' (meaning the old testment was known and in place), and the time period itself was a more peaceful time.

Q1-1 Yes I'm sure Gentiles were regarded as second-class citizens in the minds of some Jewish Christians. Considering this concept was new at their time, I'm sure it took multiples teachings on this topic for them to truely grasp and accept it. Q1-2 Our unity in Christ is through our faith in Christ. Q1-3 This pull down barriers because we are all the same in Christ through out faith. Unfortuately it doesn't actually eleminate barriers because we are still human. Still in the flesh. Q1-4 Yes there are people that are treated as second-class in some congregations. Q1-5 What should we do about this? Well I can only modify my own behavior and hope to influence others. I would not stay with that congregation I would go to a different church.

Law was meant to exist to make us aware of wrong so we would stay away from it. It also existed so there was a way to identify wrong doing. The law also existed to point us to faith. Since faith in Christ is the only hope we have of true freedom. The law isn't meant to justify us. We are justified by faith. It is through the law, which leads us in a sense, to the faith (in the Messiah).

We are removed from the curse of the law through Jesus Christ. He became our curse through his death. The Gentiles also receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Thanks to Jesus Christ - He freed Gentiles (and us) from the curse of the law.

Argument for salvation based on Abraham? - Abraham was justified by his faith in God. He (Abraham) was righteous. In what sense are we "children of Abraham"? - We are the generations after Abraham. We too are justified and righteous through our own faith in God.

Argument? - We receive the Spirit through faith/believing. What does this tell us about the spiritual environment? - The church was brand new. They didn't have history to teach them. So they were easily lead off course/focus. Through Paul's letter he is gently showing them back to the path. It shows how eager and hungry they were to grow spritually. How can we regain this dynamic? - Emphasis in personal spiritual growth. Once it becomes more personal, we can be more (help) to others.

Hi everyone my name is Yvonne. I live in Texas - Houston area. This is my first online bible study and I am really enjoying it so far. Nice to meet you.

I believe he is continuing to support his earlier statement that he comes from God. That is why he is there - not because of the Jerusalem leaders. Establishing independence in a way to not be thought of as someone with 'the same old story'. He mentions approval to show credibility. Like having references on a resume. Support. It is in a way proving himself to the Galatians as someone who should be taken seriously. (By a combination of how this was revealed to him and his approvals.)

The Gentiles are not Jews. By mentioning Titus, I believe he was trying to separate further what he was teaching from Jewish teachings (laws). Perhaps another way for Paul to identify his true source.

Paul had a testimony of change. He was once a person on 'the other side of the tracks'. He was against Christ. This testimony help drive Paul's teaching by sharing his story.. talking about how he was blinded and how he changed. The ponder questions gave me personal insight .. Although I have been around the church all my life, my personal life took a different direction and reached its lowest point in a 2 year period. I was then really broken and thirst for God. I believe my experiences leading up to and after my point of breaking could reach non-believers with a different perspective of faith. Uniqueness - Well, to not go too much into it, I am not 'typical' to the women my age around me. Meaning, I'm not married. I don't have children and right now I am literally completely alone. My family are not near. I have used this time to grow spritually. Although I do feel my uniqueness is a strength, I have occassionally struggled with embarrassment. These ponder questions alone have made me now realize my circumstances of the past 7 months may not have been accidental.

Paul's source of the gospel is revelation from Jesus Christ. It conforms with other sources because I have been taught the bible is written by man through God. God and Jesus are one. Jesus' life is recorded in the bible. I believe how Paul came to this (by becoming blind, hearing from Jesus directly, visions, etc.) also verifies that this is a true revelation. Too much reliance is left on leaders without checking facts. Too many believers are satisfied with what they hear without verifying scripture. The danger is it leaves the door open for a leader to morph his/her teachings to his/her own purpose. It can begin to become of man and not of God. (Which we are warned about in the Word.)

In Galatian's time - it causes confusion which was shifting th focus away from the truth of God. In our time - It may 'stunt' the growth of a Christian. It may cause confusion - which leads to frustration which could eventually turn someone away from God entirely. It can reduce the likeliness of more non-believers to come to Him.