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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)? The concept of the "curse of the law" is taken from Deut 21: 22-23 and shows us that he who is hanged on a tree, who is guilty of breaking the law, is accursed of God. We too are accursed of God if we try to gain our salvation by following the law as it is impossible for sinful man. Paul's argument is then that we can only gain our salvation in the fact that Jesus hung on the cross for us, to redeem us from the curse of the law. Therefore our faith is in Him. We, who are Gentiles, receive the "promise of the Spirit" , the "blessings of Abraham" through faith in Jesus who hung on the cross for us to redeem us from the curse of the law.

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”? Abraham was justified by faith in a promise for life - an heir. At this point it was seemingly possible in the natural for Abraham to produce an heir, yet Abraham believed what God said; he believed God’s Word. If we believe God’s Word, we too are justified by faith in a God who does what He says He will do. We believe that God has given us salvation and righteousness through faith in His Son. We are children of Abraham when we believe God’s at His Word. His Word states that Jesus is the only way to the Father, that we "are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ".

Q1. (Galatians 3:2-5) What argument for salvation by faith does Paul give from the presence of the Spirit? The Spirit of God is received by faith. What does this tell us about the spiritual environment of the Galatian churches? The Galation church doubted what God said in His Word. They had the presence of His Spirit evidenced by miracles but then they questioned God’s Word. Hebrews 11:6 states “ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” The Galations lost confidence in God’s Word, and so they lost faith. When you lose confidence in God’s Word by doubting Him, you reach for mans’ solutions. In the case with the Galation church, it was the law - circumsion. How can we regain this dynamic environment in our own congregations? By having full confidence in God’s Word, dying to ourselves entirely, and living in the realm on the Spirit as new creations, with the resurrected miracle working God living in us!

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? \ I believe that in all 5 senses I have been crucified with Christ. This means that my flesh was crucified because of the grace of Jesus. My fleshly senses no longer live: the way I look and see things is now from God’s vision, what I hear is now from God’s Spirit, what I feel I now chose not to be from my own emotions but from the truth of God’s Word, I “taste and see” that the Lord is good, and I chose to impart God’s Spirit as I touch others and the world around me. I have been “crucified with Christ”. The power of death- and my experiencing life through the flesh- has been brought to nought by the resurrection power of Jesus in my life. I live now with Him. I live in the realm of the Spirit of God’s truth, not my fleshly self. I am now a new creation, seeing, hearing, tasting, and feeling as Jesus does. This new creation, this new me, is lived and experienced by faith in the resurrected Jesus who died for me. Galations 2: 20 has taught me that Jesus gave His life for me when I was still a sinner, and so undeserving, so that He could reign in me by the power of love through His death and resurrection. He wants me to be a co-heir with Him to glorify the Father.

Q4. (Galatians 2:15-21) What happens to the importance of Christ’s death if circumcision is deemed necessary to salvation? Christ’s death and his resurrection become of no effect to those who want to attain salvation by adhering to the law. Salvation does not come to those who are circumcised in the flesh only. Why was this issue of the sufficiency of the Messiah’s death so important in Paul’s day? Adherence to the traditions of men –to the law- could seduce men into thinking that their righteousness was assured. Rather, the law enlightens man that works are never sufficient. Believing that adherence to the law produces salvation results in a)self-righteousness, and so separation from the Father, separation from the Gentiles, and c) placed the ultimate authority back in the hands of the man: Jews who were demanding circumcision. The recognition of the Messiah’s death was so important in Paul’s day the Jews were just receiving the revelation of the walking in New Covenant: JESUS! Why was this issue important to Luther and the reformers? Luther understood from the scriptures that man could not buy his way to salvation by buying “indulgences”. He knew that the public were being deceived into thinking they had salvation. Luther understood that buying indulgences brought self-righteousness – not righteousness with God; resulted in separation from those who could not afford indulgences; and therefore the public falsely gained/worked for their salvation from man thus placing man in the position of saviour not Christ. Why is it so important in our own day? We need to remember that we cannot gain salvation from ourselves but need to be ever grateful of a God who provided us with Christ, the ultimate sacrifice! This understanding of justification through faith negates self-righteousness, obliterates the class-system, and places the authority in our daily walk back to the Father. How does it affect the relative legalism of our congregations? Grace refutes legalism.

Q3. Why is it so hard to take the gospel to different peoples without wrapping it in our own cultural practices? Because we are confident in our own culture and therefore are confident to teach and preach from our own cultural standpoint. Paul ate with the Gentiles, as he was walking in the Spirit and confident in Christ. Peter was confident with his Jerusalem culture and satisfied the flesh by walking in his fleshly culture, rather than Christ’s culture which loves all men and treats them as equal. Christ gives us confidence when we walk according to the Spirit so we have boldness as Paul did amongst the Gentiles. Can you think of examples of this in Church history? White Australians removing Aboriginal children from their families to “educate” them in a Christian manner away from their families and lands. What is the danger? Disassociation of the convert from their people group and so lack of ministry opportunity to the converts’ community. Danger of the convert misunderstanding that God loves them because they have abandoned their cultural roots and taken on the “works” of the missionary. Again, works versus faith. How can we avoid such cultural faux pas in our church’s missionary enterprises? By walking in the confidence that the Spirit gives and not according to the comforts of our flesh.

Q2. (Galatians 2:14) Why do you think Paul confronted Peter publicly rather than privately? Do you expect Paul had talked with Peter about this previously? Perhaps Paul did confront Peter privately at first, but saw no change in Peter’s behaviour; perhaps not. A public confrontation was Paul’s defence of the gospel. The gospel of salvation was publically disgraced by Peter, and Jesus’ teaching of salvation by faith and not works was brought into disrepute. As it was a public issue, it needed to be addressed and seen to be rectified publically. Truth needed to overcome this erroneous heresy right to the core of Jerusalem. Paul’s correction therefore, was also for the benefit of the Jerusalem inner-circle, and of course, for the benefit of Barnabas for whom Paul had ministered alongside with. There was to be no class system of “us Jews” and “them Gentiles”. Salvation is for all! Salvation is accepted by faith in Jesus Christ. How did a public discussion of this benefit the Jewish Christians? The Jewish Christians were lost in pride evidenced by their requirement of the Gentiles to come up to their standard through works. They were instituting a class-system that was totally against Jesus requiring us to love one another. In short, Paul pin-pointed their sin -which ironically was practiced to get salvation- and so gave them an opportunity to repent and come into fellowship with the Father and with one another. This correction could then go back to the seat of Christianity, Jerusalem. How did it benefit the Gentile Christians? Paul’s public rebuke of Peter gave the Gentiles faith that Jesus’ gospel is inclusive of all! Paul demonstrated, as Jesus did, that God is not a respecter of persons, and that Jesus died for both the Jew and the Gentile. Paul’s public rebuke centred salvation on a message from God to man, rather than man to man. Faith in the Gentile community may have wavered, yet Paul’s rebuke taught the Gentile to be subject to God – the truth- and not to man. What kind of pressure do you think this put on Paul? I could only imagine severe frustration with Peter and anguish from seeing his diligent work of spreading the truth of salvation being undermined by persons filled with self-importance and judgement upon the Gentiles.

Peter first embraced the Gentile believers and then later withdrew from them to eat only with the Jews.Peter had been given revelation of salvation for the Jew AND the Gentile; he therefore ate with the Gentiles when he was with Paul. He withdrew later, only to eat with "certain men who came from James". The answer to this separation may come from Galations 2:6,7 "But from those who seemed to be something- whatever they were, it makes no difference to me, God shows personal favouritism to no man .....But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter..." Peter accepted man's commission to the Jews and therefore was accepting of his separation from the gentiles, rather than stand in the authority of the revelation given by Jesus, and minister to both the Jew and the Gentile. Peter had accepted his job description from Jerusalem and not retained his previous job description from heaven. Peter had fear of man, and not fear of God. This tells us that Peter had a fear of man instead of God. Peter had put into question God's authority. Peter should have known better; Peter walked with Jesus. This incident demonstrates that Barnabas was a "keep the peace" man, but it was at a cost of the truth of salvation. This may have put the message of grace into question with the believers who knew Barnabas. The political clout from Jerusalem was forceful in Peter's life. It makes me wonder if these "certain men (who) came from James" were paying the bills and/or would report back to the Jews of Peter's close association with the Gentiles. Political clout and earthly provision often go hand-in-hand. If close association with the Gentiles was not recognized as being a fruit of salvation, it makes me wonder if Peter had diluted the message of grace in his own ministry to the Jews and that this needed to be corrected. Perhaps a class-system of "us and them" had emerged; respectively, the Jewish Christians, and the Gentile Christians. If it were not so, Peter would have had no hesitation to dine with the Gentiles and proving that salvation comes from faith, NOT the works of the law. Unfortunately many times I have been a hypocrite and walked according to the law of my workplace thereby denying the gospel of Christ. I have put my job description from my Earthly masters as more important than the commission given to me by Jesus. For this I am repentant and know that I will offend those who walk according to the law, and not according to the fear-of-the Lord when He gives me opportunities to serve Him in the public arena.

Please see below post. I have found this study to be extremely helpful and I am extremely grateful for Joyful Heart. Thank you, Ralph.

Paul reaffirms the authority of God in his ministry. He may appear to be distancing himself from the leaders of the Jerusalem church, but rather he is making certain that the hearer understands that God's authority is supreme and he was not subject to Jerusalem's authority; that is, man's authority. Paul clarified that he was called to minister to the Gentiles, and the leaders had salvation and therefore revelation to acknowledge that! Perhaps it was Paul credentialling the Jerusalem leaders - such was his certainty in the gospel- rather than the Paul being approved by the Jerusalem leaders. He was affirming to the Galations that the Jerusalem leaders had truth exposed and they were on the same team of God's grace; some ministering to the Jews, and Paul ministering to the Gentiles. The fact that the sinner is called to repentance by grace, is our foundation. Paul was called by no man, appointed to ministry by no man. Therefore, this furthers his arguement of freedom to the Galations. Freedom comes from faith, not by law. Freedom comes when God calls you; you are therefore not subject to any man, but to the revelation of His Word.

Titus was not required to be circumcised by a) God's gracious gospel, which requires circumcision of the heart; or by the elders/leaders at Jerusalem. This is of great significance as Paul knew that his credibility was further enhanced, and therefore the gospel accepted, if the Jerusalem leaders accepted that Titus knew Jesus by faith, not by law - as law would make the gospel of no effect. This backing of the Jerusalem leaders revealed that the false brothers where sapping the very power of the gospel by imposing law, therefore they had to be recognized as false and spys. Remember that Satan in the garden of Eden questioned God's authority and was indeed a spy to the graciousness that the Father had bestowed upon Adam and Eve. Satan incited rebellion by false doctrine. Paul knew the importance of revealing falsehood amongst the ranks so that rebellion would not be incited against the grace of God.

Paul was ideal for ministering the gospel to the gentiles; he knew that being circumcised was not a hallmark of salvation and that it was by grace that he was saved. Therefore, the law did not lead to salvation rather it revealed the necessity of salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul therefore ministered grace and transformation by God's wisdom revealed through His Son rather than man's futile efforts by adherence to the commandments. Paul was different to most Jews: he had a personal encounter with Jesus. Paul could use this difference to illuminate the relationship with Jesus that both Jews and Gentiles were available to have by the example of the father of faith, Abraham. It was not the law that he preached, but rather righteousness through faith in the Son of God. Ponder point: my unique background is that of Paul's - a transformation from meeting Jesus and knowing that I too persecuted Him. His grace freed me from sin. I once had no respect for life. My transformation was when I gave my life to Jesus and I instantly had a respect for life rather than man's assessment of "quality of life". As John 17:3 states," And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Knowing Jesus is knowing life My uniqueness of knowing life is often an embarrassment in the secular field of healthcare in which I work, especially in Australia. Sharing of life- of Jesus- is frowned upon within the healthcare environment but I know a God who has freed me to minister his grace and forgiveness. I pray for opportunities to speak the power of the gospel unto salvation.

Paul had the benefit of having a thorough knowledge of the scriptures: logos. He had the benefit of a transformational meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus: rhema. He was then, born-again with the knowledge of his position in God the Father by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We know that it is a true revelation as there was fruit of the Spirit when he was born again. True revelation produces fruit that is in accordance with God's Word. Conformity to God's Word as written and knowing Him as our personal Saviour changes us so we are known as sons of God. Our foundation on the written Word is truth as "Thy Word is truth." Therefore, our doctrine should firstly be God's Word so that we are not led astray by perversions of the "gospel" as were the Galations.

Paul knew only too well what defection meant: a reversion to legalism and his old self as Saul, who was a persecutor of the body of Christ. Legalism led to judgement which led to murder, which was, ironically, a transgression of the commandment "Thou shall not kill". Twisted gospels take away the truth that "Jesus is the way, the truth and the life". No one will come to the Father without the true gospel. Therefore, a twisted gospel leads to worship of self, and not worship of God and communion with Him.

Jesus gave himself for my sins so that I may be presented to the Father as pure and blameless and be known as His child. Jesus gave Himself so that I may know the Father and thereby have eternal life. Jesus is always the rescuer. His blood is still the only redemptive power available to man. He rescues by making Himself known. As Christians, we are called to make this power known - our Jesus known. Jesus rescues through the gospel shared by us and by his divine revelation. God keeps people from falling back into their old ways by relating to them so that their inmost needs are met by Him. We can chose to walk with Jesus - hearing his voice, by reading His word, abiding in Him, and maintaining fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Alternatively, we can step out of the Kingdom and deafen our ears to the Holy Spirit. It is a daily, minute-by-minute decision to lean into the arms of Jesus and not walk according to this present evil age. The ability to do this, so that this call is not beyond us, is given to us by the grace found in the resurrected Christ. GOD'S GRACE ENABLES US TO WALK IN HIS KINGDOM AND MAINTAIN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.