Dew drenched

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? The Holy Spirit has given a new liberty in Christ, a new liberty for all believers. It is the liberty of a Love-service instead of a Law-bondage. We are not working in the flesh as debtors to the whole law, and finding ourselves outside of grace or fallen from grace. We live in the Spirit set free from the law and living in grace, enjoying the righteousness which we hoped for through faith. What is the evidence of the Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life according to verse 6? Faith which works by Love is the mark of the believer. It is a life of love-service, motivated by a faith in the saviour that sets us apart and marks us as true followers of Him. “See how they love one another”

Q3. (Galatians 5:4) Exactly what does Paul mean by "fall from grace" here? Chapter five is speaking of the liberty which is ours I Christ. This liberty is the practical outcome of living the gospel of faith and based on grace. It is a life of love which is expressed through service to others. It is a life free from law and bondage to the law. To be committed to the practices of the law, such as circumcision, takes Christ out of the equation and we become a debtor to the whole law. In contrast to the grace life of love –service through faith, it is life that has fallen away from grace into a life of law-bondage based on our performance and commitment to keep that which we can’t keep. To fall from grace means that our standing before God is no longer based on who Christ is and what he has done but it is based on what we have done to make ourselves worthy, it’s all about how well we perform. What has occurred that has caused this fall? We lose sight of the cross and focus on our works. There is a tendency for man to wander off the path of grace. The focus has to be kept on the cross of Christ. That focus becomes a Spirit led life of surrender to Christ meeting him at the cross. It is there where we receive all that Christ has for us and we meet with God, Our sin is dealt with, the judgement is made, the penalty is paid in full, we are set free from all charges against us, we are accepted as worthy through the righteousness of Christ, justified, where we have access by faith into this grace wherein you stand. How can present-day Christian legalism cause such a "fall from grace"? Christianity becomes more a life of duty than of devotion. We begin to think that favour with God is based on how well we perform. We think the more we do to impress him the more he will be impressed by us. In the mean time, we forget about what Christ has accomplished, our works are out of duty not a result of relationship and worship to him.

Q2. (Galatians 4:19-20) How is Paul's grief over his spiritual children like that of a parent seeing children stray? “My little children of whom I travail again in birth,” this is such an expression of grief, and also of his loving care which he has for his children in the gospel. He sees himself as a mother bring the children into the world by birth. The pain and “travail”, which was involved in that process, is soon replaced with the joy that comes with the new birth. But now, as Paul looks at what has happened in the life of these believers, he sees retarded growth and really in fact lifeless children. His desire for them is to be restored back to the life that once was their’s. In order for that to happen he needs to begin the process, of pain and travail that is found in giving birth, all over again. Every parent has only the best in mind for a child. He/she pours his life into seeing that child be successful, he loves that child wholeheartedly. When the child shuns the parents love and turns away from the parent to walk in destructive paths that tears deeply into the heart of the parent. We see this tearing in the heart of Paul. What does it look like when Christ is formed in a person? “Until Christ be formed in you” “the Word became flesh and dwelt amoung us and we beheld his glory.” The forming of Christ in them means there lives will take on the very nature and character of Christ. There hearts have been change to take on his character and it is reflected in the way they live and walk in there everyday life. They become the expression of Christ in the world. It is the word becoming flesh in us. “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me, the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God…” Ephesians says that “ye put on the new man which after God is crated in righteousness and true Holiness.” It is not the righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ. What is the process involved in this spiritual formation? I think the process for this formation is best described in Gal. 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ who now lives in me.” It is a surrendered life over to the lordship of Christ. We lose our life and take on his life.

Q1. (Galatians 4:10-11) Is celebrating different special worship days essentially wrong? These observances are a tricky thing for believers. Is the observances and the practices of these special days considered the thing that we believe makes us more righteous than if we don not keep them. For example, do we need to keep the Sabbath day to be considered righteous, accepted, or in favor with God? What does it mean to keep the Sabbath day, and how close do we need to follow it that we can be sure that we are not failing in our attempts to observe or keep it? Celebration is a good word to use; when we celebrate the Lord and his victory and salvation that he himself won for us this does much to lift us up into his presence with exulting praises and worship to the Lord. They are days to celebrate the victory and liberty that we as Christians enjoy. The gospel which we have been given is a gospel of liberty, freedom, and setting free from bondages. “You are no more a servant but a son, and if a son then an heir of God”. Much of the observances of the Christian can lead to superstitions, and ritualistic practices, bondages, heavy burdens, feeling of condemnation if not done or observed, feeling of self-righteousness and worthy performance awards or rewards if practiced right and with proper attitudes. We are treading on dangerous ground like the Galatian believers were. Why did Paul grieve over the Galatians’ observances? Paul says with tears and heartache, that he is afraid of them lest he has bestowed on them labour in vain. He has poured into their life of his own self and ministry that they would know the true gospel and in believing the gospel, they would experience the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. There was a great cost and persecution that went along with his efforts and ministry, “what persecutions I endured” “which came to me in Antioch and Iconium and Lystra” The Galatians who believed were marvelously saved from the bondage of sin and religions, but now they were throwing all that away and desiring or seeking to put themselves back into the same bondages the same weak and beggarly elements that have absolutely no power to bring liberty and joy and salvation , only back into the same bondages that they came out of. This caused Paul a lot of grief. Paul says “after all of my labor, you are going to go back to that life?” Martin Luther says “these words of Paul breath tears” What significance did these have in terms of their movement towards Judaism? They were becoming full fledged Jews in every way. “You observe”, means they were intent on practicing the days and months and times and etc. and watching that nothing was overlooked or undone. They were scrupulous in their observances. A merely legal or ritual religion always develops such scrupulousness (Vincent). These believers were slip back into bondages that chocked the life out of them. How can we be blessed by observing special days in our era? We must focus on Christ and on the cross and on the liberating power of the cross. We celebrate the greatness of God and his great victory and accomplishments. Gathering on special days with brothers and sister in the Lord to fellowship around him is a great blessing. Gathering on special days to celebrate the lord encourages in the faith, builds up our faith and joy, we can enjoy the victories of fellow believers. Family days such as Christmas and Easter strengthen us as families in our faith and love for one another. Romans 14:1-8 shows how we are free to celebrate unto the Lord special days and feasts when you celebrate around the Lord and not simply the scrupulous observances of rituals and ordinances to gain God’s approval and favor. How can observance of special days become legalistic for Christian believers? When they become requirements of performance based righteousness. Example; Lent rituals, ritualistic church attendance, mass rituals,

How does the Spirit’s filling demonstrate we are full sons? “For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” “We have received the adoption of sons, and because you are sons God sent forth the spirit of His son into our hearts crying Abba Father.” These verses tell us that we are full sons in every sense of the word. We have put on Christ, and in that sense we become what we “put on.” We have the very Spirit and life of His Son in us and if we be Christ’s, then we ARE Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. In the sight of God we are just as much an heir and full son as Christ is having become what we put on. The only basis for our acceptance before God as sons is that we come to God through Christ and in the light of Christ and his merits only. Hebrews tells us that we have not come unto the mount that might be touched (Sinai) and that burned with fire etc. but we are come unto mount Sion, unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,… to the general assembly and church of the firstborn… Heb. 12: 18-24 We are the true firstborn heirs of God. The allegory explained in chapter four shows that in Christ we are not the children of the bondwoman, born after the flesh, and to bondage. But we are the children of the free woman, born after the Spirit, the children of promise, and the children of liberty. We are not the children of the bondwoman but of the free. Connecting this with the whole of scripture we see that we were born into Adam, the first man, the earthy man, the old man and born after the flesh and bondage. But in Christ we have “put off that old man” and “put on that new man”, created in Christ Jesus, the second man and last Adam, the heavenly man, the one which was by promise (4vs23) which was born after the Spirit (4vs29). There have only been two men and we are judged (according to the one we belong to) in light of that first Adam, or accepted in light of the last Adam, the second man from heaven if we have come to him in faith, being baptized into Christ. In him we are firstborn sons and heirs as he is. What is the special sense in which the Aramaic word abba is used to speak to one’s father? In a father – son intimate relationship. On the basis of birth and privilege that goes along with our position as his son, we have closeness and openness and acceptance as true sons. What is the significance of being heirs of God? We are no more servants but sons. All that is Christ’s inheritance is ours through faith. Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Are we sons in the same sense that Jesus was God’s Son? Yes. That is our only hope. Outside of Christ, we have nothing, in Christ we have everything. ” And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that has the Son has life, and he that has not the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:11-12

Q3. (Galatians 4:3-5) ”Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons: “ In what sense were both the Gentiles and the Jews enslaved? Both of them were held in bondage, or in other words, reduced to bondage as minors, not ready to take their place as heirs which can only come through faith in Christ. Both under sin and both under “weak and beggarly” elements of religions that was unable to bring them into their inheritance. It fell short in that it was weak through the flesh. (Sin) What does “redeem” mean in verse 5? Redeem in this verse means to pay the price necessary to purchase or secure freedom for one who is enslaved as a servant. In order for him to be able to pay the price required he had to be born of woman, becoming a man in the flesh, given a back to be beaten, and receive the stripes of the scourging whip, and hands and feet to receive the nails of the cross. He had to be born under the law, not only human but a Jewish heritage, subjected to all the ordinances and of the law, Then in perfect righteousness become a curse for us 3:13 that he could pay the necessary payment to purchase our freedom and be released from servant hood. As is stressed especially in Chapter 3-4 given “sonship” and as sons becoming heirs according to promise What are the implications of adoption regarding a person’s legal and spiritual rights? Receiving the adoption of a son means that we reached the legal age and are entitled to all the privileges that go along with the legal rights as sons of age. We are no longer under the authority of the care givers of our minor childhood. The spiritual rights are that God recognizes us as sons and sends the Spirit of His son in our hearts crying Abba Father. We are no more a servant but a son and an heir of God.

Q2. (Galatians 4:4) Why do you think it took so long to send the Messiah? I do not think that it took God so long to send the Messiah. It was exactly at the right and appointed time. “When the time had fully come” or “when the fullness of time had come.” We could just as easily ask,” Why did God send him so soon?”. It was exactly the right time for Him to come. Before the world was created, and before Adam was made and placed in the garden, God had his plan of salvation already in place. What he purposed to do, he was/is able to do. He planned the end from the beginning, from before the foundation of the earth. “Declaring the end from the beginning… My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure…yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.” Is 46:10-11. It took this long because He waited until the "time had fully come" or "when the fullness of time had come". Waited means He was setting everything up for this great event to take place at the right time, having the greatest impact and fulfillment. No detail was overlooked or left undone. What about the first century world made it fertile ground for the revelation of the Messiah and the spread of the gospel? The discussion in the lesson is very good on all the conditions that were in place. It was the time God prepared in which all prophesies, concerning Christ’s first advent, were fulfilled at that time. The fact that the area was under the rule of the Romans who were instrumental in fulfilling prophesies of the crucifixion completely. That Pontus Pilot was there to give in to the requests of the Priests and Pharisees is another factor. That travel on the roads of Palestine and all the Roman Empire was accessible and relatively safe and possible. These show that God had everything in control even as he had planned to set the stage for the coming of the Messiah at this time, etc. It was the right time, the fullness of time; it was His time. Jesus said, "The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified....Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of the world be casst out. And I,if i be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me..." John 12:23,31,32

Q1. (Galatians 4:26-29) Do you think Jewish Christians regarded Gentile Christians as second-class citizens? Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians were both equal, both groups were Christian and equal as sons of God and fellow heirs as sons. The Judaizers such as from Jerusalem were set on spreading a Judiaistic form of Christianity which made second class citizens of any outside the Jewish race that were not circumcised. Yet Paul refers to these promoters as false brethren, presenting another Gospel which is not another, but completely different, they were troublers perverting the gospel of Christ. Their influence was pulling people (both Jewish and gentile believers) away from the truth of the gospel, bewitching them that they should not believe the truth and thus making uncircumcised gentiles second class people and unfit for the promised blessings of God which only they could enjoy as circumcised Jews. In otherwords, they were saying to the Gentiles that Christ was not enough for them, they were lacking something in the area of blessing and acceptance in God's eyes, and in there eyes too. What is the basis of our unity in Christ? The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the equalizer. It is there that all races meet as sinners, being judged with the same judgment, and being pardoned together by the Just one who was nailed there. Coming there to the cross in faith we all receive the same salvation and are justified together receiving his righteousness by faith in exchange for our sin. It is there at the cross where put off the old man and we put on Christ, his righteousness becomes our righteousness, we are one in Him. "And if you be Christ's, then ye are Abrahams seed, and heirs according to promise." Paul said earlier in this chapter 3 “know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children (sons) of Abraham.” (v7) Therefore all are equal in all respects as sons. Again in v.26 he says, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” We all receive Christ Jesus through faith in him and God accepts us in him and through him. God has so much respect and honor for his son and the work he accomplished on the cross that he is able to receive anyone that comes to him through Christ. The Basis of our unity is we are all one in him through his cross. (Eph.2:11-17) In what way does this unity pull down barriers? There are no second class believers in Christ, Jew – Greek, bond –free, male –female, and etc. all who through faith come to Christ are equal sons/heirs of God. Do any groups continue to be regarded as second-class citizens in our congregations? There is evidence of partiality and inequalities in the church. These may be based on employment, success in business, position in the church as leaders etc. for examples What should we do about this? Spend time at the foot of the cross. Meditate there on its power, love and grace which is found there. We need to get a clear view of the cross and see how we are all equal there as sinners in need of the salvation which is found there. Repentance is a good starting point. 'Be clothed with humility,” “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” “Let each esteem other better than themselves” “if you would be great in God’s Kingdom, let him be the servant of all”.

Q4. (Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law? “It was added because of transgression till the seed should come to whom the promise was made.” It came along side us to serve us as a temporary helper, a subordinate to the ultimate purpose of God. It came along side because of transgression; the transgression was already present in us. The law then came and revealed to us that we were so far from the perfect righteousness that God had in mind for us to walk in. The law then leads us to the promised one (Christ) that we might be justified by faith Was it intended to justify a person? The law could not justify anyone. It has no power to change to heart of man, only reveal its depravity and its need for a saviour. It was not intended to justify a person. In what ways did it restrain sin? There could be an outward observance of some of the law to a certain extent, but never able to deal with and restrain the sin and the sin nature which was within the heart of man. In what ways did it expose sin? The law can reveal the heart of man and his sinfulness.

Q3. (Galatians 3:10-14) What is Paul’s argument for salvation by faith based on the concept of the “curse of the law”? “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse of the law”. The law tells us that any one who does not keep the whole law perfectly is cursed. It must be fulfilled in every detail. The scripture also shows us that no one has ever been able to keep the law perfectly (except Jesus Christ). Therefore, we are condemned by the very law that we trust will make us perfect. “What the law could not do, in that it is weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Paul says that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, as the scriptures tell us “The Just shall live by Faith” On what basis do the Gentiles receive “the promise of the Spirit” (3:14)? It is based on the fact that “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us by hanging on the tree." He " Who did no sin, neither was any guile found in his mouth,... who his own self bare our sin in his own body on the tree… He made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God through him.” In this passage Paul says that the blessings of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ and that we might receive the promise of the Spirit by faith”

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? The Gentiles of the Galatian churches received the spirit by hearing the word and believing the word of the Gospel. It was not because of certain works that they preformed. They experience and witnessed the outpour of the spirit, bringing a glorious salvation with it and also the witness of many sings and wonders. God stepped in and they were able to receive the Spirit by faith alone. Although there was great persecution and suffering they knew the power of God’s spirit in their midst. The spiritual environment was powerful, exciting, and alive. How can we regain this dynamic environment in our own congregations? Ritualistic practices, works orientated performances and self righteous mind sets do not allow the dynamic environment that we see the Galatian gentiles experienced through faith. There is nothing in our selves that we can do that will convince God that we deserve more. We need to come together with expectant faith that God will show up by his Spirit, we look to Christ in worship and praise for his great grace and mercy. We believe Him in faith, it is all about who he is and what he will do.

Q5. (Galatians 2:20) In what sense have we been “crucified with Christ”? What does that mean? What an amazing statement this is. This must be a key statement in this book. Something incredible has taken place in the crucifixion (of Christ). Paul brings further light on this when after looking at the works of the flesh that are manifest… and the fruit of the spirit which true believers have. Following the comparison he tells us that “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Then a few verses later says “God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world.” It seems that the power the old flesh, or the old man, had on us has been completely destroyed in this crucifixion, and the hold that the world had on us is no longer there. We are dead to each other by the work of Christ on the cross. Whatever sentence of condemnation and guilt the law had on me because of my sin and sinful nature is no longer there. It has totally been cleared and my judgment is accomplished in Christ. I am now declared righteous and set free from that death penalty through what Christ did. I am crucified with Christ tells me that when he hung on the cross, he took my old man and had him nailed to the cross with him. “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness :”( 1 Peter 2:24) In what sense do “I no longer live”? If that old man, the man in Adam’s race, that sinful man has been put to death, in Christ, then it is no longer alive, no longer having any hold on me. The life I now have in this flesh (my life in the present) is now a new creature in Christ. Whose life now motivates us? Now we can “put off the old man” and “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” It is the new man which is Christ himself living in us by his spirit. How does this verse relate to Paul’s closing comments about the “new creation” (Galatians 6:15)? We have been changed. No longer in the first Adam, that old man, that condemned man, that was beyond help by any law keeping. We have now a new man, created in Christ Jesus, We are now in him who is righteous, and He was made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. What does Galatians 2:20 teach about Christ’s attitude toward us? It shows us that Christ has a great love for us, each one of us as individuals. It was a self-giving sacrificial love. He gave himself, taking the punishment, the death and condemnation that belonged to us upon himself, and willingly suffered and died for us. What love.

Q4. (Galatians 2:15-21) What happens to the importance of Christ’s death if circumcision is deemed necessary to salvation? The implication of having circumcision necessary for salvation is that Jesus Christ’s atoning work on the cross was simply not good enough. It was lacking something, it doesn’t have the power and ability to accomplish what is needed to secure our salvation. If it doesn’t have all that is needed then it has no power at all. God himself does not honor and respect the work of his own Son. His death on the cross was an exercise in futility, vain and a waste of time and effort. It is left up to something else, something more effective in order to bring about what is lacking from the cross. It is left up to some work like circumcision and the responsibility shifts from Christ and his ability to secure our salvation to our responsibility to secure this on our own, by our works of righteousness. It is basically left up to us. It no longer is who Christ is and what he has done; it now becomes who I am and what I have accomplished, or what the law has been able to accomplish through my efforts to follow it. Christ is weak, ineffective, and unnecessary if he can not secure our salvation through the cross. Why was this issue of the sufficiency of the Messiah’s death so important in Paul’s day? Practicing the law in all its finer points was not able to produce any form of salvation throughout all the history of the law. The law was weak through the flesh. It was never able to make perfect. The sacrifices were made over and over again without any lasting results. Men were sinners and lost in sins. Even the Jews who, in days of Paul, tried desperately hard to keep them yet could not keep them and only brought bondage and disappointment. “For by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” The only hope for salvation rested in the completed work of Christ on the cross. Why was this issue important to Luther and the reformers? To Luther and other reformers the cross was where forgiveness and redemption was found. It was the cross that was able to bring them to god and be accepted as righteous. The cross made a way for all believers to come to God boldly and without shame. No penitence and heavy burdens imposed on them by church officials was necessary to make things right Why is it so important in our own day? It is so important today because it is by grace that we are saved through faith. We are helpless and without hope except through the cross of Christ. Our works and self efforts to please God and gain his favor are not good enough. Our only hope today is the righteousness that comes through faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. God has so much respect for his son and what he accomplished on the cross that he is able to forgive and receive the worst of sinners, even me, and in doing so Jesus Christ receives all the glory and praise. How does it affect the relative legalism of our congregations? The cross of Christ will expose the weakness of religious practices and legalism. It takes the emphasis off of who I am and what I have done. I deserve nothing but judgment and condemnation. It puts the emphasis solely on Who Christ is and what he has done. It is all about Grace. The true gospel brings true righteousness and victory and liberty and life and relationship with the God of the universe.

Why is it so hard to take the gospel to different peoples without wrapping it in our own cultural practices? We tend to see others from our point of view, which is clouded by our own culture and upbringing. We tend to see Christianity from what we have grown up with in our own cultural practices. This small view tends to create difficulties and prejudices. Can you think of examples of this in Church history? For example some of the injustices against the first nations people in countries like Canada, Australia, South Africa, China, India, and America etc. What is the danger? We cannot accept differences in the way worship is expressed or in the way services of worship are conducted, or in some of the practices of those who are cultural different from us. it is hard to touch them with the Love of God. The Gospel of Christ is misrepresented as cultural, one people group is seen as second class or less than onother in value. etc. How can we avoid such cultural faux pas in our church's missionary enterprises? We need to view all from God's point of view, a greater or larger view. We need to step back a little and veiw people and people groups the way God sees them all. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that all who believe in him shal be saved. Every tounge , every nation, every culture, brought together through Jesus Christ. Walls fall down. Rev. 5:9 Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." God enjoys all the differences on variety of all the nations and cultures. In Abraham all nations shall be blessed, We are all the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. The gentiles were not Jewish believers and there practices and expression of Love and worship toward God were expressions of a people with a different (non- Jewish) culture, but it was a rich and genuine expression of Love from the midst of a redeemed people. Liberty and joy were the main ingrediants. No wonder Paul loved the gentiles in there expression of praise to Christ Jesus. The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ.

Q2. (Galatians 2:14) Why do you think Paul confronted Peter publicly rather than privately? I think Paul had to publicly confront Peter for a number of reasons. One reason was that this act, of Peter and Barnabas and the other Jews with them, was a public act and it affected not only Peter but all people involved. This included both Jews and the Gentiles at Antioch. Another reason was that Peter was seen and respected as a leader of the church and had the greater responsibility and greater influence on the church. What he said and did had a greater impact on the church and any error had to be dealt with quickly. This was an urgent matter that had to be brought before all people. Correction had to be made publicly for all the Church to be brought in line with the Truth of the Gospel. If it was only dealing with a case of Peter's hypocracy it could have been a private matter. But this was a great error and heresey that was affecting the whole church and the truth of the gospel was at stake, therefore Paul had no choice but to openly expose the error. He did not simply have to address Peter's mistake. It was an error that invovled Peter, the other Jews, Barnabas, the Gentile church, the Judiasing preachers who came as sent out from James, and the whole of the christian faith. Do you expect Paul had talked with Peter about this previously? Paul had spent time with Peter in the past, probably going over what experience each other had as ministers of the Gospel. Paul would have shared what he preached as the gospel to the gentiles. They were in relationship and fellowship and recognized each other in Christ. I don’t doubt that Paul spoke to Peter about the correction that had to be immediately dealt with, but I can’t be positive. This may be the result of him withstanding Peter to the face because his action condemned him, before he took it to the rest of the people. How did a public discussion of this benefit the Jewish Christians? For the Jewish believers, they would be able to accept fellowship with the Gentiles as brethren and equals. The Jewish believers then could enjoy the freedom and liberty that Gentiles experienced through the truth of the Gospel. This was the fact that righteousness comes through faith in Christ. They themselves have never been able to keep the law. The law was a constant burden to them. How did it benefit the Gentile Christians? They knew that they were accepted as sons and fellow heirs of the promise in Christ alone by faith in him. They knew that they were in no way second class citizens to the Jews. They would not have to bow to the pressure of the Jewish leaders to be circumcised and come under the Jewish customs and practices to be accept by God. What kind of pressure do you think this put on Paul? Paul needed to have courage to stand up to Peter who was so revered by believers in churches all over the area; i.e. the churches of Judea which were in Christ. He knew this might back fire on him and his authority. There was also the pressure to stand up for what the truth is and what the pure, unadulterated Gospel of Christ and his work on the cross is. He had to face the "certain men who came from James". He had to take them face on in Antioch and beyond. This was an added pressure as well. The pressure that was strongest was the pressure from God to establish once again the truth of the Gospel.

Q1. (Galatians 2:11-14) Why do you think Peter first embraced the Gentile believers in Antioch and later withdrew from them to eat only with Jews? Peter had various encounters with Gentiles and in most of them he struggled with being able to accept them as equals. The Lord had to really work on his heart and his belief system. He believed that the Jews were the privileged group of people. The Lord was helping him to change his stubborn mind set. As he began to embrace the fact that these people could be accepted to the point of shared fellowship with them he began to really enjoy the freedom that this brought. It was no more the stuffy and boring ritualistic practices which he grew up with in Judaism. There was now life and liberty that he never knew before. However, overcoming all the past prejudices and mind set of Gentiles as out side of God’s chosen people was extremely difficult. So when he felt challenged by those who want to maintain the purity and separateness of the Jewish nation and religion he chose to go back into his established mind set and withdrew “for fear of them that were of the circumcision.” What does this tell us about his character? His character in the past was impulsive and” wishy-washy”. We saw at the time of Christ’s crucifixion when he was challenged by a maid at a fire in the court yard, although he was determined in his mind to be loyal to Christ he gave in to his fears and denied knowing the Lord and any association with him. In this present case, it was similar in the fact that he gave into fear of others. However, the main thing was that he was slipping back into a previous mindset of prejudices and religious beliefs when confronted by the purists. The strongholds of prejudice and religion took over. He could accept the Gentile believers but only to a point. Out of sight of thee strict Judaizers he had no problem, but when they are there he is overcome with fear and can’t hold his ground. I think he slips away quietly trying to appease both sides. In his mind, uncircumcized believers were second class citizens in the kingdom. These are strongholds that each believer struggles with overcoming today in how we reach out to others. That is why this book is so important today. Why should he have known better? He experienced first hand revelations about how Gentiles are accepted as equals and receive adoption of sons and heirs through the cross of Christ. He had been shown by special revelation that probation from eating with Gentiles was not binding and he encouraged others to eat with them also. Now he was stepping back and this influenced those whom he had previously encouraged to eat with them What does this tell us about Barnabas? Barnabas is a puzzle indeed. He came to Antioch to encourage the believers, most of whom were Gentile believers. He spent time with them; he asked Saul to come and join them there and begin to minister to the church there. How can this religious sprit so grip people? Barnabas becomes a follower as Peter leads the way and others begin to follow along with him. The encourager gets caught up in the dissimulation or carried away by it. The religious Sprit is strong and begins to take hold whenever it has a slight opening. We are so susceptible to this evil spirit. It takes hold of denominations, local churches and individuals. What does it tell us about the political clout of the visitors from Jerusalem? It seems these people had convinced James that they had the interest of new believers in mind and talked him into sending them out with his endorsement. They had a letter of backing from him. They particularly followed Paul wherever he went and spoke to the new believers about the Mosaic Law and about especially circumcision. They were effective at stirring up Jews and Jewish believers. They were powerful in causing people to fear and give in to that religious spirit Have you ever acted like a hypocrite to impress others? I recognize wearing a religious mask often in my life; self righteous and unable to extend the grace of God to others. I see the fear of men and what they think bout me. What should you do when you recover your senses? “Put off concerning the old man, which is corrupt according to its deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Galatians 2:1-10) Why do you think Paul seems to distance himself from the leaders of the Jerusalem church (2:2, 6, 9)? Why does he at the same time write of their approval of his ministry? How does this further his argument to the Galatians in this letter? Verse 2:2, 6, 9... “Those who seem” or are “reputed” Paul is recognizing the leaders of the church in Jerusalem and honoring them as leaders; however in these verses he does show that he distanced himself from these reputable leaders. His commission and calling does not depend on them but it comes from the Lord himself. The fact that he is independent of them in his commission and calling shows that they add nothing to his teaching and preaching. Yet, this teaching and preaching is recognized and endorsed by them. This furthers his argument to the Galatians by showing that although his Gospel, which he preached, was independent from the Jerusalem leaders it was recognized, accepted and endorsed by them as being true and correct in every way, adding strength to his message. They gave him the right hand of fellowship and sent him out to the Gentiles with their approval.

What is the significance of Paul mentioning that neither (not even) Titus the Greek companion of his was compelled to be circumcised when he met with the brethren in Jerusalem? It was now apparent that the leaders of the church in Jerusalem had accepted Paul’s teaching and the gospel he preached. The fact that they did not require or compel Titus to this act showed that they not only accepted the teaching in theory, but also in practice as well. The church leaders did not even suggest that, for reasons of conciliation with the Jewish church, Titus should consider circumcision. There were obviously no attempts to have him circumcised by any of the recognized church leaders. The only resistance came fro the false brethren who were spying on them secretly. These were "brethren" in name only, Judaisers. These people were not even considered worthy enough to listen to by any leader in the church. It shows the leaders of the church were in wholehearted acceptance of Paul and his teaching and the truth of the Gospel is upheld by all true believers. What is the significance of Paul mentioning that neither (not even) Titus the Greek companion of his was compelled to be circumcised when he met with the brethren in Jerusalem? It was now apparent that the leaders of the church in Jerusalem had accepted Paul’s teaching and the gospel he preached. The fact that they did not require or compel Titus to this act showed that they not only accepted the teaching in theory, but also in practice as well. The church leaders did not even suggest that, for reasons of conciliation with the Jewish church, Titus should consider circumcision. There were obviously no attempts to have him circumcised by any of the recognized church leaders. The only resistance came fro the false brethren who were spying on them secretly. These were brethren in deceivers in name only, Judaisers. These people were not even considered worthy to listen to by any leader in the church. It shows the leaders of the church were in wholehearted acceptance of Paul and his teaching and the truth of the Gospel is upheld by all true believers.

Q2. (Galatians 1:13-16) What factors in Paul's background made him an ideal apostle to the Gentiles? How did God use his being different from others? To ponder: How has your unique background fitted you for ministry? What uniqueness has God given you? What will it take to see that uniqueness as a God-given strength rather than as an embarrassment? a) The greatest factor was that he was called by God for this cause. He met The Lord in a powerful way on the road to destroying the church in Damascus. God changed his life completely and revealed himself in him and to him. He was educated in all the ways of the Pharisees and was being groomed in the ways of the Sanhedrin even at an early age, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of the fathers. But God turned that around, rather than being driven by self-righteous and self-centered desires of success, fueled by hatred and jealousy and greed and ambition, he was humbled by the encounter with God. He was a changed man led by the Holy Spirit through grace. He was Called of God to the Gentiles. God was able to use Paul in spite of his past. He was able to let go of the past and press on toward the prize of the high calling in Christ, as a new creature in him. “I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I might live unto God” God was able to use Paul’s many gifts and abilities which he had acquired over his early years. God used Paul’s knowledge of the Jewish bible and his ability to teach it. God was able to use Paul’s knowledge and understanding of various languages. Paul was a free man, and a Roman citizen giving him access to many nations and territories, under the protection of Rome (which helped in certain places). God not only changes us and makes us new he also uses our personality and abilities for his glory. “If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things might be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever. Amen” God separated me from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace. His gracing upon my life is a unique calling or work even in my daily walk. c)”Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud but giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourself therefore under the might hand of God, and he will exalt you in dew time, casting all your care upon him for he careth for you.”

A) What is the source of Paul’s Gospel? Paul received a direct revelation of the Gospel from Jesus Christ himself; he had no opportunity to receive any teaching from any man or second hand gospel from any other Apostle. Paul's purpose here was to show that the Gospel he preached was a divine revelation and genuine in its origin from Jesus Christ. How do we know it is true? Chapter two shows that he later concurred with the Apostles in Jerusalem. He went over the Gospel which he preached with the Apostles of reputation. They accepted Paul whole heartedly, after they conferred together, showing there approval and acceptance of Paul and his preaching by extending the right hand of fellowship unto him and Baranabus. Having the Apostles agreement and acceptance he was able to bring correction to Peter and other Jewish believers who had slipped into the Judistic behaviors, (who were separating themselves from the uncircumcised Gentile believers). The Apostles recognized Paul's gospel as authentic and recognized the evidence of the miracles and wonders that followed his preaching as proof of this. C) How does it conform to our other foundational sources of Christian teaching? Paul's Gospel lines up with the preaching of the other Apostles and with the teaching and revelation given through the whole law and prophets of the Old Testament. James also gives the evidence that Paul’s Gospel as well as the gospel they preached lined up with the words of Amos the prophet saying "To this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written…" c) What is the danger of taking contemporary leaders as our doctrinal basis without checking with scripture? The scriptures are the ultimate and final truth. They are the lone "Word of God" and our final authority. Paul's preaching and authority was in complete agreement with the revealed Word of God. When the Apostle's checked his gospel teaching, they judged it by the Word. Peter tells us later that we have a more sure word of prophecy and that no prophesy of scripture is of any private interpretation. The danger when we accept and man's doctrine as final authority or true doctrine without checking it with scripture is that it leads us into error and false doctrine, heresy, and bondage. Every man's doctrine must bow to the doctrine of God's Word as confirmed in the scripture.

Q2. Paul called the Judaizers' message as a "different gospel," a perversion of the true gospel. How is this dangerous to the Galatian believers? How do twisted gospels (or an unbalanced interpretation of the gospel) affect Christians in our day? This is so dangerous for the Gentile believers because of many reasons. The main reason is that htey have deserted him who has called them into the grace of Christ, and been removed from the true grace of the gospel of Christ. The work of Christ alone, in giving himself for our sins. They have fallen from grace and are relying on something else. They were begining to view the cross of Christ as weak and unable to secure them a right standing before God. They began to think that they would need some other thing to help them receive all the blessing that belongs to God's chosen ones. In this case, circumscion was the ticket and entrance into all that God has leaving faith in Christ alone for them as not enough. the Cross was weak and Inefficient. The problem with the twisted Gospel that is preached today is the same thing as then. It takes away the liberty we have in Christ, brining us into a lifeless religion of bondage and heavy burdens. It takes away from the power of Cross and his work on the cross. We have a perverted view of salvation and the ultimate power of Christ's atoning work in all areas of our walk with him. Stand fast in the liberty and be not entangled again in the YOKE of BONDAGE

Q1. (Galatians 1:4) According to verse 4, for what purpose did Jesus give himself? How does Jesus rescue people today? How does he keep people from falling back into their old ways? According to the verse, Jesus gave himself for our sins to rescue or deliver us from this present evil world (age). That is a straight forward answer. We are held captive in a present evil world. Struggling for a life free from the present evil and yet unable to be set free on by our own efforts. Jesus did not send us a rope that we could use to climb out of this captivity on our own. He did not point to a way that would be our passage out. There was no way out to freedom or liberty, we were weak, and helpless with no way of escape. The only way was for the Lord Jesus Christ to step into this present evil world and give himself for our sins. He gave himself, presented himself, his very life and all that he is. He laid down his life, breaking the chains that have bound us to this prest evil world, setting us free, bringing life and liberty to a once defeated and helpless captive of death and destruction. In order to keep from falling back into the old ways, we have continue to hold on to and trust in the one who gave himself for our sins. In a few paragraphs Paul says it this way," I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." We are not captives, we are set free, we are not the children of bondwoman, but of the free. It is life in the grace of Christ that keeps us from falling back into the captivity and bondange of the old ways.