GALATIANS

JUSTIFIED BY FAITH–ROMANS 4:1-25

Supplement to Galatians 3 study

Introduction:

“The main object of this chapter is to show that the doctrine of justification by faith which the apostle was defending, was found in the Old Testament. The argument is to be regarded as addressed particularly to a Jew, to show him that no new doctrine was advanced.” —Barnes Notes on the New Testament.

1. Abraham was justified by faith, vv. 1-5.

a. What advantage has the Jew? Romans 3:1, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?”

b. The Jews valued themselves much on the fact that Abraham was their father, Matthew 3:9, “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

c. If Abraham was justified by works, he cannot boast before God, v. 4.

2. David declares the same thing, vv. 6-8.

3. Paul responds to the question whether this justification was not in result of their being circumcised, and thus grew out of conformity to the law? vv. 9-12.

a. Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised, Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”

b. His circumcision was the logical result of his being justified by faith, Genesis 17:11, “And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.”

c. Circumcision was a public seal or attestation of his faith like baptism is today, Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

4. The Law works wrath, vv. 13-14.

a. The Jews were under the curse of the law, v. 10, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

b. Even if you broke one law, James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

c. By faith in Christ who was made a curse for us, they are redeemed from that curse, 1 Peter 2:24, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

5. The bestowing of the favor by faith is the demonstration of the highest favor of God, v. 16.

a. To Abraham and his seed was the promise given, Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

b. Remember that the children of Abraham are those who have trusted Christ, v. 7, “Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

LESSON 6

LIVING AS A CHRISTIAN SHOULD…UNDER GRACE

Galatians 6:1-18

Memory Verse: 6:2

Just because we are saved by Grace and not by works of the Law, does not mean that we should live irresponsible lives. Grace is not a license to do evil. Those who look upon it in that manner, knowing nothing of Christian responsibility, doubtless know nothing of the Grace of God!

In this chapter the apostle exhorts to the exercise of various things, which greatly become professors of religion, such as meekness towards backsliders, love to the saints, modesty in themselves, and beneficence to others; exposes the hypocrisy and ambition of the false teachers, in order that the Galatians might beware of them, and not be ensnared by them. —John Gill’s Expositor.

I. BEARING BURDENS vv. 1-5

(See the fruit of the Spirit in chapter 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.)

A. Our Duty in Regard to a Brother in Error, vv. 1-2.

1. What are OUR OBLIGATIONS to others? v. 1.

a. “Love one another” mentioned OVER 10 TIMES in New Testament.

1) The Lord gave us this “new” commandment, John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

2) The Lord reminded His Church about this GREAT NEED of love for one another, John 15:12, 17, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

3) The Apostle Paul taught the churches to love one another:

01. The Church at Rome, Romans 13:8, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

02. The Church at Thessalonica, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”

b. “PRAY for one another,” James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

c. “EDIFY [to BUILD UP OR PROMOTE growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness] one another,” 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”

d. “PREFERRING [to go before and show the way] one another,” Romans 12:10, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;”

“Saints should think honorably of one another, and entertain an honorable esteem of each other; yea, should esteem each other better thou themselves; and not indulge evil surmises, and groundless jealousies of one another, which is contrary to that love that thinks no evil.” —John Gill’s Expositor.

e. “Use HOSPITALITY one to another,” 1 Peter 4:9, “Use hospitality one to another WITHOUT grudging.”

f. “BEAR ye one another’s BURDENS [load],” Galatians 6:2, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

“It is when one’s load (verse 5) is about to press one down. Then give help in carrying it.” A. T. Robertson’s NT Word Pictures.

g. “By LOVE SERVE one another,” Galatians 5:13, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

1) Here Paul hints at their unloving contentions springing out of LUST OF POWER, 1 Corinthians 9:19, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.”

2) There is a sad and dangerous tendency of a behavior CONTRARY to the attitude of Christian love, Galatians 5:15, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

2. Only the “SPIRITUAL” can “RESTORE [ to make, fit, to equip thoroughly], v. 1; Matthew 4:21, “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.”

Note Paul is not endorsing the restoration of a willing religious heretic but of a “brother” who has been overtaken.

3. The goal is RESTORATION, NOT CONDEMNATION, Matthew 23:4, “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”

4. Meekness and NOT SELF-IGHTEOUSNESS should be the attitude. To the woman taken in adultery Christ said in John 8:11, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

5. Bear the burdens of others, v. 2.

a. This is the same Greek word used here in John 19:17, “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:”

b. By bearing the burdens of our brethren we fulfill the law of Christ, John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

B. Our Duty in Regard to OUR OWN ATTITUDE, vv. 3-5.

1. We are NOT to manifest PRIDE and CONCEIT, v. 3; 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Wherefore let him that THINKETH HE STANDETH take heed LEST HE FALL.”

2. Each person should TEST HIS OWN WORK, v. 4; Galatians 5:26, “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

3. Do NOT EXPECT others to bear YOUR BURDENS, v. 5; Jeremiah 17:10, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.”

Note: In chapter 6:2 the word for burden is “BáROS,” but in chapter 6:5 the word for burden is “PHORTíON.” “The difference between ‘phortion’ and ‘baros’ is that ‘phortion’ is simply something to be borne, without reference to its weight, but ‘báros’ always suggests what is heavy or burdensome. Thus Christ speaks of His burden (phortíon) as ‘light’; here ‘báros’ would be inappropriate, but the burden of a transgressor is ‘báros,’ ‘heavy.’” —W. E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words.

II. SHARING BLESSINGS vv. 6-10

A. They Had a Duty to Return to the True Teachers, v. 6. These Galatians, having been led astray by false teachers are here exhorted to return to fellowship with those who had taught them the truth, Malachi 3:7, “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts….”

B. The Irrevocable Law of Sowing and Reaping, vv. 7-10.

1. God establishes this principle in His Word.

a. Job 4:8, “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.”

b. Proverbs 22:8, “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.”

c. Hosea 8:7, “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:”

d. Hosea 10:12-13, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.”

e. 2 Corinthians 9:6, “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

f. Proverbs 11:18, “The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.”

2. The sowing to the flesh and the bitter harvest, vv. 7-8. See Gal. 5:15-21. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

3. The sowing to the spirit and the WONDERFUL harvest, v.8. See Galatians 5:16, 22-25.

a. Be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”

b. These are the sons of God, Romans 8:14, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

4. Failure to keep on causes many to fail at harvest, v. 9; 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

5. Our duty to do good, v. 10; 1 Thessalonians 5:15, “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”

III. THE MARKS OF FREEDOM vv. 11-18

A. A Call to Sacrificial Love, vv. 11-13.

1. Paul wrote the letter with his own hand, v. 11. There is reason to believe that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was eye trouble. See 2 Corinthians 12:7, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

2. The Judaizers (the false prophets) compromised rather than suffer, v. 12; 2 Corinthians 11:13, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.”

3. Their adherence to the Law was for selfish reasons, v.13.

a. Being circumcised the Judaizers were OBLIGATED TO KEEP the Law, but they DID NOT, Romans 2:17-23.

“It is probable that these persons did not pretend even to keep the whole law of Moses. Paul insists on it, that if they were circumcised, and depended on that for salvation, they were under obligation to keep the whole law. But they did not.” —Barnes Notes.

b. Their PRETENSE was for their OWN glory.

“In having you as converts, and in persuading you, to be circumcised, that they may show their zeal for the law, and thus escape persecution.” —Barnes Notes

B. A Call to Return to the Cross of Christ, vv. 14-15.

1. Glorying in the Cross and NOT in the flesh, v. 14. Note that there are three crucifixions in this verse:

a. Christ crucified, i.e., His actual death on the cross, v. 14, “But 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.”

b. The world crucified, Philippians 3:7-8, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”

The world and its pleasures are convicted felons, therefore, the believer should see the world convicted and dying. It is not actually something desirable, but something dead and decaying. ELB

c. The believer crucified unto the world.

1) The cross of Christ is OFFENSIVE to the world, Matthew 11:6, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

2) When the believer lives a crucified life, the world wants NOTHING TO DO with him. Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

2. In Christ it is NOT RITUAL that counts but the NEW BIRTH that makes us NEW CREATURES, v. 15; 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

C. A Call to RECOGNIZE the RESULTS of the Spiritual Walk, vv. 16-18.

1. The spiritual WALK [according to this “STRAIGHT” RULE, i.e., the SCRIPTURES] brings PEACE and MERCY, v. 16; Ephesians 2:14-17, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

2. Paul’s body was MARKED by persecution, but he CONTINUED TO STAND for the faith, v. 17; 2 Corinthians 11:23-25, “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;”

3. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and our spirit, v. 18.

REVIEW OF GALATIANS

Chapters 1 & 2 –Christian Experience–Personal

Chapters 3 & 4 –Christian Doctrine–Doctrinal

Chapters 5 & 6 –Christian Character–Practical

I. Warnings of another gospel–Chapter 1: 6-8, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

II. Paul’s defense of the gospel–Chapter 2

A. Before the council.

1. He had been sent to the Gentiles.

2. His was the gospel of the uncircumcision.

B. Before Peter.

1. He was to be blamed.

2. Paul was dead to the law, vv. 19-20, “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

III. The Law cannot save; it can only curse–Chapter 3

A. They were bewitched into leaving the true gospel.

B. “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ.”

IV. We are no more servants, but sons–Chapter 4

A. We were in bondage.

B. Now we are free in Christ.

C. Now we are sons.

D. Now we are heirs.

V. The flesh and the Spirit–Chapter 5

A. To return to the law is to fall from grace.

B. We have liberty in Christ.

C. We are to serve one another.

D. We are to be under the Spirit’s control

1. To walk in Him.

2. To be led by Him.

3. To live in Him.

VI. Bear ye one another’s burdens–Chapter 6

–Lesson by E. L. Bynum / Russ Brown; Revision by Art Davison

LESSON 5

FALLING FROM GRACE & THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5:1-26

Memory Verse: 5:16, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

Introduction:

“In this chapter the apostle exhorts to stand fast in Christian liberty, and warns against the abuse of it; and directs to shun various vices, and encourages, to the exercise of several graces, and the observance of several duties; and concludes with a caution against vain glory, provocation to wrath, and envy.

Paul begins this with an exhortation to continue steadfastly in the liberty of the Gospel;… since it was what Christ obtained for them, and bestowed on them; and to take care, that they were not again brought under the bondage of the ceremonial law, particularly the yoke of Circumcision.” —John Gill’s Expositor.

I. THE DANGER OF FALLING FROM GRACE vv. 1-12

A. Stand Fast in Grace, vv. 1-3.

1. In grace we have liberty and not bondage, v. 1.

a. Stand fast in Christian liberty, 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”

1) Buy the truth and sell it not, Proverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

01. The truth will keep us, Proverbs 4:5-6, “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.”

02. Man does not know the price of Truth, Job 28:13, “Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.”

2) Stand as one well equipped, Ephesians 6:14, “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;”

01. Girded with gospel of your salvation, Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

02. Equipped with the breastplate of faith and love, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

b. Christ has made us free, v. 1; Galatians 2:4, “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:”

1) Our freedom was very COSTLY, Acts 22:28, “And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.”

2) The Lord has PROCLAIMED our liberty, Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”

2. Be not entangled AGAIN, v. 1; Matthew 23:4, “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” To go back to the law, was to go back into bondage as a slave.

3. To go back to law and circumcision was profitless, v. 2.

a. Paul asserts all his personal and apostolic authority, 2 Corinthians 10:1, “Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:”

b. Israel found no profit in circumcision, Romans 9:31, “But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;”

4. To go back to circumcision or any law keeping for salvation, makes a person a debtor to do the whole law, v. 3. James 2:10, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” You cannot keep part of the law and then ignore the other part without being a lawbreaker.

a. A debtor, to owe for one who has assumed an obligation for a moral or spiritual debt, Galatians 3:12, “And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.”

b. He is under a curse, Deuteronomy 27:26, “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.”

B. Fall Not From Grace, vv. 4-9.

1. Justification by the Law will result in falling from grace, v. 4.

a. Those who would be justified by the Law are severed from Christ, Romans 7:2, “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.”

b. You LEFT the sphere of GRACE in Christ and took your stand in the sphere of Law AS YOUR HOPE of salvation, Hebrews 6:4-6, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have TASTED the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

This verse does not mean that you must work for your salvation or you will fall from grace. It means that those who work for their salvation have already fallen from grace. —ELB

1) These were “ILLUMINATED” by the gospel, Hebrews 10:32, “But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;”

2) They were “ENLIGHTENED” by the gospel, Ephesians 1:18, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”

3) However, they DID NOT LOOK UNTO HIM for salvation, Hebrews 9:28, “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

2. By the LEADERSHIP of the Spirit we stand in faith, v. 5.

a. He leads us in truth, Psalms 25:5, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”

b. Our hope of righteousness is by faith, Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

3. Our salvation is in Christ and not in the works of the law nor the ordinance of circumcision, v. 6.

a. Circumcision is like salt that has lost it savor, Matthew 5:13, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

b. Faith works through love, 1 Peter 1:8, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

4. They had in the past run well in the truth, but now they have been PERSUADED by Judaizers to turn back to the law, vv. 7-8.

a. “Ye were running well” in the Gospel race, v. 7; 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:”

b. WHO (NOT WHAT) “DROVE YOU BACK”? v. 7; Galatians 3:1, “O foolish Galatians, WHO hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?”

c. This does NOT come from the Lord, Galatians 1:6, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:”

5. It only takes a little lump of doctrinal error to pollute the system of salvation by grace, v. 9.

a. It takes only a little yeast to change the shape, size and texture of the bread, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

b. It is merely the PERVASIVE POWER of leaven (to spread) that is involved in the proverb as in Matthew 13:33, NOT THE USE OF LEAVEN AS A SYMBOL OF EVIL, Matthew 13:33, “Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”

C. Cut Off those that would Pollute Grace, vv. 10-12.

1. Paul was confident they would return to the truth, v. 10a; 2 Thessalonians 3:4, “And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.”

2. Paul was confident false teachers would be judged, v. 10b.

a. He that troubles you, Acts 15:1, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

b. He shall be judged, Hebrews 10:29, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath TRODDEM UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, and hath COUNTED THE BLOOD of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, AN UNHOLY THING, and hath DONE DESPITE unto the Spirit of grace?”

3. Paul was accused of preaching circumcision by the false teachers, v. 11. If he had done so, he would not be suffering the persecution he was now suffering.

4. Paul desired that God cut off these false teachers, v. 12; Titus 1:10-11, “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”

a. There is not hint of compromise in this verse.

b. Truth can never compromise with error.

II. OVERCOMING THE FLESH BY THE SPIRIT vv. 13-26.

A. We Are to Walk in the Spirit, vv. 13-16.

1. To walk in the Spirit causes us not to live in the flesh, but to SERVE ONE ANOTHER, v. 13.

a. We should use our liberty as an advantage to help, Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

b. Be careful that your liberty doesn’t become a stumblingblock, 1 Corinthians 8:9, “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.”

c. We are to serve by love, Mark 10:43-45, “But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

There are about fourteen references to the Holy Spirit in Galatians.

2. To walk in the Spirit causes us to LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR as ourselves, v. 14;

a. We are not to bear any grudge, Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

b. We are to love out of a good conscience, 1 Timothy 1:5, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”

3. To walk in the Spirit causes us to avoid HARSH ATTITUDES toward toward one another, v. 15;

a. Envying, strife, and divisions among church members cause most church splits,1 Corinthians 3:3, “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

b. Finding these things were Paul’s greatest fear, 2 Corinthians 12:20, “For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults.”

c. The problem was with the heart, James 3:14-15, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.”

4. To walk in the Spirit causes us AVOID FULFILLING the lust of the flesh, v. 16.

a. Walk by the rule of the Holy Spirit, Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

b. The works of the flesh will not rule, Romans 6:12, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

B. We Are to Be LED by the Spirit, vv. 17-21.

1. If we are led of the Spirit, we will have VICTORY over the flesh, v. 17. There is a declared war between the old fleshly nature, and new spiritual man.

2. If we are led of the Spirit we are NOT under law, v. 18.

3. If we are led of the Spirit we will NOT CONTINUE in the WORKS of the FLESH, v. 19-21. Let us consider these awful sins of the flesh that cause so much havoc in our society.

a. The sins of sensuality, v. 19.

1) “Adultery” is illicit sex between unfaithful married people.

2) “Fornication” refers to this same sin between unmarried people.

3) “Uncleanness” refers to a filthy heart and mind.

4) “Lasciviousness” is unbridled lust and debauchery (extreme indulgence)

b. The sins of superstition, v. 20a.

1) “Idolatry” is the worship of false gods, whether they are visible or invisible. Whatever we serve, we worship, because it comes between us and God.

2) “Witchcraft” comes from the Greek “pharmakeia,” from which we get our word pharmacy. Witchcraft is a form of idolatry which in that day was often drug induced. This will be dominate in the last days, Revelation 9:21, “Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”

3) “Sorceries” is also the Greek “pharmakeia,”

c. The social sins, vv. 20b-21a.

1) “Hatred” (Gr. = “Enmities”) “as the carnal mind is nothing else but ENMITY AGAINST God and Christ, AGAINST law and Gospel, and all good men, and everything that is good.”

2) “Variance” is contention, strife and wrangling.

3) “Emulations” is Indignation, jealousy and Envy.

4) “Wrath” and “strife” = contention, “passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again,” Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” James 3:14, “But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.”

5) “Seditions” means dissension or division.

6) “Heresies” refers to false doctrines. Dissension arising from diversity of opinions and aims.

7) “Envyings, murders” and “drunkenness,” the meaning of which should be well known to all.

8) “Revellings” is the strutting around of those who are often drunken.

4. Those who continue to practice these sins of the flesh shall NOT INHERIT the kingdom of God, v. 21b.

a. This DOES NOT MEAN that someone who has committed these sins CANNOT be saved.

b. It does mean that after they are saved they WILL NOT CONTINUE to practice these sins, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

5. We KNOW that Christians DO sin, since none of us are perfect in our obedience to God. We need to know WHAT WILL HAPPEN when we DO sin, 1 John 1:8-10, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

a. If we sin and do not confess and repent, we will be severely chastened by the Lord, Hebrews 12:5-11, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

b. We will also lose rewards at the judgment seat of Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

C. We Are to LIVE IN the Spirit, vv. 22-26.

1. We must live in the Spirit to BEAR THE FRUIT of the Spirit, vv. 22-23.

a. The fruit of the Spirit is singular but is manifested in NINE wonderful ways.

b. The fruit of the Spirit is the NORMAL OUTCROPPING (the part exposed) of a DEDICATED believer:

1) Love, 1 Corinthians 13.

Many others have written on love, but Paul has here surpassed them all in this marvellous prose-poem. It comes like a sweet bell right between the jangling noise of the gifts in chapters 12 and 14. It is a pity to dissect this gem or to pull to pieces this fragrant rose, petal by petal. Fortunately Paul’s language here calls for little comment, for it is the language of the heart. “The greatest, strongest, deepest thing Paul ever wrote” (Harnack). —A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament.

2) Joy, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”

3) Peace is more than the Hebrew word of “shalom” so common is salutations.

01. It is the peace that Jesus gives, John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

02. It is the peace that passes all understanding, Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

03. The Greek word from which “peace” comes means “to rejoice.”

4) Longsuffering, not easily provoked to wrath, but bearing with patience every indignity and affront, “without hypocracy,” 1 Corinthians 13:4a, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind;”

5) Gentleness, our example is the Lord Jesus, Psalms 18:35, “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.”

6) Faith (Faithfulness), Luke 16:10, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

7) Meekness, 1 Corinthians 4:21, “What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?”

8) Temperance, or “self-control, moderation,” Philippians 4:5, “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”

9) There is no law against these fruits of the Spirit, but rather the law commands them, Galatians 5:14, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

It may be observed, that these fruits of the Spirit are OPPOSED TO THE WORKS OF THE FLESH. So love is OPPOSED TO hatred; joy TO emulations and envying; peace TO variance, strife, and seditions; longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and meekness, TO wrath and murders; faith TO idolatry, witchcraft, and heresies; and temperance TO adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, drunkenness, and revellings. —John Gill’s Expositor.

2. We must live in the Spirit in order TO BE ABLE to crucify the flesh with all its affections, v. 24. To crucify the flesh is to PUT TO DEATH spiritually and to utterly DESTROY its power.

a. It is a matter of RECKONING (to number among or account), Romans 6:11, “Likewise RECKON [account] ye also yourselves to be DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

b. Paul practiced a daily SELF CRUCIFIXION, 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY.”

3. We must LIVE IN the Spirit, IF we are TO WALK IN the Spirit, v. 25; Galatians 5:16, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

4. We must LIVE IN the Spirit if we want CONTINUAL VICTORY over the flesh, v. 26.

a. Let us not BECOME vainglorious over a weaker brother, Romans 14:15, 21, “But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

b. Let us not PROVOKE [challenge or contest with] one another, James 3:16, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”

–Lesson by E. L. Bynum Revision by Art Davison

LESSON 4c

REDEEMED FROM THE BONDAGE OF THE LAW

Galatians 4:1-31

Memory Verse: 4:4

III. REDEEMED BY FREE GRACE vv. 19-31

A. The Allegory Declared, vv. 19-26.

1. A plea to the deluded justified believers, vv. 19-21.

a. “My little children,” Matthew 18:3, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

b. Paul expressing the birth pangs of sorrow, v. 19; 1 Corinthians 4:15-16, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.”

c. He desired to satisfy his doubts about them, v. 20.

1) Paul desired to be present with them, 2 Corinthians 11:2-3,“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

2) He needed to remove his doubts of them, Philippians 2:16, “Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

d. It was incredible that they desired to be under law, v. 21.

1) How could any sane person desire to return to “weak and beggarly elements of religion?” v. 9.

2) Why would they desire to be under the “curse” again? Galatians 3:10, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

2. Hagar and Sarah represent law and grace, v. 22. Abraham had two sons: Ishmael = law; Isaac = grace.

a. The one by a bondmaid, Ishmael, the son of Hagar, Genesis 16:3-4, “And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.”

b. The other by a free-woman. Isaac, the son of Sarah, Genesis 21:1-2, “And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”

3. Ishmael was born after the flesh, v. 23;

4. While Isaac was born after the promise, v. 23, Genesis 18:10, “And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.” It all boils down to asking them who their mother was.

B. The Allegory Explained, vv. 24-29.

1. It would be well to read Genesis 21:1-12. Here it is made plain that the law with its legalism always persecutes those who are under free grace. We can see that repeated in our day as well. An “allegory” is “to speak allegorically or in a figure.” Mr. Webster says that “it is the description of one thing under the image of another.”

“An allegory is properly a fictitious way of speaking; but here it designs an accommodation of a real history, and matter of fact, to other cases and things, and seems to intend a type or figure; and the sense to be, that these things which were literally true of Hagar and Sarah, of Ishmael and Isaac, were types and figures of things to come.” –John Gill.

2. Agar (Hagar) represents the covenant of law, v. 24. Let us compare the two covenants:

a. The OLD Covenant was LAW, which is represented by Hagar the SLAVE, who gave birth to Ishmael who was conceived after the flesh. This was the condition of earthly Jerusalem which was in bondage.

b. The NEW Covenant is GRACE, which is represented by Sarah the FREEWOMAN who gave birth to Isaac who was conceived miraculously. This was the condition of the heavenly Jerusalem which is free.

3. Jerusalem with her children (the JEWS) were UNDER this BONDAGE of the law, v. 25; The Arabs, it is thought, called Mt. Sinai Mount Hargar in Abraham’s time.

4. Jerusalem “above” represents the COVENANT of GRACE, v. 26; Colossians 3:1, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”

5. The DESOLATE have many more children, v. 27, the quotation is from Isaiah 44:1; Isaiah 54:1, “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”

6. Saved Jews and Gentiles are the CHILDREN of PROMISE, v. 28; Galatians 3:29, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

7. False religion and legalism will ALWAYS PERSECUTE those who believe the truth, v. 29.

8. This is why that BIBLE BELIEVERS CAN NEVER ENGATE IN ECUMENICAL ENDEAVORS with LEGALISTS, Genesis 21:9, “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.”

C. The Allegory Blessings, vv. 30-31.

1. The only scriptural thing to do is to CAST OUT the children of the bondwoman, v. 30.

2. Let us explore the POSSIBILITIES of dealing with those that are under the bondage of legalism:

a. We can TRY to CHANGE them, but that DOES NOT WORK, John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

b. We can COMPROMISE with them, but you CANNOT MIX LAW and GRACE anymore than you can mix oil and water. The Galatians were trying to do this, and Paul was correcting them.

c. We can do the SCRIPTURAL THING and CAST THEM OUT, Genesis 21:10, “Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”

2. We must declare and enjoy the FREE GRACE OF GOD, v. 31.

a. We should stand fast in our freedom in Christ, Galatians 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

b. We are free indeed, John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

–Lesson by E. L. Bynum; Revision by Art Davison

GALATIANS 4b

REDEEMED AND MADE FREE vv. 8-18

A. Why Give up your Freedom in Christ? vv. 8-14; Romans 8:15, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

1. They were turning again to bondage, vv. 8-9.

a. Before they were saved, they SERVED false gods, v. 8; John 1:10, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”

b. They were now GIVING UP that freedom, v. 9.

1) They were giving up the POWER of the gospel for the WEAKNESS of the law, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

2) They were giving up the WEALTH of the gospel for the POVERTY of the law, 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

3) The law could ONLY REVEAL a man’s WEAKNESS and BANKRUPTCY, Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:”

2. The proof of their return to bondage was in observing times and seasons of the Law, v. 10; Colossians 2:14-17, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

3. Many professing Christians are in the SAME CONDITION TODAY.

4. Paul was deeply concerned about what they did, v. 11; Isaiah 49:4, “Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.” Only a God-called preacher can understand the pain, when converts turn to legalism or to the world.

5. He calls upon them to return to the liberty and joy that they enjoyed when he first preached to them, vv. 12-14.

a. Paul had been received as an angel of God, v. 14; 2 Samuel 14:17, “Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.”

b. Imagine Paul’s pain when he realized that the people now despised and rejected him, 1 Corinthians 4:10, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.”

B. Why Give up Your Blessings in Christ? vv. 15-18.

1. They once rejoiced in the blessing of knowing Christ. v. 15.

“Their willingness to give Paul their very eyes, makes us to believe that he had serious eye problems. This view is reinforced by Galatians 6:11, where he speaks of “large a letter,” which may refer to the large size of the handwriting.” —E. L. Bynum

2. Truth will sometimes make enemies, v. 16; 1 Kings 18:17-18, “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.”

a. The kisses of the enemy, Proverbs 27:6, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

b. Those with itching ears will turn away from the truth, 2 Timothy 4:2-5, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

3. The legalists used affection to deceive, and the devil’s crowd continues to do this today, v. 17; Romans 16:18, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”

–Lesson by E. L. Bynum; Revision by Art Davison