October - December 2018
Galatians
|
"The letter to the churches of Galatia reinforces the assurance of the superiority of Christ over the Old Testament law. From the establishment of his authority as an apostle (1:1) to the equality of Christian Jews and Gentiles (3:28) to the fruit of the Spirit (5:22), Paul encourages and admonishes the Galatians to continue as one in Christ, never to turn back to the old law. As relevant to us today: Christians can be reassured we are heirs to the promises of God through Christ."
Gospel Advocate, Foundations Summer 2018, Galatians, Table of Contents page. |
|
Week 1: October 7, 2018
|
The Apostle and the Gospel
|
|
Week 2: October 14, 2018
|
Paul's Credentials
|
|
Week 3: October 21, 2018
|
Paul and Others
|
|
Week 4: October 28, 2018
|
Hypocrisy and Deliverance
|
|
Week 5: November 4, 2018
|
The Works of Law or of Faith
In his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul forcefully argued that the Christians should not obey of accept "a different gospel, which is not another" (Galatians 1:6-7). Seeking to prove Gentiles who obeyed the gospel did not need to submit to Jewish customs, Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions in Galatians 3. Key to Paul's line of reasoning was their awareness they possessed the Holy Spirit. Among other things, he asked, "Did you receive the Spirit from the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2). |
|
Week 6: November 11, 2018
|
The Promise of Salvation
The New Testament clearly portrays salvation as a gift from God. Emphasizing the problem with attempting to earn salvation, Paul pointed to Abraham's example. Paul showed the Galatian Christians that justification comes through Christ, not through circumcision or other Jewish rites. |
|
Week 7: November 18, 2018
|
The Purpose of the Law
|
|
Week 8: November 25, 2018
|
When We Were Children
|
|
Week 9: December 2, 2018
|
Two Covenants
|
|
Week 10: December 9, 2018
|
Christian Liberty
That anyone could reject Christ in favor of one's own fleshly pursuits is inconceivable. Nevertheless, Paul makes it clear in Galatians 5:1-15 that this was the very thin the Galatians were in jeopardy of doing if they chose to turn back to the law of Moses. |
|
Week 11: December 16, 2018
|
Walking in the Spirit
Given the way Paul contrasted the Galatians' fleshly behavior with the way Christians are supposed to act, it is not surprising to find him encouraging his audience, "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). |
|
Week 12: December 23, 2018
|
Concern for One Another
Rather than viewing the final chapter of Galatians as one might the postscript of a letter, it is reasonable to consider how Galatians 6:1-10 complements and adds to the general argument Paul has made. His point here seems to be that those who live according to the revelation provided by the Holy Spirit will recognize the responsibilities they have to help their brothers, guard their own actions, provide for those who preach and teach, be benevolent to all. |
|
Week 13: December 30, 2018
|
Paul's Farewell
Given the variety of ways Paul ended his epistles, it is not surprising that Galatians' ending has similarities to and differences from his other letters. He reminds his audience of the futility of circumcision one last time, declaring, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation" (v. 15). |
Thank you to those who assisted in writing these study focus overviews.