加拉太書第五章Edit from : livoniatapes.com/.../Pauls%20Letter%20to%20the

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Strategy of Galatians 5

• 1-6 We have been freed from the limits & restrictions of the Law – don’t go back!

• 7-12 Don’t put up with the trouble makers who try to persuade you to go back

• 13-15 Use your liberty to Love – even the Law aimed at that!

• 16-26 Walk in the Spirit & show it by treating each other with the fruit of the spirit

Freedom: Gal 5:1 (2:4)

• 1Cor 10:29 Paul’s liberty to eat (2 Cor 3:17 – “unveiled face”)

• James 1:25 perfect law of liberty (2:12)• 1 Pet 2:16 don’t misuse liberty (2 Pt 2:19)• John 8:32-36 Truth will make you free• Rom 8:2 free from the law of sin and death (see

6:7, 18, 22) [Law of the Spirit of life = perfect Law of Liberty]

What is this

Freedom?• Free from the daily rituals

– Sacrifices, washings, etc• Free from the restrictions of the law

– We can help out on the Sabbath• Free from legalism

– Our decisions now based on what’s best for people • Free from slavery to Sin• Free to serve God & others in love

The LawMe

Circumcision• First given to Abraham (Gen 17)

– He will be father of many nations (v.5)– Sarah will be mother of nations (v.16)

• Lesson: something in flesh that must be cut off (evil desires of our bodies)

• Incorporated into the Law of Moses

Mistakenly used by Jews to glory in their flesh and make them feel better than other

people

Fallen from Grace

• Try to be justified by law• Depend on the works of flesh• Debtors to keep the whole law• Estranged from Christ• Cast out like Hagar (4:30)

Saw salvation as something earned

from the bottom up, not as given from the

top down!

Saved by Grace

In Bondage to Law

Falling from Grace

Valley of Sin & Death

Faith working through Love

• 1 Cor 12:6 Same God who works in all through the manifestation of the Spirit

• Gal 2:8 He who effectively worked for Peter• Gal 3:5 He who supplies the Spirit to you and

works miracles• Eph 1:11 predestined according to the purpose

of Him who works all things• Eph 1:20 which He worked in Christ when He

raised him from the dead

“Working” – “energeo” – “energized”

Faith energized through Love

• Faith will cause us to be energized in God’s service (James 2:18-26; Heb 11)

• The work we do will be guided by love – love for God and love for each other

• “through love serve one another” (Gal 5:13)• Rituals will not save anyone!

Faith is the power that will turn us into children

of God

Why is faith energized by love more powerful than law• Encourages us to do things for the

right reasons• Leads to greater obedience to God• Leads to serving one another in love

Law encourages obedience to rituals

Faith energized by love will promote obedience to God, which

leads to loving service to each other

Am

ount

of o

bedi

ence

Law

To rituals To God

FaithTo God

Both Law and Faith do lead to

obedience

Problems with man’s use of God’s law

• We can develop an attitude of thinking that we can earn our salvation

• Laws can become unintended limits – we only do what the laws demand

• Many times when we hear laws, our minds try to find ways around them

It’s very clear in children!

How does this apply today?

In Families, Ecclesias & Job– Read and discuss the Bible together– Discuss the work of angels in our lives– Accept what God gives us– Trust He knows what we need

– Serve one another in love– Learn to rejoice and be excited

for good things happening to others

How do we know if we are living by rituals or by faith?

• Do we stress a ritual more than the principles it is supposed to teach us?

• Do we depend on rituals to save us?• Do we serve one another through love?• Do we make decisions based on what’s best for those

who need help, or simply uphold the rules?• Do we judge ourselves, or each other?• Do we bite and devour one another?• Do we display the fruit of the Spirit?• Do we only attend classes because they are “official”

ecclesial activities?

What ordinances are we still required to keep?

• Baptism• Bread & wine• Veils

Ordinances are only valuable if they remind us of the lessons

behind them. There is no value in the ritual itself.

Any others we try to slip in ???

• Prayer• Bible reading

we can run well and then mess

up!• V.7 someone hindered

them from obeying the Truth• V.8 this persuasion not of God• V.9 bad influences are like leaven – spread

through the whole lump

Warning: we can be influenced to turn away

from God’s truth!

He still suffered persecution by Judaisers because he did not require circumcision –

the offense of the cross

Some claimed Paul taught circumcision is required! (v. 11) They misquoted and misrepresented Paul!

Always best to go direct to source

He had Timothy circumcised (Acts 16:1-3)

So what is Paul’s proof that he doesn’t preach that circumcision is required?

What caused the Galatians to backslide?• V.7 Who hindered you?• V.8 This persuasion• V.9 A little leaven• V.10 He who troubles you

Leaven (yeast)

• Just takes a little to spread throughout the dough

• Once in the dough, it’s nearly impossible to get it out

A little leaven leavens the whole

lump (Gal 5:9) • Possibly a short proverb • Use again in 1 Cor 5:6• Note the difference:

– Gal 5:9 is about doctrine– 1 Cor 5:6 is about immorality

Paul’s play on “circumcision”

Galatians 5:12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

Philippians 3:1-3 (RSV)1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not irksome to me, and is safe for you.2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil-workers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.3 For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit, and glory in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.

Love: the ultimate motivation!

• V.6 Faith working through love• V.13 Through love serve one another• V.14 Even the law said: “love your

neighbor as yourself”

Love never fails (1Cor 13:8)Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us (Eph

5:2)If God so loved us, we ought to love one

another (1Jn 4:11)

“Love your neighbor” (Lev 19)

• Quoted by Jesus – Mat 19:19 – linked to 10

commandments– Mat 22:39; Lk 10:27 – On

these 2 hang all the law & prophets. Good Samarian parable.

• Rom 13:8-10 fulfills the law, sums it up• James 2:8 fulfill the royal law• Lev 19:18 Don’t take vengeance, don’t bear a

`` grudge!• Lev 19:2 “you shall be holy”, “I am Yahweh your

God” (3,4,10,11,14,16,18, 25,28,30,31,32,34,36,37)

What happens when law & ordinances motivate us?• We focus on the ordinances and

outward appearance• We compete with each other by rituals• We compare ourselves with each other

• We lose our love for each other• We bite and devour one another• We end up consumed by one

another

Walk in the Spirit (16)• Ezek 36:27 walk in God’s statutes• Rom 8:1-14 set minds on the Spirit• 2 Cor 12:18 walk in the same steps• Gal 5:25 if we live in the Spirit• 1 Jn 1:7 Same as John’s “walk in the light”

This is our offense and defense against the works

of the flesh!

Led by the Spirit (v18)

Same Greek words used in:• Luke 4:1 Jesus led by the Spirit• Rom 8:14 these are the Sons of God• Gal 5:18 not under law

The Spirit is our Shepherd

All a Work of the Spirit• 4:29 Isaac born according to Spirit• 5:5 we wait through the Spirit• 5:16 walk in the Spirit• 5:17 flesh lusts against the Spirit• 5:18 we must be led by the Spirit• 5:22 fruit of the Spirit• 5:25 if we live in the spirit, we must also walk in

the Spirit!• 6:8 if sow to the Spirit, reap eternal life

It’s all of God, not of ourselves!

Works of the Flesh• Adultery

• Fornication• Uncleanness• Licentiousness• Jealousies• Outbursts of wrath• Selfish ambitions

• Envy• Murders• Dissensions• Heresies• Drunkenness• Revelries

Those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of

God

Fruit of the Spirit• Fruit is the reproductive method

by which the tree spreads• Takes time for tree to develop fruit

– Heb 12:11 later – chastening yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness

• Fruit determined by the type of tree! Won’t get gentleness & faithfulness from tree of flesh

• It’s the Spirit’s fruit! Not ours!

Fruit of the SpiritLoveJoyPeacePatienceKindness

GoodnessFaithfulnessGentlenessSelf-control

Against such there is no LawThe Law cannot restrict these!

We need to work on them all!

Those who are Christ’s…

what do they do?• Crucified the flesh (Paul – 2:20; 6:14)• United with him in a death like his (Rom 6:5-6)• You died….Put to death what is earthly in you

(Col 3:3, 5)• Died with Christ from the basic principles of the

world (Col 2:20)• Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts• Leaving you an example that you should follow

in his steps (1 Pet 2:21)

“Those who are Christ’s”what does it mean?

• 3:27 have put on Christ• 3:29 are Abraham’s seed, heirs• Rom 13:14 put on Christ, make

no provision for flesh

Those who are Christ’s have joined him in his war with Sin and been adopted into God’s

family

If we live in the Spirit• If we get the benefits of the spirit

(3:5), then our way of life must be in agreement with the way of the Spirit

• Cannot be conceited, provoking one another, envying one another– Think too highly of ourselves– Pick on the specks in the eyes of others– Jealous of others

God expects His spirit to change how

we live!

In Galatians 6 we will find that our freedom should lead us to bear one another’s

burdens

加拉太書第六章Edit from : livoniatapes.com/.../Pauls%20Letter%20to%20the

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Bearing one

another’s burdensGalatians 6

Affect of “walking in the Spirit”

• Seek to restore those having trouble (v.1)• Restore others in spirit of gentleness (v.1)• Bear one another’s burdens (v.2)• Bear your own load (v.5)• Share with others (v.6)• Don’t grow tired of doing good (v.9)• Do good to all (v.10)

Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill

the law of Christ• This is not optional• It is what Christ’s law aims at• Requires the fruit of the Spirit to be

successful

Can you think of any Bible examples of

this?

Bible Examples• Ruth helping Naomi• Sarah’s agreement with the

“sister” plan• collection for the Jerusalem poor fund• Job’s 3 friends when they sat silent with him• Moses carried the burden of Israel (Num 11:11-

17) and then shared it with the 70

• Samuel praying for the people• Rahab’s hiding of the spies• Jonathan’s assistance to David

while a fugitive

The problem with helping others

• Considering yourself lest you also be tempted (v.1)

• We think too highly of ourselves (v.3)

How do we prevent this???1)Really believe that we are nothing

(v.3)2)Examine our own work (v.4)3)Bear our own load (v.5)

We have to bear our own load

• Must serve others & bear their burdens – like Christ did for us

• Must do it in a manner that reveals the fruit of the Spirit – like Christ did

Can’t possibly do it in isolation from

people!

Generosity (sharing)• Based on belief that everything

belongs to our God• Driven by motive to serve one

another through love

• Don’t be deceived – God won’t be mocked– If we mock (sneer) at others, God

considers this sneering at Him!– If we aren’t generous with others,

God will not be with us (v.7)• Do good to ALL (especially

believers)

Don’t be deceived….• God won’t be mocked (ridiculed)• We will reap what we sow!

2 Cor 9:6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Large Letters• Paul usually dictated his letters and

only wrote the end. (2Thess 3:17; Col 4:18; 1Cor 16:21). He may have written this last part in large letters himself to emphasize his summary points.

• Some think Paul was trained in Hebrew, not Greek, and that he wrote this letter in fairly large Greek letters.

• Using the KJV [“see how large a letter”], some think the letter was a long letter. (but compared to Hebrews & Romans it’s not!)

Motive of the Judaisers

• Want to make a good showing in the flesh (v.12) [look good to others – popular]

• Don’t want to suffer persecution for teaching the cross of Christ (v.12)

• Want to boast about what they convince us to do (v.13)

Circumcision

Paul’s Motive• Won’t glory in his own works• Will only glory in the cross of Christ• The world has been crucified to Paul• Paul has been crucified to the world

How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (Rom

6:2)"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;

(Gal 2:20)

Glory in the Cross of Christ

• 1 Cor 1:17-31 Paul did not preached in words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power

• Philip 3:18 enemies of the cross of Christ

How could Paul glory in the cross of Christ?Because the cross of Christ was

turning Paul into a new person, a member of the family of God forever

by the grace of God

All that matters is the new creation

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Rom 8:21-22 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Eph 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Walk according to this Rule• Want to be crucified with Christ• Want to become new creatures

(born again to be children of God)• Hate Sin like God hates it

Upon these Paul says will be mercy &

peace

The Israel of GodRom 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who

is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Rom 9:6 For they are not all Israel who are of Israel

Maybe Paul’s way of referring to true

believers of all ages

I bear in my bodyGal 2:20 Paul was crucified with

Christ (2:20)2 Cor 4:10-11 always carrying

about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

Grace of the Lord Jesus be with your spiritLet the Grace that Jesus shows to us dominate our way of thinking (our attitude) in the way we deal with one another.

Grace

Free Gift

Lessons from Galatians• Faith working through love will motivate us to

live as God’s children far more than law• Appreciate God’s gospel of grace – thank Him

every day and show our thankfulness by being merciful to others

• Don’t use our freedom to serve our flesh, but through love serve one another

• Spend more time & energy on developing the fruit of the spirit, not judging each other by comparing ourselves with ourselves

• Bear one another’s burdens – don’t make the burdens of others heavier

Tomorrow we have the opportunity to let the love of God

motivate us to produce the fruit of

the spirit by the way we treat one

another

May God bless us to bear fruit to His glory!