GALATIANS LESSON 9

 
     We will begin this lesson in 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."

     We are to stand up for God and continually stand in the salvation
the Lord provided for us. We are no longer under the bondage of the
law, we are free to serve the Lord. II Thessalonians 2:15 "Therefore,
brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been
taught, whether by word, or our epistle."  A person who had just been
set free, would never choose to go back into bondage, if they were
thinking clearly.

     Galatians 5:2 "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be
circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."

     It appears that these Galatians believed if they were
circumcised, that would somehow put them in better standing with the
Lord. It is as if they are believing this to be like baptism.
Circumcision and sacrifices are almost as if they are saying that the
shed blood of Jesus is not enough. Hebrews 9:12 "Neither by the blood
of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]."  Hebrews
9:13 "For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an
heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the
flesh:"  Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge
your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"  You can see
that there was nothing left for us to do, Jesus did it all for us.

     Galatians 5:3 "For I testify again to every man that is
circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law."

     Circumcising is a recognition of the law. To recognize the law in
this manner, would be to deny the power of grace in Jesus Christ.  If
you go back to the law to make you perfect in the sight of the law,
then you are under the covenant of the law, and not under the covenant
of grace.

     Galatians 5:4 "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever
of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

     You have decided to look for salvation in another, if you go back
to the law. Grace is actually a freeing of yourself, but a freeing
from the law, as well. Wherever you put your trust, is what you are
depending on to save you. This would be turning away from Christ as
your Justifier, and looking to the law for justification.

     Galatians 5:5 "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of
righteousness by faith."

     Christians are not like the rest of the world who have no hope.
We have hope of the resurrection. Our hope is in Christ Jesus. He is
our blessed Hope. Our righteousness is His righteousness that He
clothed us in. Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what [is]
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

     Galatians 5:6 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth
any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."

     Circumcision is of the flesh. This, then, makes no difference
either way, because Christianity is of the spirit. Christianity is a
personal relationship with Christ. Romans 2:28 "For he is not a Jew,
which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is
outward in the flesh:" Romans 2:29 "But he [is] a Jew, which is one
inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit,
[and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God."
We see in all of this that Christianity has very little to do with the
flesh. The only thing it does have to do with it is, that we must cut
away the flesh that the spirit might live. To be in a position that we
desire to be with Christ. We must crucify our flesh and live in the
spirit.

     Galatians 5:7 "Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should
not obey the truth?"

     Paul is telling them that they started out correctly. They were
running the race of life well. Now they have listened to those who
would come in and destroy. We must apply the blood of Jesus to our
ear, so only things of God will be heard in our inner mind. We should
not listen to others, and let them sway us. We should be thoroughly
convinced, and never waver in our belief.

     Galatians 5:8 "This persuasion [cometh] not of him that calleth
you."

     They have listened to another doctrine other than what Paul had
brought. The Lord God of heaven called you, stay with Him. God did not
send the message to get back under the bondage of the law.

     Galatians 5:9 "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump."

     This is the same thing as saying; one rotten apple will ruin the
whole barrel, if it is not removed. Leaven is sin. It is a sin to
doubt the message of grace. Anything that displeases God is sin. Faith
is the only thing that pleases God. It seems that some of these people
in the church were listening to the Judaizers.

     Galatians 5:10 "I have confidence in you through the Lord, that
ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear
his judgment, whosoever he be."

     It is a very dangerous thing to teach anything but the pure
gospel message. Paul says; I know you will consider this and make the
right decision. He knows, if they have time to consider what he is
telling them, they will not accept going back into the law. Grace is
too good to trade it for law.

     Galatians 5:11 "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision,
why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross
ceased."

     One of the reasons they had difficulty with what Paul was saying,
is the fact that he circumcised Timothy to appease the Jews. Paul had
not circumcised Timothy, so that Timothy would be in better standing
with God. He had done it, because the group of people Timothy would be
ministering to were Jews, and they would not have let Timothy preach.
Acts 16:3 "Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and
circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for
they knew all that his father was a Greek." Paul did not believe in
circumcising Christians.  Paul's major persecution had come from the
Jews. They even followed Paul from town to town and caused people to
rise up against him, because he taught that Jesus Christ was the
Jewish Messiah. Paul suffered with Christ. Paul really counted it as
gain to be persecuted bringing the good news of the gospel of Jesus
Christ. The teaching of the cross was an offense to the Jews.

     Galatians 5:12 "I would they were even cut off which trouble
you."

     Paul was aware that those who were trying to put them back under
the law, were there to destroy their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The best thing would be for these Judaizers to get out of the church,
but it was highly unlikely that would happen.

     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."

     Our salvation is a free gift from God. He washed our sins away.
When we become a Christian, we no longer serve sin. Romans 6:18 "Being
then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness."
What this is really saying is that our flesh controlled our will until
we became  Christians. Now our spirit {filled with Jesus} controls our
will. If we are true Christians, it is Jesus in us who controls our
will.  We are no longer flesh, we are spirit. Just because we are
forgiven, does not give us a license to sin.  Romans 6:19 "I speak
after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as
ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity
unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to
righteousness unto holiness."  Romans 6:20 "For when ye were the
servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness."  Romans 6:21 "What
fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the
end of those things [is] death." Romans 6:22 "But now being made free
from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto
holiness, and the end everlasting life."  You see, we have been set
free to live in Christ Jesus.


                        Galatians 9 Questions


1.  What are Christians to stand fast in?
2.  We are not to be entangled with the yoke of __________.
3.  What would a person, who had been set free, never choose to do?
4.  What did these Galatians believe about circumcising?
5.  Quote Hebrews chapter 9 verse 12.
6.  What does the shed blood of Christ do for the Christian's
    conscience?
7.  What would make a Christian debtor to the whole law?
8.  Circumcising is recognition of what?
9.  Quote verse 4 of chapter 5 of Galatians.
10. For we through the _________ wait for the hope of righteousness by
    faith.
11. What is the hope of the Christian?
12. Quote Colossians chapter 1 verse 27.
13. Circumcision is of the _________.
14. Christianity is of the _________.
15. What question did Paul ask them in verse 7?
16. A little leaven ____________ the whole loaf.
17. What does leaven symbolize?
18. What is sin?
19. What did Paul have confidence they would do?
20. What was one of the reasons they thought Paul believed in
    circumsision?
21. Why had Paul done this?
22. Paul's major persecution came from where?
23. What did they not like about Paul?
24. They were not to use their liberty for what?
25. Quote Romans chapter 6 verse 18.
26. What have we been set free to do?