Galilee Summer Book Club - June - Galatians

June-July-August

summer book series

Galatians-Ephesians-Philippians

June

Book of Galatians
Be Free

Galilee Church
45425 Winding Road • Sterling, VA 20165
703-430-2203 • galileeumc.org • [email protected]

Galilee Summer Book Club
June - Galatians

“Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and
don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
- Galatians 5:1

Galilee Church
45425 Winding Road • Sterling, VA 20165
703-430-2203 • galileeumc.org • [email protected]

Contents

Series Introduction......................................................................................2
BE FREE: An Introduction to Galatians...................................................3
Suggested Outline of the Book of Galatians.............................................4
The Book of Galatians..................................................................................5
Discussion Guides:
Free in Christ.................................................................................10
One in Christ..............................................................................................12
Justified in Christ..........................................................................14
Stand Firm in Christ.....................................................................16
Notes............................................................................................................18

Series Introduction

Have you got a stack of summer reading going already? Whether
you travel to the mountains, or the beach, or even enjoy a staycation,
the slow pace of the hot, humid months of summer afford us the
opportunity to read more—and to read more widely.
I encourage you to make room in your pile for the slim booklet that
you hold in your hands, which is Galilee’s Summer Book Club guide
to one book of the Bible. A whole book, because the Bible is not meant
to be read one verse at a time, out of order, and out of context. I may
preach one or two verses at a time, but imagine reading a David
Baldacci novel like that!
The Summer Book Club is going to tackle three books in their entirety,
with three discussion guides like this one: Galatians in June, Ephesians
in July, and Philippians in August. The sermons you hear in church (or
online) will follow these guides, but you may also delve into the word
on your own. The complete Bible book is in here, along with a set of
questions and reflections.
This summer stay cool…keep reading…and remain free.
In Christ,

Jason Duley
Senior Pastor, Galilee Church

A good companion to Galilee’s Summer Book Club topics are the
“Be” series books by Bible commentator, Warren Wiersbe. BE FREE
(Galatians), BE RICH (Ephesians), and BE JOYFUL (Philippians) are
available in paperback or in a Kindle edition. Come by the church office,
if you would like to look at a copy.

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BE FREE: An Introduction to Galatians

The Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, planted
churches throughout the Mediterranean world after Jesus’ resurrection.
The spread of Christianity happened in large measure due to Paul’s
efforts. His writings were a major influence on church development—
then and now.
Every church that Paul started suffered conflict and division. That is
not an indictment of Paul’s leadership or the Christian faith, but a
statement about human nature. People do misunderstand God’s
message; you and I tend to hear what we want to hear and to ignore
those parts of the Gospel that seem to have nothing to do with our
lives, or run counter to our own will.
What, exactly, was the problem with the Galatians?
The small Christian congregations of Galatia (a Roman province in
what is now Turkey, the home of an ancient Celtic people) were
struggling to believe rightly about Christ. They embraced, for a time,
a false gospel that said believers had to live according to Jewish law
to be saved. Paul wrote the Letter to the Galatians to correct and
encourage the struggling churches, explaining that Christ’s sacrifice,
not our adherence to laws, won us salvation.
Paul, we believe, was guided in his travels and in his writing by the
Holy Spirit. So Paul’s words became Scripture, because they are forever
relevant. Like the Galatians then, today we often attempt to behave in a
manner that makes us worthy of salvation. But God’s free gift of grace,
which saves us, also liberates us from that demand. We don’t have to
earn our share of divine love—in fact we can’t. We are blessed with an
unending reservoir of this love and because of that free gift, we can live
differently. We can be ordinary people (sinners, in fact) who are free to
live the extraordinary, abundant life of Christ.

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Bible commentator Warren Wiersbe noticed that Paul’s arguments in
this epistle could be profitably outlined this way:

A Suggested Outline of the
Book of Galatians

Theme: Christian liberty in the grace of God
Key verse: Galatians 5:1
I. Personal: Grace and the Gospel (Galatians 1—2)
A. Grace declared in Paul’s message (Galatians 1:1–10)
B. Grace demonstrated in Paul’s life (Galatians 1:11–24)
C. Grace defended in Paul’s ministry (Galatians 2:1–21)
1. Before the church collectively (Galatians 2:1–10)
2. Before Peter personally (Galatians 2:11–21)
II. Doctrinal: Grace and the Law (Galatians 3—4)
A. The personal argument (Galatians 3:1–5)
B. The scriptural argument (Galatians 3:6–14)
C. The logical argument (Galatians 3:15–29)
D. The historical argument (Galatians 4:1–11)
E. The sentimental argument (Galatians 4:12–18)
F. The allegorical argument (Galatians 4:19–31)
III. Practical: Grace and the Christian Life (Galatians 5—6)
A. Liberty, not bondage (Galatians 5:1–12)
B. The Spirit, not the flesh (Galatians 5:13–26)
C. Others, not self (Galatians 6:1–10)
D. God’s glory, not man’s praise (Galatians 6:11–18)

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Paul’s Letter to the Galatians

Chapter 1

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through
Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead), 2 and
all the brothers who are with me, to the assemblies of Galatia: 3 Grace
to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4
who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this
present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father 5 to
whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that you are so
quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different
“good news”; 7 and there isn’t another “good news.” Only there are some
who trouble you, and want to pervert the Good News of Christ. 8 But
even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any
“good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be
cursed. 9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches
to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be
cursed. 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I
striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a
servant of Christ. 11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the
Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man.
12 For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came
to me through revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my
way of living in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond mea-
sure I persecuted the assembly of God, and ravaged it. 14 I advanced in
the Jews’ religion beyond many of my own age among my countrymen,
being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15
But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my
mother’s womb, and called me through his grace, 16 to reveal his Son in
me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I didn’t immediately
confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those
who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia. Then I returned
to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit
Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But of the other apostles I
saw no one, except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 Now about the things
which I write to you, behold, before God, I’m not lying. 21 Then I came
to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by face to the

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assemblies of Judea which were in Christ, 23 but they only heard: “He
who once persecuted us now preaches the faith that he once tried to
destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.

Chapter 2

1 Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem
with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2 I went up by revelation, and
I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles,
but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be
running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me,
being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 This was because of
the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty
which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;
5 to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour,
that the truth of the Good News might continue with you. 6 But from
those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes
no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man)—they, I say,
who were respected imparted nothing to me, 7 but to the contrary,
when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the
uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision
8 (for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision
appointed me also to the Gentiles); 9 and when they perceived the
grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who
were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of
fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
10 They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was
also zealous to do.11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to
his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before some people came
from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew
back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even
Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw
that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good
News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the
Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to
live as the Jews do?15 “We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners,
16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but

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through faith
in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be
justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no
flesh will be justified by the works of the law. 17 But if, while we sought
to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ
a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build up again those things
which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker. 19 For I, through the
law, died to the law, that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified
with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That
life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who
loved me, and gave himself up for me. 21 I don’t make void the grace of
God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”

Chapter 3

1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as
crucified? 2 I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit
by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish?
Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? 4 Did
you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 He therefore
who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he
do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 6 Even as Abraham
“believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” 7 Know
therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.
8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you
all the nations will be blessed.” 9 So then, those who are of faith are
blessed with the faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works
of the law are under a curse. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who
doesn’t continue in all things that are written in the book of the law,
to do them.” 11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is
evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not of faith,
but, “The man who does them will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed
us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is
written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” 14 that the blessing
of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we
might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brothers,

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speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when
it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it. 16 Now the
promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To
seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “To your seed,” which is Christ. 17
Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the
law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as
to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law,
it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
19 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until
the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was
ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator
is not between one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the
promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given
which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been
of the law. 22 But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that
the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law,
confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that
the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be
justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer
under a tutor. 26 For you are all children of God, through faith in
Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have
put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave
nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. 29 If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and
heirs according to promise.

Chapter 4

1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from
a bondservant, though he is lord of all; 2 but is under guardians and
stewards until the day appointed by the father. 3 So we also, when we
were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles
of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out
his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem
those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
children. 6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his
Son into your hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer

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a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through
Christ. 8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage
to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to
know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again
to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to
be in bondage all over again? 10 You observe days, months, seasons,
and years. 11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for
you. 12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you
are. You did me no wrong, 13 but you know that because of weakness of
the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time. 14 That which
was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but
you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 What
was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you
would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So then,
have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They zealously
seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may
seek them. 18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and
not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I
am again in travail until Christ is formed in you—20 but I could wish
to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed
about you. 21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don’t you
listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one
by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. 23 However, the son by
the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free
woman was born through promise. 24 These things contain an allegory,
for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children
to bondage, which is Hagar. 25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia,
and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with
her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the
mother of us all. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, you barren who
don’t bear. Break forth and shout, you that don’t travail. For more are
the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband.”28 Now
we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But as then, he
who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born
according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 However what does the
Scripture say? “Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the
handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So then,
brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.

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Chapter 5

1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free,
and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I, Paul,
tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
3 Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he
is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 You are alienated from Christ, you
who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace. 5
For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor
uncircumcision, but faith working through love. 7 You were running
well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? 8
This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little yeast grows
through the whole lump. 10 I have confidence toward you in the Lord
that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his
judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision,
why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has
been removed. 12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut them-
selves off. 13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t
use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to
one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one
another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. 16 But I say,
walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the
flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these
are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you
desire. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19
Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual
immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife,
jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21 envy,
murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I
forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice
such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faith, 23 gentleness,
and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who
belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25
If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let’s not become
conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

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Chapter 6

1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual
must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so
that you also aren’t tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ. 3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when
he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each man test his own
work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor.
5 For each man will bear his own burden. 6 But let him who is taught
in the word share all good things with him who teaches. 7 Don’t be
deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will
also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap
corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap
eternal life. 9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due
season, if we don’t give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do
what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of
the household of the faith. 11 See with what large letters I write to you
with my own hand. 12 As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they
compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted
for the cross of Christ. 13 For even they who receive circumcision don’t
keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that
they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast, except
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither is
circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 As
many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God’s
Israel. 17 From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the
marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.
Amen.

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Discussion Guide—June 5, 2016
“Free in Christ”

“For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself

a law-breaker. For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live

to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that

live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I

live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for

me. I don’t make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through
— Galatians 2:18-21
the law, then Christ died for nothing!”

The church that we read about in Paul’s letter to the Galatians had a
wrong understanding of Jesus Christ, but it was far from a weird and
irrational heresy that they clung to. In fact, the Galatians had been
taught to believe something that we all believe from time to time. Some
of us frequently, some of us constantly.

It was the belief that God requires us to earn our salvation.

Paul corrected the Galatians, who believed that Christians needed to
practice Jewish rites to be saved. True salvation, Paul told them, is free
of works and totally dependent on God’s grace. Once you hear Paul and
allow the truth of the real gospel to penetrate your heart, you begin to
live in freedom.

Freedom from what? Freedom from fear of losing God’s love, freedom
from guilt for not measuring up, freedom from shame because of the
secrets that you hide. Freedom from the frantic urge to perform for
God so that He will love you enough. The gospel is the good news that
God is for you, not against you. God loves you right now as much as He
will ever love you, and salvation is a free gift that He makes available to
anyone who will receive it by faith.

“Free in Christ” is the first sermon of Galilee’s June worship series.
You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast-video-streaming/.

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Questions and Reflections—June 5, 2016
“Free in Christ”

READ: Read chapters one and two of Galatians.
1. What were the Galatians doing that caused Paul to write this letter?
2. Why was Paul qualified to give the Galatians advice about the Jewish
law? (Gal 1:14-15).
3. The false gospel (Gal 1:6) that affected the Galatian church didn’t
come from outside the faith, it was something that believing Christians
(even Peter and James) mistakenly taught. What are some alterations
which believing Christians make to the gospel today?
4. Paul recounts a time when he directly confronted Peter over the
false gospel (Gal 2:11-14). Where do you think Paul got the courage
to confront the leader of the church? How do you imagine that
confrontation played out?
5. Paul repeats that he preaches the gospel for God, not to please men
(Gal 1:10-12). How can the desire to please people ruin a Christian?
6. Why does Paul say that it is wrong to insist that Christians behave
according to the law of Moses? (Gal 2:18-21).
7. Grace is God’s unearned favor and activity in our lives. Where do
you see grace alive in your own experience?

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Discussion Guide—June 12, 2016
“One in Christ”

“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law,

confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. So that

the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be

justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under

a tutor. For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man,

there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If

you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to
— Galatians 3:23-29
promise.”

In Galatians 3, Paul uses an illustration which was familiar to his readers
in the Graeco-Roman world and which remains familiar to us today.
He compares the Jewish law, the law of Moses, to a tutor or teacher.

By using this metaphor, Paul says two things about his own Jewish
people and the law. First, he says that the Jews were not born through
the law, but rather were brought up by it. A tutor is not a child’s parent,
but its teacher, guardian, and disciplinarian. The law did not give life to
Israel, God did. While those in error taught that the law was necessary
for life and righteousness, Paul argues otherwise.

Paul’s second point is even more important: the work of a tutor is to
prepare a child for maturity. Once a child comes of age, he has no
more use for his schoolmaster. Similarly, the law was a preparation for
the nation of Israel until the coming of the promised redeemer, Jesus
Christ.

With Christ in our lives, we are no longer under a tutor—nor are we
separate from those who have been under different guardians or gone
to different schools. We are all free in Christ, and one people in Christ.

“One in Christ” is the second sermon of Galilee’s June worship series.
You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast--1v5i-deo-streaming/.

Questions and Reflections—June 12, 2016
“One in Christ”

READ: Read chapters two and three of Galatians.
1. The law came into being as a covenant between God and his chosen
people. Why do you think God did this? Was it necessary?
2. Did the law of Moses bring people together or separate them? What
do you think the law accomplished for the people of Israel?
3. Why is it important that Paul was a man educated in the law and
fully conversant in its ways? Why do you think God chose Paul, an
educated Jew, to be His apostle to the Gentiles?
4. What is grace? How is grace different from law?
5. How did Jesus’s death break down the barrier between Jews and
Gentiles? What does Jesus Christ do for sinners that the law cannot?
6. Can trying to obey the law make a person or a people more willing
to receive the free gift of Jesus Christ? Why or why not?
7. In light of what Paul says about the law, what should be our attitude
toward the Ten Commandments?
8. What does all this discussion of the Jewish law have to do with you?

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Discussion Guide—June 19, 2016
“Justified in Christ”

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse
for us. For it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,” that
the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ
Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith!”

— Galatians 3:13-14

The Galatian church that Paul wrote to was in the thrall of a bad idea.
Leaders and prominent believers insisted on the importance of Jewish
identity and behavior, and even sought to impose these cultural norms
on non-Jewish Christians. Why? Because they thought our eternal life
depended on it. This was a natural enough idea, for God’s people had
been formed by centuries of obedience to the Jewish law.
The thing is, every letter of the law was fulfilled in the person of Jesus
Christ. It is through Christ that we attain our salvation. Because He
lives, the law is satisfied. We are justified in Him.
Justification is an act of God. It is not the result of man’s culture, his
character, or his works. In justification, God declares the believing
sinner righteous. It’s not that he holds us up to the yardstick of the law
and we win his approval. He holds us up in the person of his Son.
Jesus is all we need. As for the law, Paul says, “For the whole law is
fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

“Justified in Christ” is the third sermon of Galilee’s summer worship
series. You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast-video-streaming/.

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Questions and Reflections—June 19, 2016
“Justified in Christ”

READ: Read chapters three and four of Galatians.
1. Can you name five things that you did this week that would please
God? Why did you do them?
2. Are you saved by the grace of Christ, or by the moral teachings
you learn in the Bible (like the Ten Commandments or the Sermon
on the Mount), or is it a mixture of both? If you are not saved by
moral teachings, do they still serve a purpose?
3. Paul explains that if being circumcised justifies us, or eating clean
food among clean companions gives us our righteousness, then Jesus
died for nothing (Gal 2:21). No believer would seriously suggest that
the Son of God hung on a cross for nothing, but do we ever behave like
His one time atonement was not enough? How so?
4. What is justification? How does being justified by faith in Christ
differ from being forgiven according to our own merits?
5. What man does Paul reference as an example of being justified by
faith? (Gal 3:6). How was this man’s act of belief turned into a life that
was right with God?
6. Does the idea of being justified by faith in Christ alone appeal to
you? Do you believe it? Are you ever skeptical of the freedom that
comes from the free gift of Jesus?
7. Leviticus is full of laws about diet, clothes, and ritual cleanliness.
Christians have created our own laws about language, sex, and
morality. Are these important to salvation?

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Discussion Guide—June 26, 2016
“Stand Firm in Christ”

“Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us
free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

—Galatians 5:1

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things

there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh

with its passions and lusts. If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by
—Galatians 5:22-25
the Spirit.”

If we stand before God in our own righteousness, then we stand alone.
No lawyer is at our side if we make an argument for our eternal soul
based on the law and our morality. If, however, we put our trust in
Jesus, then we don’t stand alone. We have the Son of God with us, who
clothes us in His righteousness.

But wait! There’s more! We have an ally in this life. We have the Holy
Spirit, our comfort and our advocate. The Holy Spirit does what the law
never could do, it dwells within us. The Spirit enables us to fulfill a new
law, the law of love.

Paul explained that legalism can show us our sinful nature, but not
change it. It is not the law on the outside, but love on the inside that
makes the difference.

The Spirit ensures that we don’t abuse the freedom that Jesus gives us.
We stand firm in our justification by Christ, because we are strengthened
by God pouring out his love. Firm in the spirit, we fulfill the greatest
commandment of loving God with our whole heart, mind, and soul
and our neighbor as ourselves.

“Stand Firm in Christ” is the final sermon of Galilee’s June worship
series. You can find it streamed live or archived on Galilee’s website at
http://www.galileeumc.org/podcast-video-streaming/.

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Questions and Reflections—June 26, 2016
“Stand Firm in Christ”

READ: Read chapters five and six of Galatians.
1. Is Christian freedom a license to sin? Why is sin bad?
2. How is a life of grace different from a life of sin?
3. What power does the faithful Christian have to ensure that liberty
does not become license? What sort of prayer would you say to invite
this power into your life?
4. Galatians 5:19-21 lists the sins that afflict a person who has liberty
but no love. Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruits of the Holy Spirit given
to those who have freedom and love. Which list better characterizes
your life? Do you have faith that Christ wants to tip the balance in your
favor?
5. The law told the faithful what sort of food they could eat, clothes
they could wear, and companions they could have. The Spirit gives
us no concrete rules but pushes us in the direction of love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control.
Considering each of those words as a step, what does walking in the
Spirit look like for you this week?
6. Describe the ideal climate or environment in which the Spirit could
most effectively grow fruit in your life.
7. We want to stand firm in Jesus Christ. What should we do when we
think that we fall short? What should we do when other people sin?

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