Galatians
Notes by Peter Philippi
* Galatians - A book of Correction
Feb 26, 2012 Audio
- The danger of bad doctrine infiltrating the church through bad teachers
- Those that trouble Christians by perverting the gospel
- Those that sneak in to spy out and plot against our liberty for the purpose of bringing us into bondage
- Those that corrupt even the best among us
- Those that come with the effect that they bewitch Christians through their teaching
- Those that zealously affect you, but not for good
- Those that stop you on your tracks in your spiritual progress
- Those that desire to make a show in the flesh
- The effect bad doctrine has on Christians
- You are removed from Christ unto another gospel
- You frustrate the grace of God by going back to Law-keeping
- You are foolish, bewitched and disobedient to the truth by going back to Law-keeping
- You go back into bondage by going under law
- You do not hear the law when you go back under law
- You become entangled with the yoke of bondage and fall from grace when you go back under law
- You bite and devour one another by operating in the flesh
- The broad influence bad doctrine has on Christians
- What was attacked then is attacked now, and what was in jeopardy then is in jeopardy now
- The gospel
- Paul's apostleship
- Faith
- Christian liberty
- Grace
- Truth
- The work of the Spirit
Mar 4, 2012 Audio
Mar 11, 2012 Audio
Gospel of the Kingdom | Gospel of the Grace of God |
---|---|
Tribulation precedes - Matt 3:7 24:1-3 |
Delivered from wrath - 1Thes 1:10 |
12 appointed apostles - Matt 19:27-28 Luke 22:30 |
1 appointed apostle - Eph 3:1-3 |
Parables of the Kingdom - Matt 13 |
NO parables |
Sermon on the Mount - Matt 5 |
Paul's Epistles |
Conditional blessings - Matt 6:12-15 |
Unconditional blessings - Eph 4:32 1:3 |
Hope: Christ's coming to earth - Acts 3:19 |
Hope: Christ taking us to Him - 1Thes 4:13-18 |
Christ came to confirm promises - Rom 15:8 |
Paul sent by Christ to dispense grace - Rom 15:15 |
Building of a nation - Matt 21:42-43 |
Forming of a Body - Rom 12:4-5 1Cor 12:13 |
Many baptism - Matt 3:11 Heb 9:10 |
One baptism - 1Cor 12:13 Eph 4:5 |
Baptized WITH the Holy Spirit - Isa 44 Ez 39 Matt 3 Acts 1:8 |
Baptized BY the Holy Spirit |
Commissions - Acts 1:8 Matt 28:19-20 - Mark 16:14-18 Luke 24:44-47 |
Paul's and Body's Commission - Acts 26:16-18 11Cor 5:18-21 |
Gentiles blessed through the RISE of Israel - Isa 42:6 |
Gentiles blessed through the FALL of Israel - Rom 11:11 |
Faith + Works - James 2:14, 17, 20 |
Faith and NO works - Rom 4:1-5 |
Law | Grace |
* Galatians 1
- Paul's apostleship had nothing to do with man, and everything to do with Jesus Christ and God the Father
- The unique oneness and fellowship of those that believe Paul's gospel
- The unique offer that comes to those who hear Paul's gospel
- Three major themes in Paul's letters: doctrine, defense, rebuke
- Man declared war on God, God will one day declare war on man we are living in a relatively short time in between when God is dealing with the world in grace and peace
- Peter preached Jesus Christ on Pentecost, but not the way Paul preached Christ!
- The tragedy of preaching anything other than Paul's gospel as good news
- Preaching the gospel of grace in all of its purity is by the very nature of the case pleasing to God; preaching anything other than the gospel of grace is by its very nature designed to please yourself and men
- As with Paul's apostleship so it was with the gospel he preached
- The great contrast between what Paul was, and who he became as a direct result of his encounter with and faith in Jesus Christ
- Paul deliberately and explicitly separates himself from the 12
- In Judea Paul was not seen, only his reputation preceded him
Apr 1, 2012 Audio
Apr 15, 2012 Audio
* Galatians 2
- Paul strategically stayed away from Jerusalem 14 years!
- When Paul finally went to Jerusalem it was to enlighten the apostles
- Paul brought Titus with him to demonstrate that circumcision and law-keeping are NOT part of God's new program
- The tragedy and seriousness of tolerating wrong teachers that teach doctrine that is contrary to that which Paul preached
- The need to be intolerant of wrong doctrine
- While Paul enlightened others, he was not enlightened by others
- Two gospels, two types of apostles!
- James, Cephas and John grasped the uniqueness and newness of Paul's message and ministry
- James, Cephas and John exercise the unique authority given to them by Christ
- The "Great Commission" goes out of commission
- Remembering the poor
- Peter's downfall and hypocrisy
- Paul's rebuke of Peter is further evidence that Paul, and not Peter, was now the authority and his message the issue!
- The tragic effect of a leader's fall upon others
- The absolute essentiality of ordering our lives according to Paul's gospel
- An open offense of a leader, with the tragic effect on others, requires an open rebuke and correction
- Justification is NOT by law works
- Justification of ONLY by the faith OF Jesus Christ
- Justification is ONLY by faith IN Jesus Christ
- Justification by faith in Jesus Christ leads to the inevitable conclusion that even Jews are sinners
- The fact that justification by faith is built upon the premise that everyone is a sinner does NOT make Christ the promoter of sin
- The tragedy of seeking to reconstruct that which finally was torn down
- The greatest death
- The greatest life
- The greatest love
- The greatest sacrifice
- To seek to introduce law to the Christian life is to cancel out grace
- If in fact righteousness comes by law-keeping then the death of Christ was a complete waste
Apr 22, 2012 Audio
Apr 29, 2012 Audio
May 6, 2012 Audio
* Galatians 3
- Four distinct categories of people
- Those that are ignorant of the truth and disobey the truth
- Those that hear the truth, resist it and therefore disobey the truth
- Those that hear the truth, believe it and obey it
- Those that hear the truth, believe it, obey it, but then depart from it and consequently disobey it
- Paul's five penetrating and revealing questions
- Verse 1: Who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth?
- Verse 2: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- Suddenly and unexpectedly on the Day of Pentecost in fulfillment of prophecy
- Once a Jew had repented and been baptized
- Once Gentiles heard and believed
- Once anyone hears and believes
- Verse 3: Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the law?
- Verse 4: Have you suffered so many things in vain?
- Verse 5: He that gives you the Spirit bountifully, and performs miracles among you, by means of law works is He doing these things, or by the hearing of faith?
- Abraham was declared righteous by faith alone
- Abraham's children are they that are of faith
- Abraham was given a promise that foresaw the justification of Gentiles by faith
- As with Abraham, God's blessings only come upon those who are of faith
- Going back under law works inevitably and inescapably places you under the curse of the law
- Why? Because the law demands 100% obedience of 100% of the law 100% of the time
- And NO ONE has ever or will ever be declared righteous by law keeping because the very nature of justification is by faith as clearly stated throughout God's word
- Law is inconsistent with living by faith
- Why? Because once you start with law you have to continue in law without interruption and without exception
- BUT UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS!!!
- As a result of Christ's work on the cross (3:13) the blessing of Abraham comes on Gentiles
- Gentiles receive the promise of the Spirit by faith
- An illustration from human law: once a contract is agreed to and signed, no one can cancel it or add to it 3:15
- The contract God made with Abraham could not be cancelled by God's giving of the Law even though theLaw came 430 years after the promise 3:16-17
- The promise given by God to Abraham centered on, was focused on and was founded on Abraham's single Seed: Christ 3:16-17
- In the same way that Law is inconsistent with faith, and grace is inconsistent with Law, so is the promise inconsistent with Law 3:18
- So then, what is the purpose of Law? 3:19a
- It was necessary because of transgression 3:19a
- It was given temporarily until Christ would come 3:19b
- It was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator 3:19c
- A mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one 3:20
- So, because the Law is inconsistent with faith [in God's promises], is the Law therefore against the promises of God? 3:21a
- If it were at all possible for God to give a law which could have given life, the certainly righteousness would have come by law-keeping 3:21b
- BUT the scripture has placed everyone in the same helpless and hopeless predicament: sin with its penalty and condemnation 3:22a
- Once that has been concluded, the only way to obtain life and righteousness is by believing in God's promise and provision in Christ 3:22b
- Prior to faith arriving [God's body of truth for today revealed in Paul's letters] Jews were kept under Law, kept from and kept until that body of truth was to be revealed 3:23
- This was the role of Law: a temporary guardian which was dismissed and rendered completely unnecessary once Christ came and His work was accomplished and applied 3:24a
- And it was so until justification could be by faith alone, which is the only way justification can be 3:24b
- Once faith came [God's body of truth for today revealed in Paul's letters] God's guardian [the Law]was dismissed and discharged 3:25
- Who is a child of God?
- All humans because we were created by God?
- All Jews because they are physical descendants of Abraham?
- All those who claim to be Christians and are active in a church?
- Not according to God and His Word, the only authority in this matter!
- ONLY those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ 3:26
- ONLY those who have been baptized into Christ and have put on Christ 3:27
- And all distinctions have been completely removed now that God is forming a whole new entity: the Body of Christ 3:28
- And the conclusion is: if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed 3:29a
- And then you, as Abraham, are heirs in keeping with promise [and NOT be Law-keeping] 3:29b
May 13, 2012 Audio
-
How people received the Spirit:
May 27, 2012 Audio
Jun 3, 2012 Audio
* Galatians 4
- The difference between an heir and a servant: the heir is master and owner, the servant possesses nothing 4:1
- The similarity between a child-heir and a servant: neither benefits from inheritance 4:1
- The child-heir is under tutors [guardians] and governors [household managers] until such a time as the father determines 4:2
- The similarity between the child-heir and Israel under law 4:3
- The result of being under law: bondage 4:3
- The only deliverance from this bondage: the payment Christ made on the cross [redemption] 4:4-5
- Christ redeemed us from the law
- Christ redeemed us from all iniquity Titus 2:14
- Christ redeemed us so we could be declared righteous [justification] Romans 3:24
- Christ redeemed us that he might forgive our sins Ephesians 1:7
- Christ redeemed us that our status might be changed from infants [no different than servants] to adult sons with full benefits of sonship 4:5
- Exactly according to God's plan, at the exact time appointed by the Father, Christ came 4:4
- He was sent by the Father 4:4
- To bless Israel Acts 3:26
- To be the savior of the world John 3:17; 10:36
- He was made of a woman 4:4 only way He could redeem man [Kinsman Redeemer]
- He was made under the law 4:4 only way He could set man free from the law
- He was subject to the law
- He met the demands of the law: perfect righteousness
- He broke the bondage of the law
- He took the curse of the law: 3:10, 13
- The great benefit of sonship: God is now free to send His Spirit because now we are in a position to receive Him and fully enjoy the relationship He makes possible 4:6
- The conclusion then: you are not a servant anymore, but a full-fledged son, with all the benefits of sonship 4:7
- Before you knew God you were in bondage as a slave to those who are no gods; but now that you knowGod and are known of Him, why do you want to go back under bondage? 4:8-9
- The evidence that you want to go back under bondage: you are going back to the entrapments of being under law 4:10
- The concern: all Paul's labor on their behalf was wasted 4:11
- The Galatians were drawn to Paul, now they have withdrawn from Paul 4:12-16
- Be as I, I became as you
- You have not injured me
- I preached the gospel to you under great difficulties
- You did not despise or reject my testing
- You received me as an angel of God
- You received me as Christ Jesus Himself
- What happened to you?
- I know that you would have given me your very eyes if it were possible
- Am I now your enemy because I tell you the truth?
- What happened to the Galatians? They were courted away from Paul and his message of grace by legalizers 4:17-18
- Paul's genuine concern for those who abandon grace as the only rule of life 4:19-20
- Paul's powerful and penetrating questions 4:21
- If you try to add law-keeping and law-works to the Christian life it is evidence that you do not understand God's Law 4:21
- The great example in the Law that clearly illustrates the contrast between Law and Grace 4:22-31
- STAND FIRM in the liberty which was made possible by Christ's sacrifice, and STOP being entangled with the yoke of bondage! 5:1
- Romans will establish you, Galatians will bring you back if you stray from Romans
- Once you step on law ground Christ profits you nothing 5:2
- Once you step on law ground you are under obligation to keep the whole law you cannot pick and choose! 5:3
- Once you step on law ground you are practically separated from Christ so that He becomes totally inefficient in your life 5:4a
- Once you step onto law ground you step away from grace 5:4b
- The Spirit causes us to wait patiently by faith for the fulfillment of all righteousness in us 5:6
- What really matters in this dispensation of grace is the inward reality and not the outward conformity 5:7
- A critical lesson we must learn: you can obey scripture and be disobedient to the truth at the same time 5:8
Jul 1, 2012 Audio
Jul 8, 2012 Audio
Law | Grace | |
---|---|---|
Two sons: | Ishmael (Genesis 16) | Isaac (Genesis 17:18-21) |
Two mothers: | Bondmaid | Freewoman |
Two births: | Flesh | Promise/Spirit |
Two Covenants: | Bondage | Promise/Freedom |
Two cities: | Jerusalem now is In bondage |
Jerusalem above Free/Mother of us all |
Two groups: | Many more children | Less children |
The Body of Christ: | Children Of Promise | |
The conflict: | Persecuted the other | Being Persecuted |
The instruction: | Cast out! | |
The inheritance: | Excluded | |
The Body of Christ: | NOT child Of bondwoman Child Of the free |
Romans | Galatians |
---|---|
Paul's Gospel | Moved to another gospel |
No justification by law-works | Moved to law-works |
Justified by grace/redemption | Moved from grace & redemption |
Justification by faith | Moved from faith |
Life only possible = Union | Moved from Christ |
Law no longer jurisdiction | Moved back to Law ground |
The provision of the Spirit | Moved from living in the Spirit |
- It is possible to start well and then do poorly 5:7
- It is possible to begin in the Spirit and then move to living life in the flesh 3:3
- It is possible to start Christ centered and then move to living life man centered 5:7-8, 2:4-5; 3:1; 6:13
- It is possible to live in obedience to the truth and then live in disobedience to the truth 5:7
- It is possible to progress in sound doctrine and then get set on a course of wrong doctrine 5:7
- It is possible to sincerely desire to obey the truth and be deceived into believing error, and living accordingly 5:7
- Wrong doctrine negatively affects those who open themselves up to it 5:7-8
- When a Christian demonstrates a total willingness to know and obey the truth he is in the best position to accept and respond to correction 5:10a
- Wrong doctrine must be exposed and rejected 5:9 / Philippians 3:17-19
- Wrong doctrine is never dormant 5:9 / I Co. 5:1-7
- Those that teach wrong doctrine must be exposed and seriously dealt with 5:10b, 12
- You can preach religion and ritual and be liked and admired 5:11
- Preach the cross and people will be offended 5:11
- Preach the cross and you will be persecuted 5:11 / 6:12
- Preach the cross and you preach with power I Co. 1:18
- Preach the cross! Reckon yourself crucified! Glory in the cross! Ro. 6:3, 6, 11; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 6:14
- Liberty is our calling! 5:13a
- Liberty must be protected 5:1
- Liberty is always at risk 2:4
- Liberty must not be misused 5:13b / I Co. 8
- Liberty sets us free to serve one another by love 5:13c
- Love is the fulfillment of the Law 5:14
- We love not because we have to but because we're free in Christ to do so 5:13-14
- Legalism, as with flesh, will draw out the worse in you and not the best 5:15
- Legalism will put you in competition with others rather than contributing to the spiritual well-being of others 5:15 versus 5:14
- Legalism is destructive and not constructive 5:15
- Legalism is an attempt at holiness but always results in hideousness 5:15
- Legalism causes you to believe you're in control when in reality you're being controlled 5:15
- Legalism is deceiving in that it convinces you that it's the path to victory when in reality it's the path to defeat 5:15
* Galatians 5:15 - Lessons On Legalism
- It's a walk of FAITH not sight Romans 4:12; 2 Co. 5:7
- It's a walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE not in the old man Romans 6:1-4; Ephesians 4:17-32
- It's a walk of GOOD WORKS not bad works Ephesians 2:10
- It's a walk WORTHY OF OUR CALLING not displeasing to God Ephesians 4:1; Col. 1:10
- It's a walk IN LOVE not governed by the pleasures of sin Ephesians 5:1-4
- It's a walk AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT not darkness Ephesians 5:3-9
- It's a walk OF MATURITY AND WISDOM not as fools Ephesians 5:11-17; Col. 4:5
- It's a walk THAT IS PAULINE not as enemies of the cross - Philippians 3:16-20; I Thess. 4:1-7
- It's a walk BY GRACE not after "philosophies" Colossians 2:4-10
- It's a walk AFTER THE SPIRIT not after the flesh - Romans 8:4; 13:13-14; I Thess. 4:12; Galatians 5:16
- Walking in the Spirit is the only path to victory 5:16
- Walking in the Spirit puts you in harmony with grace Romans 6:14
- Walking in the Spirit results in serving others by love 5:13 / Fruit of the Spirit!
- Walking in the Spirit is enabled by faith
- Walking in the Spirit makes liberty a reality 5:16
- Walking in the Spirit will enable you to do what legalism never will
- Walking in the Spirit will always be challenged by legalism and lust 5:17
- There is an inward battle always raging between the flesh and the Spirit 5:17
- In this battle every Christian controls the outcome 5:16-18
- Victory in this battle is guaranteed by God providing we avail ourselves of His provisions 5:16-18/Romans 8:37-39
- Law conspiring with flesh will NEVER enable you to do what you know to be right 5:16-18
- The works of the flesh are evident, and must be clear to every Christian 5:19a
- Adultery
- Fornication
- Uncleanness
- Lasciviousness
- Idolatry
- Witchcraft
- Hatred
- Variance
- Emulations
- Wrath
- Strife
- Seditions
- Heresies
- Envyings
- Murders
- Drunkenness
- Revellings
- "Such Like"
- These are characteristics and behaviors of the unsaved
- Characteristics and behaviors the unsaved must flee and refrain from because these are Uncharacteristic of those that are regenerate and walk in the Spirit
- There are many things that happen instantaneously, once into perpetuity in the Christian life (a);
there are others that require continuous, conscious action on our part (b) - Forgiveness of sins
Death to the Law
No condemnation
Eternal life
Baptized by the Spirit
Indwelt with the Spirit
Righteousness imputed
New nature
New creation
Eternally secure
Complete in Christ
- Yielding
Reckoning
Putting off and putting on (old man / new man)
Knowing Him
Being filled with the Spirit
Walking in the Spirit
Bearing the fruit of the Spirit
- The importance of fruit-bearing
- The problem of no fruit-bearing in Israel
- The problem of no fruit-bearing as slaves of unrighteousness
- The provision of God having set us free from the Law
- The provision of God having given us His Spirit
- Love
- Agape love demonstrated at the cross and exemplified by Christ
- Love needs to be sincere and genuine
- The supremacy of knowing the love of Christ
- The enemies of Agape love
- The characteristics and manifestations of Agape love
- Joy
- Joy in the midst of tribulation: Romans 5:1-5
- Joy in our reconciliation: Romans 5:10-11
- Joy in believing: Romans 15:13
- Joy as a goal in ministry: 2 Corinthians 1:24
- Joy in giving: 2 Corinthians 8:1-2
- Joy in the spiritual prosperity of others: Phil. 1:1-4, 25
- Joy in receiving the Word of God: I Thessalonians 1:6
- Peace
- Peace is the way God is dealing with the world today
- Peace with God is only possible through justification
- Peace with God is only possible through the work of Christon the cross
- Peace is to be actively pursued among members of the Body of Christ
- Peace is contrasted with confusion
- Peace has been established by God where there was once enmity between Jew and Gentile
- Peace keeps us strong and in our right minds
- Peace results from the application of sound doctrine
- Peace is God's provision through the Spirit
- Longsuffering
- God identifies Himself as being named longsuffering
- God's longsuffering is expressed in God holding back judgement so man has an extended opportunity to turn to Him
- As those who have been given a new nature and the indwelling Spirit, we are to manifest longsuffering
- Longsuffering is manifested in ceaseless and unending contribution to the spiritual welfare of others
- Gentleness
- Goodness
- Faith
- Meekness
- Temperance
- The fruit of the Spirit is not regulated by law
- The basis for victory over the sin nature and the way to live the Christian life
- Crucifixion
- Walking in the Spirit
- One more thing: stop becoming vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another
* Galatians 5:16-26 - Walking in the Spirit
Aug 5, 2012 Audio
* Galatians 5:16-26 - Walking in the Spirit
Sep 2, 2012 Audio
- The responsibility to restore a person overcome by sin 6:1
- The situation: deviating from truth and/or righteousness
- The first responders: the spiritual ones
- The responsibility: restoration
- The attitude: spirit of meekness
- The warning: considering yourself lest you also be tempted
- The responsibility to help people who are burdened 6:2
- The responsibility to think of ourselves appropriately 6:3
- The responsibility to test your own work 6:4
- The responsibility to bear your own burden 6:5
- The responsibility to share and fellowship with those who serve by teaching 6:6
- The responsibility not to sow to the flesh 6:7-8a
- Sowing always results in reaping
- Reaping always takes time
- Reaping is always in greater proportions than what is sowed
- If sowing did not result in reaping you would make a fool out of God
- If you sow to the flesh you will always reap corruption
- If you sow to the flesh you will always reap corruption in far greater proportions than you ever expected
- The responsibility to sow to the Spirit 6:8b
- The responsibility not to slacken in well doing 6:9
- The responsibility to do good unto all, especially to members of the Body of Christ 6:10
- Paul's letter to the Galatians written with large letters with his own hand 6:11
- The true motivation of those that seek to bring you under law: fleshly display of meaningless religion 6:12a, 13
- The true motivation of those that seek to bring you under law: that they may not be persecuted by reason of the cross of Christ 6:12b
- The glory and victory of the cross 6:14
- What really matters: not outward display of religion, but a new creation 6:15
- Peace upon those who heed Paul's message 6:16
- If anyone will not be persuaded after all this then they do not want to be persuaded 6:17
- The answer and the solution are in God's provision: Grace! 6:18