Sunday, October 29, 2017

Thoughts: Bible Study of Galatians 5:13-26





A Course in Christian Freedom

Galatians 5:13-26 

Book of Galatians

Written:  A.D. 47-55

            What was happening in the world during that time?

·         Buddhism begins to spread from India into Central Asia

·         54 AD Claudius Murdered, Nero made Emperor

·         Claudius' expulsion of the Jews from Rome

·         Romans learn the use of soap from the Gauls.

·         Ananias, a high priest in Jerusalem, is sent to Rome after being accused of violence

·         Saint Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, is believed to have landed in Kodungallur, India to preach the Gospel 

Why written: To combat circumcision and keeping of the Law of Moses

Written to: Christians in Galatia

Theme: A protest against legalism with a  focus on the justification of faith

Key text: 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 

Galatia

Named Galatia for the Gauls. They were originally Celtic tribes. Galatia became part of the Roman Empire in 25 BC.

Could be written to Galatia proper or the whole province including Antioch, Iconium, Derbe and Lystra. The capital was Ancyra, which is now Ankara, the capital of Turkey. The peoples of Galatia were described as fickle and easily influenced. 


Concept #1 Liberty is not license (Galatians 5:13-18) 

1.      Since we have been called to be free, what do the terms “Christian liberty” or “Christian freedom” mean?

a.       When we have freedom to choose, we become responsible for the consequences of our choices.

b.      We have been freed from the penalty of sin, but not free to do anything we want.

2.      Where and how is such liberty or freedom to be found?

3.      How do we live by the Spirit?

4.      Considering the background of the book of Galatians, why is it important for Christian study today? 

What do you do when others “cut in on you” (in line, traffic, when speaking)? Could anyone ever accuse you of “road rage”? 

Concept #2 The Works of the Flesh Spring from the Sinful Nature (Galatians 5:19-21) 

1.      Into what four categories do the acts of the sinful nature fall?

a.       Sexual immorality

b.      Religious sins

c.       Sins that create chaos in our relationships

d.      Sins in the realm of drink

2.      What exactly are the acts of the sinful nature?

a.       Is this list inclusive?

b.      What is debauchery?

                                                              i.      Immorality is any kind of sexual irregularity

                                                            ii.      Impurity is the abuse of sex, but also applies to other forms of evil that can spread its influence

                                                          iii.      Debauchery is sexual sin committed without any shame or fear and without any regard for the rights and feelings of others

                                                          iv.      Idolatry is any substitute for the true God

                                                            v.      Witchcraft is the use of drugs in sorcery

                                                          vi.      Hatred is hostile feelings or acts

                                                        vii.      Discord is a spirit of quarrelsomeness

                                                      viii.      Jealousy is a feeling of resentment because of the success of another

                                                          ix.      Rage is an angry spasm for no rational reason

                                                            x.      Dissensions are divisions caused by pitting person against person or group

                                                          xi.      Factions are the formation of smaller groups or cliques within large groups ( the Greek word from which we get our word, heresy)

                                                        xii.      Envy is a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck

3.      Paul has warned the Galatians more than once. What was his warning?

a.       Those that live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

b.      We have liberty or freedom, but Paul says that does not mean we are free to practice the acts of the sinful nature.

4.      How does Paul navigate between the dangers of legalism and license?

5.      Paul says we are no longer under law, but also that we are to fulfill the law. What is the difference between the two?

6.      How have you seen Christian freedom abused?

Concept #3 The Fruit of the Spirit are Unitary, not Fragmentary like the works of the Flesh. (Galatians 5:19-26) 

1.      What does concept #3 mean?

a.       Notice that there are the acts of the sinful nature and the fruit of the Spirit.

b.      One is plural (acts), the other singular (fruit).

2.      Can the fruit of the Spirit be categorized? How?

a.       Love, joy, peace addresses our attitude toward God

b.      Patience, kindness, goodness describes what should be our attitude toward other people

c.       Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control refers to personal qualities

3.      What does Paul mean by the term “crucified” in verse 24?

a.       Where else in Galatians has he referred to the word, “crucified”?

                                                              i.      2:20 I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

                                                            ii.      6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

b.      This crucifixion is something done BY us not TO us

c.       The tradition is that Peter was crucified upside down and that Paul was beheaded because Paul was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:28), and Roman citizens were normally exempt from crucifixion.

d.      Illustrate practically what it means to “crucify” the sinful nature. 

4.      How do we keep in step with the Spirit?

a.       Keep in step means to march in line with, or follow another’s footsteps or example

5.      How has this study influenced your approach to Christian liberty and being led by the Spirit? How might your week be different?





















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