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Galatians.
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Feb 21, 2024 (message contributor)
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1. No Other Gospel
Contributed on May 11, 2019
To add anything to the gospel of the grace of God is to deny the efficacy of the Cross of Jesus.
NO OTHER GOSPEL. Galatians 1:1-12. From the outset, the tone of the Apostle Paul’s letter to “the churches of Galatia” (Galatians 1:2b) is one of disappointment. The opening signature “Paul, an apostle” is immediately followed by a negative assertion - “not from men nor through man”; and a ...read more
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2. The Unique Apostleship Of Paul.
Contributed on Jan 3, 2024
Paul received the gospel, he says, by direct revelation from Jesus. Also, his commission as Apostle to the Gentiles came directly from Jesus.
THE UNIQUE APOSTLESHIP OF PAUL. Galatians 1:11-24. The gospel which was preached by Paul was “not according to men. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (GALATIANS 1:11-12). Paul elaborates on this assertion throughout the rest of ...read more
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3. The Life That I Live
Contributed on May 31, 2019
Justification. By law, or by Jesus Christ?
THE LIFE THAT I LIVE. Galatians 2:15-21. After giving his biographical testimony (Galatians 1:13-24; Galatians 2:1-10), including an account of his brief contention with Peter (Galatians 2:11-14), Paul appears now to particularly address the Jewish Christians in Galatia: especially the ...read more
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4. According To Promise Heirs
Contributed on Jun 15, 2019
The radical unity of those who are in Christ Jesus. Their oneness in Christ. Their spiritual inheritance.
ACCORDING TO PROMISE HEIRS. Galatians 3:23-29. The closing paragraph of this chapter is leading to a triumphant conclusion: literally, “If ye are Christ’s, then Abraham’s seed ye are, and according to promise heirs” (Galatians 3:29). This explains the radical unity here: again literally, ...read more
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5. The Context Of The Incarnation.
Contributed on Dec 30, 2023
From bondage-to-the-law to an heir-of-God through Christ.
THE CONTEXT OF THE INCARNATION. Galatians 4:1-7. ‘The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith’ (cf. Galatians 3:24). The picture is as of an heir to a great estate, who in his infancy is under the control and tutelage of guardians and stewards. ...read more
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6. Isaac And Ishmael
Contributed on Dec 28, 2013
When faith fails, then flesh takes over.
ISAAC AND ISHMAEL. Galatians 4:21-31. 1. The History. The history of Ishmael and Isaac is the history of the struggle between flesh and spirit, between the carnal seed and the spiritual seed, between the world's way and God's way. In the first place, Abraham had faith. The LORD ...read more
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7. The Truest Freedom
Contributed on Jun 23, 2019
We are set free - to the truest kind of liberty.
THE TRUEST FREEDOM. Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13-25. Paul established the contrast between bondage and freedom by the use of an allegory concerning Hagar and Sarah, and their respective sons (Galatians 4:22). When we are born into this world, we are born into bondage to the corruption of ...read more
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8. Walking In The Spirit
Contributed on Jun 30, 2019
Sowing to the flesh versus sowing to the Spirit.
WALKING IN THE SPIRIT. Galatians 6:1-16. ‘If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit,’ said Paul towards the end of the previous chapter (Galatians 5:25). The Greek word translated here as ‘walk’ speaks of our deliberately ‘getting in line with’ the Holy Spirit’s leading in ...read more