True Freedom--Galatians 1:1-9

LESSON 1

Read through these verses each day this week.

1. What did you learn about Paul?

2. Who are the recipients of this letter?

3. According to verse 4:

a. What did Jesus do?

b. Why did He do it?

c. How did He do it?

4. a. What was the problem in the churches?

b. What was happening to the gospel?

5. Read Acts 20:24-30, I Corinthians 15:1-8, Romans 1:1-6, 9, 16-18,
II Corinthians 4:3-6; 11:3-4, and answer the following questions.

a. What kind of gospel it it?

b. Who is the central figure in the gospel?

c. What are the main facts associated with the gospel?

d. What is the gospel?

e. What does the gospel do?

f. From these verses and Galatians 1:6-9, what does the enemy try to
do to the gospel? What are his methods?


How is the gospel being attacked, distorted, misrepresented in our day?

True Freedom--A Study in Galatians

OVERVIEW

Understanding the setting

Paul's first missionary journey-Acts 13-14
Paul's second missionary journey-Acts 15:36-18:22
Paul's third missionary journey-Acts 18:23-21:17

Paul's first contact with the Galatians-Acts 16:6
Paul's second contact with the Galatians-Acts 18:23
Paul's mention of his time in Galatia-Galatians 4:13-16

During the early part of his third missionary journey Paul was at Ephesus for two years. It was from here that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth (I Corinthians) and probably to the Galatians. The book of Galatians is probably not his first correspondence with the Galatians (I Corinthians 16:1). There were other missionary contacts with the Galatians (II Timothy 4:10), and another letter written to Christians in this area (I Peter 1:1).

Understanding the book

Where does this book fit into the New Testament?
As I John was written to refute the Gnostics, Galatians was written to refute the Judaizers. The Judaizers taught that in addition to faith in Christ, you had to follow the Law and be circumcised to be saved (Acts 15:1).

Why was this book written?
Let's look at the issues addressed:
Galatians 1:6-7--Distortion of the gospel
Galatians 1:10--Pleasing men rather than pleasing God
Galatians: 3:1-2--Reliance on works of the Law rather than faith
Galatians 3:3--Perfection by the flesh rather than by the Spirit

Key Verse/Main Theme
Galatians 5:1--It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Key words/ Words to pay attention to
gospel, faith, freedom, slavery, Law, justified, promise, flesh, Spirit, and synonyms for these words

How the book is divided/ Flow of thought
1:1-2:14--True Gospel (the one given by Paul)
2:15-3:29--True Justification (by faith alone)
4:1-5:1--True Position (as a son/heir, not a slave)
5:2-6:18--True Perfection ( by the Spirit, not by the flesh)

Understanding the foundation

Why did Christ come?
Luke 4:13-21--His purpose
John 8:31-36--What is ours through Him.
Acts 13:32-39--What does the gospel say?

Knowing God

Jeremiah 9:23-24--Thus says the Lord, "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord.

So, what is your boast? What is the thing you take pride in, glory in, or hang your hat on?

No matter the loftiness or lowliness of our earthly state our boast is to be that we understand (to have insight into and have comprehension of) and know (to percieve, to see, to know by experience) God Himself. This implies a personal knowing and experiencing that would attest to the fact that God delights (takes pleasure) in exercising (accomplishing) lovingkindness (deeds of mercy/love), justice (execution of what is proper and fitting), and righteousness (doing what is right by His standard) on earth.

Why is it important for us to know and understand God this well?

1. It puts us in our proper place (not in a negative sense). Psalm 100:3; 46:10
Being in the proper place gives us the proper perspective on ourselves, others, and God.
Isaiah 40:18-31, Proverbs 1:7

2. Knowing is paramount to believing. Isaiah 43:10, I John 4:16
With believing comes trusting. Psalm 55:22; 56:11

3. It gives us confidence in Him, not self-confidence, but God-confidence.
Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; 7:9-10, John 15:4-5, Philippians 4:13

4. It puts life into perspective. The more we know and understand Him, the more we see Him
and His hand in our life. Deuteronomy 8:5, Hebrews 12:10, Jeremiah 10:23

5. It is the key to eternal life. John 17:3, II Peter 2:20

6. It is the key to spiritual growth. II Peter 1:2-3; 3:18

7. It enlarges our life. It takes us to a bigger and deeper place, spiritually.
Ephesians 1:16-19; 3:14-19, Psalm 119:32

Jeremiah 33:3--Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. (Which, I believe, are the things of God Himself)