Video

Galatians Chapter Four

1. Paul uses the metaphor of a child and a slave to communicate the blessings we have as Sons of God (Gal. 4:1-7).
2. By returning to Judaistic legalism, the Galatian churches were returning to bondage (Gal. 4:8-11).
3. Paul urges the Galatian churches to remember back to the sacrificial love and joy they had as new believers in Christ (Gal. 4:12-20).
4. Paul contrasts Mt. Sinai & the present Jerusalem with the Jerusalem above in order to paint a Biblical allegory for the grace blessings of the Church in contrast with the law-bondage of Israel (Gal. 4:21–31).

Galatians Chapter Five

1. Paul amplifies the message of Chapter Four.  Our freedom in the Church is not just a freedom from Law, but a spirit-led freedom from the flesh (Gal. 5:1ff.).
2. A believer in the Church who strives to fulfill the Law will receive no empowerment from the One Who fulfilled the Law (Gal. 5:2-4).
   1. Legalism severs a believer from the grace power system that Christ has provided for him.
   2. Legalism is a “fall from grace” in terms of the empowerment and benefit for our daily justification.  This has nothing whatsoever to do with the eternal justification of our salvation.
3. Our true power system is the Holy Spirit, as believers walk by faith, working through love (Gal. 5:5,13-15).
4. The Christian Way of Life has enemies.
   1. The external enemies of those who would impose legalism over grace (Gal. 5:6-12).
   2. The internal enemy of the flesh, with its natural desire hostile to the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16-18).
5. The deeds of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) and the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) are laid out in sharp contrast (Gal. 5:24-26).
   1. Our life by the Spirit is a product of our salvation in Christ (Gal. 5:25a).
   2. Our walk by the Spirit is a volitional matter for each believer to pursue or to reject (Gal. 5:25b).
   3. Our walk by the Spirit is not a matter for pride or competition (Gal. 5:26).

Galatians Chapter Six

1. Each believer fights the battle between the Spirit and the flesh on the battleground of their own soul.
   1. Often times we lose that battle when we give in to temptation (Gal. 5:17b).
   2. Sometimes we lose that battle when others give in to temptation, and we grow prideful (Gal. 5:26).
   3. As a fellow soldier, each believer needs to come alongside their comrade in arms and lift them up when they do fall short (Gal. 6:1-5).
2. Paul closes the letter with a number of admonitions for practical application (Gal. 6:6-18).
   1. Be financially grace oriented towards others, especially the Bible teachers (v.6).
   2. Be eternally oriented with respect to sowing and reaping (vv.7-8).
   3. Be aware of the real motivation behind the legalists (vv.12-13).
   4. Be in prayer for Paul’s continued ministry despite many health issues & persecution episodes (vv.14-18).