Lesson
#2 June 2, 2002
Review:
The Greeting 1:3
Grace
to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
The
greeting to the Galatian churches is unlike any other.
The
legalism of the Galatians was a serious matter, and Paul deals with legalism
very severely, more so than any other
problem faced by the church.
As
stated here grace and peace come from a single divine source.
The Significance of this short greeting for the
Galatian believers is that as they respond to the teaching of the Judaizers and
their legalism they are moving away from living in the sphere of grace and
realizing the peace, the contentment that should be theirs as advancing
believers whose life is centered on Christ.
1:4-5 The
basis of the grace and peace
Paul's Doctrine is clearly proclaimed in these 2
verses and sets him at variance with
three of the leading denials of legalism promoted by the Judaizers and being increasingly bought by the
Galatians.
a. Legalism Denies the Significance of Christ's
Death 1:4a
who gave Himself for our sins,
Legalism
attempts to merit God's blessing on the basis of man's works rather than
Christ's work.
b. Legalism Denies the Purpose of Christ's
Death 1:4b
that He might deliver us
The
phrase this present evil age describes that from which the death of
Christ was intended to free us.
Paul
wishes us to experience the freedom brought by the death of Christ; we also know that it is true that it is only by
knowing and heeding His plan, living in the sphere of His will, that this freedom is realized in our lives.
c.
Legalism Denies the Glory of God 1:5
to whom be the glory forevermore.
Amen.
Summary
to this point!
1. This
epistle to the Galatian Churches is
written for their benefit and just like Paul's authority and office has as its
ultimate source God not man. 1:11-12
2. He
brings to their attention (something they knew, but under the influence of
these Judaizers had lost track of) that it is the atoning death of Jesus Christ
on the Cross that is the only basis of Salvation.
3. His
death on the Cross was voluntary, final, and satisfied God's +R , the demands
of Holiness against sinful man. 1 Tim.
2:6; Titus 2:14
4. The
Gospel is an emancipating message that Paul says here rescues and delivers us from the penalty and power of sin as well
as the influence of this present evil age.
5. The
initial deliverance is in response to faith in the Gospel, the point of
salvation. Positional deliverance which
is eternal.
Sins
forgiven, given eternal life, imputed the +R of God and as a result stand
justified.
6. We are
also delivered in time, in our life from the power of sin, the OSN's dominance
and rulership over us has been broken.
7. The
ultimate deliverance (future) will be
when the trump sounds and we're raised in a new body to meet Him in the air at
the rapture.
8. As free
men/women in Christ we are to be slaves of righteousness not the sin nature or
human viewpoint the input from the evil age.