Lesson 50 October 2, 2002

Review:

Summary 5:5

1. The "we" here in this verse refers to those believers, Paul, Barnabas, and the Galatian believers who have not succumbed to the legalism of the Judaizers.

2. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit illuminating the word we have the basis of understanding what is the hope of righteousness, and the capacity to eagerly wait for it.

3. We have this confidence because we are occupied with Christ and know that He is our hope.

4. Our Hope is also linked to the Rapture. 1 Pet 1:13

5. Anyone who holds to either salvation by works or to living the Christian life by law performance works has no confidence no hope and live in fear, never sure that they have done enough!

6. For us who are on course with grace, occupied with Christ and filled with Him by the Holy Spirit as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ; we have a confident expectation of the future as well as each day.

7. Ramification of this "hope of righteousness" realized in one's life is that our motivation will be to live out our new life in Christ, to walk worthy or our calling in Christ.

8. Everything that we have in Christ, being justified, being sons, heirs all of this Paul has said flows out from faith.

5:6 What is Important?

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything,

Point: Neither situation, being circumcised or not circumcised has any significance in the life of one who is in Christ.

faith working through love.

Together this phrase, faith working through love describes vividly the Word of truth believed and being applied in the believer's life lived day by day under the various pressures of life.

5:6 For in Christ Jesus (in our position as new creations in Christ) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith (BD - truth) working (operational - effective) through love (ministry of the Spirit).

Summary 5:6

1. Any ritual, just like emotion has no spiritual dynamic apart from word of God and therefore has no part, is meaningless.

2. Notice that in Vs:5-6 that Paul gives three important virtues that should be manifest in each Christian's life, ones by which churches and individuals are measured.

3. Legalism is based on works not faith and thus establishes a false hope and works through a self centered "love."

4. The legalist, like the Judaizers, always place the emphasis on the external, the outward, not on who we are in Christ.

5. Everything we are involved with as believers should flow from faith illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

6. Faith possesses the power of the object of faith.

7. In these last few verses ( 2-6) we have seen the cost of legalism:

All of these are linked to the Holy Spirit's ministry in our life.

a. Christ becomes no profit experientially. V2

b. Become entangled in ritualism. V3

c. Appreciation of grace therefore drift off the course of grace. V4

d. Minus true Hope. V5

e. Without the strength that comes from faith. V6