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