Lesson 53 October 9, 2002
Intro
Review:
5:10
Paul's attitude towards them
Here we
find a strong affirmation of Paul’s confidence in the midst of these
distressing circumstances. We need to understand the nature and the basis of
Paul’s confidence.
First,
Paul is confident concerning the final decision of the Galatian Christians.
Second,
Paul is confident that God will deal justly with those Judaizers who had caused
so much trouble in the Galatian churches.
I have
confidence in you in the Lord,
that you
will adopt no other view;
What about the false teacher?
but the one who is disturbing you
shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.
God will deal with him, in his time, in an appropriate
manor for teaching false doctrine.
Summary 5:10
1. Paul expresses his confidence that they will
rid themselves of the leaven of the Judaizers.
2. We
should not be troubled by those who wish to harm us for doing what is
right. 1 Pet 3:14
3. Paul is
also convinced that the ones spreading the false doctrine, the legalism among
the churches will be disciplined by the Lord for it.
5:11 An Accusation against Paul and His
observation.
But I,
brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted?
His
conclusion:
Then the stumbling block of the
cross has been abolished.
To
the Jews the cross always was a stumbling block, ska,ndalon a cause for
stumbling.
Mentioned
also in 1 Cor 1:23. [rabbit trail]
"To the Jews a stumbling block"
If
we look at it purely from the standpoint of human nature, human wisdom there
are several things that make it offensive!
#1 - Cross underscores the gravity of man's
problem in relation to God, his sin and all that separates man in unbelief form
God. [barrier]
#2 - It underscores mans helplessness, total
inability to save himself.
#3 - Since our salvation is in the cross work of
Christ it is offensive because the cross leaves no room for the pride of human
accomplishment.
*** The enemy of the Cross for the
Jew was His religious pride but for the non-Jewish world, the Gentiles it was
intellectual pride.
Summary 5:11
1. Paul was
obviously charged with compromising the truth by the Judaizers in that he was
still teaching the necessity of
circumcision for salvation.
2.
Actually, since the Judaizers
were persecuting Paul it indicates that he had not compromised the truth, the
message of grace.
3.
Subscribing to salvation by works, or legalism (product of sin nature
domination) or works to maintain our relationship with God as believers renders
the work of Christ on the Cross ineffective.
4. The
offense of the cross is the fact that Christ's work is totally sufficient.
5. Man's
pride and arrogance causes him to be offended when he discovers that his own
works are worthless.
a. Rem. we as believers have 2 potential rulers of life, they dominate by impacting our thinking and
therefore our actions.
1. The indwelling Holy Spirit along with the
mind of Christ, the Word. (producing the character of Christ.) DGP
2. The indwelling SIN NATURE which is
programmed with a knowledge of good (human) and evil (Rom 6:12). HuGP
b. Know
that at any time that one of the 2 rulers of life is ruling, and you determine through your choices which
one is!
6. Not only
are man's works rejected by God as sufficient to satisfy His holiness, but
these works become the basis of his eternal condemnation. Rom 4:4; cf. Rev. 20:11-14
7. When
works are added to the grace message of the Cross, it neutralizes the offense
of the cross and it prevents the unbeliever from seeing Christ.