Galatians Lesson 10

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Galatians Lesson 10

Galatians

Lesson 10

Text: Galatians 5:1-12

Intro: This chapter Paul looks at the difference between freedom and bondage. What it means to be in bondage, and how we should live if we are free.

  1. Choose Freedom,

    1. Bondage and Freedom,

      1. Free from Slavery,

        1. the question is a simple one that Paul was asking. If you have been freed from slavery, why would you want to return to it?

        2. The Yoke of Bondage or bondage,

          • this is a reoccurring theme in the book of Galatians:

            • 2:4 “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: ”

            • 4:9 “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”

          • Bondage- all three times used here (2:4, 4:9, & 5:1) the word used for bondage is using the root word “dool-yoo-o”

            • which is the same form that carries over form the Old Testament, the servant that gave themselves for the master:

          • Deuteronomy 15:16&17 “And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee; 17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever.”

            • this is the same idea that the Galatians were doing where it concerned the law.

              • They would have understood the implication by using that form of the word “bondage”

        3. Paul was indicating the bondage was a voluntary bondage.

          • But they could choose….

      2. Freedom, Liberty,

        1. the word liberty and free in vs 1 are basically the same word,

          • the difference is liberty simply means “free” where free carries the suffix that indicates “to be made free”

            • where the first one is something we have, the second is something we have been given.

        2. The Paul goes on to contrast again the difference between bondage and freedom,

        3. Vs.2 if you are free, and you pay a debt, then it really doesn’t help you.

          • For instance, how many of us have got something at the store, and then when the change shot out, we just left it there? Just a few cents, but we didn’t take it. Does it prophet us? Not for the bill we just paid.

        4. vs.3 is speaking of the person who has placed themselves in the service of the law,

          • they are not just required to get circumcised, they are under bondage to the whole law.

            • Every sacrifice, every feast, every offering, every little thing the law demands, that person is obligated to do.

              • Think about when we hire onto a job, most everyone signs an agreement that reads something like: you duties are X, AND whatever the people in charge assigns you to.

              • That means, you may have been hired to mow the yard, but if they want you to come in and paint, then you can’t say, that’s not my job. They are the boss, and according to the idea, we have willfully submitted to their authority, just like the servant to the law.

        5. Vs.4, if we think we are justified by the law, then we reject grace. Remember the two are mutually exclusive, meaning they cannot co-exist. It is grace or it is not.

    2. Living By Faith,

      1. Righteousness comes by Faith,

        1. this is another theme that we see through this book,

          • remember how Abraham was justified?

          • Genesis 15:6 “And he (Abraham) believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. ”

          • Romans 4:2 “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.”

        2. vs.6, it is not about what we do according to the law, but out of faith.

          • James 2 lays out the argument of works by faith.

          • But the motivation for the works is “Love” the end of vs.6

            • everything we do should stem from this, not a sense of debt, or religion.

        3. Vs.7 again ask the question, you started out good, but what happened?

          • The problems that stem from faith verses the Law, they do not come from God,

          • it is those that seek to be justified by works, that want to bring others into bondage.

            • They add to the requirements of the Christian Life,

              • this is not to say there is not a standard, but it is to say, that we make sure what we desire is from God, based in faith and love.

      2. A Little Leaven,

        1. I spoke Sunday night about sharpening our edge,

          • leaven is like yeast when added to dough, it begins to grow, and then affect the entire bowl of dough, making it rise. There are some restaurants that use the dough to continue the strain of yeast for generations.

            • Anyway, just a little has the affect of changing the entire bowl.

          • Back to the edge,

            • most every cutting tool is based on the same principle.

              • Start small, and then force it wider.

                • A wedge, a chisel, the saw is a series of tiny chisels.

        2. The point here, is it doesn’t take much to start the process. You start with something like circumcision, but where does it end,

          • once you have set the presidents to obey that part of the law, then what about the next bit?

        3. Vs.10, Paul is wanting the same thing Jesus wanted in…

          • John 17:20&21 “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”

          • that they would all be of the same mind, with Paul.

      3. Why Suffer for preaching,

        1. Paul in vs.11, if I preach the law, then there is no need to suffer preaching of the cross.

        2. I love this, vs.12, Paul reminds me of David in this verse,

          • it come from the two words, chop, and off.

            • It is a graphic picture of how Paul would want to deal with those who cause problems for the Christians.

Next week, we will begin to look at the idea of using our liberty for offense of others.

Points for Home:

  • God never forces anyone to live in a certain way, however He does provide freedom, and lays out the option for us to choose how we will life. A life of freedom, or a life of bondage.

  • We cannot live in both worlds, the world of Grace and the world of Law. If we live under the law, we are under the entire law. If we live under Grace, then it is based in love and faith.

  • A little leaven corrupts the entire batch. This is why we must be diligent about even small things. All it takes for bad doctrine to enter is a small amount, and time to grow.