Joshua 24:14 Now Therefore Fear 03372 (8798) the LORD 03068 , and Serve 05647 (8798) Him s1

FBCMW, 28 June 09 Sunday School Lesson SS-Galatians_5a.doc

LESSONS THIS QUARTER

1)  Jun 07 Gal 1:1-2:10 Talking about the Gospel

2)  Jun 14 Gal 2:11-3:25 Receiving the Gospel

3)  Jun 21 Gal 3:26-4:31 Living by the Gospel

4)  Jun 28 Gal 5:1-15 Claim your freedom

5)  Jul 05 Gal 5:16-26 Follow the Spirit

6)  Jul 12 Gal 6 Be Responsible

7)  Jul 19 James 1:1-18 When common sense isn’t enough

8)  Jul 26 James 1:19-27 How genuine are you?

9)  Aug 02 James 2:1-13 Let’s be fair about it

10)  Aug 09 James 2:14-26 Show me your faith

11)  Aug 16 James 3 How to sail through life

12)  Aug 23 James 4 Who is your best friend?

13)  Aug 30 James 5 How to live with confidence?

INTRODUCTION

·  Paul uses some strong language to persuade his listeners to get back on the right track

w  He states the obvious: “You have fallen from grace…”

w  He asks “Who hindered you?”

w  …and he expresses the worst for church troublemakers:
“I hope they emasculate (NIV)/castrate (RSV) themselves”

Passage / Comments
5:1 / Liberty in Christ sets us free from slavery to sin
·  How does sin enslave us?
·  How does Christ free us from sin’s bondage?
Rom 6:11; Rom 8:10
5:2-6 / Paul does not mince words and stresses the logic conclusion of mixing the Gospel of the Cross with keeping the Law à They have fallen from grace.
·  What does “fallen from grace” mean?
w  Does it mean “they” lost their salvation? No
- assuming “they” had it to begin with
w  ‘Fallen from grace’ would mean they no longer merit being blessed by God because they rely in themselves to earn their own righteousness
w  …and by keeping the Law they deprive themselves of every advantage and blessing of being in Christ à imputed righteousness
Rom 4:11-14; Rom 5:13; James 2:23
5:7-12 / We must be diligent to realize when false doctrine is in our midst – AND WHO IT COMES FROM
·  Mark those who cause division and avoid them
Rom 16:17; Titus 3:10
5:13-15 / Freedom can be used for good or bad purposes
·  Paul states a positive reason to be a slave – to serve one another 1Co 9:19; Eph 5:21
·  But we can abuse the freedom/liberty we have in Christ 1Cor 8:9; 1Pet 2:16
·  What are some ways we can abuse our liberty in Christ today?

APPLICATION FOR TODAY

·  Self-examination if we have legalistic tendencies and what to do to fix them

·  Identify areas of false doctrine (and where they are coming from – from us or from someone else)

w  Admonish or avoid those who teach falsely (e.g., turn off certain TV/radio preachers)

SUPPORTING PASSAGES

Rom 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Rom 8:10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

Ro 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

1Cor 8:9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

1Cor 9:19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.

Eph 5:21 …and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Titus 3:10 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;

1Pet 2:16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

NEXT WEEK

·  Galatians 5:16-26 – How to live by the Spirit of God

w  Know the difference between living by the Spirit and living by our flesh

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