September 5, 2021

GALATIANS: JESUS, ONLY JESUS

September 05, 2021

Charles Billingsley

 

Have you ever accidentally gotten a small amount of “something” in or on something else—and you had to throw out the entire batch? What a mess! Can you share?

The apostle Paul traveled to the area of Galatia while on his first missionary journey with Barnabas, making disciples in each town they visited. Later, perhaps around 49 A.D., Paul received word that many Judaizers had infiltrated the churches in Galatia, causing turmoil among the brethren. The Judaizers were falsely saying they believed Jesus to be the Messiah (to give credibility), but told the Gentiles they needed to be circumcised, as well as “other Jewish traditions.” The newly saved believers were confused by these false teachers, and soon let the Satanic doctrine ruin their walk of faith. Paul wrote this letter, very angry at the Judaizers’ attempts to destroy the new faith of the Galatians by their teaching, and fervently warned the church that they needed to repent and get back to the pure gospel which he had taught them.

Focal Passage: The Book of Galatians

 We are justified by Faith

  • Read Galatians 3:1-3. What was the pure gospel that Paul had been preaching since his Damascus Road experience? What did the Judaizers insist was the only way to be saved? Why were they bent on destroying the faith of new converts?
  • What had been Paul’s title before God saved him? Once saved, how did his training quickly enable him to show others Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah?
  • Read John 20:30-31. This was the good news that Paul had shared with the Galatians. Why was he so angry with them (vs. 3)?
  • What did Paul do to be worthy of Jesus appearing to him to save him?

 

We are called to be Free

  • Read Gal. 5:1. What did Jesus free us from? Is this the same message Paul used in Romans 3:24?
  • Have you ever been free from the traditional debts you owed? What was your “vow” once they were all paid off? Did you keep that vow? Why, then, does Paul admonish the believers in vs. 5:1b? What were they again being enslaved to?
  • Will someone define “cheap grace” for the group? Growing up, did any of you come from a legalistic church or a liberal church? Can you explain what they mean? Why are both dangerous? Is salvation Jesus plus (something else)?
  • When the altar call is given, why must it always be clearly said that repenting of, and turning from, your sins is necessary when coming to Christ for salvation?
  • Why did Christ go to the cross for you? Have you been perfect since then? If not, why does He still consider you His child?

Our freedom produces Fruit

  • Read Gal. 5:16-18. What type of fruit does a tree bear? Why can a tree not produce two types of fruit (in normal circumstances)?
  • Read John 15:4-5. What is our position in God? Does fruit have to encourage the tree to bear it? How do we believers bear fruit? Do we have to work at bearing?
  • What type of fruit should we bear? Can you list some? What type of fruit will you bear if you’re not remaining fixed in Christ?
  • Is fruit always visible? Will it be consistent with the plant on which it grows? Why does it exist? Does it try to be something other than it is?

 

Close

Galatians is a book that has many different themes for growing in Christ. We encountered one that was the terrible consequence of listening to and absorbing incorrect doctrine. Many people are afraid of “doctrine,” believing it to be something that is meant only for the pastors. Not so! You must know the Scriptures well enough to be certain that lessons or sermons you hear always contain only the truth. We all need to be like the people of Berea, who would study the scriptures after hearing Paul preach to be sure what they heard was true!

False teachers did not appear as men with red outfits and pitchforks. These Judaizers came as religious leaders, manipulating the new believers by acting as if they, the Jews, just as the people of Galatia, believed that Jesus was the Messiah. They insinuated that Paul had not told the Galatians the entire truth, which was adherence to the law of Moses. It is not unlike the false religions in the world today, who revere another book in addition to the Bible or have other rules or traditions that must be observed. As scripture points out, “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” It doesn’t take many lies to affect your faith in Jesus. As Satan said to Eve, “Did God really say that…,” causing her to doubt God.

Another application in Galatians is the evidence of a true-life change when we are saved. Paul succinctly lays out the truth of fruit being the natural confirmation of a healthy plant. In the same manner, a person whose heart, soul, mind, and spirit are deeply grounded in the word of, and their relationship to, God, will naturally produce the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.). If you are producing worldly fruit, (fulfilling the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life), you need to carefully examine why you think you are saved. Look for the breakdown between you and Jesus Christ, and fix it quickly, not knowing when you might take your last breath. Don’t ever take salvation for granted—it is all about Jesus, only Jesus.