Click on Add to cart button below shopping cart.

Galatians
Book type: Letter (Epistle)
Author: Apostle Paul
No. of chapters: 6
Key character(s): God, Jesus, Paul
Brief description: Galatians – Justification by faith, its privileges & responsibilities.
01) The players (1:1-5)
02) The problem: the nature of the Gospel (1:6-10)
03) The answer, Part 1: Believers are justified simply by faith in Christ (1:11-5:12)
04) The answer, Part 2: Believers are justified simply by faith in Christ to serve freely in the spirit through love (5:13-6:10)
05) Conclusion: Boast only that you are new creations in Christ (6:11-18)

Paul’s letter to the church of Galatia. Question 1: Are people justified (made right with God) simply by faith in Jesus the Christ, or is justification earned by following certain rituals or rules? Question 2: If people are justified simply by faith in Jesus the Christ, how should they live their lives?

Theological conclusions.
Two major doctrinal issues are emphasised brilliantly in Galatians:
01) Justification by faith in Christ.
02) Justification in Christ enables believers to serve God, others & themselves with love in the Spirit.
Both doctrines are connected intricately with Christ’s crucifixion.

Contemporary teaching.
The church today faces struggles similar to those of the Galatian churches. People still find it difficult to accept salvation as a free gift.
[Source: NIV Disciple’s Study Bible]

Gospel or Law? Faith or works? These are key questions in the life of every Christian. In the book of Galatians, we are assured that keeping the law, even the Ten Commandments, cannot save us from our sins. Instead, we find freedom and salvation through placing our faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Themes in the Book of Galatians:
Keeping the law does not save us. Paul countered the claims of Jewish teachers that we need to obey the law in addition to faith in Christ. The law serves to reveal our inadequacy to obey.

Faith in Jesus Christ alone saves us from our sins. Salvation is a gift from God, Paul taught. We cannot earn righteousness through works or good behavior. Belief in Christ is the only way to become accepted by God.

True freedom comes from the gospel, not from legalism. Christ instituted a new covenant, freeing his followers from the bondage of Jewish law and tradition.

The Holy Spirit works in us to bring us to Christ. Salvation is not by our doing but by God’s. Further, the Holy Spirit enlightens, guides, and empowers us to live the Christian life. God’s love and peace flow through us because of the Holy Spirit.

Outline of the Book of Galatians:
01) Paul defends his credentials as an apostle, cites the Jerusalem apostles’ acceptance of his gospel teaching, and tells of his challenge to Peter to teach the true gospel – Galatians 1:1-2:14.

02) Believers in Christ are justified by faith, not by works of the Law. Abraham’s belief in God was credited to him as righteousness. All people who are baptized into Christ are one, as Abraham’s offspring and heirs to God’s promise – Galatians 2:15-3:29.

03) Paul is concerned that the Galatians will be as bad off as pagans if they return to the Jewish law. He warns them not to accept circumcision but to use their freedom in Christ to love one another – Galatians 3:30-4:15.

04) In the final sections, Paul urges the Galatians to walk by the Spirit, bear each other’s burdens, and do good to everyone. He gives a final warning to deny circumcision and follow the gospel of Christ – Galatians 4:16-6:18.
[Source:http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentbooks/a/Galatians.htm]

Key Verses:
Galatians 2:15-16 (ANIV)
We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Galatians 5:6 (ANIV)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:22-25 (ANIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Galatians 6:7-10 (ANIV)
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.