Bible Study Notes
Living
by the Truth – Galatians 6:1-9 & 2:1-21
Introduction
Quite often when we do things for the wrong
reasons we experience an hollow victory. In this lesson we learn that we face a
similar outcome when we choose not to live by the truth. God gave humankind the gospel of salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ. In so
doing, God made it clear that Christ is the key.
Therefore, Christ’s revelation of God’s
character surpasses that of the law. He
is humankind’s supreme guide to eternal life with God. According to God’s plan, we experience
justification through faith in Christ alone - not by our good works regardless
of quality or quantity. The gospel of
Christ is the truth by which believers are to live. This is because God has given us the real
victory in Christ, our savior and our Lord.
Lesson Setting
Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians to
address the criticism of the Gospel raised by a group of Jewish – Christians
who fanatically opposed the apparent displacement of the law in the new
church. The “Judaizers”, as they are
called, began to infiltrate the Galatian churches soon after Paul’s
departure. They claimed to be the true
messengers of Christ because they were the descendants of Abraham and the
apprentices of the twelve apostles.
These Judaizers further boasted that they had
seen and heard Christ teach during his ministry on earth. On the bases of their heritage as well as
their experiences with Christ and his apostles, the Judaizers asserted their
superior qualifications to direct the churches of Galatia. To this end, they sought to discredit Paul
and undermine his authority.
Specifically, the Judaizers focused on the
fact that Paul’s call to ministry came after Christ’s earthly walk. In deed, it came many years into Paul’s
chosen line of work as a highly successful persecutor of the Church of Christ.
The Judaizers also noted that Paul’s interaction with Christ’s chosen apostles
was limited at best.
Accordingly, the Judaizers asserted that
Paul’s knowledge and authority regarding Christ was subordinate to their
own. They depicted Paul as a
self-anointed religious rebel. They
argued that Paul’s irreverent gospel of justification though faith in Christ
alone was precisely calculated to win popularity among the masses by subverting
the laws of the Jewish religious system.
Paul writes the letter to the Galatian
churches to address the Judaizers accusations.
Consequently, the first two chapters of this letter are devoted to
Paul’s confident defense of the God given authority of his ministry and his
message.
Exposition
I. Paul maintains that he is a true apostle of Christ
authorized by God rather than humans (Galatians 1:1-2)
At the very opening of his letter to the
Galatians, Paul launches his defense against the Judaizers accusations that his
call to ministry was at best subordinate to their own. Specifically, Paul identifies himself as “an
apostle – sent not from men nor by men, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father,
who raised him from the dead - and all the brothers with me.”
Paul’s choice of words imply that the
Judaizers who came to preach to the churches of Galatia after him were inspired
solely by other human beings. The
exclusive purpose of their self determined call was to hinder the gospel
message. In contrast Paul asserts that
his call is of the highest possible character because it comes directly from
Christ in accord with the work of God the Father.
The Judaizers primarily based their challenge
to Paul’s apostleship on the fact that he was not one of the twelve who studied
under Christ. Secondarily, these
detractors noted that Paul was a vigilant persecutor of Christians prior to his
ministry. However more often than not,
God in his omniscience will call a person of faith into service regardless of
circumstance. For instance, the apostles
added Matthias to their number by asking God to indicate his pleasure when they
cast lots to choose between two candidates.
Of course the Judaizers would remark that
Christ’s apostles had a hand in Matthias’ appointment. Nevertheless, Paul maintained a direct call
from God on the Demascus road. Paul’s
conversion experience was marked by his receipt of the gospel by divine revelation
from Jesus Christ. Paul says that when God revealed Christ to him so that he
might preach the good news of salvation by faith to the Gentiles, he accepted
his appointment. Paul did not take time
to ponder his call with the apostles or anyone else. Rather, in faith Paul accepted Christ and the
justification that is available through him alone. (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-17)
Accordingly, Paul set aside his prior life
and immediately embarked on his new life of preaching the gospel that others
might be redeemed of God. Paul makes it
clear that the gospel he received from Christ was in no way influenced by man
because he was three years into his ministry before he went into Jerusalem and
spent time with Peter and James.
Moreover, fourteen more years passed before he was moved to return to Jerusalem
to consult with the apostles concerning his ministry. At that time, the
apostles accepted Paul and agreed that he should continue preaching the gospel
to the Gentiles. (Galatians 1:18-20, 2:1, 9-10)
II. Paul is amazed at how quickly the Galatians stray from the
gospel he gave them (Galatians 1:6-9)
Clearly, Paul’s history lends no credence to
the Judaizers’ criticisms. A generous
analysis of the Judaizers’ motivation might disclose a desire to limit God’s
gift of salvation to those who observe Jewish religious traditions rather than
to discount Christianity on a whole.
This is because the Judiazers remained aligned with their brothers who
held tight to the belief that the Israelites, as God’s chosen people, were the
exclusive benefactors of his grace in any form.
Paul is astonished at how quick the Galatians
are to accept the teachings of the Judaizers over the gospel he gave them. He is amazed in part because the perverted
theology of the Judaizers was so burdensome compared to the abundant life
afforded by the freedom Christ purchased on the cross.
Paul declares that there is only one true
gospel. It is the good news of God’s free grace. All of humankind is offered new life in
Christ because of God’s incomparable love and mercy. Just as we are with shortcomings both real
and perceived, God seeks to redeem us to him.
The key to God’s divine plan to restore us to right relationship with
Him is our acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Paul cautions that any religious doctrine
that seeks to add to or subtract from the promise of salvation through faith in
Christ alone is contrary to God’s will.
Therefore, Paul warns the Galatians not to allow themselves to be
confused by the Judaizers attempts to “pervert the gospel of Christ.” In deed,
Paul calls for the eternal condemnation of anyone who preaches a message other
than the good news of Christ previously accepted by the Galatians.
III.
Paul teaches that
people are not justified by doing the works of the law but by faith in Christ
(Galatians 2:15-16)
In the latter half of the second chapter of
Galatians Paul recalls an encounter in Antioch when he found it necessary to
confront the Apostle Peter concerning his refusal to eat with the Gentile
converts in the presence of the Judaizers.
Paul identified Peter’s behavior as hypocritical because he had
routinely broken bread with the Gentiles prior to the arrival of these
representatives of the circumcision camp.
Paul insisted that Peter as a Jewish convert
living in the freedom afforded by Christ’s great sacrifice, knew that his
actions were out of sync with the truth of the gospel. Paul asked Peter how he could choose to
exercise the freedom of Christian faith yet require the Gentiles to assume the
restrictions of Jewish customs.
Through this account, Paul teaches that
people are justified by faith in Christ alone and not by good works under the
law. Paul’s point is that contrary to
the Judaizers’ teaching there is nothing that any man or woman can do to enhance
the gospel. This is because we do not
earn God’s love through our actions no matter how well intentioned they may
be.
Rather, we are the recipients of
justification through the saving work of Christ on earth and in heaven. There is simply nothing we can do apart from
placing our faith in Jesus Christ in thanksgiving for the new life God has
given us in him. “For it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift
from God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
IV. Paul cautioned that justification by faith does not mean
Christ condones sin (Galatians 2:17-18)
One of the criticisms the Judaizers waged
against Paul’s gospel message of justification by faith in Christ was that it
condoned sin. Specifically, the Judaizers
asserted that humankind was in need of the full weight of the law to arrest its
sinful nature. They alleged that humans would act in willful disregard for each
other and the environment in which they live absent the law. The Judaizers
further maintained that God gave the law to the Israelites for this very
reason. On this basis, the Judaizers argued that Paul’s teachings were in fact
contrary to God’s will.
In this passage Paul counters this position
by explicitly advising that justification by faith does not mean that Christ
condones sin. Paul explains that even if
in our effort to experience justification by faith it becomes clear that we are
ourselves sinners that does not mean that Christ was the catalyst of our
sin. It is true that before Jesus’
ministry the Israelites knew sin as the violation of the laws God had given
them to guide them in relationship with Him and each other.
On the other hand, Jesus teaches that the
law is no longer the key. This is not to
say the law has no value. For Christ
said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have
not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17) God gave us Christ because the law could not
redeem humankind. This is because while the law makes us aware of our
transgressions, it does not empower us to do what is right by God, our
neighbors and ourselves. In light of
this, Jesus directs his followers to look to the essence of the law rather than
the letter of the law for guidance regarding God’s will and way.
Accordingly, Christians are not to be
preoccupied with dietary restrictions, observance of holy days or the ritual of
physical circumcision because these regulations do nothing to help us embrace
God’s nature. Consequently, the only true circumcision for Christians is of the
heart that our faith might dwell there.
We open ourselves in surrender to God’s grace and so accept His
incomparable gift of salvation through Christ.
As believers we are guided by God’s character revealed in Jesus Christ. We know how we are to exist in this world
because Christ demonstrates God’s love as well as His holiness. Surpassing any system of law, Christ is our
ultimate guide to right relationship in this world and the next.
Yes, Christ suffered, died, and rose again
for the pardon of humankind’s sin once and for all. In obedience to God’s divine plan Christ
thereby offers us an opportunity for a new life in him. Reborn in Christ we are to continuously seek
and obey God’s will for us. On the other
hand, Paul counsels that if we choose to resume our sinful patterns of behavior
we squander the new life God has granted us.
In so doing we reject God’s will for us and accordingly we lay aside the
gift of His saving grace.
IV.
Paul explains
that he died to the law in order to live in God, in recognition of Christ’s
death (Galatians 2:19-21)
In this
passage Paul teaches from his personal experience. Considering Paul’s passion we can well image
the great effort he must have exerted to adhere to the law as a devout Jew. In pursuit of righteousness, Paul must have
tried with all his being to meet every requirement of the law. Paul’s inherent inability to meet this
standard forced him to confront his vulnerability to sin. This revelation caused Paul to recognize that
there was nothing he could do attain righteousness. Paul’s only hope was in God’s mercy. Paul found this personified in the Son, Jesus
Christ.
Once he
encountered Christ, Paul abandoned his former way of life. Paul’s conversion was so complete that he
characterizes himself as dead to the law.
Specifically, Paul describes his experience as crucifixion with
Christ. Paul explains that the person he
was died so that the one he became could live in the resurrection of
Christ. In this way, Paul recognizes the
redeeming purpose of Christ’s death.
Paul’s
appreciation of the grace God extended him through faith in Christ prohibits
him from returning to the law as the Judaizers advocate. Paul teaches that a return to a life of good
works under the law is a rejection of God’s mercy, “…for if righteous could be
gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21)
The
Main Thought Explained
“We have come to believe in Christ Jesus,
so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of
the law.” (Galatians 2:16)
In this
verse Paul teaches that all people are “justified” or pardoned by God by faith
in Christ alone. Paul wants to make it
clear, particularly to his Jewish brothers and sisters, that good works in
obedience to the law do not make a person righteous before God. In accord with God’s plan for humankind’s
redemption Christ is the key.
God sacrificed Christ because the law was not
sufficient to lead us to live in right relationship with Him or each another.
We repeatedly fell short of adherence to the law both intentionally and
unintentionally. However, when we are
reborn in Christ to a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father, we are
empowered by the Spirit to do what is right in accord with His will.
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