18 October 2020 (am) – Galatians 3:1-14
 | Andy Bruins preaching from Galatians on Sunday 18th October 2020. |
In this passage, Paul presents a series of arguments demonstrating the folly of starting the Christian life by faith and then continuing by works.
The language is strong. Paul wants the Galatians to see just how inconsistent and illogical it is to live this way because at the end of the day it results in a denial of the gospel which means (as he stated at the end of chapter 2) Christ died for nothing!
In these first 14 verses, Paul draws the reader’s attention to evidence from their personal experience (v1-5) the Old testament story of Abraham (v6-9) and what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross (v10-14).
Big Idea: We are not only saved by faith in Christ alone, but that is how we are to continue to live our live from that point forward.
Q Read v1-5. What does it mean that “Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified” to the Galatians?
Q What is the significance of their receiving the Spirit? (compare Acts 11:15-18) So what is Paul’s argument in v3?
Q Read v6-9. What did Abraham have to do to have righteousness credited to him? What does it mean? How do we obtain the same blessing as Abraham (v9)?
Q Read v10-14. If you choose to justify yourself by the law, how much do you have to keep (v10)? What is the alternative (v11)? How does the cross of Christ bring us under God’s blessing? What is the promise we receive (v14)?
Q Are we guilty of making the same foolish mistake as the Galatians? In what ways do we return to law-keeping in an effort to earn God’s approval?
