1. vs. 11 We are not sure why Paul writes this. Vs. 17 may hold a clue.... His beatings etc. that he had to endure might have either caused his eyesight to be bad (large letters) or his hands, motor control to be damaged (so he could not write small neat letters)... so he probably did not write very "beautifully" and so his writing might not impress people "outwardly."
2. What is the real motivation for those trying to force everyone to be circumcized?
vs. 12 avoid persection
vs. 13 boast about the flesh: that is ... about the
outward acts/works of
the Jewish ceremonial law
3. Why does the cross of Christ cause persecution?
a: the Jews stirred up persecution against Christians because they did not accept Jesus's death for sins and the righteousness that comes by faith.... but demanded that everyone continue in their traditions.... to get "righteousness"
Additionally, the cross of Christ stirs up persecution today, because it is offensive. Why would preaching the cross of Christ offend people?
a: it says you are a sinner.... no one wants to hear that... it says that your sins are so serious, that you cannot do anything by yourself to do that, you are helpless... people don't want to hear that... it says that you can only obtain salvation by putting your trust in Jesus... no other way... only through sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross... can you be saved... people are unwilling to submit or accept "only one way to God" but insist on saying that there are many ways to God...
4. Paul bore the marks of Christ on his body... (i.e. the wippings on his back until he was bleeding... ) Read together 2 Corinthians 11:20-29
Paul suffered for Jesus.
Please share how you have suffered for sharing your faith with others this year.
5. How does Paul characterize who he is now that he is a Christian? Then
discuss what each things means.
vs. 14
(the world crucified to me, and I to the world)
vs. 15
(new creation)
vs. 16
(the Israel of God)
NOTE on verse 16: What is the rule Paul is referring to?
a: My I never
boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The phrase "even to the Israel of God" may seem strange, but in the Greek,
the grammar construction translated "even" has this meaning... it is
called a "kai assensive"
Those who follow this rule are not only the ones who get peace and mercy,
but actually, they are really the Israel of God...
(What Paul is saying is that the circumcision group are saying, they are
the true Israel, but Paul is saying that those who boast in Jesus (in
constrast to those who boast in circumcision and Jewish ethnicity and
ceremonial laws) those... who boast in Jesus, have faith in his work...
are the true "Israel of God.")
6. Compare Gal. 6:15 to Gal. 5:6
What is characteristic of "new creation"?
a: faith expressing itself
through love
7. Share some of the Gospel statements throughout the book of Galatians.
E.g.
Pick a Gospel verse to memorize...
Final conclusion: If you believe the Gospel and are saved.... now what
about your current Christian life?
Gal.5:25
We Live by the Spirit.... is the fact the reality of our new creation, it
is like "we continue to be alive" by the Spirit.... "we exist" by the
Spirit, it is not something we do, but has been done to us... like the
first Creation... God breathed into him the breath of life and he became
a living being....
The statement.... "keep in step with the Spirit" is a call to act like
people who are indeed part of the new creation... it is an act of the
person... but notice... the Keeping in Step with the Spirit does not
cause us to "Live" ... but rather Paul's logical order is the other way
The Spirit makes us alive (Since)....
And therefore, we should act like those alive... with the new creation.
That is the motivation for your works.... for following God's law... not
to gain a righteous standing before God, but rather, because you already
have a righteous standing before God, and have the Holy Spirit, then ACT
like the new nature you have....
Gal. 1:3-5
2:15-16
2:20
3:13
3:26
4:4-7
5:6
6:14-15