Theme: Restoring confidence in the source, truth and freedom of the gospel of justification by faith.
 
1. Introduction (1:1-5)
    
    1. Authors
        
        1. Paul: an apostle
            
            1. Not sent from men
            2. Not through the agency of man
            3. Through the agency of Jesus Christ
        2. All brethren with Paul
    2. Audience: churches of Galatia
    3. Greeting: grace and peace
        
        1. From God our Father: to whom be glory forevermore
        2. From the Lord Jesus Christ
            
            1. Gave Himself for our sins
            2. Rescuer from this present evil age
            3. Worked according to the will of God our Father
2. Urgency of the Matter (1:6-10)
    
    1. Galatians are deserting God
        
        1. They are deserting quickly
        2. They are deserting God
        3. They are deserting the true gospel
    2. Galatians are being disturbed
        
        1. Disturbers are distorting the gospel
        2. Disturbers are to be accursed
    3. Gospel is being distorted
        
        1. Not what Paul preached
        2. Not what Galatians received
    4. Paul's motivation
        
        1. Seeking favor of God
        2. Pleasing men is incompatible with bond-service to Christ
3. Restoring confidence in the **source** of the gospel (chapters 1:11-2:21)
    
    1. Summary: from Christ, not man
        
        1. Not according to man
        2. Not received from man
        3. Not taught it by man
        4. But, from a revelation of Jesus Christ
    2. Alibi 1: Paul's former manner of life
        
        1. Paul was not raised with the gospel
        2. He was an enemy of the gospel
        3. He would listen to no man (see his behavior in Acts)
    3. Alibi 2: Paul's conversion
        
        1. No evangelism from man
        2. Turn around in Paul's life so great, it can only be God's direct work
    4. Alibi 3: Paul's first Jerusalem visit
        
        1. No instruction from men
        2. No time for it (see Acts account)
    5. Alibi 4: Paul's second Jerusalem visit
        
        1. Not for the purpose of being taught
        2. Incredible (God-given) unity among apostles after 17 years of preaching to different people without contact with each other
    6. Alibi 5: Paul's present manner of life: 100% consistent with the Gospel
        
        1. Paul recognized Peter's hypocrisy
            
            1. Peter stood condemned when he came to Antioch
            2. Peter withdrew from eating with the Gentiles
            3. Peter feared Jews who came from James
            4. Many Jews (even Barnabas) were carried away
            5. Peter and Jews not being straightforward about the Gospel
        2. Paul exposed Peter's hypocrisy
            
            1. Surface inconsistencies￼_Even though Peter was a Jew, he was living like a Gentile and yet now he was compelling Gentiles to live like Jews! It may not have been obvious to see the core issue at that level, but it was an obvious inconsistency on the surface of things that should have led to deeper investigating of a core problem!_
                
                1. Peter is a Jew, living like a Gentile (eating with Gentiles)
                2. Peter is compelling Gentiles to live like Jews (by no longer eating with Gentiles)
            2. Contradicts past convictions￼_Peter and the others (along with Paul) had clearly recognized the insufficiency of the law to justify them. Therefore, they sought refuge in the cross of Christ. What Peter was doing now was totally contradictory to his own past convictions._
                
                1. Paul and Peter are Jews who have the law
                2. Paul and Peter, nevertheless, recognized justification by the law was impossible
                3. Paul and Peter turned to Christ for justification
            3. Has an illogical conclusion￼_If we accept the law as a standard of righteousness, while seeking justification in Christ, we are concluding that Christ's work was insufficient to make us righteous. Therefore, Christ has failed to justify us and all He has done is lead us into sin--He becomes a minister of sin._
                
                1. We are judged to be sinners even after seeking justification in Christ
                2. Christ becomes a minister of sin
                3. Returning to the law only proves our transgressions
            4. Contradicts spiritual reality￼_The spiritual reality is that we now live by faith, Christ living in us. The law led us to the point where we died to it as a means of justification so that we might now live daily by faith in the Son of God. Going back to the law denies this reality._
                
                1. The law lead them to die to it as a means of righteousness and live to God
                2. Daily life is by faith with Christ living in him
            5. Has severe consequences￼_By returning to the law, we declare that Christ's death was either insufficient or unnecessary to obtain righteousness before God. Therefore, we take what actually is the grace of God (giving His only begotten Son for us) and turn it into a foolish act--unnecessary and insufficient. We say that the law was always available to declare us righteous and so God sent His Son to the cross for no real reason._
                
                1. Nullifies the grace of God
                2. Declares that Christ died needlessly
4. Restoring confidence in the **truth** of the gospel (chapters 3:1-4:31)
    
    1. Argument 1: Galatians' Experience (3:1-5)
        
        1. Hearing the Gospel￼_Paul has "clearly portrayed" the gospel to them when he preached in the Galatian cities. Thus, they had heard the entire gospel clearly, certainly being told of the necessity of the cross and Christ's work on it. This knowledge alone could have kept them from the false teaching of justification by the law since that doctrine lead to the conclusion of Christ's death being unnecessary._
        2. Believing the Gospel￼_How did the Galatians receive the Spirit? The NT records that we receive the Spirit by believing. Not only did the Galatians hear the message of the cross, but they believed it! The giving of the Holy Spirit at the time of their believing was a confirmation that they had believed the truth, but now they were straying from it._
        3. Finishing in the Gospel￼_The Galatians had begun to finish by walking in the Spirit. How now did they think they could somehow complete the course in another way? The Spirit had been absolutely necessary for their righteousness. How could they now "continue" their righteousness through the flesh when it was so weak and useless before?_
        4. Suffering for the Gospel￼_The Galatians had suffered for the gospel--they were willing to do it. Now they were despising that suffering by turning to a false gospel which essentially declared that their past suffering had not been necessary. While, in fact, it was vital and greatly beneficial to their walk with Christ._
        5. Seeing the Gospel￼_They had seen the works of God since their salvation: miracles, receiving of the Spirit. How had God done these things? Not through excellence in works of the Law! Having seen those works should have strongly confirmed to the Galatians that their course (walking by faith) was the right one. But, they still strayed._
    2. Argument 2: Example of Abraham (3:6-9)
        
        1. His Faith￼_The Galatian's faith (and, therefore, ours) is just like Abraham's. He believed God and it was credited as righteousness. See Romans 4:22--it works exactly the same for us. Instead of being the Jews' forefather of circumcision, Abraham really is the father of all who are justified by faith. Paul lands a huge blow to the Judaizers with this claim._
            
            1. Abraham (who?)
            2. Believed (what?)
            3. God (in whom?)
            4. Could do what He said (in what?)
            5. Reckoned to him as righteousness (with what result?)
        2. His Sons￼_What Paul hints at in the previous verse is brought home in this verse. I think Paul is using Abraham as an argument because the Galatians are being influenced by Judaizers, preaching circumcision and the Law for justification. To be a son of Abraham meant to be an inheritor of the promises given to him. This meant being brought into the covenant which meant being circumcised. Paul says not to all of that. To obtain the promises of Abraham, you must believe as he did and be declared righteous. The sign of circumcision was a seal of the faith Abraham had received (Rom: 4:11). But, for those who also were under that covenant, circumcision was not enough to receive the promises of Abraham. Faith was required as well (Rom 4:13)._
        3. His Gospel￼_The Gospel to Abraham was that he would become the father of many nations by being the "father" of their faith--the example of the same faith that would bring many, from many nations into the fold of Christ. This came before circumcision. Again, Romans 4:9-12 makes this really clear: Abraham was declared righteous before he was given circumcision. Therefore, he is the father, in his faith, of both the uncircumcised and the circumcised to those who believe in the same way._
        4. His Blessing￼_I think the blessing of Abraham is to be declared righteous by faith, aside from any consideration of works. This last verse is almost a summary of Paul's statements. If you want to be blessed with Abraham (also declared righteous), you must exercise the same faith he did._
    3. Argument 3: Contrast of living by faith and law (3:10-14)
        
        1. Living by the law
            
            1. The Law brings a curse
                
                1. As many as are of the works of the Law (who)
                2. By not abiding by all things (how)
            2. No one is justified by the Law
                
                1. Man is justified by faith
                2. Law is not of faith, but works
        2. Living by faith: Christ redeemed us
            
            1. From the curse of the Law (from what)
            2. By hanging on the cross (how)
            3. For the purpose of
                
                1. Bringing the blessing of Abraham to the Gentiles
                2. Receiving the promise of the Spirit through faith
    4. Argument 4: God's promise (3:15-18)￼_Imbedded in this argument is the clarification that the promise of God was like a will or testament given to Abraham. The inheritance is the gaining of righteousness. God gave it to Abraham in a promise. He did not change the terms of this promise by giving the Law--as if He suddenly now made men have to "earn" righteousness by following the Law. Not even men would do that! A great lesson from this is to trust God's promises at face value. The Law, on the surface, seemed to alter the terms of gaining righteousness--but this would have meant the maligning of God's character. That is, He would be the type who would go back on His promises! If this is ever the logical conclusion of our thinking, we are on the wrong path._
        
        1. Observation 1: even men do not alter the terms of covenants they make
        2. Observation 2: Christ is the seed of Abraham, Christ is the one in whom the promises are fulfilled
        3. Conclusion: the Law cannot invalidate the promise of God
        4. Observation 3: the inheritance can only be based on Law or Promise, not both
    5. Argument 5: The purpose of the Law (3:19-22)
        
        1. Short summary of the Law
            
            1. For defining transgressions
            2. Communicated through mediating messengers￼_I interpret "angels" in the NASB more generically as messengers. This would then be Paul telling us how the Law was communicated: first through Moses, then prophets and priests and kings--always through a mediating messenger._
            3. Had a built-in expiration date: until Christ came
        2. The Law is different than the promise
            
            1. Required a mediator￼_The promise of God to Abraham and his Seed was a one-way covenant (a will). It required no mediator. The necessity of a mediator implies that the Law was not doing the same thing as the promise._
            2. Could not impart life￼_The Law was weak because it was a two-way street (unlike the promise). Because of this, it was dependent on flesh (people) to uphold their half. Therefore, it was designed to fail in regard to providing life (righteousness)._
        3. The Law's real purpose: prepare our hearts for the promise￼_The Law wasn't a failed experiment by God. It was always designed with one purpose: to show clearly to men the weakness of their flesh and absolute necessity of obtaining righteousness by faith alone in Christ's accomplished work. It does this by shutting us up under sin; that is, showing no way of escape for a man made of flesh._
    6. Argument 6: How the Law accomplishes its purpose (3:23-29) ￼_The illustration of being in college, I think, illuminates this passage. In college, as a computer science student, I was directed by my college professors on the dos and don'ts represented by assignments, tests, projects, etc. This was my only concern: to pass my classes and learn programming. When I graduated, my focus slowly shifted to professional excellence. I was applying the things learned in college, but now with my own motivation to do well. When I was in college, I couldn't see how this would work out. In the same way, the Law shuts us up to faith--we can't see the excellence of living by the Spirit because we are still under a tutor. While under the Law (in college) we are only concerned about measuring up to the Law (passing assignments, tests and projects). When faith comes (we graduate) we now understand the full joy of walking in righteousness of our own motivation. The Spirit guides us in this as chapter 5 will show. Just like college, the Law is never intended to keep us under it. Its purpose is to send us on to better things--being sons of God, heirs of the promise with Christ._
        
        1. Keeps us in custody until faith
        2. Is a guardian to us until Christ comes
        3. Releases us to be sons of God
            
            1. We cloth ourselves in Christ (we look like Christ)
            2. We are unified in Christ (we are all unified in Christ)
            3. We are made heirs of the promise to Abraham (we inherit with Christ)
    7. Argument 7: An illustration of maturing (4:1-11)
        
        1. The illustration: an heir as a child
            
            1. No different than a slave
            2. Under guardians and managers until a certain date set by the father
        2. How we fit the illustration
            
            1. As children, we were held under the elemental things of the world
            2. At the time chosen by our Father, Christ came to adopt us as sons through redemption from the Law
        3. Result of becoming sons
            
            1. We have the Spirit, causing us to cry, "Abba! Father!"
            2. We are now heirs through God
        4. Galatians' situation
            
            1. They were slaves to false gods
            2. They have been freed through being known by God
            3. They are now turning back to those elemental things
                
                1. Observe days, months, seasons, years
                2. Paul is afraid their progress was in vain
    8. Argument 8: Comparing their relationship with Paul and Judaizers (4:12-20)
        
        1. Paul's close relationship with the Galatians
            
            1. Call to imitate Paul
            2. Reminder of the conditions and attitudes during their initial meeting
        2. Change from closeness to enemy status
        3. Comparison of Paul and the Judaizers
            
            1. Judaizers played upon their sense of belonging and exclusivity
            2. Paul desired to be sought also, but commendably
        4. Desire for restored relationship
    9. Argument 9: An analogy of faith versus flesh (4:21-31)
        
        1. Introducing the story of Isaac and Ishmael
        2. Comparison of two women
            
            1. Hagar represents the Law and the flesh
            2. Sarah represents the promise
        3. Comparison of two children
            
            1. Isaac represents the children of promise
            2. Ishmael represents the children of the flesh
5. Restoring confidence in the **freedom** of the gospel (chapters 5:1-6:18)￼_Paul restores the confidence of the Galatians in the freedom of the Gospel by teaching them how to live in it._
    
    1. Lesson 1: Understand the stakes - it's either all freedom or all slavery (5:1-6)
        
        1. Admonition to stand firm (v1)￼_Paul admonishes the Galatians to choose freedom. This was Christ's purpose in setting us free. Therefore, we ought not to return to slavery._
            
            1. It is Christ's purpose in setting us free
            2. The other option is slavery
        2. Alternatives to avoid (vv2-4)
            
            1. Christ will be of no benefit
            2. Bound to the whole Law
            3. Severed from Christ
            4. Fallen from grace
        3. Attitude to Practice (vv5-6)
            
            1. Waiting
                
                1. By the Spirit
                2. Out of faith
                3. For the hope of righteousness
            2. Working
                
                1. Disregarding the flesh
                2. By faith
                3. Through love
    2. Lesson 2: Understand the situation - it's serious, but definitely recoverable (5:7-12)
        
        1. How you got here (vv7-9)
            
            1. Active hindrance
            2. Foreign persuasion
            3. Dangerous substance
        2. You're not beyond recovering (v10)￼_You don't have to be--adopt the same view you had, that I still have now. The ones in trouble are the false teachers. They will bear their judgment._
        3. You can trust me (v11)￼_I haven't changed since we first met. I'm still persecuted because I'm still placing the stumbling block in front of the Jews by preaching the cross of Christ._
        4. I'm not mad at your (v12)￼_No, Paul only wishes that the false teachers would go away._
    3. Lesson 3: Understand that freedom is a tool (5:13-15)
        
        1. Christ has called us to use it (v13a)￼_The word "calling" indicates a responsibility is attached to it._
        2. It can be abused (v13b)￼_We should not abuse our freedom, thinking it is a license to sin._
        3. It has a specific purpose (v13c)￼_We have been made free to serve each other._
        4. Using it fulfills the whole Law (v14)￼_The whole Law is fulfilled when we exercise our freedom to lovingly serve others._
        5. It can be neglected (v15)￼_Biting and devouring one another is the sure way to consume each other and waste our freedom._
    4. Lesson 4: Understand the reason to walk by the Spirit (5:16-26)￼_Walking by the Spirit is the means by which we properly use our tool of freedom._
        
        1. The promise of the Spirit (v16)
        2. The reason walking in the Spirit works (vv17-23)
            
            1. The Spirit fights the flesh (v17)
            2. The Spirit frees you from the Law (vv18-23)
        3. Summary statement (vv24-26)
            
            1. Crucify the flesh
            2. Walk by the Spirit
            3. Not become boastful, challenging, envying
    5. Lesson 5: Be humble (6:1-5)
        
        1. In dealing with sin (v1)
            
            1. With gentleness
            2. Mindful of our own weakness
        2. In sharing one another's burdens (v2)
        3. In our view of ourselves (v3)
        4. In examining works (vv4-5)
            
            1. Examine our own
            2. Not compare to others
            3. Because we are judged individually
    6. Lesson 6: Do good (6:6-10)
        
        1. Do good to our teachers (v6)
        2. Do good to reap eternal life (vv7-8)
        3. Do good with perseverance (v9)
        4. Do good with a sense of urgency and priority (v10)
    7. Lesson 7: Be honest (6:11-18)
        
        1. Pay attention! (v11)
        2. Who you should not trust (vv12-13)
            
            1. Not honest about their teaching￼_Preaching circumcision and the Law for righteousness, they know it has not produced righteousness in themselves._
            2. Not honest about their motives￼_Their desire is primarily to escape persecution._
            3. Not honest about themselves￼_Whether they know it or not, they cannot succeed with their own teaching._
        3. Who you should trust (vv14-15)
            
            1. Honest about the source of righteousness￼_It is in Christ alone._
            2. Honest about their need for righteousness￼_There is no righteousness in themselves._
            3. Honest about how this separates them from the world￼_The world has been crucified to them and they to the world._
        4. How you can tell the difference (vv16-18)
            
            1. Adjust our view through the new creation
                
                1. View others this way
                2. View ourselves this way
            2. Trust those living out the truth, not just speaking the "truth"
            3. Trust those who truly show care for others