B EHOLD THE L AMB OF G OD Dr Eric Reese

GALATIANS This letter stirred the fires of the Protestant Reformation. 1. Martin Luther said, "the little book of Galatians is my letter; I have betrothed myself to it; it is my wife.“ 2. John Wesley said he found lasting peace from a sermon on Galatians

D ATE OF G ALATIANS Two Major Theories The North Galatian theory. This older view holds that the letter was addressed to churches located in north-central Asia Minor. A.D. 53 and 57 from Ephesus or Macedonia. The South Galatian theory. According to this view, Galatians was written to churches in the southern area of the Roman province of Galatia (Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe in AD48-49

P URPOSE 1. Judaizers were Jewish Christians who believed, among other things, that a number of the ceremonial practices of the OT were still binding on the NT church. 2. Following Paul's successful campaign in Galatia, they insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity abide by certain OT rites, especially circumcision.

T HIS BOOK IS THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL

GALATIANS 3: But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” [g]g 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised [h] Holy Spirit through faithh

D EUTERONOMY 21: The body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung is cursed in the sight of God.

G ALATIANS 3: God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. [j] And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say “to his children, [k] ” as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says “to his child”—and that, of course, means Christ. jk 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise..

G ALATIANS 3: For if the inheritance could be received by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God’s promise. But God graciously gave it to Abraham as a promise 19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised.

L EVITICUS 18:5 5 If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the L ORD. *Here’s the problem we all have broken the law Old Testament is inspired word of God in: Revelation/ works in Sanctification/But it can not work in Justification

Q UESTIONS 1.Have you Accepted Christ in your life? 2. Why not this morning take his hand and let him become your Savior of your life?