1. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

2. RECAP OF OUR LAST STUDY
From our last study, entitled “The ark returned to Israel”, we learnt that to enjoy the blessings of God, there must be prompt obedience to His revealed will. There is danger in delay and hardness of heart can lead to sudden judgment. We must diligently follow God’s instructions. Things must be done decently and in order. The ark of God contains His law/word. God’s presence and power in His word will continue to prevail as it did among the Philistines.

3. TODAY’S STUDY: LESSON 708: SYMBOLS OF LAW AND GRACE
MEMORY VERSE: ……
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (1 Galatians 2:21).
TEXT: Galatians 4:12-31
INTRODUCTION:
False teachers entered into the Galatian Church and convinced them to go back to depending on their works for salvation rather than the simplicity of their saving faith in Christ. That was backsliding from the faith! Similarly, there is the temptation today to depend on our works (e.g. confirmation, holy water, anointing oil, pilgrimage to Israel, etc.) for salvation, which results in religious bondage. The objective of this study is to correct defection and recover erring believers to justification by faith.

4. SIGNS AND CAUSES OF DEFECTION IN THE GALATIAN CHURCH – Gal 4:12-18; 3:1-5
False teachers convinced the Galatians to leave the path of obedience to the gospel of grace for salvation by works. Paul rebuked them and exposed the character of false teachers. We must watch against defection!
QUESTION 1: What major lesson do we learn from the way and manner Paul rebuked the Galatian brethren? – 2 Cor. 2:4,17; Gal. 4:14,15
QUESTION 2: From the example of the Galatians, how would you identify the tendency towards defection in a believer? – Gal. 3:1; Rev. 2:4
QUESTION 3: What major factor was responsible for the defection of the Galatians from the faith? – Gal. 3:1, 4:9

5. SUPPLICATION FOR BACKSLIDERS IN THE GALATIAN CHURCH– Gal 4:19,20; Eph 6:18
Beyond the rebuke, Paul expressed his affection to the Galatians through earnest intercession. Ministers should intercede for erring members rather than criticising, hastily disciplining or giving up on them.
QUESTION 4: What was the motivating factor in Paul’s intercession for the Galatians? – Galatians 4:19; Ephesians 3:14-19

6. SYMBOLIC ILLUSTRATIONS AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LAW AND GRACE – Gal 4:21-31
Hagar and Sarah symbolised the old and new covenants – or trust in the flesh versus reliance on Christ’s grace. The new covenant gives freedom and brings man to God by the new birth. The old covenant brought bondage; it is abolished by the coming of the new.
QUESTION 5: Briefly explain what Hagar and Sarah were meant to typify – Galatians 4:24-26,30-31.
QUESTION 6: Identify those described today as being born after the flesh and those born after the Spirit

7. CONCLUSION
Faith in Christ is sufficient for our justification. We should beware of trusting in the flesh or our works. Ministers should show compassion on backsliding members by praying till Christ is formed in them. While the Mosaic law brought bondage, the new covenant gives freedom from bondage and brings man into God through the new birth.