1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2011 Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2011

2. Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide An Appeal Dear User…. This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, adjust font size, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #1 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. P LEASE U SE A S I S.

3. Carl P. Cosaert Principal Contributor

4. The Gospel in Galatians Contents 1 Paul: Apostle to the GentilesBackground 2 Paul’s Authority and Gospel1; 5:12 3 The Unity of the Gospel2:1-14 4 Justification by Faith Alone2:15-21 5 Old Testament Faith3:1-14 6 The Priority of the Promise3:15-20 7 The Road to Faith3:21-25 8 From Slaves to Heirs3:26-4:20 9 Paul’s Pastoral Appeal4:12-20 10 The Two Covenants4:21-31 11 Freedom in Christ5:1-15 12 Living by the Spirit5:16-25 13 The Gospel and the Church6:1-10 14 Boasting in the Cross6:11-18

5. The Gospel in Galatians Our Goal {167} T o reflect on our own understanding of the gospel. Allow God’s Spirit to spark a spiritual revival in our hearts as we rediscover what God has done for us in Christ.

6. The Gospel in Galatians Lesson 11, December 10 The Gospel in Galatians Lesson 11, December 10 Freedom in Christ

7. Key Text Galatians 5:13 ESV F or you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

8. Freedom in Christ Initial Words {289} forms of slavery P aul warn the Galatians of two dangers. The first is legalism. The second is licentiousness. Both legalism and licentiousness are opposed to freedom, because they equally keep their adherents in a form of slavery. Paul’s appeal is to stand firm in the true freedom that is their rightful possession in Christ.

9. Freedom in Christ Quick Look 1. The Christian Liberty (Galatians 5:1) 2. Liberty Not Legalism (Galatians 5:2-12) 3. Liberty Not Licentiousness (Galatians 5:13)

10. Freedom in Christ 1. The Christian Liberty Galatians 5:1 NKJV S tand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and not to be entangled with a yoke of bondage.”

11. 1. The Christian Liberty “Christ Has Set Us Free” {290} T he wording is similar to the formula used in the sacred freeing of slaves. Because slaves had no legal rights, it was supposed that a deity could purchase their freedom, and in return, the slave, though really free, would legally belong to the god. In actual practice it was the slave who paid the money.

12. In Paul’s metaphor, we did not provide the purchase price ourselves. The price was far too high for us. We were powerless to save ourselves, but Jesus stepped in and did for us what we could not do. He paid the penalty for our sins, thus freeing us from condemnation. 1. The Christian Liberty “Christ Has Set Us Free” {290}

13. 1. The Christian Liberty The Nature of Christian Freedom {292} in relationship to Jesus Christ It does not refer to political freedom, economic freedom, or the freedom to live any way we might please. It is a freedom that is grounded in our relationship to Jesus Christ. It is freedom from the bondage and condemnation of a law-driven Christianity. It includes freedom from sin, eternal death, and the devil.

14. Galatians 5:4, 6 NKJV Y ou have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” Freedom in Christ 2. Liberty Not Legalism

15. Four Dangers {294} 1. I t obligates the person to keep the entire law. If a person wants to live according to the law, he or she cannot just choose the precepts to follow. It is all or nothing. 2. They will be “cut off” from Christ. A decision to be justified by works involves at the same time a rejection of God’s way of justification in Christ.

16. 2. Liberty Not Legalism Four Dangers {294} 3. It hinders spiritual growth. His analogy is of a runner whose progress toward the finish line has been deliberately sabotaged. 4. Circumcision removes the offense of the Cross. Circumcision implies that you can save yourself; as such, it is flattering to human pride.

17. Freedom in Christ 3. Liberty Not Licentiousness Galatians 5:13 NKJV F or you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh; but through love serve one another.”

18. 3. Liberty Not Licentiousness Issue of Christian Behavior {296} T he problem is the human tendency for self-indulgence. Paul wants them to “through love serve one another.” This is something that can be done only through death to self, death to the flesh. Those who indulge their own flesh are not the ones who tend to serve others.

19. 3. Liberty Not Licentiousness Issue of Christian Behavior {296} The Greek language indicates that the love that motivates this type of service is not ordinary human love— that would be impossible; human love is far too conditional. The article (the) before the word love in Greek indicates he is referring to “the” divine love that we receive only through the Spirit.

20. 3. Liberty Not Licentiousness Issue of Christian Behavior {296} The real surprise lies in the fact that the word translated as “serve” is the Greek word for “to be enslaved.” Our freedom is not for self- autonomy but for mutual enslavement to one another based on God’s love.

21. Freedom in Christ Final Words {298} M any see the contrast between Paul’s negative comments about “doing the whole law” and his positive assertions about “fulfilling the whole law” as paradoxical. Paul uses each phrase to make an important distinction between two different ways of defining Christian behavior in relation to the law.

22. Freedom in Christ Final Words {298} When Paul refers positively to Christian observance of the law, he never describes it as “doing the law.” He reserves that phrase to refer solely to the misguided behavior of those who are living under the law and are trying to earn God’s approval by “doing” what the law commands.

23. Freedom in Christ Final Words {298} It is not an abandonment of the law, nor a reduction of the law only to love, but it is the way through which the believer can experience the true intent and meaning of the whole law! rooted in Jesus True Christian behavior “fulfills” the law. It goes far beyond just “doing.” This type of obedience is rooted in Jesus.