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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday November 24, 2019
THE LAW AND FAITH IN CHRIST
Galatians 3:1-14
In
Galatians 3:1, the word Paul uses for “foolish” in the original Greek is
“anoetos” (an-o-ay-tos), and it simply means “unintelligent”, or “unwise”. Here
it is used to describe how he saw the people of the Church at Galatia when he
first heard how they were falling away from the Gospel and being duped by
smooth-talking preachers with anti-CHRIST agendas. It is a word that challenged
the Galatians’ power of perception and discernment, as they were obviously
missing the true essence of the Good News about CHRIST JESUS.
Since Paul had last spoken with them, they
had taken on a direction that was contrary to what they had been taught
earlier, and, were actually violating their initial experience with GOD. After
beginning their Christian lives in the SPIRIT, they were now trying to become
perfect by their own human effort.
Did they now believe that they were saved
by their good works, and by keeping the law, instead of by faith? Who had duped
them, Paul was now wondering. Seemingly for the Galatians, they believed faith
was good enough to “save”, but not good enough to live their everyday lives by
(Vs. 1-5).
The false teachers that had infiltrated the
early Church had come to the people saying that Paul was not really an Apostle
because he was not a member of the original twelve. They also pointed to Paul’s
years of persecuting the Christian Church, up unto the death of Stephen in
Jerusalem (Acts 7:57-60). Plus, Paul also had no official appointment from the mother
Church at Jerusalem.
Paul’s answer to these claims was not in
the form of an argument, but rather, he simply issued a statement concerning
his Damascus Road experience that was witnessed to, by many who were with him
on his journey. Besides, no man can make another man into a minister for GOD
anyway, for only GOD can do that. The real test of a true man of GOD is not
that he has gone through certain rituals or ceremonies, or seminaries, or,
taken certain vows, but rather, it is that he has seen CHRIST for himself in
his heart, and has received his orders from GOD to do HIS bidding.
Abraham is the human example to whom the
Jews, and the Gentiles, look to, as a sort of prototype of one who had a
personal relationship with GOD that was based solely on faith. Faith has to
have a critical role in anyone’s relationship with GOD, be they Jew or Gentile.
The
scriptures had always pointed to a time when GOD would accept the Gentile
believer into HIS family, based on faith. GOD’s promise to Abraham stated that “ALL”
nations would be blessed through him. Therefore, everyone who puts their faith
in CHRIST JESUS, automatically shares the same blessings that Abraham received,
because of his faith (Vs. 6-9).
Paul preached the gospel of the free grace
of GOD. He believed with all of his heart, that, there was nothing that a man
could do to merit the love of GOD. We, as sinners, can only throw ourselves at
the foot of GOD in an act of faith, hoping that HE will show mercy on us when
we do. It is only through faith that a righteous person is saved, or, can have
an eternal life in Heaven with GOD.
In the biblical Greek the word Paul uses in
verse 13 for “redeemed” is “exagorazo” (ex-ag-or-ad-zo). It is one of only two
times in scripture that this particular word appears. The other is in Galatians
4:5, and, in both places it means “to purchase out of slavery”, or “to rescue
from loss, and thereby, improve the opportunity of”.
JESUS has rescued us from the curse of the
law. When HE hung on the cross, HE took the curse of the Law upon HIMSELF and
exhausted it. HE redeemed mankind when we couldn’t redeem ourselves. Through
JESUS’ vicarious sacrifice, GOD has blessed all those who believe with the same
blessing that HE promised to Abraham. And we can all receive the HOLY SPIRIT
through faith, which has nothing to do with how well we obey the Law (Vs
10-14). To be in CHRIST, is to be in the place of ultimate trust, and peace.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
larrydalexanderbiblestudies.blogspot.com
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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