Galatians Bible Study

[Reformed]

Robhom inspired me to start the gospel of John study since he wanted to discuss the words of Jesus. Robhom never posted on the gospel of John Bible Study.

Pax has inspired me to start a Galatians Bible Study.

Reformed,

John 3 talks about baptismal regeneration as essential. You questioned that. I and others have supplied tons of scripture to demonstrate the regenerative nature of baptism. You should simply have agreed with the scriptural testimony, but you have not. When questioned about why you have not agreed with this important issue in our study of John’s gospel, you made a feeble and generalized attempt to do so by throwing up a few quotes and refering to Romans and Galatians as well as the rest of scripture.

Your quotes were refuted and you are now left with generalized comments on Romans and Galatians and the rest of scripture. None of these support your view.

You cannot escape the obvious truth of baptismal regeneration. Likewise, you cannot simply suggest that I start another bible study on Romans or Galatians. We are studying John’s gospel and baptismal regeneration is an important element within it. Since you have not refuted the multitude of scriptures given to you, and since the scriptures you did quote were shown not to refute baptismal regeneration, it would seem to me that all of the burden is on you to show us something. Failing that, you must at least no longer make claims in contradiction to baptismal regeneration.

It seems to me that a bible study isn’t of much use if you are unwilling to learn something from it when the truth is staring you squarely in the face.

I hope this didn’t sound harsh…I do not mean to be uncharitable. I realize that we all cherish our beliefs.

Okay, let’s walk through the book of Galatians together. Here is Chapter 1. Please share your comments.

 

[Reformed]

Galatians 1-2

Greeting
1:1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers [1] who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant [2] of Christ.

Paul Called by God
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. [3] 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, [4] and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to [5] me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; [6] 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles
2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Justified by Faith
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified [7] by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness [8] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

 

[nebula]

Thoughts: Paul has competition in Galatia. He’s trying to convince the denizens there of his merits as an apostle so that they’ll accept his authority to teach the authentic gospel. He makes sure to highlight the fact that the knowledge he got was straight from God-- he didn’t rip it off from the other apostles, therefore his message is pure. Paul is highlighting how astonishing his conversion was- from persecutor to apostle with God alone as his primary teacher and therefore he is a true authority and apostle that the Galatians ought to listen to.

 

[Reuben_J]

Galatians 1-2

No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant [2] of Christ.

Be wary of people who preach a gospel that contrary to the one in the Bible. A few comes to mind in this category - Mohammad, John Smith and the so-called reformers. Excuse me for being blunt but I cannot what else that these verses could mean.

 

[ncgolf]

I see the beginnings of the splitting of Jews and the newer “Christian” Jews. The merging of the Gentiles and Jews had to be difficult … the Apostles were born as Jews and probably loved being Jews but the spread of the Gospel was forcing some definite deliniations to be made. Paul highlights his faith in Christ above and beyond what he previously held as a law abiding Jew. The law cannot save him.

 

[Reformed]

Be wary of people who preach a gospel that contrary to the one in the Bible. A few comes to mind in this category - Mohammad, John Smith and the so-called reformers. Excuse me for being blunt but I cannot what else that these verses could mean.

That’s a good point. Both official Roman Catholic dogma in the Council of Trent and historic Protestant Confessions of Faith will reference Galatians chapter 1 and a different gospel to document their positions. If that’s true, then can we agree that the official Roman Catholic gospel is mutually exclusive from the gospel proclaimed by the Protestant Reformers? Can we agree that the Protestant Reformation was caused by an essential difference of the gospel that we currently proclaim and put our hope in? Can we also agree that the heart of the gospel defined by justification is the essential division of the Reformation and today as well?

 

[Reformed]

I see the beginnings of the splitting of Jews and the newer “Christian” Jews. The merging of the Gentiles and Jews had to be difficult … the Apostles were born as Jews and probably loved being Jews but the spread of the Gospel was forcing some definite deliniations to be made. Paul highlights his faith in Christ above and beyond what he previously held as a law abiding Jew. The law cannot save him.

Do you see what is the purpose of the law according to Paul in the book of Galatians?

 

[ncgolf]

Do you see what is the purpose of the law according to Paul in the book of Galatians?

I thought this was a discussion … so let’s discuss.

 

[Reformed]

I thought this was a discussion … so let’s discuss.

What is the purpose of the law according to Paul in the book of Galatians? I believe the answer is found in Galatians chapter 2 or 3.

The purpose of the law is to reveal our sin, showing our great need for a savior; therefore, the main purpose of the law for the elect of God is to drive us to Jesus Christ.

To the non-elect, the purpose of the law is different for those who continue to love the darkness and run from the light. But, let’s stick with the book of Galatians and what Paul reveals in it in regards to the law.

 

[nebula]

What is the purpose of the law according to Paul in the book of Galatians? I believe the answer is found in Galatians chapter 2 or 3.

The purpose of the law is to reveal our sin, showing our great need for a savior; therefore, the main purpose of the law for the elect of God is to drive us to Jesus Christ.

To the non-elect, the purpose of the law is different for those who continue to love the darkness and run from the light. But, let’s stick with the book of Galatians and what Paul reveals in it in regards to the law.

Here’s a question: what, exactly, IS the law Paul is talking about? I suggest that it’s obvious that he’s talking about Jewish cultic rules (if you don’t take this line, you’re in big trouble in the book of James).

 

[nebula]

The other thing that I see in those verses, which I hadn’t noticed before, is that the issue of authority is a paramount one to Paul and to the Galatians. That is interesting.

 

[Reformed]

Here’s a question: what, exactly, IS the law Paul is talking about? I suggest that it’s obvious that he’s talking about Jewish cultic rules (if you don’t take this line, you’re in big trouble in the book of James).

Do you disagree that the purpose of the law (we can define law later, but look at the contents first) in Galatians is to expose our sin and are great need of a savior? Do you agree that the law drives us to Jesus Christ?

Galatians 3

**The Law and the Promise **

Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.

Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

 

[nebula]

Do you disagree that the purpose of the law (we can define law later, but look at the contents first) in Galatians is to expose our sin and are great need of a savior? Do you agree that the law drives us to Jesus Christ?

Galatians 3

**The Law and the Promise **

Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.

Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

I agree that is the purpose, among other things (ie foreshadowing in Hebrews).

 

[Reformed]

I agree that is the purpose, among other things (ie foreshadowing in Hebrews).

That’s great! Do you see which law Paul is speaking about too in the passage?

 

[nebula]

That’s great! Do you see which law Paul is speaking about too in the passage?

Sure, it’s right there in the passage. Through a mediator who I am assuming must be Moses. Interesting how Paul says it was through angels whereas Exodus has Moses speaking to God Himself on Sinai. I wonder what the significance of that is?

 

[Reformed]

Sure, it’s right there in the passage. Through a mediator who I am assuming must be Moses. Interesting how Paul says it was through angels whereas Exodus has Moses speaking to God Himself on Sinai. I wonder what the significance of that is?

Do we agree that Jesus summarizes the 10 commandments or the moral law with:

The Great Commandment - Matthew

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Did Jesus Christ come to abolish the law or fullifll the righteous requirement of the law on our behalf. Did Jesus Christ also come to bore the punishment and curse on our behalf for being lawbreakers as our substitute? God always required perfect obedience to His moral law, and demanded justice for breaking His law. If we perfectly obeyed the law, we receive God’s abundant blessings. If we break the law, we receive God’s curse and His wrath for rebelling against His rightfully rule over His creation. Compare this concept to our laws. How much more greater punishment should we receive when we break the laws of God and rebel against Him as compared to laws of our own land? The wrath of God revealed from Heaven (rom 1) is the justice of God. Should we plead for what is fair and just, or should we plead for mercy and grace? I’m a great sinner; therefore I would not dare plead for what I deserve which is fairness.

 

[nebula]

Do we agree that Jesus summarizes the 10 commandments or the moral law with:

The Great Commandment - Matthew

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Did Jesus Christ come to abolish the law or fullifll the righteous requirement of the law on our behalf. Did Jesus Christ also come to bore the punishment and curse on our behalf for being lawbreakers as our substitute? God always required perfect obedience to His moral law, and demanded justice for breaking His law. If we perfectly obeyed the law, we receive God’s abundant blessings. If we break the law, we receive God’s curse and His wrath for rebelling against His rightfully rule over His creation. Compare this concept to our laws. How much more greater punishment should we receive when we break the laws of God and rebel against Him as compared to laws of our own land? The wrath of God revealed from Heaven (rom 1) is the justice of God. Should we plead for what is fair and just, or should we plead for mercy and grace? I’m a great sinner; therefore I would not dare plead for what I deserve which is fairness.

I imagine that any true Christian religion claims that grace through Christ is necessary to our salvation. Nothing new there.

 

[Reformed]

Galatians 1-2

No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant [2] of Christ.

Paul Called by God
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. [3] 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, [4] and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to [5] me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; [6] 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Paul Accepted by the Apostles
2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Paul Opposes Peter
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Justified by Faith
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified [7] by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness [8] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

I think the extremely significant point in chapter 1 and 2 are highlighted in red. Do you seem to agree with my understanding? Protestants tend to see that Catholics are trying to be justified by works of the law. It is how Protestants tend to understand the Catholics view of salvation, since Roman Catholic theology rejects the Protestants view of justification by faith alone through imputation. Please share why you think the highlighted red text does not apply to Roman Catholic theology?

 

[nebula]

Reformed,

That’s why I brought up the definition of the word Law up from the beginning, I could see the writing on the wall. If the law, as Galatians clearly explains, is that which was delivered to Moses and means those cultic acts taht Jews had to perform to keep God happy, then no Catholic needs to squirm. If you want to extend the meaning of law to mean ANY work whatsoever, then you are facing an uncomfortable contradiction in James. What will it be?

 

[Reformed]

Reformed,

That’s why I brought up the definition of the word Law up from the beginning, I could see the writing on the wall. If the law, as Galatians clearly explains, is that which was delivered to Moses and means those cultic acts taht Jews had to perform to keep God happy, then no Catholic needs to squirm. If you want to extend the meaning of law to mean ANY work whatsoever, then you are facing an uncomfortable contradiction in James. What will it be?

I think we agreed in post 16 in regards to law. I would say the principle would be all that the God commands us to do or not do is law. Remember, the purpose of the law in Galatians is to show our sinfulness; therfore revealing our need for a savior. The law in Galatians is to drive us to Jesus Christ. Sure, we can reconcile the 13 letters of the Apostle of Paul and one chapter from the Apostle James to understand how Ephesians 2:8-9 is completely compatible with James chapter 2. This is a matter of considering all that is written on the subject. You cannot just take James chapter 2 and eliminate 13 Epistles of Paul, which makeup about 50% of the New Testament books. I only bring up this last point because I feel that this is important. Mormon Christians and JW believers are trying to do the same thing that Catholics appear to do with using James chapter 2 to nullify all that the Apostle Paul writes in 13 letters. I don’t even think the book of James proclaims the gospel of God’s grace. Have you considered the last statement in Galatians chapter 2? Have you considered the Judaizers, legalism and the need to be circumcized when you read the book of Galatians? What is the Apostle Paul fighting against? What is the false gospel or why did Paul rebuke Peter to his face publicly in regards to the truth of the gospel of God’s grace?

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.