Sermon Central
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Galatians
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Apr 27, 2009 (message contributor)
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1. Authentic Authority
Contributed on Apr 27, 2009
Controversy tore the early church. Judaizers taught that Gentile Christians had to submit to Jewish ritual laws & traditions in addition to believing in Christ. Paul confronted this issue.
GALATIONS 1: 1-5 AUTHENTIC AUTHORITY A family, carefully executing their escape plan, dashes for the border at midnight...a man standing outside prison walls, gulping fresh air, awash in the new sun...a young woman with every trace of the ravaging drug gone from her system...they are FREE! ...read more
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2. One True Gospel
Contributed on Apr 30, 2009
There is only one saving gospel, the gospel of grace by faith in Jesus Christ alone. This is the only gospel that is of divine origin. It is a gospel of the grace of Christ offered as a free gift. Man can not gain God’s salvation
GALATIONS 1:6-10 Gospel Perversion/ ONE TRUE GOSPEL There is only one saving gospel, the gospel of grace by faith in Jesus Christ alone. This is the only gospel that is of divine origin. It is a gospel of the grace of Christ offered as a free gift. There is nothing any man could ever do to ...read more
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3. The Long Reach Of God's Grace
Contributed on May 7, 2009
The Gospel Paul preached was not of human conception but it came to him directly from God. Now that’s an astounding claim to make, a claim which demanded some kind of proof. Paul provides this proof by pointing to himself.
GALATIANS 1:11-17 THE LONG REACH OF GOD’S GRACE Paul’s theme is that the Gospel he preached to man was not of human conception, nor was it a second-hand tale; no it came to him directly from God. Now that’s an astounding claim to make, a claim which demanded some kind of proof. Paul ...read more
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4. An Approved Ministry
Contributed on May 14, 2009
Paul continues reporting events that occurred after his Damascus rd encounter with the Living Lord. He tells of his conversion & the yrs following to show that his message came from God alone.
GALATIONS 1:17-24 AN APPROVED MINISTRY Acts 9:26-30 Paul continues reporting events that occurred after his life altering Damascus road encounter with the Living Lord. He tells of his conversion and the years following to show that his message came from God alone. His gospel and his ...read more
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5. The Jerusalem Council
Contributed on May 21, 2009
There are always those who would change the gospel. This is to be expected since the gospel is a judgment against the world system which refuses to recognize God, His condemnation of sin & His redemptive purpose for all men.
GALATIANS 2: 1-10 THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL [Acts 15:1-30] There are always those in the world who would change the gospel. This is to be expected since the gospel is a judgment against the world system which refuses to recognize God, His condemnation of sin, and His redemptive purpose for ...read more
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6. The Ministry Of Confrontation
Contributed on May 28, 2009
The Jerusalem Council had convened & doctrinal clarity had been established, but that did not mean the issue of how a person is saved was over. Is salvation only through Christ or by Christ & the law? Knowing the right answer & acting on or practicing
GALATIANS 2:11-16 THE MINISTRY OF CONFRONTATION [Acts 10] The Jerusalem Council had convened and doctrinal clarity had been established, but that did not mean the issue of how a person is saved was over. Is salvation only through Christ or by Christ and the law? Knowing the right answer ...read more
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7. The Power To Live A Righteous Life
Contributed on Jun 15, 2009
What are the lifestyle implications of the gospel of justification by faith in Jesus? Is salvation through grace by faith in JC alone a promoter of sin? Is setting people free from adherence to the law going to cause people to sin more?
GALATIANS 2: 17-21 THE POWER TO LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE [Romans 8: 1- 4] What are the lifestyle implications of the gospel of justification by faith in Jesus¡¯ life, death, and resurrection? Is salvation through grace by faith in Jesus Christ alone a promoter of sin? Is setting people ...read more
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8. How Were You Saved?
Contributed on Jun 22, 2009
Paul has been defining & defending the true nature of the Gospel as a gospel of grace through faith. Now he turns to the problem that legalism had caused in churches of Galatia. Some believers had turned from spiritual freedom to legalistic slavery.
GALATIONS 3: 1-5 HOW WERE YOU SAVED? [Romans 8: 12-16] Paul has been defining and defending the true nature of the Gospel as a gospel of grace through faith. Now he turns to the problem that legalism had caused in churches of Galatia. Some believers had turned from spiritual freedom to ...read more
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9. An Old Testament Arguement For Faith
Contributed on Jun 26, 2009
Paul turns to the objective evidence of the Word of God. We never judge the Scriptures by our experience but test our experience by the Word of God. This section quotes 6 OT Scriptures. Salvation is by faith in Christ, not by works of law.
GALATIANS 3:6-14 AN OLD TESTAMENT ARGUMENT FOR FAITH Having dealt with the Galations’ subjective experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, Paul now turns to the objective evidence of the Word of God. We never judge the Scriptures by our experience; we test our experience by the Word of God. ...read more
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10. The Superiority Of The Promise
Contributed on Jul 2, 2009
This section shows the superiority of the way of grace over the way of law. God 1st establish a covenant relationship with Abraham. Since the Abrahamic covenant was ratified & in force, it was not superceded or set aside by the later law.
GALATIANS 3:15-22 THE SUPERIORITY OF THE PROMISE The aim of this section is to show the superiority of the way of grace over the way of law. It begins by showing that the way of grace is older than the way of law. God first establish a covenant relationship with Abraham. Since the ...read more
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11. Faith Leads To Maturity
Contributed on Jul 27, 2009
Relying on external law is the bondage of slavery. Jesus redeemed us from the law & made us heirs of God. The Christian does not need to wait to enjoy the riches of Christ. If he is a son then he is an heir.
GALATIANS 4:1-7 FAITH LEADS TO MATURITY [Romans 8:15-17] One of the tragedies of legalism is that it gives the appearance of maturity when, in reality, it leads the believer away from a spiritual dependance upon God. The Galatian Christians, like most believers, wanted to grow and go ...read more
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12. An Appeal Of Love
Contributed on Jul 30, 2009
There are many church, synagogue & mosque members today devoted to rituals & rule-keeping. They are living in religious bondage. They need to hear that spiritual freedom is possible only through the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
GALATIANS 4:8-20 AN APPEAL OF LOVE The conclusion reached in verse 7 is that those who have received the Spirit are now sons and heirs of God. Paul now tells the Galatians they are not acting like heirs of God! So he asks them if they prefer slavery or freedom, legalism or the Spirit? Did ...read more
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13. Bondage Verses Freedom
Contributed on Aug 12, 2009
The proposition that only those who by faith accept God’s promise are children of God is given its last defense with an appeal to Scripture interpretation. It appeals to Scripture to again prove that Christians are not under law.
GALATIANS 4:21-31 BONDAGE VERSES FREEDOM [Genesis 16:1- 4; 21:8-12] How you interpret the facts is important. A worldly young Southern Baptist went to the racetrack for the very first time. He saw a priest in the paddock give a horse a blessing. The boy took the horse’s number, placed ...read more
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14. Christian Freedom In The Holy Spirit
Contributed on Aug 27, 2009
The letter has changed emphasis from doctrine to practice. The first part of chapter 5 has promoted freedom from legalism. Since the restraints of the law are lifted I can now do what ever my inclinations, passions, & desires lead me to do. This is licen
GALATIANS 5: 13-15 CHRISTIAN FREEDOM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT [Romans 6:15-23] At the close of an important speech to congress on January 6, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt shared his vision of the kind of world he wanted to see after the war was over. He envisioned four basic freedoms ...read more
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15. Live By The Spirit
Contributed on Sep 3, 2009
Success or victory in living the Christian life is to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance & receive His empowering. This leads to an inner & outer transformation of life that a code of ethics cannot even touch. Paul’s understanding & deep conviction is to
GALATIANS 5:16-18 LIVE BY THE SPIRIT [Romans 7:14- 8:4] What principle should one follow to live the Christian life? If a group of average church members were asked that question what answers would they give? Some would likely emphasis Bible reading and prayer. Some would stress faithful ...read more
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16. Life In The Flesh
Contributed on Sep 13, 2009
Christian freedom means walking in the Spirit. Christian freedom is not liberty to indulge in one’s fallen nature or the flesh. To help us recognize when we are walking in the flesh a partial listing of some of the expressions of our fallen nature are giv
Galatians 5:19-21 FLESH CONTROLLED LIFE / LIFE IN THE FLESH (Mt. 15:19; Mark 7:21-23; Col. 3:5-9) Christian freedom means walking in the Spirit. Christian freedom is not liberty to indulge in one’s fallen nature, or flesh. In order for believers to recognize when they are walking in the ...read more
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17. Walk In The Spirit
Contributed on Oct 12, 2009
If we would develop the Fruit of the Spirit we must walk in the Spirit. This message helps one learn how to walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:24-25 WALK IN THE SPIRIT [Mark 8:34-38] Not everyone who calls themselves Christian is producing Fruit of the Spirit.... Did you know that? It’s available to every Christian, but I hope you have learned by now that there’s nothing automatic about the Spirit’s ministry. ...read more
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18. Service To Fellow Christians
Contributed on Nov 5, 2009
The Spirit-led Christian thinks of others & how he can minister to others. The legalist is not interested in bearing burdens but in adding to them. The Spirit-led Christian demands more of himself than he does of others because he is determined to help ot
GALATIANS 5:26-6:5 SERVICE TO FELLOW CHRISTIANS There is no closer fellowship outside of the immediate family than church relationships. And just like a family, this closeness brings blessings but includes the possibility of strife, and maybe even more so because of the greater diversity of ...read more
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19. Sowing & Reaping
Contributed on Nov 12, 2009
The creation precept built into the very fabric of all creation, both physical & spiritual, is that a person reaps after the same manner & nature that they sow. Every thought, attitude or action has its own reproductive cycle. You reap what you sow.
GALATIANS 6: 6-8 SOWING AND REAPING The principle of reciprocity is certainly being taught here. Though the initial thought is that their ministers should have a material return for what they spiritually sow in the life of the believers the principle extends beyond that arena. The ...read more
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20. Marked By Freedom
Contributed on Dec 2, 2009
Motive is what is dealt with, & the church today needs to examine the motive for our ministries. We know what we are doing, but do we know why we are doing it? Many a good work is ruined before God because of a bad motive.
GALATIANS 6: 11-18 MARKED BY FREEDOM [2 Corinthians 11:18-33] The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to add these closing words to give one more contrast between the legalists & the Spirit-led Christians. The Spirit-led live for the glory of Christ, not the praise of man. Motive is what is ...read more