God's Path To New Life Series

“The Cross, God’s path to new life”

Review Outline for Paul’s letter to the Galatians

I. Paul Possessed the Correct Divine Credentials 1:6-2:21

A. Reacted to such a quick departure from the gospel of grace vs 6-7

B. Condemned anyone distorting the gospel of grace vs 8-9

C. Affirmed his personal commitment to the gospel of grace vs 10

D. Confirmed the divine origin of the gospel of Grace 1:11-2:21

1. Adamant assertion “Gospel received from Christ 11-12

2. Life Before Christ 13-14

3. Initial experience with Christ 15-17

4. Discipleship and Training

a. Three years in Arabia & Damascus 1:17

b. Trip to Jerusalem (15 days) 1:18-20

c. Fourteen years in Syria and Cilicia 1:21-24

d. Return to Jerusalem 2:1-10

e. Encounter with Peter 2:11-14

II. Paul Proclaimed the Correct Concept of the Gospel of Grace 2:15-4:31

A. The Gospel of Grace Introduced 2:15-21

1. Stated emphatically 15-16

nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16

2. Argued Strongly 17-20

3. Held strenuously 21

"I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." Galatians 2:21

B. The Gospel of Grace argued and illustrated 3:1-6

1. Faith argued by clarifying interrogation 3:1-6

2. Genuine faith illustrated by Abraham 3:7-29

a. God blessed Abraham on the basis of faith 3:7-9

b. The Law condemns all who don’t fully keep it 3:10-12

c. Christ was cursed so we could be blessed 3:13-14

d. The promised blessing is unconditional and eternal 3:15-18

e. God gave the law for a specific purpose 3:19-20

f. The law is good but limited 3:21-24

g. We, like Abraham, are blessed by faith in Christ 3:25-29

1). We are no longer under law now that faith has come

2). We are sons of God through faith in Christ

3). We bear the likeness of Christ through identification with Him.

4). We are united with Christ

5). We are heirs according to God’s promise

4. New life Illustrated through Sonship 4:1-20

a. Slavery verses sonship 4:1-11

b. Passionate personal appeal to truth 4:12-21

c. Children of the flesh verse children of the promise 4:22-31

C. The Gospel of Grace applied 5:1-12

1. We were freed to live in freedom 5:1

2. Trusting law keeping keeps you from Christ 5:2-4

3. The true Christian live by faith 5:5-6

4. God will judge the false teachers 5:7-12

III. Paul presented the Correct conduct of life in Christ 5:13-6:10

A. The Spirit walk serves not swallows one another 5:13-15

B. The Spirit walk lives by submission to the spirit not the flesh 16-26

C. The Spirit walk Restores the fallen 6:1

D. The spirit walk bears the weak 6:2-5

E. The Spirit walk sows to the spirit by sacrificial sharing 6:6-10

1. A principle to guide

2. A promise to grip

3. A practice to observe

a. Share all good with those who teach

b. Do good to ALL men

Sowing to the spirit can be as practical as faithfully giving to ministers and ministries

Sowing to the spirit can be as practical as faithfully doing good to all men. A life of sowing to the flesh can be as practical as spending the bulk of your God-given resources for personal gain and comfort. Those who walk by the energy of the spirit focus on giving there personal resources whether it be your time or money, or physical presence to benefit others.

Conclusion to the Letter to Galatian church

Paul finishes his letter to the Galatians with some final potent words about the problems they were encountering with the legalists. He formally addressed the problem earlier in his letter. Now he finishes with some final words which really identify the core of the whole issue. Do you struggle with guilt and continual attempts to find your acceptance with God through the keeping of certain rules and regulations? We know from this letter and many other places that by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified before God. We are justified by grace through faith apart from law keeping. Because of the nature of the fallen condition, everyone comes under the condemnation of the law. The law emphatically declares that the soul that sins dies. What does this all mean in practical terms? This means that everyone is under a sentence of death. Can I make up for lost time by keeping the law now?

No, there is only one way to get out from under the condemnation of the Law. Jesus Christ became a curse for us. We must identify with Him. Only His death and resurrection can rescue a condemned prisoner of sin living on death row. He came to take our place. All of the sin and guilt of every offense against a Holy God fell on Him.