GALATIANS AND EPHESIANS-- Sermon 7
Introduction: In the previous lesson we studied I and II Corinthians. In this lesson we will complete a survey of Galatians and Ephesians. Galatians is the book of Christian Liberty. Ephesians is the book of Fullness.
GALATIANS
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: The Apostle Paul
B. Date: A.D. 57
C. Key Verse: “I do not frustrate the grace of God; for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in
vain.” Galatians 2:21
D. Theme: Man is justified by faith alone.
E. Purpose: It is written to refute the judaizers and their doctrine that a man is saved by grace, but is kept by Law.
The whole book of Galatians is the Holy Spirit’s answer to refute this false doctrine. These Judaizers were
Jewish Christians who held that all people, in order to be saved, had to come up through Judaism into Christ.
The first step was circumcision. Galatians denounced circumcision as a prerequisite for salvation.
F. This Epistle was written, not just to one single Church, but to many local churches in Galatia. Paul established
these Churches around 45-50 A.D.
II. OUTLINE
A. Salutation of the Letter - Galatians 1:1-5
B. Shock over Legalism - Galatians 1:6-2:21
1. The Perversion of the Gospel - vs. 6-9
a. Only a few years have elapsed from the preaching of Paul to the Galatians’ apostasy. Usually apostasy sets
in by slow degrees, but in this case there was a complete change over grace to law in a short space of time.
Paul was amazed that they were so soon removed from the Holy Spirit who had called them into the gospel
of Christ. These Judaizers had come in, teaching that grace was not sufficient and that the Law had to be
obeyed to insure salvation. This was an entirely different gospel from the one Paul preached, yet is was not
gospel at all. There is only one Gospel: the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the sinner’s
substitution.
b. Paul speaking by inspiration fo the Holy Ghost, declared that he, or an angel, should preach any other gospel, he would receive God’s curse.
2. The Provision of the Gospel - vs. 10-12
a. This great Gospel that Paul preached was not his, but Christ’s.
b. Jesus Himself revealed it to Paul after his conversion.
c. This Gospel which he preached was not preached to please man; in fact, it will never please man
1. Man is a natural enemy of the grace and Gospel of God.
2. Man wants his works in his salvation; God want only faith.
d. It is good to know that if we please God in preaching His grace, we will not please man.
e. It is good to remember that if we please man, we will not please God.
3. The Power of the Gospel - 1:13-2:21
a. Paul’s Past Coversation - vs. 13-14
1. Paul uses himself as an exhibit of God’s grace and power to saved by the Gospel.
2. In his earlier life he was a true Jew, Pharisee and zealot. The challenge that he undertook was to destroy
the new sect who followed a lowly Nazarene by the name of Jesus. Paul was a wicked sinner. He calls
himself the cheif of sinners. He persecuted the Church and brought much pain and suffering to the early Church.
3. We know that the Church is indestructible; nevertheless, the reading of the Word shows us that Christ
Himself had to come from heaven to put an end to this persecution by Paul.
b. Paul’s Powerful Conversion - Gal. 1:15 & Acts 9:1-9
c. Paul Present Condition - 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
C. Spirit versus Law - Galatians 3-5 - These three chapters declare Paul’s discourse upon the doctrine of
justification by faith, and not by the deeds of the Law. In this portion of Scripture, the Spirit of God is mentioned
more times than in any of the rest of this epistle. Grace is pictured as of the Spirit, while works are declared to be
of the Law
1. Law Versus Grace
LAW GRACE
a. Revealed what God demanded of every man a. Reveals what God has done for every man
b. Demanded perfect obedience or death b. Gives life that we may obey
c. Commanded us to love God c. Tells us that God loves us
d. Commanded us to love our neighbor d. Fills us with God’s love for our neighbor
e. Revealed Sin e. Reveals a Saviour
f. Worked Wrath f. Shows Mercy
g. Curse announced g. Blessings announced
h. Brought Bondage h. Sets men Free
i. Exhorted unwilling service of a bondslave i. Wins willing service of a free man
j. Says do and live j. Says live and do
k. Shut man out of God’s presence k. Open the way to come boldly
l. Made progress impossible l. Makes growth in grace possible
m. Made nothing perfect m. Makes perfect
n. Could only condemn n. Justifies freely
o. Had a shadow of good things to come o. Reveals the very image of Good things
p. Is the strength of sin p. It is the Power of God
q. Demanded holiness q. Produced holiness
r. Called forth all energy of the Flesh r. Puts to death all energy of the Flesh
s. Punished every transgression and disobedience s. Pardons every transgression and disobedience
D. Service of Love - Galatians 6 - God wants to see the fruit of the Spirit borne by the Christian.
1. Restoring the Brethren - vs. 1
a. It is the nature of God to saved and to restore.
b. The Christian should be like his Father. In the Christian life one may see many brothers who fall into sin, and it is the spiritual brother’s duty to help restore those.
2. Relieving the Burdens - vs. 2-6
a. Relieving the Burdens of Others - vs. 2
1. The Law of Christ is love
2. The Christian is to exercise this law in the case where a brother is under some great load he is not able to bear; “Bear ye one another’s burdens....”
b. Relieving the Burdens of Ourselves - vs. 3-6
1. There seems to be a contradiction here; we are told to bear one another’s burdens, and now we are told that each christian must bear his own burdens.
2. “Burdens” in the east usually refer to the heavy burdens carried by an individual to market.
a. Help is needed to have it placed on the back and secure a rope around the head and bundle.
b. Help is also needed to help take the “burden” off his back when a rest is needed or when he arrives at his destination.
c. A wayfarer is called to assist, “To bear one another’s burdens.”
d. To put both verse together we find the need to assist one with a heavy burden, but to carry our own light burdens.
c. The burden of the individual could mean our own responsibilities. Every Christian now has an obligation, a responsibility to perform Christ’s ministry.
3. Reaping the Harvest - vs. 7-9
a. Many times we apply this scripture to the sinner, but this was written to Christians.
b. In this life the Christian is going to reap what he sows; should he sow to the flesh, he will in this life reap corruption. If he sows in this life to the Spirit, he shall in this life reap life everlasting; he will reap the
things that will endure for all time and eternity.
c. God encourages us to continue to sow in the spirit, for we shall reap in due season if we faint not.
4. Regulating the Duty - vs. 10
a. The Christian is encouraged to do good unto all men.
b. It is good to help all men but the Christian is to never forget his brother in Christ. The Church comes first!
5. Resisiting Evil - vs. 11-13
a. In these words Paul declares that he wrote the whole epistle without the aid of a secretary.
b. He continues to refute the Judaizers who brought in their false doctrines of legalism.
6. Rejoicing the More - vs. 14-16
a. In the previous verse Paul declared that these false teachers wanted to glory in the circumcision of the believers, but his glory was only in the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.
b. That Cross separated him from the world and legalism.
c. A lot of preachers will shout the house down when someone is preaching about sin, separation, and service but will set like wooden indians when a man preaches on the Cross.
7. Resting the Case - vs. 17-18
a. Paul cares not to be bothered any more by those who turned their backs upon the pure Gospel of Salvation by grace through faith.
b. Notice in his salutation at the beginning, he did not thank God for these people
c. In all other epistles he expressed gratitude for the other Christians, but in Galatians he showed disappointment over their condition.
d. He wondered about their salvation, whether they had really been born again or not
e. He delivered his soul, however, by writing them the true doctrine of salvation by grace. Their future was entirely in their hands.
EPHESIANS
I. SURVEY
A. Writer: The Apostle Paul
B. Date: 62 A.D.
C. Key Verse: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3
D. Purpose: Ephesians and Colossians are complementary epistles. They both speak of the Body of Christ and its
Head, the Lord Jesus. Colossians emphasizes the Head, while Ephesians emphasizes the body, composed of all
believers in Christ from Pentecost to the Rapture.
E. Interesting Passages in Ephesians
1. Chosen in Him - Ephesians 1:4
a. A lot of people have a problem with the doctrine of election. But the bible plainly teaches this doctrine.
1. Many are called but few chosen: Matt. 20:16
2. Chosen out of this World: John 15:19
3. Chosen to Salvation: II Thess. 2:13
4. Chosen as God’s precious ones: I Peter 2:4
5. Chosen to live holy and without blame: Ephesians 1:4
6. A Chosen, prepared vessel: Acts 9:15; II Tim. 2:21
7. Chosen to know his will: Acts 22:14
8. Chosen generation to show forth praise: I Peter 2:9
9. Chosen to be rich in faith: James 2:5a
10. Chosen to work for God: Ephesians 2:10
11. Chosen to confound the noble: I Cor. 1:26-29
12. Chosen to witness: Acts 1:8
13. Chosen to bear fruit: John 15:16
14. Chosen to be living epistles: II Cor. 3:2-3
15. Chosen to be a Soldier: II Tim. 2:3
16. Chosen to be like Christ: Romans 8:29; I John 3:2
17. Chosen to be heirs of the Kingdom: James 2:5b
b. D.L. Moody said “Do not stumble at the doctrine of election. Preach the Gospel to all, and if you convert anyone who was not ‘chosen,’ God will forgive you!!!”
2. Pastors are a Gift from God - Ephesian 4:11
a. I suspect more Church problems have been about the Preacher than any other thing or person in the Church. People do not appreciate their Pastor like they ought.
b. When a Church is seeking a Pastor they often want one who has--
The strength of an eagle, The grace of a swan,
The gentleness of a dove, The friendliness of a cat-bird,
The cheerfulness of a robin, The assurance of a barnyard fowl,
The industry of a sparrow, The patience of a turkey buzzard,
The night hours of an owl, And when they finally catch the bird,
They expect him to live on the food of a canary!!!
c. The Preacher is never good enough
If he is young, he lacks experience; if his hair is gray, he’s too old.
If he has five or six children, he has too many; if he has none, he is setting a bad example.
If his wife sings in the choir, she is being forward; if she doesn’t, she isn’t interested in the Church.
If he speaks from notes, he has canned sermons and is dry; if he is extemporaneous, he is not deep.
If he spends much time in the study, he’s neglecting his people; if he visits, he is a gadabout.
If he is attentive to the poor, he is playing to the grandstand; if to the wealthy, he is trying to be an aristocrat
If he suggest improvements for the Church, he is a dictator; if he makes no suggestions, he is a figurehead
If he uses many illustrations, he neglects his Bible; If not enough, he is not clear
If he condemns wrong, he is cranky; if he does not, he is a compromiser
If he preaches an hour, he is windy; if less, he’s lazy
If he preacher the Truth, he is offensive; if not, he is a hypocrite
If he fails to please everybody, he is hurting the Chruch; if he does please everybody, he has no convictions
If he preaches tithing, he is a money-grabber; if he does not, he is failing to develop his people
If he receives a large salary, he is a mercenary; if a small salary, it proves he’s not worth much
If he preaches all the time, the people get tired of hearing one man; if he invites in guest preachers, he is
Shirking responsibilty.
If he tries to enhance the church, he’s blowing our savings; if he never spends money, he has no vision.
d. How to discourage a Pastor?
1. Don’t attend the Sunday or Wednesday Night Services
2. Go to Church when it’s convenient
3. Come in late all the time
4. Don’t give him your attention, and whisper to others alot while he preaches.
5. Act Cold to show your dignity
6. Never tell him you appreciate his efforts
7. Tell him what wonderful messages the last Pastor preached.
8. Accuse his wife of running things.
9. Don’t pray for him
10. Never offer to help him
11. Always do the opposite of what he suggests
12. Get your “Gang” together to oppose him in business meetings
13. Never invite visitors to come hear him preach
e. How to get rid of your Pastor?
1. Say Amen, Glory and Hallelujah while he preaches and he’ll preach himself to death in just a few weeks.
2. Pat him on the back and brag on his good work. He’ll work himself to death.
3. Start paying him aliving wage. Maybe he’s one of those preachers who has gone without for so long that he may eat himself to death if ever given the chance.
4. Ask him if ther’s anything to do around the Church. He’ll fall over dead with a Heart Attack!!!
5. Get the Church to Unite in Prayer for the Preacher. He’ll soon become so effective that some big church will take him off your hands.
II. OUTLINE - Most Bible students divide this great book into three divisions. Some have labeled these the Wealth, Walk and Warfare of the Christian. Others have labeled them the Doctrine, Deed and Deliverance of the Christian. As I stated earlier, the emphasis of Ephesians in upon the Body of Christ, so we will present it as a body.
A. ORGANISM of the Body - Ephesian 1-3 - This speaks of the Churches FORMATION.
B. OPERATION of the Body - Ephesian 4:1-6:9 - This speaks of the Churches FUNCTION.
C. ORDER of the Body - Ephesians 6:10-24 - This speaks of the Churches FIGHT.
