Cocoa

The Israel of God today are those, who as Abraham did, "believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness." They are those, both Jew and Gentile, who accept that their own righteousness "is as filthy rags" and believe that their salvation is by grace, through faith, in Jesus Christ. Those who are excluded from this group are those who walk according to the flesh; to the standards of their own righteousness. We are grafted into Abraham's lineage and become children of God and co-heirs with Christ not from our own source, but from the Jewish lineage. Praise God!

Q4. (Galatians 6:15) What characterizes this "new creation" that Paul talks about? The Spirit filled life, this “new creation”, is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit. We are representatives of our gracious, forgiving, loving Father; we are co-heirs with Christ. What does the "old creation" look like in contrast? As with the Galations, it looks like people-pleasing, law following rather than Christ following, and self-righteous attempts at salvation which produces arrogance and judgement on others who don’t make the grade. What does the old creation lack that the new creation possesses? The Spirit of God. How does Jesus' saying, "You must be born again" (John 3:3-8) relate to this concept of the new creation? We are born of the Spirit as new creations; we walk according to the Spirit of God. We accept this rebirth into God's Spiritual kingdom, and us as co-heirs of Christ, when we nail our flesh to the cross of Jesus and by faith, accept who we are IN CHRIST, not of our own doing, but by faith in the Son of God.

Q3. (Galatians 6:9-10) Why do we tend to become weary living out our faith? Because we are not walking in the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit we will live Psalm 23. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside he still waters, He restores my soul.” Jesus took time communing with God and His disciples to strengthen Him. Jesus knew His humanity and knew the weaknesses of His flesh needed to be strengthened with the Holy Spirit and with friends who loved and worshiped God, His Father. What promise does Paul give us in 6:9 to forestall this weariness? “In DUE season we SHALL reap”. When the Father rewards us, it will be according to His timing, not our own impatience. God is faithful, He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him – Hebrews 11:6. Why should our "doing good" begin with our spiritual family, not with the non-Christians? “So that all men shall know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. John 13:35. Jesus communed with his inner circle of disciples as well as the Father, giving Him strength to face the cross that was set before Him.

. (Galatians 6:7-8) What does it mean to "sow to the flesh"? To indulge in fleshly desires and passions which produce sin. In many circumstances, sowing to the flesh may actually appear righteous, but our aim is to please ourselves, not God. What does this look like? Contentions amongst believers, “biting and devouring one another”, and as Galations 5: 19 -21 states “19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like What synonyms does Paul use for "sow to the Spirit" in Galatians? (Hint: see 5:16, 18, 25). Walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, living in the Spirit. What does sowing to the Spirit look like in a congregation? Peace is evident. The fruits of the Spirit are evident. What are the results in a congregation of sowing to the flesh? Sin in the younger generation, pride in the “established” members of the Church, an unwillingness to share the gospel, and an accumulation of wealth for self; in short, the fruits ot selfishness which lead into evident sin such as are listed in Galations 5: 19-21.

. (Galatians 6:1-5) What does Paul mean, "caught in a sin"? That the sin trips the believer up by surprise, and is overtaken by the sin. What would restoration of a such brother or sister look like in his or her life? Acknowledgement of the sin – confession, repentance, restitution to the ones to whom the sin harmed and reunification with the body of Christ –as sin alienates the believer from those who are filled with the Spirit. Who should restore this person? Someone who is filled with the loving kindness of Jesus, who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit. In what spirit should it be done? “In a spirit of gentleness.” What is the result of trying to restore a person without humility? Further alienation from God’s people for the fallen brother. Also the risk of falling into the sin of pride and therefore alienation, for the “restorer”, from Jesus, the God of all grace.

Q4. (Galatians 5:24-25) What does it mean to "crucify the flesh with its passions and desires"? It means to not gratify, not satisfy, and not attend to that which is opposed to the leading of God’s Spirit in your life. This means that we need to be in communion with His Spirit at all times, walking in the Spirit so that we will recognize when we are stepping over into the flesh. Can a person be a Christian without "crucifying the flesh"? Maybe a Christian in name, but hardly a disciple of Christ. How have we produced such a crop of lukewarm Christians? By not discipling new Christians so they grow up in the truth of God’s Word. Our daily lives are so busy that time for God is often delegated to Sunday. Home groups, or house Churches, with small groups encouraging accountability and discipleship would be of benefit so that young Christians can know the Word and know Him!

Q3. (Galatians 5:22-23) How does the Holy Spirit produce this fruit in our lives? Temperance is produced by being open to the Holy Spirit at all times and relying on His grace when we most feel like living like the world. The Holy Spirit produces this fruit by teaching us. Teaching is a process of learning, making mistakes, and giving it another go. As Titus 2:11 -12 states, “ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” As Romans 12: 2 instructs us, we need to constantly renew our mind and rely on the grace of God who fills us with love, power and a sound mind. What theological term would you use to identify this process? Sanctification. We are sanctified by the truth and God’s Word is truth. Therefore, sanctification is a result of knowing the scriptures and of knowing Jesus, the resurrected Word! How can it be that a person who has been a "Christian" for years displays few or none of these fruits? As for myself for so many years, I did not prioritize a relationship with Jesus above all else. Are they saved, but just immature? Perhaps. God’s grace is sufficient for us to be sanctified but God will not push Himself against our will so it stands to reason that some people prefer to follow their own will rather than pursue the will of the Father. What does James 2:17-19 say about this? Is that too harsh? This scripture indicates that faith is a “doing” result of our relationship with Jesus. Our “doing” is our thermometer of our closeness with Him. We will act and do as He directs, not as our own will thinks is best.

Forbearance is an important characteristic because when to live in forbearance, we demonstrate that we are walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Impatience is of the flesh. Forbearance is of the Spirit. Galations 5: 16 "I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lu st of the flesh." Forbearance is so important in the Christian community so that peace will reign. Galations 5: 15 states, "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another"

Joy and peace are inseparable from love. If we know God, we know love and Christ's love . As Ephesians 3:19 states, "to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." The fullness of God is joy and peace. Inseparable attributes of a loving God. Christ died for the ungodly. He endured the cross for the "joy set before Him". As we love our neighbour, we may suffer persecution but joy, and peace, will sustain us as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

I have been this person who has lived in dishonour of God's Word. My excuse was, "God understands, my situation is unique." Praise God for 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." If these people could reword the scripture they may say, "As long as you believe it is okay for you and is not obviously detrimental to yourself or others, go ahead, live life as you please. And by the way, God is forgiving and He understands."

Galations 5: 16 - 18 teach us that if we walk unhindered in our relationship with Jesus, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh and so, not sin. As we get to know Him intimately, day by day, step by step, we will find the lusts of the flesh distasteful. Paul is telling us to know if we are led by the flesh or the Spirit in our daily walk. \Yes, Christian's sin when they put the flesh first. In the case of the Galations they sinned because they chose their own path to salvation by adopting the law and so rejected the truth. As they accepted other's - the Jews -evaluations of themselves rather than God's they fell into sin. We sin by trying to do it ourselves and by going the way of man rather than the way of the Father. God is gracious and he shows us where we have fallen short. Yielding to the Spirit CRUCIFIES the old nature and crucifixion is painful. Galations 2:20 states "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ 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." People claim it is impossible not to sin because our human selfishness has not been crucified. As I was pondering this question, I had a thought ; would I die for a particular person who classes me as disdainful? I shuddered at the thought of this person and then realized that if my flesh had been truly crucified, and Christ was living in me, all consuming, I would do whatever Christ asked of me for this person. I have sin that God is working on in my life. Praise God, Jesus has already died for the sinner!

Q1. (Galatians 5:13-15) Have you ever seen Christians act as if they were lawless? Sadly I have lived the lawless life. I was not in sweet communion with Jesus. How do Spirit-led Christians fulfill the spirit of the law? Jeremiah 31:33 states “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” We fulfil the spirit of the law by knowing the Word: Jesus and His written Word. What does backbiting and rudeness in a congregation say about the spiritual climate of that congregation (5:15)? Backbiting and rudeness show that the truth of the Word of God is not being preached. Most likely, it is a tickled-ears church.

Q5. (Galatians 5:11) What is "the offense of the cross" that offended the Jews? The Jews had to acknowledge that following Jewish tradition – inclusive of circumcision, was not the way to the Father, and that their works were as “filthy rags”. In essence, that they have it wrong. Acknowledging Jesus as the way to the Father meant relinquishing their “right” as the only children of God. The offense of the cross is that 1) they had to admit that they were sinners both by not being able to be justified by the law and by killing Jesus, 2) that Jesus has risen again and sits at the right hand of the Father, and 3)that they lost the hold of exclusivity of being God’s chosen. How does the cross offend people in our day? Offense occurs when people have to face the truth that they are sinners as everyone can justify their sinful actions and that Jesus DID rise again, and DOES sit at the right hand of the Father to judge the living and the dead. It is not popular to be liberally minded and not judge other people and their lifestyle, therefore it is an offense to know Jesus as a judge. Unfortunately, the offended do not see Jesus as their saviour. Have you noticed Christians softening their proclamation of the cross? Sadly, yes. I heard a hospital Chaplain undermining that Jesus was the only way to salvation, and that any of the chaplains under his leadership caught proselytizing would be dealt with severely. Does this help them communicate more clearly to our age or does it compromise the true message? No, it just means that our age cannot be at peace knowing that Jesus has forgiven them of their sins.

Q4. (Galatians 5:5-6) Circumcision had been the primary "mark of identity" for a believer in God. In what way has the Spirit become the new "mark of identity" for the believer? The believer’s mark of identity is our faith in Jesus Christ, expressing our Sonship, just as Jesus would. Our “mark” is that we hear from the Father constantly as we abide in fellowship with Him. "In Him we live and breathe and have our being " Acts 17:28. What is the evidence of the Spirit's presence in a believer's life according to verse 6? Expressing our faith in Jesus through love.

Q3. (Galatians 5:4) Exactly what does Paul mean by "fall from grace" here? What has occurred that has caused this fall? How can present-day Christian legalism cause such a "fall from grace"? We know Jesus by His grace. When we aim for righteousness through tradition, law-keeping, and man made rituals we estrange ourselves from Him. We fall from grace by "doing it ourselves', by having a fear of man greater than a fear of God, by people pleasing (such as circumcision) in order to not be estranged from man. In so doing, we estrange ourselves from Jesus.