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Q4. (Galatians 3:19-25) What was the purpose of the law? To lead us to Christ that we might be justfied by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. Was it intended to justify a person? No, it was intended to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. In what ways did it restrain sin? In order to instruct and even restrain, the law, acting as a pedagogue, must first identify the nature of wrongdoing. This is a role that is educational. It does restrain, it does punish, but it must educate first. One is not able to refrain from evil, unless the evil is initially identified. Like the pedagogue, the role of the law is only temporary. It was instituted to identify wrongdoing, and restrain that behavior until the time of maturity. In what ways did it expose sin? The law was needed to because of the transgressions. The purpose was to make the trangressions known and possibly even to increase them. So the law was added to label, identify, and condemn sin as something contrary to God.

Q3. (Galatians 3:10-14) What is Paul’s argument for salvation by faith based on the concept of the “curse of the law”? Christ redeemed us from the "curse of the law" by becoming a curse for us. Therefore, by our faith in Christ are we set free from the Curse through him becoming the curse and hanging on the cross. Therefore, we become heirs to the promise of Abraham because God declares that the righteous shall live by faith. On what basis do the Gentiles receive “the promise of the Spirit” (3:14)? Jesus redeemed us from the curse that the blessing give to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Q1. (Galatians 3:2-5) What argument for salvation by faith does Paul give from the presence of the Spirit? Miracles seen by the Galations because of their faith. They received the power of the Spirit before the Jews brought them knowledge of the law. The spirit was operating in their lives from the point that they recieved their righteousness through faith. What does this tell us about the spiritual environment of the Galatian churches? It was powerful and operating in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God was not quenched in any way. How can we regain this dynamic environment in our own congregations? By releasing religion and embracing faith. We need to understand that we serve an all-powerful God who loves us so much that he allowed his Son to die for us and then left us with his Holy Spirit. This is a God who intends for us to be completely tapped into him through our spirit. We need to embrace the Power of the Spirit that dwells within us that enables us to live spirit-filled lives. As Jesus said,...then we would do even greater miracles than he."

Q5. (Galatians 2:20) In what sense have we been “crucified with Christ”? My flesh has been nailed to the cross and is now dead, I now live by the spirit. What does that mean? In what sense do “I no longer live”? It means that the flesh no longer rules me...My spirit in line with the Holy Spirit deposited within by Christ now live and rule my life. Whose life now motivates us? How does this verse relate to Paul’s closing comments about the “new creation” (Galatians 6:15)? What does Galatians 2:20 teach about Christ’s attitude toward us? God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. Jesus so loved his father that he submitted even unto the cross for us. He loved me and sacrified himself for my sins that I might live. Is their any greater love? I now strive to fight the good fight like the apostle Paul and die to self daily that I might live as Christ.

Q4. (Galatians 2:15-21) What happens to the importance of Christ’s death if circumcision is deemed necessary to salvation? As Paul plainly states, "..if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing." Why was this issue of the sufficiency of the Messiah’s death so important in Paul’s day? Why was this issue important to Luther and the reformers? Why is it so important in our own day? Paul explains at length that the purpose of the law...was to show us that we were prisoners of sin and that Jesus is that way out promised to Abraham and his seed. Abraham was counted righteous for his faith, not his adherence to the law. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. The law was to lead us back to faith. Martin Luther fought the Catholic Church over this issue of "Faith alone" and even today we must becareful to make sure that we don't follow a gospel of works. Yes, faith without works is dead but works is not faith. How does it affect the relative legalism of our congregations?

Q3. Why is it so hard to take the gospel to different peoples without wrapping it in our own cultural practices? Its called social norms..every culture has them. They are basis of how we order our life and thus how we communicate our life to others. Can you think of examples of this in Church history? Catholicism is rampant with them....All of the saints holy days are reinventions of the pagan harvest and ritual days. What is the danger? How can we avoid such cultural faux pas in our church’s missionary enterprises? We make the mistake of transferring to other cultures our own faux pas as the Jews tried to do to the Gentiles. Even now there is Madonna worship all over South America because the Catholic church took Mary, the mother of God and presented her as a God of sorts. The bible says nothing like that. Jesus never instructs us to pray to marry but Cathoics do which is a left over practice from pagan Goddess worship. The best thing and simplest thing to do is to present the gospel of Christ and him crucified. It's simple and stratightforward. The other key thing we must do is have the bible printed in the language of the people we minister to so they can study the Word of God for themselves. Knowing the Word for yourself keeps you from being led astray.

Q2. (Galatians 2:14) Why do you think Paul confronted Peter publicly rather than privately? I believe it had become a non-ceasing issue, an issue with legs and no matter what it would not go away, this issue of meshing the law with the Gospel of Grace. Do you expect Paul had talked with Peter about this previously? Yes, I believe there had been an ongoing discussion as evidenced by Acts 16. Paul realized that appeasement was not the answer so he had to deal it a death blow by going after the Apostle of the Apostles head on and confronting the error and correcting the behaviour. How did a public discussion of this benefit the Jewish Christians? How did it benefit the Gentile Christians? What kind of pressure do you think this put on Paul? First and foremost, this exchange lifted the Gospel to something above men. Paul stood before the Apostle who watched Jesus die and told him what for. That is powerful, that is a man so strong in his revelation and confiction from God and so pure in his intent the both Jew and Gentile was forever changed by his uncompromising positon of true Gospel. Paul became and continued to be Champion of the Gospel of Grace. He drew a line in the sand which held both Jews and Gentiles to a position that neither could stray far away from.

Q1. (Galatians 2:11-14) Why do you think Peter first embraced the Gentile believers in Antioch and later withdrew from them to eat only with Jews? Peter was behavior was in line with the truth of Jesus' gospel but he understood that the Jews would be offended by his actions, therefore, he chose what the thought was the path of least resistance. Peter was called to minister to the Jews, therefore, it would have been of huge importance to him to keep the channels of communication open. What does this tell us about his character? As I pondered on this over the week, I don't see this as matter of Peter's character. I honestly believe that he and the apostles truly believed that it was no hypocrisy to allow the Jews to mesh the gospel with the law. As a Jew, I am not sure there was separating the two. Even Paul acknowledges that the Apostles were called to the Jews and he to the Gentiles, implying somehow that their teachings would be different, yet both acceptable to God. Why should he have known better? Peter should have had enough confidence and faith in the power of God to stand for revelation given to them by God, which allowed for the Gentiles to become Christians. As Christians they were all in same in Christ. What does this tell us about Barnabas? What does it tell us about the political clout of the visitors from Jerusalem? Have you ever acted like a hypocrite to impress others? What should you do when you recover your senses? Barnabas was probably confused. Obviously, the 'circumsion party' from James were powerful and had a very storng voice in Jerusalem. Human nature almost demands acceptance by others...none of us, except maybe peole with a Paul like spirit are prepared to completely cut off from the powers that be. In fact, Paul in Acts 16, circumcised Timothy who was both Jewis and Greek to accomodate the Jews, therefore, Barnabas likely thought Paul, at least at one point, placed a value also on circumcision. Possibly, Paul regained his senses and refocused his message as we all should when the core message begans to stray off of Christ and him crucified.

Why does he at the same time write of their approval of his ministry? Paul is making it known that after conferring with the Apostles in Jerusalem that they could only acknowledge the truth of the Gospel. What is interesting is that this group of eleven chose such a narrow ministry to one nation and gave to one man the responsibility of the world. How does this further his argument to the Galatians in this letter? Since they chose to carve out for themselves only the Jewish nation but granted Paul the remainder of the world, it would suggest to me that they recognized the authority and truth of the Gospel Paul preached. In fact, it further suggests that, the Jerusalem church knew that they were making concessions on the Gospel for the Law. So, while Paul is correcting the Church in Galatia, in many ways this letter is about setting the record straight once and for all concerning the Church in Jerusalem. Paul makes it clear that the Gospel he preached to them came directly from God and that the Church in Jerusalem confirmed its' validity.

"Q4. (Galatians 2:1-10) Why do you think Paul seems to distance himself from the leaders of the Jerusalem church (2:2, 6, 9)? "I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain." 2:2 Based upon the fact that he had been preaching the Gospel at this point for approximately fifteen years with only one previous meeting the Apostles in Jerusalem, and his verbage about seeking "a private meeting with those esteemed as leaders" indicates to me that Paul is a little ticked off with the Apostles. Paul speaks of "running my race in vain", in a way that suggests to me that his concern or need of a private meeting is to rebuke or correct the Jerusalem Apostles about mixing the law with the Gospel of Grace laid down by Christ. Paul is trying ensure that all of his hard work and Christ death is not in vain or destroyed by human concessions. "As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message." 2:6 Again he speaks about those, "held in high esteem", and I see it as a rebuke. Paul is saying to the Jerusalem Apostles, "Jesus chose you for a purpose...don't cave into religion....walk in the esteem into which you are held." Paul, also, again confirms quite adamantly that his message will not be swayed. He will tell the truth at any cost. "James, Cephas[c] and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised." 2:9 Paul is indicating that after the private meeting the peace was brokered and the solution was that he would take the Gospel to the Gentiles and the Jerusalem Apostles would focus on spreading the Gospel to the Jews. What's interesting to me as I think about this is that Paul's Epistles with the Gospels compose the majority of the New Testatment. The witness of this one uncompromising resilient zealous man changed the world, yet eleven apostles who walked directly with Jesus were unable to convert one small nation. I think it is a lesson for us all on when and when not to compromise. The Jerusalem Apostles were never able to free themselves fully of the law under which they were born. Yet, Paul who was trained to be a teacher of the law...found no room to compromise over the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World. He is the only righteousness we will ever have or need. Why does he at the same time write of their approval of his ministry? How does this further his argument to the Galatians in this letter?

Q3. (Galatians 2:1-3) Paul is arguing that the Jerusalem leaders support his position on circumcision, rather than that of the Judaizers. What is the significance of Paul’s mention that Titus was not required to be circumcised? By pointing out that Titus was in the presence of Peter and James, yet not required to be circumcised, is proof positive that they recognize and acknowledge that circumcision has nothing to do with the Gospel of grace.

Q2. (Galatians 1:13-16) What factors in Paul's background made him an ideal apostle to the Gentiles? Paul was a "pharisee of the Pharisee's". His moral countenance was above reproach. Plus he had persecuted the followers of Jesus unmercifully, therefore, if the revelelation of Christ could change him it was only logical that what he had to say was worth listening to. How did God use his being different from others? Paul was not a follower. He was willing to even stand up to Peter, the rock, when the truth of the gospel was at stake. An apostle so strong in his faith that would correct Peter, who walked with Christ daily, is different that most others. He is commited to truth at the expense of popularity, friendship, comraderie, belonging, etc...This is why Paul was chosen to spread the Gospel to the nations. God knew he had this thing in him that would keep him focused on truth even unto death. To ponder: How has your unique background fitted you for ministry? As an uneducated single mother living in poverty lost in an urban nightmare, Christ found me. He cleaned me up, sent me back to college, then to law school, and he loved me and my child through our struggles, mistakes, loneliness, poverty, hopelessness, helplessness into a life of faith, trust, peace and rest. God has placed within me an undying need for a relationship with him that no other relationship in my life can replace or fulfill. As a result, I love him and need him unceasingly and I am at a point in my life where I freely share my commitment to him with everyone I meet. What uniqueness has God given you? I think God may have give me the gift of parenting but not marriage. I know that I possess an ability to celibate beyond most of my contemporaries. This does not mean that I don't have desires in my flesh but at this point, actually most of my life, I feel the pain of disappointing God. I can't pretend or ignore when I am breaking his heart. I spent years running from that truth. The world encouraged me to satisfy my own flesh but when I read Deitrich Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship", it felt like he wrote it just for me. God gave me the heart of a disciple. What will it take to see that uniqueness as a God-given strength rather than as an embarrassment? Drawing closer to him has been the only thing that has allowed me to see that my ability to stand alone and to go against the crowd is acceptable behaviour.

Q1. (Galatians 1:11-12) What is the source of Paul’s gospel? Jesus Christ revealed himself directly to Paul How do we know that it is a true revelation? The completeness of Paul's transformation. Paul passion to destroy the church turned into a passion to spread the Gospel of Christ overnight. Only a move of God could change a person's heart and mind that deeply and suddenly. How does it conform to our other foundational sources of Christian teaching? Paul was a "Pharisee of the Pharisees". He therefore knew the scripture as well as he knew his name. The revelation he received from Christ confirmed every prophecy of the Old Testament about the Messiah. Furthermore, the person and the gospel of Jesus Christ took the foundational knowledge that Paul had acquired about God and his loving nature into a state of grace which could only have come from God. Man, in his own flesh, cannot comprehend grace without the person and revelation of Christ. What is the danger of taking the teaching of contemporary leaders as our doctrinal basis without checking it with the Scripture? Scripture is the Word of God. Anything taught by any man which does not line up with God's Word is not to be believed or listened to. This is why scripture says every man should study for himself so that he may be approved.

Paul called the Judaizers’ message as a “different gospel,” a perversion of the true gospel. How is this dangerous to the Galatian believers? How do twisted gospels (or an unbalanced interpretation of the gospel) affect Christians in our day? The Judaizers message of a "different gospel" is the same type of confusion as seen with the gospel of works. Yet, Jeus clearly said we are saved by grace alone and not by works, allowing no man to take credit for God's work. Therefore, salvation can only be received by those who accept by faiththat Jesus was, is, and always will be the Lamb of God who takes away the Sins of the World. Not one of us then, now or forever more can earn our way to right standing with God. We can only receive his merciful gift by faith. The danger for the Galation believers is Paul says, "You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ, you have fallen away from grace". In other words, Paul is saying they are following no gospel at all and therefore without faith in Christ's redeeming work, they are without his saving grace. Today, however, I believe we have a opposite but equally troubling situation existing in the body of Christ. The faith movement is has such a powerful pull yet I believe it is also a distortion of the Gospel. Jesus absolutely call us to faith in him and his saving grace but his work does does not stop at redemption and justification. The bible says, Faith without works is dead and that speaks to the sanctification. As the Holy Spirit performs his work within us the fruits of the spirit will begin to overflow. Yet, the faith movement has made faith the new works. All we need to do is have faith for any and everything and God will respond with like Santa Claus is not based upon the Word of God. This distortion or misrepresentation of the Gospel is dangerous for people today because so many people have itchy ears and they want to believe that God will bless them with all of their hearts desires, all of their fleshly desires, and make life problem free. False teachers are able to peddle this false teaching because most "believers" today do to read or study the Bible to know what it says for themselves. They are therefore being fed a false gospel and don't realize it. It leads people to being disillusioned with God when their "faith" doesn't "work" for them.

NIV Galations 1:4 in pertinent part reads, "who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father," therefore, Jesus' purpose was to do the will of God, his father by dying as a substitute for all sinners as a means to rescue us from our rightful punishement. Today, Jesus' work on the cross continues to cover with us grace and provides us with right standing with the father as long as we continue to have faith in his atoning death and resurrection. Jesus also left us with the Holy Spirit. The Comforter or Holy Spirit which Jesus sent upon his departure dwells within us as he leads and guides our spirits into all truth.