Galatians 4-6

Galatians 4

From Slaves to Sons

• An heir is treated like a servant while still a child
  • He still is under his father
• God sent His Son at the proper time to redeem those under the Law
• Believers receive adoption as sons and daughters
  • Believers are heirs through God

Turning Back to Slavery

• The Galatians once served false gods
• Paul is concerned they are returning to them
  • They are observing special days, months, seasons, and years (legalistic manners)
• Paul fears his labor among them may be in vain

Paul urges the Galatians to become as he is

• He understands the bonds legalism has 
• They originally welcomed him with great love, despite Paul’s “bodily ailment”
• False teachers are seeking to win them for selfish reasons
• He wants to see Christ formed in them

 Hagar and Sarah

• Hagar represents Mount Sinai and the covenant of Law
• Sarah represents the covenant of promise
• Isaac was born through God’s promise
• Believers belong to the free woman, not the slave woman

Galatians 5

Christ has set believers free

• Circumcision cannot contribute to salvation
• Seeking justification through the Law separates one from grace
• Faith works through love

Warning Against False Teachers

• The Galatians were running well
• False teachers have hindered their progress
  • A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
• We are called to freedom- use it to love and serve one another

Walk by the Spirit

• The flesh and Spirit are opposed to each other
• Paul lists the works of the flesh:
  • sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,envy,[drunkenness, orgies
• Paul lists the fruit (singular!) of the Spirit:
  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Patience
  • Kindness
  • Goodness
  • Faithfulness
  • Gentleness
  • Self-control

Believers are called to keep in step with the Spirit

Galatians 6

Bearing One Another’s Burdens

• Christians should restore those caught in sin (gently!)
  • From https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/galatians-6/ Stott on restore: “The verb is instructive. Katartizo means to ‘put in order’ and so to ‘restore to its former condition’… It was used in secular Greek as a medical term for setting a fractured or dislocated bone. It is applied in Mark 1:19 to the apostles who were ‘mending’ their nets.”

• Believers should bear one another’s burdens (grief, illness, struggles with sin)
• Each person must also examine his own life and not deceive themselves

Doing Good 

• “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.”
  • We can support those who teach us 
• A person reaps what he sows
  • Sowing to the flesh leads to corruption
  • Sowing to the Spirit leads to eternal life
• Believers should not grow weary in doing good
• Do good to fellow believers

The Cross, Not Circumcision

• False teachers seek outward religious appearances like circumcision (forcing it)
• Paul boasts only in the cross of Christ
• What matters is being a new creation
  • Peace and mercy belong to those who follow this rule

Paul bears marks of suffering for Christ on his body

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.”

Application

Through Christ we are God’s children! We have freedom in Christ, but that is not permission to sin. We must show love to others and follow His Word.