The beloved Apostle Paul speaks very plainly and very strongly to the Galatian believers in this chapter. He tells them that they were foolish for allowing themselves to be deceived by false teaching. The Apostle’s sharp rebuke shows us how serious and how bad, in God’s eyes, was the doctrine they were being taught.
Those Jewish teachers who were seeking to bring the Galatian believers under the bondage of the law were very proud of their father, Abraham. Thus, the Apostle uses Abraham as the example by which he shows the error of their teaching. Abraham is a beautiful example of one who was counted righteous before God, not because of what he did, but because of his faith in God.
Those who try to gain favor with God by keeping the law are cursed if they break just one part of it. Righteousness cannot be gained by trying to keep the law. The Lord Jesus, the only Man who perfectly kept the law, has redeemed those who believe in Him from its curse by dying on the cross. In this way, the Gentiles (this included those in Galatia to whom Paul wrote) who believe in Him by faith can be brought into the blessing that God gave to Abraham. This promised blessing comes to us through the Lord Jesus.
The Apostle points out that the law guarded the Jews and maintained them in an outward relationship to God until faith brought them into the wonderful relationship of sons, having God as their Father.
1. The Apostle rebukes the Galatians very sharply, calling them “foolish,” for listening to the teaching of those who corrupted the gospel of the grace of Christ. What kind of lusts do believers experience, who seek to become wealthy in this world? 1 Timothy 6:___
2. What kinds of conversation should never characterize believers?
Ephesians 5:___
3. What kind of questions create arguments and strifes and are to be avoided by believers? 2 Timothy 2:___
4. What are some of the characteristics which the Apostle Paul uses to describe what he himself and others were like before they were saved?
Titus 3:___
5. By submitting, for the Lord’s sake, to the laws enacted by government, the believer is able to put to silence what kind of men? 1 Peter 2:___