Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for September 2, 2018

“Galatians and the Gospel of Freedom”   Galatians 1:1-10   Bible Study   09/02/18

This morning we will begin our survey of Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. Its 6 chapters and 149 verses represent a rousing explanation and defense of the gospel in response to the purveyors of half-truths and heresies in every generation. After addressing Paul’s introduction to the letter (1:1-5), we will proceed to observe Paul’s bold and uncompromising assertion regarding the absolute uniqueness of the gospel.

I. Introduction: A Letter for Recovering Pharisees (1:1-5)

1. Understand what’s at stake 1

• not just Paul’s apostleship but the authenticity of the gospel
• source and agency: not human

2. Identify the recipients 2

• churches of Galatia-Roman province
• first missionary journey
• 48-49

3. Grasp the important greeting 3-5

• grace and peace
• enemies of grace: Judaizers

II. Don’t Fall for It! (1:6-10)

1. Assess your loyalty 6-7a

• danger of drifting
• different is not good!

2. Affirm your confidence 7b-9

• Judaizers: disturb and distort
• absolute and unchanging truth
• the message over the messenger
• no message means no mission

3. Align your ambition 10

• the man-pleaser accusation
• the issue of approval
• truth is to be declared and not negotiated
• Jesus didn’t pay it “some.”

III. So What?

• Because your natural tendency is to depend on yourself, actively embrace the medicine of grace.
• Because the gospel is God’s gospel, cling to it tenaciously.
• “Grace is opposed to earning, not effort.” (D. Willard)
• “Legalism is always nailing a sign to the cross that says, ‘necessary, but not enough.’” (MacGorman)