The motivation for book of Galatians came from Jewish Christians who believed ceremonial practices of the Old Testament were still binding on the New Testament believers. They insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity abide by certain Old Testament rites, especially circumcision.
Paul was vigorous and unapologetic to defend the New Testament Truth that people are justified by faith in Jesus Christ and nothing more. We are fully known. We are fully loved.
Gal 1:6-7 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ…
As we take three weeks to examine these six chapters we will discover what the book of Galatians reveals about the nature of God. The progression of what we will discuss is mercy, grace and strength. Mercy is the alleviation of what we deserve. Grace is the application of what Jesus deserves. Strength is the release of God’s abilities within us.
Each book of the Bible reveals something unique and specific about the nature of God. Take some time to reach this book over and over asking God to give you greater revelation from him as we explore it together.
It was the rediscovery of the basic message of Galatians and Romans that brought about the Protestant Reformation. Galatians is often referred to as "Luther's book," because Martin Luther relied so strongly on it in all his preaching, teaching and writing against the prevailing theology of his day.
The Kingdom of God is built on something much stronger than your religious devotion to God. The Kingdom of God is built on the God’s love for you!
A Central Verse to what the book is revealing:
Gal 2:16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. NIV
Mercy is the alleviation of what we deserve and only through Christ can we find this mercy. We’re more sinful and flawed than we care to believe. We’re more accepted and loved than we can possibly imagine. We are fully known. We are full loved. Nothing more!
There is this interesting story we find in Luke that clearly communicates how a person who is forgiven more has a deeper response of love as a result.
Luke 7:40-43 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”“Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. NIV
When I first began studying this portion of scripture it was almost confusing to me. Jesus said it so it is obviously true but is it really true that people with a deeper debt of sin because of bad decisions they made actually positions them to love God more? What about people who have served God faithfully and never strayed from God? I guess they will never love God as much as those with more broken pasts? Surely not!
Then I discovered something that changed my entire perspective of how I read what Jesus is revealing. According to the Bible nobody is more or less sinful than anybody else.
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. NIV
Clearly James reveals that one mistake makes you fully guilty. Everybody is fully guilty no matter how many mistakes they’ve made. It is the realization of your sinful state that deeps your revelation of his love! People who have deeply broken pasts tend to be more in touch with the magnitude of their debt. People who have lived their life on the straight and narrow tend to feel better about how bad they are. In essence being good can produce a false sense of goodness blinding us to our massive debt that Jesus canceled.
Once we are in touch with how we are fully sinful it makes his love a greater reality in our lives. We are fully sinful and we are fully known but we are fully loved. Thank God for his mercy!
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Every day this week in your place of prayer reflect on and give thanks for how far God has brought you from your past.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
LEADER’S NOTES: In this season we are addressing how shame and guilt drive us to vain efforts of trying to please God by impressing him with our behavior. In God’s mercy he brought us out. In his grace he sees us through. In his strength he uses us to strengthen others forward in their divine purpose.
THE POINT: Through God’s mercy, grace and strength we can conquer every obstacle that fights against our purpose.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. What is something good about your week so far?
Giving thanks keeps us in touch with a healthy perspective contributing to our ability to embrace all God has done for us. We are talking about the amazing mercy of God this week.
The motivation for the book of Galatians came from Jewish Christians who believed ceremonial practices of the Old Testament were still binding on New Testament believers.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Why is it so easy to feel like we should be doing more to earn God’s love?
3. When we feel like we don’t do enough to please God it usually translates to being harder on others. Why is this?
Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. NIV
Notice Paul’s statement here about being sent by God and not man. Those who weren’t embracing the mercy and grace of God were projecting their own feelings of inadequacy on him and others.
The less you love yourself the more inclined you are to judge others.
Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. NIV
Nothing we can do will ever earn greater favor with God. He loves you completely not because you are so lovable but because He is so loving.
Gal 2:16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. NIV
We are fully known by God. We are fully loved by God. Nothing more than accepting the love of Jesus is required.
We’re more sinful and flawed than we care to believe. We’re more accepted and loved than we can possibly imagine.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. Conclude by reflecting on the GP2RL this week asking people to share something they will give thanks for this week.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Every day this week in your place of prayer reflect on and give thanks for how far God has brought you from your past.