HERITAGE BAPTIST CHURCH S.P.A.C.E.

PROGRAM

STAGE III

*****Series I “Galatians”*****

*****Series II “Practical Christian Living”*****

*****Series III “Building Up One Another”*****

*****Series IV “The Christian and His Emotions”*****

*****Series V “The Ten Commandments”*****

*****Series VI “The Whole Armor of God”*****

*****Series VII “A Builder For God”*****

*****Series VIII “I John - II John - III John”*****

*****Series IX “Running The Race”*****

*****Series X “Stewardship”*****

Now that you are entering Stage III you are qualified to any position providing you
complete this stage. Think of it; after completing Stage III you have finished 119 lessons, 2 1/3
years of studies, that most Lay-Christians won’t do in their life time. WHAT AN
ACCOMPLISHMENT ! ! !

It is people like you that make a church strong, mature and spiritual. You have helped
reach and maintain the purpose of the S.P.A.C.E. program (i.e. the two goals of spiritual
families and unity in the church).

Stage III is the long haul, but you can finish. Look what this program has done for you
and your family already. You have spiritually matured and are hungry for God’s Word and are
willing to serve your Lord more through your local church. If already this has been
accomplished in your life, just think what spiritual growth you will experience after completion
of Stage III.

Keep in mind; the Holy Spirit is your helper, and the Lord will strengthen you with His
presence. Also, the sense of satisfaction of accomplishment, along with a great amount of
confidence (confidence that will make all the difference in your life) is there to keep you
motivated to finish your task.

128
 GALATIANS

EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

LESSON I. ..............................................................................................................GALATIANS 1

LESSON II. ............................................................................................................GALATIANS 2

LESSON III. ...........................................................................................................GALATIANS 3

LESSON IV. ...........................................................................................................GALATIANS 4

LESSON V. ............................................................................................................GALATIANS 5

LESSON VI............................................................................................................ GALATIANS 6

129
Lesson 1
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Martin Luther considered Galatians the best of all the books of the Bible. More than any
other book of the New Testament, it was the book that opened his eyes to the great truth of
justification by faith. No other book (except Romans) so forcefully and pointedly answers the
question, “Are we saved by believing or by achieving?”
The message of Galatians is the message of Liberation. It is the message of true freedom
of release from bondage. We have all kinds of talk about liberation movements today. People
talk often about “freedom”. They speak about a new morality, free speech, free love and
freedom from authority. But none of it is genuine freedom. It is all slavery. Every person
searches for genuine freedom. But the way to freedom is through the truth. Paul wrote Galatians
to establish one basic premise: Spiritual freedom comes through the truth, and that truth is Jesus
Christ. Knowing him is genuine freedom. See John 8:32.

I. THE GREETING. Read verses 1-5.

The Apostle sends greetings from himself and the brethren with him to the Churches of
Galatia, reminding them at the same time that his authority as an apostle was of divine, not
human origin, as some of his enemies contended. Notice the three great truths taught about Jesus
Christ in verse 4. From the very beginning, Paul clearly states the message of the Gospel,
because it was this message the Judaizers were changing. The gospel centers in a PERSON,
Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This person paid a PRICE. He gave himself for our sins by dying
on the cross. Christ paid this price that he might achieve a PURPOSE. Delivering sinners from
this present evil world, and all of it was according to God's divine PLAN. It was God's will that
Jesus die. Read Matthew 26:39; Acts 2:22-23. His death was no accident, as Mr. Moon of
the Unification Church claims.

II. PAUL'S SURPRISE AT THE DEFECTION OF THE GALATIANS FROM THE

TRUE GOSPEL. Read verses 6-10
Paul now states what has prompted him to write this letter. Because of the greatness of
their gospel, Paul is annoyed that the Galatians could so quickly accept another radically
different gospel. Read verse 6. In fact, it was not another gospel at all, but a perversion of the
true gospel. Study verse 7. Giving heed to such a distorted gospel meant trouble
(confusion) for the Galatians.
The seriousness with which Paul viewed these false teachers is expressed in verses 8 and
9. The word “curse” is from the Greek work “anathema” which means “devoted to
destruction”. In the New Testament, God specifically curses false teachers. A false teacher is
full of deceit and mischief. He is a child of the devil, the enemy of righteousness and a perverter
of the right ways of the Lord.

Lesson 1 (cont’d)

III. PAUL'S VINDICATION OF HIS APOSTLESHIP. Read Verses 11-24.

130
 These verses are perhaps the clearest statement of where Paul's gospel came from. His
message is not earth-born, nor man-made, nor the product of his own imagination. Study verses
11-12. Who gave it to him? The same person who changed his life and set it on a new course.
In other words, Paul had been instructed by Christ, personally.

Paul is also careful to state that even after his conversion, he remained aloof from the
men from whom he might have been supposed to receive his message. See verses 15-24.
Paul wished to make clear to his detractors that the gospel he preached came directly from God
himself, without the aid of human instructors.

CONCLUSION:

We see from these verses that there is a radical difference between being religious and
being saved. Saul of Tarsus is an example of someone who is religious but lost until he
believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer the following questions:

l. What is the message of Galatians?

2. Paul wrote Galatians to establish one basic promise. What is it?

3. Who was changing the message of the gospel?

4. What three great truths are taught about the person Jesus Christ in verse 4?
a.
b.
c.

5. Are there two gospels?

Fill in the blanks:

6. A (a)_____________ teacher is full (b)_____________ and (c)_____________. He is
a (d)______________ of the (e)______________, the (f)______________ of (g)___________
and a (h)_____________ of the (I)______________ (j)_______________ of the
(k)____________.

7. Who taught Paul this gospel?

131
Lesson #1
Answer Key
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER ONE

1. Liberation.

2. Spiritual freedom comes through the truth and that truth is Jesus Christ.

3. The Judaizers.

4. a. Price - He gave himself for our sins.

b. Purpose - delivering sinners from this present evil world.

c. Plan - It was God's will that Jesus die.

5. No.

6. a. false.
b. deceit
c. mischief
d. child
e. devil
f. enemy
g. righteousness
h. perverter
I. right
j. way
k. Lord

7. God himself.
Lesson 2
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER TWO

INTRODUCTION

From the time Paul was called to be an apostle to the end of his career, false teachers
dogged his footsteps. No sooner had he planted the gospel in some locality than false teachers
began to trouble the church by perverting it. In order to discredit Paul's message, they also
challenged his authority. Every age has had to deal with such troublemakers, and ours is no
different. There are still those who corrupt the gospel message and make salvation dependent
on human effort rather than the grace and power of God.
In this chapter, Paul assures the Galatians he is not guilty of sectarianism and that his
gospel is no different from that preached by the other apostles.

I. WHY PAUL WENT TO JERUSALEM. Read verses 1-10.

Fourteen years after Paul's conversion he went back to Jerusalem. It is obvious he didn't
go back to get his message -- he had been preaching it for 14 years.
Verse 2 explains why he went. He came to get the apostles to stand with him so that he
would not have the Judaizers following him around and undermining everything he did.
Two men accompanied Paul on his visit to Jerusalem - Barnabas and Titus. Refer to
verse 1. Barnabas was a Jew whose name best describes his character: Son of consolation",
read Acts 11:19-26. Titus, by contrast, was an uncircumcised Gentile who had come to
faith in Jesus Christ. The Judaizers were saying that he should submit to circumcision, but even
the Apostles in Jerusalem did not press that issue.
Paul won a great victory there in Jerusalem, but it wasn't easy because there were
Judaizers present in the meeting. Paul does not classify them as weak brethren, like those
mentioned in Romans 14:1-11, but as "false" brethren in verses 4-5. The method of these
"false" brethren was to sneak in among Christians in order to “spy out” their liberty . Their
objective was to put Christians back under bondage to the law.
After listening to Paul's presentation, the men who were the nerve center or pillars of the
young church, which were James, Peter, and John, gave him “the right hand of fellowship”
approving his ministry to the Gentiles.
Lesson 2 (cont’d)

II. PAUL REBUKES PETER. Read Verses 11-14

In these verses we see Paul in a dramatic defense of his apostleship, as he recalls a
conflict with Peter. Because Peter was clearly in the wrong, and others were hindered by his
compromise, Paul called his hypocrisy to his attention. He did it in the presence of the
whole group and not behind his back. Public sin must be dealt with on a public basis. Study
Matthew 18:17 I Timothy 5:20.
The confrontation between the two great leaders of the early church shows three things:
1. Peter held no position of authority over all the churches. He was no Pope
in the modern sense of that term.
2. There was a difference between the inspired writings of an apostle, such
as I and II Peter, in which there is no error, and the personal actions of an
apostle, which might be fallible.
3. Good men may disagree in the church and yet, with the help of the Spirit
of God, resolve their problems.

III. JUSTIFICATION IS NOT OF THE LAW. Read Verses 15-21.

The Judaizers were willing to “accept Christ”, but they insisted you had to work your
way to Heaven. Three times in verse 16, Paul emphasizes God's way is by faith in Jesus Christ,
not the law. To be justified means that at the moment of our new birth we have a new standing
with God.

CONCLUSION:
Paul sums up his argument in verse 20. What a message of encouragement. The
Christian life is not working hard to live right, but rather allowing Christ to live out his life
through my own. Answer the following questions:

1. In order to discredit Paul's message false teachers also challenged his what?
2. Why did Paul go to Jerusalem?
3. Who went with Paul?
4. What was the “false” brethren's objective?
5. Did James, Peter and John, the pillars of the Jerusalem church, approve of Paul's
ministry? How did they show it?
a. b.
6. What three things did the confrontation between Paul and Peter show?
a. b. c.

7. Does justification come from the law?

8. If righteousness came by the law then Christ would be what?
Lesson #2
Answer Key
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION
 CHAPTER TWO

l. Authority.

2. To get the apostles to stand with him and that they would confirm Paul's message was the
same as theirs.

3. Barnabas & Titus

4. To put Christians back under bondage to the law.

5. a. Yes

b. Gave their right hand of fellowship.

6. Read them from your notes.

7. No.

8. Dead in vain -- his death would have been in vain.

Lesson 3
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER THREE

INTRODUCTION

We might call this lesson - “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”. The Galatians
foolishly listened to the Judaizers who bewitched them with their legalistic brand of
Christianity. They were bothered and then bewildered by these "false brethren." In this chapter,
Paul fully answers the Judaizers who condemned salvation by grace through faith alone. He
defends the doctrine of justification by faith from the standpoint of both experience and
scripture.

I. HE APPEALS TO THEIR OWN EXPERIENCE. Verses l-5.

The Galatians are a prime example of how people get lured into cults and false doctrines
today. They follow their feelings, their fantasies, their whims, they didn't think it
through. They let someone else do all their thinking. They don't study the Scriptures for
themselves and compare Scripture with Scripture to see if what they have heard is true.
Their own experience should have taught the Galatians that they had believed something
that was untrue. In the last phrase of verse one, Paul talks of Christ being publicly portrayed
as "crucified." So vividly had he presented Christ to the Galatians that they could see him
crucified. The law says: Do this and you will live. The New Testament says: You live,
so do this. Good works are a verification of our salvation. Read James 2:14.
II. HE APPEALS TO THE SCRIPTURE. Read verses 6-18.
Paul here turns to an even higher authority to prove his argument --SCRIPTURE. He
calls to their attention the man whose name is synonymous with faith -- Abraham. The text he
quoted was Genesis 15:1-6. Though his wife was old and passed the age of childbearing,
because Abraham believed God, his wife Sarah would have a son. Paul reminded the Galatians
that works played no part in Abraham's life with God. He hadn't worked to earn God's approval.
He hadn't added a thing to God's promise to strengthen it. He was a man of faith.
Paul turns the tables on the Judaizers by using Deuteronomy 27:26 to show that the law
does not justify anybody, and anybody depending on the law for salvation is under a curse.
Paul offers the glorious remedy to end the desperation of people trying to live by the law.
Christ removed the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Read verse 13. Christ was not
“cursed” because of his own sin. He was cursed because he bore man's sin in his own body, and
God cannot look on iniquity. We all deserved the curse, but Christ took it for us.
III. THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW. Read Verses 19-29.
Paul begins his reasoning by pointing out that the law was given because of man's sin. It
was not given as an aid to help us rid ourselves of sin, but rather it is like a mirror. You look in
it and you see you've got a defect, a problem. The mirror does not have a thing to do with your
problem, except to prove that you have it.

Lesson 3 (cont’d)

The law's purpose was never to save. Rather it was a “school-master”. Designed to
reveal man's sinfulness and inadequacy, thus driving him to God to find justification by faith.
Read verse 24. The word “schoolmaster” as it is used here refers to a slave in whose charge the
children were committed in a given household. Among other responsibilities, the schoolmaster
was to see that the child made it to school safely and returned home at the conclusion of the day.
In the same way, the law supervised the growth of God's people until the coming of Christ.
Read verses 25-26.

CONCLUSION:
Paul, in this chapter seeks to make clear the great truth that salvation is a free gift of
God, received through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. No human effort -- no works of the law --
will suffice. It is by grace, through faith.

Answer the following questions:

l. We might call this lesson what?

2. Paul defends what doctrine? From what standpoint?

3. What will happen to a Christian it they don't study scripture and compare scripture to
see if what they have heard is true?

4. God works are a ________________ of our salvation.

5. Did Abraham believe God when God said he would have a son?

6. Who became our curse?

7. The law's purpose was never to save but as a schoolmaster bring us to God to find
what?
Lesson #3
Answer Key
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER THREE

1. Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered.

2. a. Justification by faith.

b. Experience and Scripture

3. Lured into cults and false doctrines.

4. Verification

5. Yes

6. Christ

7. Justification by faith.
Lesson 4
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER FOUR

INTRODUCTION
Paul's message in this chapter could be summarized in two brief sentences. “Once we
were slaves: Now we are sons. How can we possibly turn back to the old slavery”? To make
his point, he contrasts an infant son with a mature son who has passed into adulthood. A person
under law is like an infant son, says Paul, and a person under grace is like a mature son. As
another illustration of their freedom in Christ, Paul reminds them that Abraham had two sons,
one by Hagar named Ishmael, and one by Sarah named Isaac. The one by Hagar was not the
promised son, so he didn't receive the inheritance. Isaac was the child of promise and
represents those under grace.

I. NO LONGER SLAVES BUT SONS. Read verses 1-7.

Paul says to imagine a child who is heir to a great estate. One day it will be his. In fact,
it is already his by promise. But actually he is still a child and you don't turn an estate over to a
child. He may be the legal heir, but while he is still a child he is no better than one of the
servants in the household. He has to take orders, not give them. He is under child training
discipline, the "schoolmaster" until the father declares his heir. Study Galatians 3:24.
Notice the phrase “The elements of the world,” in verse 3. This means the ABC’s of
human religion and includes all rules and regulations used by both Jews and Gentiles to achieve
salvation by works. Men are in bondage to these things until Christ frees them.
The time was exactly right when the Messiah came. Read verse 4.
1. It was right religiously. After the Babylonian captivity, Ezra had put together all the
scrolls, and so the Jews possessed the Word of the Old Testament.
2. It was right culturally. Alexander the Great had made it a Greek world and Greek was
spoken everywhere. The Gospel could be preached in most areas of the civilized world without
the problem of a language barrier.
3. It was right politically. Rome had taken over the world and instituted the Pax
Romana --the Roman peace -- thus making possible the free movement of the Gospel.
Some of the characteristics of the new freedom that Jesus Christ brought us are in verses
5 through 7.
l. Adoption as his sons.
2. The witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. See Romans 8:16. The word "abba" is
an Aramaic word meaning “daddy”.
3. Our entry upon an inheritance. Through Christ we receive everything. Read Romans
8:17. In making us sons, he has made us eternally rich.
Lesson 4 (cont’d)

II. THE DANGER OF FORFEITING OUR LIBERTY. Read verses 8-18.

These people were giving up the power of the Gospel for the weakness of law, and the
wealth of the Gospel for the poverty of law, and Paul couldn't understand it. See verse
9. How were they doing this? By adopting a legalistic system of religion with its
observation of “days, and months, and times, and years”. Read verse 10.
The Galatians pulled back from the truth and viewed Paul as an enemy in verse 16.
Here is some good advice from Chuck Swindoll on this matter: "If you are a messenger ... tell
the truth. If a listener ... welcome the truth. If making a decision ... seek the truth. If working
through a conflict ... uphold the truth. If hunting for the bottom of an issue ... pursue the truth”.

III. WE ARE SONS OF FREEDOM, NOT BONDAGE. Verses 19-31.

This is Paul's concluding argument on justification by faith. Here he will make his final
comparison of law and grace, and this time he will use a different kind of argument. He
will use an historical event from the Old Testament and interpret it allegorically. An
“allegory” is a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material
forms.
In this allegory, Paul presents two women, Hagar and Sarah and their sons, Ishmael and
Isaac. These sons had different mothers but the same father --Abraham. Not only did they have
different mothers, but they were born in different ways. One, “after the flesh,” and the other
“by promise”. Read verse 23.
Paul explains his allegory by saying that the two women involved represent two
covenants -- one of law and bondage, by Hagar, and the other of grace or freedom, by Sarah.
Study verses 24-26. What Paul is actually saying is this: Christians are saved by grace and are
not the children of Hagar the bondwoman. They are children of faith, represented by Sarah and
heaven. Read verse 31. We have come to God through faith. We believe his promise that he
saves us on the basis of grace, not works. Answer the following questions:

1. What two sons of Abraham does Paul use to illustrate their freedom in Christ and
which one represents those under grace?
a. b.
2. List three right times of the coming of the Messiah.
a. b. c.
3. List the three characteristics of the new freedom that Jesus Christ brought us.
a. b. c.
4. These people were giving up the power of the Gospel and the wealth of the Gospel to
what?

5. How were they giving up the power and wealth of the Gospel?

6. We believe God's promise that he saves us on the basis of ________________ and not
______________.
Lesson #4
Answer Key
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION
 CHAPTER FOUR

1. a. Ishmael - Isaac.
b. Isaac.

2. a. Religiously.
b. Culturally.
c. Politically.

3. a. Adoption as his son.

b. The witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
c. Our entry upon inheritance.

4. To the weakness of the law and the poverty of the law.

5. By adopting a legalistic system of religion.

6. a. Grace
b. Works
Lesson 5
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER FIVE

INTRODUCTION
The Galatians were convinced by the Judaizers that the message of Paul -
Salvation by grace through faith - was not enough. Other elements were needed, such as
circumcision, and the observance of holy days. In the first four chapters, Paul argues from both
a historical and theological point of view against this false teaching. Now, in the third section of
his letter, Paul will give the moral and practical argument for the liberty we have in Christ
Jesus. Read Galatians 5 and 6. Paul puts great stress here upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit,
because it is the Holy Spirit who makes the life of faith work.

I. DO NOT FORFEIT YOUR LIBERTY. Verse 1.

Paul wants the Galatians to hold fast to their personal liberty. The expression
''stand fast" is one of Paul's favorites. Read I Corinthians 16:13 and Philippians 1:27.

II. THE RESULTS OF SALVATION BY WORKS. Verses 2-6.

The Judaizers said that Christian believers had to be circumcised to be accepted by God.
For Paul, this act symbolized the religion of good works. He suggests four disastrous results of
salvation by works:
A. Christ is of no benefit. See verse 2. Paul knew that it is Contradictory to
receive Christ, thereby acknowledging you cannot save yourself, and then turn around and be
circumcised, thus implying that you can help save yourself. You can't mix the two. Salvation is
in Christ alone.
B. You have to obey all the law. See verse 3. If you insist on living by the law, you are
obligated to keep every point of it. See James 2:10.
C. You fall from grace. See verse 4. Paul isn't talking here about losing salvation. He
is contrasting law and grace. If you try to mix law with grace, you have fallen away from grace
as a principle. Even true Christian believers may do this. When you operate in the flesh, you
close the door to God's blessing.
D. You lose your hope of righteousness. See verse 5. When the believer walks by faith,
he always has something to look forward to. One day Jesus shall return to make us like Himself
in perfect righteousness. The law gives no such promise for the future.
Lesson 5 (cont’d)

III. WATCH OUT FOR THOSE WHO HINDER YOU. Verses 7-12.
Having condemned the false doctrine, in verses 1-6, Paul now condemns the false
teachers of that doctrine. Notice in these verses at least four things that are true of false teachers:
A. They hinder obedience to the truth. See verse 7.
B. They are not of God. Verse 8.
C. They contaminate the Church. See verse 9. False teachers are like leaven (yeast)
that permeates a whole lump of dough and makes it rise. Just a little false doctrine can corrupt
the whole church.
D. They will be judged, verse 10. The ones who create chaos and confusion in the
church are going to receive punishment. Read Jude 10-16.

IV. WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Verses 13-26.

Paul was against keeping the law to merit salvation, but he did not advocate lawlessness.
Read verses 13-15. In fact, in the remaining verses of the chapter he gives a positive
definition of Christian liberty, and shows how Christianity is not against God's moral law.
Christianity stands in opposition to ceremonial law (feast days, holy days, abstaining from
certain meats, etc).
In verses 16-18, Paul gives the key to Christian freedom -- “to walk in the Spirit”. In
verses 19-26, Paul contrasts the two radically different lifestyles: Walking in the Spirit as
opposed to living in the flesh.
A. The “works of the flesh”, verses 19-21. Notice how these works of the flesh break
down into four categories: Sexual, religious, human relationships, and relationships to objects.
B. The “fruit of the Spirit”, verses 22-26. Note that the word “fruit” is singular. The
Spirit produces a single fruit. The Christian life reduces itself to this. We do not generate love,
joy, etc; we walk in the Spirit. He does it all in us. Jesus said, "By their fruits ye shall know
them." Read Matthew 7:20.

Answer the following questions:

l. Why is Paul in Chapters 5-6 putting great emphasis upon the ministry of the Holy
Spirit?

2. Paul wants them to “stand fast” to their what?

3. What are the four disastrous results of Salvation by work?

a.
b.
c.
d.
Lesson 5 (cont’d)

4. What does it mean in verse 4 “ye are fallen from grace”?

5. What four things are true of false teachers?

a.
b.
c.
d.

6. What four categories does "works of the flesh" fall into?

a. b.
c. d.

7. How many fruits does the Holy Spirit produce?

List the fruits.
a.
b.
Lesson #5
Answer Key
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER FIVE

1. Because it is the Holy Spirit who makes the life of faith work.

2. Personal liberty.

3. a. Christ is of no benefit.
b. You have to obey all the law.
c. You fall from grace.
d. You lose your hope of righteousness

4. It doesn’t mean losing salvation but it does mean you are operating in the flesh and losing
God’s blessing of grace and liberty.

5. a. They hinder obedience to the truth.

b. They are not of God.
c. They contaminate the church.
d. They will be judged.

6. a. Sexual.
b. Religious.
c. Human relationships.
d. Relationships to objects.

6. a. Sexual.
b . Religious .
c. Human relationships.
d. Relationships to objects.

7. a. One
b. Love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
Lesson 6
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER SIX

INTRODUCTION
In this final chapter, Paul talks about the new life we have in Christ and how it affects
our relationship to others. He had said in the previous chapter, “ If we live in the Spirit, let us
also walk in the Spirit”. Read Galatians 5:26. If we walk in the Spirit, it stands to reason we
will not be conceited and provoke others to dislike or criticize us. See Galatians 5:26. It is very
difficult to preserve brotherly love in churches where some are puffed up with pride, thinking of
themselves more highly than they ought to think. See Romans 12:3.

1. WE MUST BEAR THE BURDENS OF OTHERS. Verses l-5.

Suppose a person suddenly trips and falls into sin? What is to be the Christian attitude
towards him? Paul answers this question in the verses before us. A truly spiritual man will seek
to restore such a person in an attitude of meekness. The word "restore" means “to mend, as a
net, or to restore a broken bone”. After picking up a sinning brother, we are to hold him up --
help him bear his burden. Read verse 2. In this way we “fulfill the law of Christ”. See John
13:34.
The reason some Christians do not stoop down and carry other people's burdens is that
they think it is beneath them. See verse 3. Because they have not Committed that particular sin,
they develop a superior attitude. But Paul says that is a wrong way to think in verse 4. There is
one burden that we cannot share with anybody. It is the burden of our responsibility when we
face Christ at the judgment seat. See verse 5.
II. THE LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING. Verses 6-10.
The Galatians are told to pay their ministers a proper salary. See verse 6. In other
words, the laborer is worthy of his hire. I Corinthians 9:11. Paul uses an illustration from
agriculture to prove that it is stupid and unreasonable to suppose that you will not reap what
you sow. If you give yourself tirelessly to well doing in God's service, you will as surely be
rewarded as the farmer who sows the good seed. On the other hand, if you live carelessly and
“sow your wild oats”, you will reap the same. The law of sowing and reaping is just as true in
the spiritual realm as it is in the natural. The law of sowing and reaping is a universal law that is
never rescinded.
III. FAREWELL REMARKS. Verses 11-18.
Why did Paul write with such large letters? Verse 11. It may have been because of
poor eyesight. Some commentators feel he did it for emphasis. Whichever one is true, Paul is
making it clear that he has something important to say to them in conclusion.
Paul makes one final charge against the Judaizers, saying they wanted to “make a fine
impression outwardly”, even though they did no good inwardly. Their work was not done for
the good of the church or for the glory of God, it was done for their own glory. Read verses 12
& 13. Religious pretense is often used to cover corruption.

Lesson 6 (cont’d)

Throughout history until the time of Christ, the cross was abhorred by everyone. Yet it
became the symbol of Christianity. It is not the wood or the shape of the cross that we honor,
but what happened on the cross. Paul says you either glory in the flesh (humanism) or you glory
in the cross in verses 13 & 14.
It is only fitting that Paul ends his letter by mentioning grace -- the keynote of Galatians.
Grace had freed the Galatians from their bondage in sin under the law. Grace is what would
keep them free in Christ.

Answer the following questions:

1. Why are there difficulties and the lack of brotherly love in churches today?

2. What does restore mean?

3. When we pick-up or restore a brother what are we fulfilling?

4. Why won’t some Christians restore others who have fallen?

5. What kind of attitude do they develop?

6. What is the one burden we can't share with anyone else?

7. Paul says in verse 6 that a church is to pay pastors, and if the church doesn't in verses
7 & 8, what is the result?

8. Grace has done two things for the Galatians. List them.
a.
b.
Lesson #6
Answer Key
GALATIANS
EPISTLE OF LIBERATION

CHAPTER SIX

1. Pride.

2. “To mend, as a net, or to restore a broken bone”.

3. The law of Christ.

4. They think it is beneath them -- pride.

5. Superior

6. Our own responsibility.

7. The church will reap corruption.

8. a. Freed them from their bondage in sin under the law.

b. It would keep them free in Christ.