Rags to Riches

Theme: Heirs of God

Scriptures: Galatians 4:1-31

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: We are heirs of God through faith in Christ, not by our own merits.

Think: View my life as an opportunity to bring glory to my Father.

Do: Live by faith in Christ, free to obey Him in the power He gives me.

B1 Galatians 4:1-7,

C1 Children Some interpret this as

D1 Jews under the elementary principles of Jewish laws.

D2 Jews and Gentiles before they believed.

D3 Gentiles (the Galatians) who believed in many gods before believing into Jesus Christ.

C2 Elementary principles Some interpret this as

D1 Mosaic law

D2 The many gods of idolatry

D3 Sin

C3 Whatever the meaning is the principle taught is every human is under bondage.

C4 What are some things that people are in bondage to?

C5 What is the significance of God sending His son as Redeemer?

C6 Why did Jesus have to be born of a woman and under the Law?

C7 Adoption as sons

D1 Sons here includes male and female gender.

D2 The word for adoption is υἱοθεσία huiothesia. It means adoption.

D3 It is used in Scripture 3 ways:

E1 Physical adoption as going through an agency to adopt a son or daughter. It is this sense the Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses (Exodus 2:10).

E2 National adoption as Israel was adopted by God (Romans 9:4).

E3 Spiritual adoption as being brought into the family of God, thus a believer is a son of God or a daughter of God. He is our Father. He has adopted us.

E4 It is a present reality for believers: Ephesians 1:5 NKJV Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

E5 It is also future:

F1 Romans 8:19 NKJV For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

F2 Romans 8:23 NKJV Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

E6 A note from Vincent’s Word Studies on this passage:

Then an heir (καὶ κληρονόμος): Καὶ marks the logical sequence. Comp. Rom 8:17. The figure is based upon Roman, not upon Jewish, law. According to Roman law, all the children, sons and daughters, inherited alike. According to Jewish law, the inheritance of the sons was unequal, and the daughters were excluded, except where there were no male heirs. Thus the Roman law furnished a more truthful illustration of the privileges of Christians. Comp. Gal 3:28.

E7 Give some of the benefits of being an adopted son or daughter of God.

E8 Remember that we were slaves of sin: Romans 6:20-21 NKJV For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

E9 Now we are slaves to righteousness and heirs of God: Romans 6:22-23 NKJV But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C8 What is good about being able to address God as "Abba, Father?”

C9 What do we inherit?

D1 The earth (Matthew 5:5)

D2 Eternal life (Matthew 19:29)

D3 A heavenly family (Matthew 19:29)

D4 God’s Kingdom (James 2:5)

D5 The Tree of Life (Revelation 2:7)

D6 Kings and Priests (Revelation 5:9-10)

D7 What we need to live a Christian life (2 Peter 1:3)

D8 The Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)

D9 Forgiveness of sins (1 John 1:9)

D10 Freedom from guilt (Romans 8:1 and Hebrews 10:22)

D11 Free from slavery to sin (Romans 6:18)

D12 A heavenly home (John 14:1-2)

D13 Perfect knowledge and freedom from ignorance (1 Corinthians 13:12)

D14 Some other blessings: Revelation 21:4 NKJV And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

B2 Galatians 4:8-20

C1 Name some things that the Galatians were enslaved to.

C2 In Galatians 4:10, days, months, seasons, and years are mentioned. What would Paul be referring to?

C3 We don’t know for sure what Paul’s physical condition was (Galatians 4:14). It was not mentioned, because today there are many physical conditions that would appear to be offensive. Why didn’t the Galatians reject Paul and his message?

C4 How do people become an enemy for telling the truth?

C5 Are we to ask forgiveness for telling the truth?

C6 Some truths:

D1 The truth that they were sinners. (Galatians 5:11 and 1 Peter 2:8). Truth can be offensive.

D2 The truth that it is appointed to die, then to be judged. (See Hebrews 9:27).

D3 Galatians 5:7 NKJV You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?

D4 Galatians 2:11 NKJV Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed. (and read then through verse 14).

C7 Galatians 4:17-18

D1 Two versions

E1 17 They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. 18 Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good—and not just when I am with you. (CSB)

E2 17 Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. 18 If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you. (NLT)

D2 How do false teachers butter us up to manipulate us?

E1 Butter up—flatter with the intention of getting something.

E2 How can we avoid being manipulated?

C8 What is the pain that Paul is feeling for the Galatians?

C9 When does Paul state that he will not feel this pain anymore?

C10 Christ formed in you

D1 Bob Utley makes this comment of the passage:

"until Christ is formed in you" "Formed" [Greek root morphç] was used in a medical sense for fetal development. Morphç could refer to the abiding character of something. This text refers to their maturity in Christ (cf. Eph. 4:13), or in other words, their Christlikeness (cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Gal. 4:19; Eph.1:4; 4:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3,7; 5:23; 1 Pet. 1:15). This does not necessarily mean two different experiences of the Christian life—salvation and maturity—and yet we all know that maturity is a developmental experience.

Paul showed that his motives in teaching and preaching to the Galatian churches were totally different from those of the self-seeking false teachers.

D2 Would this include right doctrine, a Christian worldview, a Christian lifestyle in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds?

D3 How do we develop this?

B3 Galatians 4:21-31,

C1 Explain in your own words Paul’s allegory of the 2 sons (Galatians 4:21-26).

C2 Why is being under the law (obeying Mosaic Law) being in bondage?

D1 John Calvin writes in his commentary on Hebrews 12:22:

Then he contrasts mount Sion with mount Sinai; and he further adds, the heavenly Jerusalem, and he expressly calls it heavenly, that the Jews might not cleave to that which was earthly, and which had flourished under the Law; for when they sought perversely to continue under the slavish yoke of the Law, mount Sion was turned into mount Sinai as Paul teaches us in the Gal 4:21 of the Epistle to the Galatians. Then by the heavenly Jerusalem he understood that which was to be built throughout the whole world, even as the angel, mentioned by Zechariah, extended his line from the east even to the west.

D2 What are we Christians to be firmly attached and steadfast towards—the earthly or the heavenly?

C3 In Paul’s allegory, how are Christians the children of the free woman?

C4 Are we to obey the Law of Moses? If so, how? (Basically, only when it is repeated in the New Testament to be obeyed. Nine of the ten commandments are repeated in the New Testament, for example. The Sabbath Laws are not).

C5 Is our righteousness only from faith or do we have to do good works and follow the Law of Moses to be saved, forgiven, reconciled with God?

B4 Next week

C1 Family first

C2 Theme: Household of faith

C3 Scriptures: Galatians 6:1-10

It's Always Been Faith

Theme: Justified by faith

Scriptures: Galatians 3:1-29

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: Justification has always been through faith, even in the Old Testament.

Think: Maintain an awareness that I am totally dependent on Christ for salvation and for power to live for Him each day.

Do: Continue to walk by faith each and every day.

B1 Galatians 3:1-5 NKJV O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

C1 What did the Galatians have a clear description of?

C2 Why did they not obey the truth? (Wilbur Pickering notes, Perhaps 3% of the Greek manuscripts omit “that you not be persuaded by the Truth (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.)).

C3 How does this verse apply to the Galatians (and perhaps, to us): Proverbs 14:15 NKJV The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

C4 How would you summarize Jesus’s death? Give some physical aspects of Jesus’s death and some spiritual aspects.

C5 Does keeping the Law bring salvation, forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation with God?

C6 Can any human keep God’s Law?

C7 Could Paul, the Apostle, keep God’s law?

C8 There are 3 questions in this text. How do WE answer these questions?

D1 You began by God's Spirit; do you now want to finish by your own power?

D2 Did all your experience mean nothing at all?

D3 Does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you because you do what the Law requires or because you hear the gospel and believe it?

C9 Note the contrast between works of the law and hearing of faith. The Galatians knew little or nothing of the Law. What they had experienced was a result of hearing the Gospel, not keeping Mosaic Law.

B2 Galatians 3:6-9 NKJV just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

C1 The Scripture referred to is the spoken word that God spoke to Abraham. The only written Scripture at that time was possibly Job.

C2 What did Abraham do to be accepted by God as righteous? Did He keep the Law or believe? How could Abraham have kept the Law of Moses?

C3 How are Israelites put right with God? How about Gentiles?

C4 What Gospel did Abraham hear? How is that Gospel different from the Gospel of today?

B3 Galatians 3:10-12 NKJV For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

C1 What does trying to keep the Law result in?

C2 How much of the Law is each person required to obey?

C3 Is keeping the Law just in outward actions or in thoughts, desires, words, AND deeds?

C4 How many people have been justified by the Law?

C5 What does the Law have to do with faith?

C6 What does the Law require?

B5 Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

C1 Explain how Christ became a curse for us.

C2 How does Christ redeem us from the Law’s curse? Redeem has the idea of buying back something. We humans are sold under sin; we are enslaved to it. We are set free by faith and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

C3 How does a person receive the Spirit promised by God?

B6 Galatians 3:15-18 NKJV Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

C1 Wilbur Pickering notes: Less than 3% of the Greek manuscripts, of inferior quality, omit “in Christ” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). Without Christ, the Seed, there would have been no promise.

C2 If 2 people agree on a business or legal matter, they have a written contract. Can it be changed or broken without the other agreeing to it?

C3 Who then can break God’s agreement with Abraham?

C4 Who is the descendant (singular, not plural)?

C5 What does God’s promise to keep this covenant mean today?

C6 What is the difference between a gift and an obligation?

C7 Did Abraham earn righteousness or receive it as a gift?

B7 Galatians 3:19-20 NKJV What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

C1 What is the purpose of the Law? Is it to forgive sins and find reconciliation with God?

C2 What was keeping (trying to keep) the Law meant to do?

C3 How long was the Law to last (stay in effect)?

B8 Galatians 3:21-22 NKJV Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

C1 Does this mean that the Law is against God's promises?

C2 Does the Law bring life?

C3 What is the whole world (every human) enslaved to?

C4 What is the gift of salvation based on?

C5 Who receives this gift of salvation? Is it law keepers or those with faith in Christ?

B9 Galatians 3:23-25 NKJV But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

C1 What did the Law do to us before faith (the Gospel) was revealed?

C2 What was the purpose of the Law?

C3 How are people put right with God?

C4 Does the Law have authority over us?

B10 Galatians 3:26-29 NKJV For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

C1 God looks upon believers as His children. Was it through keeping God’s Law or faith in Jesus Christ?

C2 Is salvation’s status different if one is a male or female, a slave or nonslave, between Jews or Gentile?

B11 A topical study on...Obey the truth…

C1 Truth is reality (the correspondence theory of truth).

C2 Truth needs to be in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

C3 Yahweh is the only source of 100% truth.

C4 The Bible, given by inspiration by the Holy Spirit, is 100% truth.

C5 The Gospel is truth.

C6 Truth is rejected by many because it may bring discomfort in revealing the real person we are.

C7 God desires for us to come to the full knowledge of truth: 1 Timothy 2:4 WEB who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.

C8 How can a person be deceived?

B12 Next week:

C1 Rags to Riches

C2 Theme: Heirs of God

C3 Scriptures: Galatians 4:1-31