The Letter to Galatians
Inductive Bible Studies
Leader’s Guide
Greg Chao
Sept. 4, 2014
Inductive Bible Studies on the Letter to the Galatians
Table of Contents
Purpose .................................................................................3
Guidelines and Tips ................................................................3
Background to the Letter to Galatians ....................................6
Galatians 1:1-10 – What is the Gospel? ...................................7
Galatians 1:11-2:10 – Contrasting Systems in Paul’s Life..........8
Galatians 2:11-21 – Collateral Damage with Justification by
Good Deeds ...........................................................................9
Galatians 3:1-25 – Gospel, not an Event but Lifelong ............. 10
Galatians 3:26-4:7 – The Gospel causes Identity Change ........ 11
Galatians 4:8-31 – Two Masters ........................................... 12
Galatians 5:1-15 – Freedom In Christ .................................... 13
Galatians 5:16-21 – Living in the Spirit .................................. 14
Galatians 6:1-18 – Practical Matters ..................................... 15
Appendix – Insights & Comments for Leaders........................ 16
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Purpose: What should motivate Christians? These studies were
created to help the seeker and the believer alike answer that
question. The Apostle Paul shares how “hope” in Christ affects
our perspectives on life and gives some practical tips on “joyful”
living.
The recommended format provides in a low commitment, low
pressure environment where questions can be freely explored.
This guide provides material and tips to help you assist others to
go directly to the source, the Bible, and draw their own
conclusions. The studies use the method of “inductive”
questioning utilizing questions to bring out observations,
meaning, and applications from the text itself.
In any growing church, the Bible should be read and studied and
held in the highest esteem. Those who have been touched by
God will be excited to share their faith with others characterized
by being:
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“Organic or spontaneous, outside of church’s organized
programs
Relational, in the context of informal personal relationships
Word deployed, bringing the Bible and gospel into
connection with people’s lives
Active, not passive where each person assumes personal
responsibility for being a producer rather than being a
consumer of ministry”1
Guidelines and Tips: Here are some tips as you prepare and
conduct the Bible study. The inductive questions for each
passage in Philippians are versatile enough to work with in a
one-on-one or group format. They can be used for Bible studies
for Christians, seekers, or a mixture of the two.
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1
Place – Find a quiet place where you can talk without being
interrupted or distracted.
Keller, Timothy, Center Church, p. 280
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Inductive Bible Studies on the Letter to the Galatians
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Bible/Material – Make sure there is a Bible for each of you.
Try to get the same version if possible. Print out the
questions for each of you beforehand. (Do not print out the
answers in the Appendix since you are trying to encourage
discussion.)
Number of meetings – There are 8 studies provided
intended for 8 weeks. Agree on the amount of time
together (1-1 ½ hours should be sufficient).
Set Expectations – The time you spend together will be
informal where all questions are welcome. You may not
have the answers to them on the spot but you can research
and try to provide answers during the next meeting. No
homework should be required.
Read the Passage First – Make sure and read the passage
entirely. For flow and clarity, it is better for one person to
read the entire passage.
Sharing Question (for small groups only) - A sharing
question is provided for each study that is related to the
passage. Go around in a circle and share (make sure you
give the option of “passing” if someone does not want to
share).
Work through the Study Questions –The study questions
are meant to bring out the meaning of the passage through
discussion. Although you will find some answers/insights to
the questions in the appendix, don’t just blurt out the
answers. Allow the group/individual to get at the answers
through observing the passage. There is usually an
application question at the end.
Conversation – Don’t do all the talking. Listen a lot. Be
interested in what the other person has to say. Allowing
the conversation to drift for a time can be beneficial. Bring
it back by using the questions. Don’t feel obligated to
correct; each individual in the group can decide for
themselves whether they agree. You can bring in other
opinions by saying, “what do the rest of you think?” or
“here is another way to look at it.” Always be gracious.
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Inductive Bible Studies on the Letter to the Galatians

Becoming a Christian – After each study, determine if you
would like to invite the seeker to become a Christian. If so,
here are two examples of a simple prayer of invitation.
Either could be used.
“Father, I’ve always believed in you and Jesus Christ, but my
heart’s most fundamental trust was elsewhere---in my own
competency and decency. This has only gotten me into
trouble. As far as I know my own heart, today I give it to
you, I transfer my trust to you, and ask that you would
receive and accept me not for anything I have done but
because of everything Christ has done for me.”2
“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for
Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose
from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come
into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my
Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen.”3
Note that each prayer had an element of 1)
acknowledgement of one’s personal sins and a desire to
change, 2) asking for forgiveness from God, 3)
acknowledging the work of Christ as Savior and 4)
transferring trust in God (giving over control of one's life).
2
3
The Reason for God, Timothy Keller, p. 245
http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/PGView.aspx?pid=13
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Inductive Bible Studies on the Letter to the Galatians
Background to the Letter to Galatians
Galatians dynamically explains the “gospel” or good news and
the ramifications of our standing before God not based on good
deeds (following the Law) but based on accepting (faith) God’s
act of sacrificial love through Jesus Christ.
This gospel is “not the “ABC” but rather it is the A to Z of
Christian life. It is not only the way to enter the kingdom; it is
the way to live as part of the kingdom. It is the way Christ
transforms people, churches and communities. We are going to
see Paul showing young Christians in Galatia that their spiritual
problem is not only caused by failing to live in obedience to
God, but also by relying on obedience to Him. We’re going to
see him telling them that all they need --- all they could ever
need --- is the gospel of God’s unmerited favor to them through
Christ’s life, death and resurrection. We’re going to hear him
solving their issues not through telling them to “be better
Christians”, but by calling them to live out the implications of
the gospel.”4
This is one of Paul’s earliest letters written around 50AD, only
15-20 years after the death of Christ. After Paul initially
proclaims the Gospel to the area, a church fledgling was
formed. “A group of teachers were now insisting that the
Gentile Christians practice all the traditional ceremonial
customs of the law of Moses, as the Jewish Christians did. They
taught that the Gentiles had to observe all the dietary laws and
be circumcised for full acceptance to be completely pleasing to
God.”5
What is remarkable is that we are still struggling with the same
issues today. Is our status with God based on our good deeds?
What is the role of standards/laws? If our status is not based on
good deeds, what prevents us from behaving poorly?
4
5
Tim Keller, Galatians for You, p. 9
Ibid.
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Inductive Bible Studies on the Letter to the Galatians
Galatians 1:1-10 – What is the Gospel?
Study 1
Sharing Question: Share about the first time you were
interested in knowing more about God.
1. What is the meaning of the word “gospel?” In verse 4, how
is it related to us being “rescued from this present age?”
How is it related to Christ “giving himself for our sins?” In
verse 6, in the phrase “grace of Christ,” how is the gospel
related to “grace?”
2. If you had a system of feeling good about yourself
(justification) that is based not on grace but on meeting
standards (laws), how would you be motivated? If you felt
like you were meeting the standard, how would you treat
others who you felt did not? If you felt like you failed the
standard, how would you behave?
3. In contrast, what attitude results from understanding that
the gospel is about what has been “done for you” (grace of
Christ) rather than “what we must do” to earn it? From
outward appearances, how would each behave?
4. In verse 6, why do you think Paul is so adamant to condemn
those who proclaim another gospel? (need to know a little
background on Paul)
5. In the world, how are we taught to feel good about
ourselves? How is the gospel different? How do we keep
the gospel “front and center” in our lives?
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Galatians 1:11-2:10 – Contrasting Systems in Paul’s Life
Study 2
Sharing Question: Share about a turning point in your life.
1. Why do you think it is so hard for Paul’s opponent to accept
that our standing before God is not based on our good
deeds? From verse 11, we can reasonably derive that Paul’s
opponent accused him of fabricating his message. How
does he refute them?
2. In verse 13 & 14, Paul is arguing that he previously excelled
in the system of justifying himself through following
standards. Why is this argument a powerful refutation of
his critics?
3. When Paul states in verse 15, “God, who set me apart from
birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his
Son to me,” what does he credit his salvation to? How is
this a radically different perspective?
4. How does Paul continue to assert that the gospel message
was not obtained through people but directly from God?
How did Paul get validation from James, Peter, and John
that his understanding of the gospel was correct? Why is it
important that his message is confirmed by them?
5. In verse 2:4, how does a system of justification by good
deeds create “slavery?” How does the gospel of Christ
create “freedom?”
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Galatians 2:11-21 – Collateral Damage with Justification
by Good Deeds
Study 3
Sharing Question: Share a time when someone protected or
stuck up for you.
1. By withdrawing from the Gentiles, what was Peter
communicating? How do you think this custom came about
and what was fundamentally wrong with it?
2. Why do you think Paul took such strong actions to directly
confront Peter? What would have happened if he did not
do it?
3. How is this an example of the collateral consequences of
thinking that “justification comes from following the law?”
4. By stating that “Jews by birth” and “Gentile sinners” are not
justified by observing the law (standards) but by faith in
Jesus Christ, how does this change the hierarchy?
5. In verse 19, what does it mean that “through the law I died
to the law so that I might live for God?” What does it mean
“I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me?”
6. What does it mean “for if righteousness could be gained
through the law, Christ died for nothing?” How does
thinking we are justified by good deeds actually diminish
God’s act of love through Jesus Christ?
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Inductive Bible Studies on the Letter to the Galatians
Galatians 3:1-25 – Gospel, not an Event but Lifelong
Study 4
Sharing Question: Share about an accomplishment in your life.
1. You can derive from this section that Paul’s opposition is
claiming that believing in the gospel applies to salvation but
to really grow you must now work at applying the law.
What do you think Paul means by saying, “after beginning
with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by
human effort?”
2. When Paul says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited
to him as righteousness,” what is the meaning of
“righteousness?” What is the meaning of “credited to
him?” What is the meaning of “believing?”
3. In verse 10, why does Paul say that “all who rely on
observing the law are under a curse?” How does Christ
redeem us from the curse of the law? What does it mean
that Christ “became the curse for us?”
4. What is the purpose of laws like the 10 commandments in
the Old Testament (Deut. 5)? How difficult are they to
follow? How are they helpful in defining sin? What does it
mean that the whole world is “prisoner to sin” in verse 22?
In verse 24, how does the law “lead us to Christ?”
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Galatians 3:26-4:7 – The Gospel causes Identity Change
Study 5
Sharing Question: When was a time where you felt like your
faith in God changed you in some way?
1. How does being a “son or daughter” of God radically change
the way we see ourselves? What aspects of an earthly
father-son relationship are we to relate to our new
relationship with God? What do you think it means to
“cloth ourselves with Christ?”
2. What does it mean that “there is neither Jew or Greek,
slave or free, male or female [culture, class, gender] for you
are all one in Christ?” Why does being a “son or daughter”
of God cause us to discard our established categories of
thinking about ourselves? How radical is this idea? How
would this change the way we treat others? How does this
make us “one in Christ?”
3. Why is it so significant that God sent the “Spirit of his Son
into our hearts?” What is so special about “Abba, Father?”
How does the Spirit make our “sonship/daughtership” real
and practical?
4. Why is it important that we are not “slaves” but
“sons/daughters?” What does it mean that we are “heirs?”
What are we inheriting?
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Galatians 4:8-31 – Two Masters
Study 6
Sharing Question: When was a time that you felt close to God?
1. How were the Galatians formerly slaves to “those by nature
are not gods?” How is their new life characterized by
“knowing” or “being known” by God? How is embracing
Paul’s opponent’s teaching turning back to those “miserable
principles?”
2. Why does Paul want them to separate zealousness from
truth? How does Paul try to remind them of his motives?
3. In the comparison between Hagar and Sarah, Paul is
figuratively using an analogy. Paul points out that Sarah
was barren and persecuted while Hagar was a slave and
earthly. How is this similar to the two systems of thinking?
Sarah
Hagar
Love-grace system
Heaven/Jerusalem
Christian mother
Free
Grace for the barren
persecuted
Power of the Spirit
inheritance
Law-obedience system
Earthly
False mother
Slave
Outwardly fertile
Persecutors
4. How could “knowing” and “being known” by God radically
change your outlook on life? What areas would it touch?
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Inductive Bible Studies on the Letter to the Galatians
Galatians 5:1-15 – Freedom In Christ
Study 7
Sharing Question: Share a time when you felt a great relief
about something.
1. What does mean “it is for freedom that Christ has set us
free?” What are we freed from? How is this freedom tied
to our relationship with God? How does this “freedom”
change that way we think and act in life?
2. Why would circumcision be an example of returning to
slavery according to verses 2-6? What does he mean when
he says that one will be obligated to obey the “whole law?”
Why does he say that one who follows that system, “Christ
will be of no value?”
3. In verse 5, what is Paul eager and hopeful about concerning
righteousness?
4. What does Paul mean by “the only thing that counts is faith
expressing itself through love?” Why is it so important that
our freedom be guided by love? How does being guided by
love prevent us from “indulging the sinful nature?” How
does being guided by love still preserve freedom?
5. How do we prevent ourselves from falling back to life of
rules? How can we better experience the freedom of
Christ?
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Galatians 5:16-21 – Living in the Spirit
Study 8
Sharing Question: Share a time where you experienced God
guiding you or teaching you something.
1. How does “living by the Spirit” prevent us from “gratifying
the desires of the sinful nature?” What does it mean “if you
are led by the Spirit” you are not under the law?
2. Looking over the list of the acts of the sinful nature, which
of these stand out to you? Why? Do you see any natural
groupings? Notice the phrase “and the like” which signifies
that the list is not complete.
3. What is “obviously” wrong about the acts of the sinful
nature? How is it that “those who live by” the sinful nature
will not inherit the kingdom of God?
4. By using the analogy of fruit, Paul implies that growth is
gradual, inevitable, internal, and symmetrical. Looking over
the list of fruit (singular) of the Spirit, which of these stand
out to you? Why does Paul say, “against such things” there
is no law?
5. What practices do you have to help you to “pay attention”
to the Holy Spirit?
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Galatians 6:1-18 – Practical Matters
Study 9
Sharing Question: Share a time where you appreciated
someone pointing out something that you could improve.
1. How is “restoring a brother caught in sin gently” a difficult
thing to do both from the willingness to confront and from
the restraint to criticize? What does it mean to “watch
yourself or you also may be tempted?”
2. What does it mean to “carry each other’s burdens?” How
does this relate with “each one should carry his own load”
in verse 5?
3. From the teaching in verses 3-5, how should one look at
him/herself? Why is it dangerous to compare with others?
4. What is Paul trying to teach when he says, “a man reaps
what he sows?” Why does he encourage them not to grow
weary in doing good?
5. How does Paul see circumcision? Instead of boasting about
things like circumcision (practices, good works), what
should we be boasting about? What really matters
according to Paul?
6. How does leading a life according the gospel lead to peace
and mercy?
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Appendix – Insights & Comments for Leaders
Galatians 1:1-10 – What is the Gospel?
What is the Gospel? - The meaning of the word “gospel” is
“good news.” First of all, we are trapped in our own selfabsorbed, selfish life that creates a dead end. We are unable to
will our way to goodness. We fall short. This is called “sin.” Sin
is not only purposeful evil but not doing what is right when we
ought to. It is also making ourselves god causing harm to
ourselves and others.
God is the powerful Creator, good (just, holy), and loving. He
reached out to us in love by coming on earth in the form of a
human, Jesus Christ. Jesus also fulfilled God’s justice by paying
the penalty (or debt) of sin so that we can become children of
God. When we rejected God, we were distant from Him, even
enemies. When we accept Him and turn over control of our
lives to God, we become his children. This is something that
Christ has done for us. The offer to be God’s child is the good
news. It is not earned but given to all those who accept it. This
is an act of grace from Christ. The gospel will bring joy to the
believer not obligation or feeling trapped. The gospel has
everything to do with what Christ has done for us. Grace is God
doing what we do not deserve.
System of Good Works - The system of justification by
standards is one where we are motivated by fear of
consequences or punishment. We can never quite feel secure
because one slip and we can be on the wrong side of the law.
God becomes a taskmaster. There are two scenarios when we
use the system of standards. If we feel like we are meeting the
standard, we feel good about ourselves but we also are
arrogant judging those who do not and then we slip into
another sin, self-righteousness. If we feel like we are not
meeting the standard, we feel despair and we will tend to give
up and sin without restraint. We are trapped in sin either way.
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Results of True Gospel - In contrast, understanding that we are
justified by simply accepting God’s offer of grace is freeing. We
know that we do not deserve God’s goodness to us and we are
amazed that He wants us to be his children. Since it is God’s
initiation and God’s work, we cannot lose our salvation. God is
now and forever our Father and this fact is transforming. We
are motivated by gratitude for the rest of our lives.
It is interesting that outwardly, two people sitting at church,
one motivated by fear and the other motivated by gratitude,
might look the same. Yet, inwardly, there is a world of
difference and, in the long run, it makes a huge difference.
Paul understood this difference because he had been brought
up in a standards-based culture and exceeded most others in
trying to meet the standards. He, in the end, understood that it
breeds self-righteousness and that it was a dead end. He
wanted the Galatians to understand the “grace of Christ” and
experience the “freedom” of the gospel, that we are forever
children of God, righteous (in right standing) forever because of
what Christ has done for us.
It takes a lifetime to really deeply learn this truth because of our
pride even after we become Christians. Whenever we try to
take back control of our lives and start to feel good about
ourselves because of our accomplishments, race, or status, we
will fall back into the subtle trap of self-righteousness.
Remembering who we are (sinners saved by grace) and who
God is (our gracious Father) will help us stay centered.
Galatians 1:11-2:10 – Paul answers his Opponents
The Gospel is difficult to accept because it requires humility.
There is a certain comfort in rules, a certain safety in that you
are in control. The gospel that Paul is preaching is unnerving
since it is based on a dynamic relationship with God and not on
safe understandable rules.
Paul refutes his opponents by pointing out that he knows that
rule-based system (Judaism) well and even excelled in it. He
learned by firsthand experience that it was a dead end.
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He attributes his salvation to God who set him apart from birth
and saved him by grace (unmerited favor). His posture is one of
gratitude.
In addition, Paul points out that he learned the gospel message
directly from God through years of personal time with God. He
validated the gospel message with the leaders of the church,
Peter, James and John.
Although there is a certain amount of safety in rules/standards,
it ends up enslaving us because we can never truly satisfy the
standards. If we try to convince ourselves that we are meeting
the standard, we either lower our standards so that it is easy to
meet or we turn a blind eye our own transgression and become
hypocrites.
On the other hand, the true gospel is more about what God has
done for us and initiates a dynamic love relationship with God in
which we proactively please God out of gratefulness. There is a
freedom in the knowledge that our standing before God is
secure and that God is forever on our side.
Galatians 2:11-3:5 – Collateral Damage with Justification
by Good Deeds
Peter, by withdrawing (and others followed his example),
denied the truth of the gospel that our position before God is
not based on good deeds/heritage such as circumcision or
following laws/customs or being born Jewish. Rather, it is based
on the grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ.
The custom of separation may have stemmed from a
misunderstanding of being “holy” but ended up being a vehicle
for arrogance and hypocrisy.
This being the case, there is no hierarchy. The gospel puts us all
on equal footing, sinners that need God’s grace and mercy.
Jews are no better than Gentiles and eating in separate tables
makes no sense. If Paul did not rebuke Peter, the implied
hierarchy would not have been questioned and propagated.
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Since justification by following standards (laws) is a dead end,
Paul says we need to get rid of that system of thinking or die to
it and take on a new way of thinking; that is, “living by faith.”
Living by faith has the idea of trusting in Jesus Christ on a
continual basis.
Paul points out that if it is possible to get right with God through
good deeds then we would not need Christ’s sacrifice. We
actually diminish God’s act of love through Jesus Christ if we
insist that we can do it on our own.
Galatians 3:1-25 – Gospel, not an Event but Lifelong
When they first believed in the gospel, they understood that it
was dynamic relationship with God yet they are going to a
system of works based on their own human effort.
Righteous has the idea of right relationship with God. Even
though we are not holy in practice, God sees us or credits us
with holiness because of Christ’s sacrifice. We are forever in
right relationship or righteous because of Christ. We need to
accept God’s gift and this is “believing.”
To go back to a system of works brings an impossible situation
or dilemma and is therefore a “curse.” The criteria for success is
perfection. We will always fall short. Christ, however, was
perfectly sinless and therefore his sacrifice had meaning. In that
sense, he took the punishment we deserved, death, and
became the curse for our benefit.
The purpose of the law is to show us that we fall short. They
accelerate our desperation for an alternative and leads us to the
solution Christ gives.
They crystalize a standard that is impossible to follow perfectly.
We all fall short of it. They help us to understand what sin is.
The Ten Commandments and other laws do not give us a sense
of right and wrong but rather crystallizes the standard. Our
sense of right and wrong is already present in us as part of the
“image of God.” Without the Law, we would still have a moral
sense and longing for meaning. Without the Law as the
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standard, we would still have some kind of standard and know
that we are not meeting it.
Because we cannot follow the standard set before us, the
resulting guilt and shame feels like we are in a prison. We are
trapped without a way out. We are distant from God because
we do not follow his ways. We are stubborn, selfish, and selfabsorbed wanting to go without God.
Galatians 3:26-4:7 – The Gospel causes Identity Change
When we become children of God, our relationship with God
dramatically changes. Since our standing before God is no
longer dependent on our behavior but rather on our acceptance
of his love for us through Christ's death on the cross, it is secure
and therefore we feel relieved, safe, and at peace. Our
relationship with God is characterized by love. God loves us and
we love God in return. A relationship based on love is not
obligation oriented, marked by gratefulness and selfless
sacrifice. Clothing is the most physically intimate thing that we
have. We are to keep Christ near to us in the same way.
Our identity is so transformed that we no longer need to see
ourselves through the old lens of culture, position, or gender
but rather as "sons and daughters" of Christ. This means that
we have nothing to be arrogant about. We are not better than
others but rather at the same level, sinners who have received
God’s grace and mercy. This reality will break down barriers
and hatred between peoples.
The Holy Spirit brings the reality of God into our everyday lives.
God interacts with us constantly. “Abba” is an endearing form
of Father equivalent to “daddy.”
As his children, we are no longer slaves. We are not treated as
property but as heirs. This means we have a special relationship
with God marked by intimacy and we also have a rich future
with God in heaven.
Galatians 4:8-31 – Two Masters
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The Galatians, before converting to Christianity, had systems of
belief that were based on the merit of their deeds. The new life
of the gospel is characterized by “knowing” God and “being
known” by Him. Now they are returning to a different merit
based system that is Jewish.
Paul does not want them to base their beliefs on the
zealousness of his opponent. Sincerity should be separated
from truth. Paul also reminds them that he is also just as
zealous.
Comparing his Jewish teachers to Hagar would really cause a
stir. He is using this story figuratively so it doesn’t have to be
exactly historically correct. He says that the gospel is heavenbase and leads to freedom. The persecution they are
experiencing is to be expected.
To understand that we get to “know” God and “be known” by
Him is very radical especially when you realize that God is the
creator of the universe. It will completely transform life from
boring to exciting.
Galatians 5: 1-15 – Freedom In Christ
What is this freedom? - “Our conscience is free and quiet
because it no longer has to fear the wrath of God. This is real
freedom…Who can adequately express the blessing that comes
to a person when he has the heart-assurance that God will
nevermore be angry with him, but will forever be merciful to
him for Christ's sake? This is indeed a marvelous freedom, to
have the sovereign God for our Friend and Father who will
defend, maintain, and save us in this life and in the life to
come.” --- Martin Luther, Commentary on Galatians
Circumcision puts in place a system of meeting requirements to
be right with God. The focus is on earning the right to be with
God. Rather, our salvation is not based on meeting
requirements but rather on make the decision to trust in God
and accept his offer of friendship. This is very hard to accept
and we often slip back into an earning mode. Once we do this,
our lives with God become an activity of frustration because we
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will never be able to meet God's standards. It will feel like
slavery.
Paul is excited about the prospect of appearing before God in
good standing (righteous) because of the work of Christ.
Love describes the foundational relationship that God wishes to
have with us. A relationship guided by love will prevent us from
"indulging in sin" for it will disappoint the one we love. We then
act rightly out of willingness.
Galatians 5:16-21 – Living in the Spirit
The Bible speaks of a freedom to do what is right, something
that we can get through the power of God in the form of the
Holy Spirit. This freedom is marked by selflessness expressing
itself in love. If we are under the law of love, we follow the law
voluntarily and willingly. Motivation by fear of punishment
works but it is short term and people will only comply to meet
the minimum requirement. Motivation by love is active and will
seek to do over and above what is required. Motivation by fear
does not require relationship. Motivation by love is all about
relationship. It is marked by gratitude and intimacy.
If we live by the Spirit, we will tend to follow His lead in our
lives. The Spirit will work on various parts of our lives and
“clean us up.” The Holy Spirit is the key to actually have power
in our lives to overcome our weakness. The Bible speaks of
being “transformed” in Romans 12:2. We are not left along to
“suck it up” and perform once we become Christians.
The list of acts of the sinful nature is grouped as sins against
ourselves, sins against God, and sins against others.
Sin is subtle because we can take good desires such as love or
sex and corrupt them or over-indulge in them and they become
our “gods.” This is the sin of idolatry. For example, food, in
and of itself, is not sin but gluttony is. Sex, in and of itself, is
not sin but unrestrained sex is. Money, in and of itself, is not sin
but the “love of money” (making it the priority in our lives) is.
These are only a few examples.
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By using the illustration of fruit, Paul is implying that our growth
is gradual like plants growing. It is inevitable in that it will be
visible. It is internal in that it is not just traits but real life from
the vine. It is symmetrical in that all the qualities appear as one
fruit. The qualities that flourish are not because of following
standard but because of our dynamic relationship with God.
Paul encourages us to “pay attention” to the Holy Spirit. We
need to follow His lead in our lives.
Galatians 6:1-18 – Practical Matters
We need to care enough to be willing to confront a
brother/sister when they are sinning but we must do it gently.
If we set ourselves up as superior, we are in danger of falling
into sin as they have.
We ought to support our brothers/sisters when they are in
need. However, there is a balance between helping and helping
too much. Each should carry his own load but may need help
from time to time.
We should see ourselves truthfully, neither too high or too low.
Comparing with others is a trap because you will always find
people that are lower than you (arrogance) and higher than you
(jealousy).
We should understand that a general principle is that if we do
good, it will be rewarded. We should not get discouraged.
Those who focus on circumcision (good works) are focused on
the wrong thing. It is nothing to boast about. If we do any
boasting, it should be on the mercy of Christ (which is not
boasting at all). What really matters is that we are now a new
creation (children of God).
Through this, we can have security (peace) and give mercy to
others.
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