Category Archives: Galatians

Galatians Bible Class, Pt. 51: A Good Conscience

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Class #51:  The vainglorious, false teachers who were active at Galatia really thought that they were something! Instead of exhibiting love toward the neighbor, their selfish ambition to please others led them to mercilessly demand obedience to their own laws.  When St. Paul says, “Let each one examine his own work, then he will have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another,” he is teaching about a true Christian’s sanctification, as opposed to those who seek their own glory.  None of our works grant peace with God, that peace only comes from faith in Jesus Christ.  When the Christian seeks to do his work properly so that God is pleased, he will have a good conscience within him.

We are to consider ourselves, not on the basis of man’s approval or in comparison with others, but in accordance with our God-given vocation and on the basis of whether God is pleased, not men. The Small Catechism says, “Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments,” and “…that all my doings and life may please you.”  Knowing that our meager accomplishments are due to the grace of God in gifting us with everything that we have–our competence comes from God–we ought to think of ourselves in humility.

Overhead:Galatians Class 51 Overheads
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 26 thru 6 10

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Galatians Bible Class, Pt. 50: Abundantly Gifted

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Class #50:  By the grace of God and not by works, we were saved through faith in Christ! Even beyond this, Christians have been abundantly gifted with the gift of the Holy Spirit and “the fruit of the Spirit.”  St. Paul warns us in Galatians 5:26 not to become conceited, lest we mistakenly take credit for the putting to death of our sinful passion and desires, and for the new walking in the Spirit. The vainglorious person will not be merciful and loving toward his neighbor, but provoking and envying.

Jesus’ unconditional love for us led Him to bear our burden, even unto the cross. Our God has redeemed each one of us in a spirit of gentleness. To be spiritual is to use the Spirit’s gifts to gently restore a weaker brother.  We are not strong of ourselves, but continue to trust in Christ, lest we also be tempted.

Overhead: Overheads for Class 50
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 26 thru 6 10

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Galatians Bible Class, Part 49: The Fruit of the Spirit

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Class #49:  In Galatians 2:20, it say, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” My conversion (at a point in the past) is solely the work of God and it is completed.  But now that I am converted, Christ presently lives in me.  That work continues.  In Romans 6:6, it says, “…our old man was crucified with Him…that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”  Now that I am converted, I presently live differently–in service to my new master, Christ.  In Galatians 5:24, it speaks of the believer’s completed action in the past.  “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Once converted by Christ, believers are not unwilling.  They, too, have kicked the flesh off the throne.

Having been converted by God(Gal 2:2, Rom 6:6), so that I, too, crucified the flesh(Gal 5:24) in the past, I now presently continue to put to death the sinful nature within me(Rom 8:13). In Romans 8:13, it says, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”  I walk by the Spirit, who brings forth the fruit of the Spirit within me.  Either I deny my sinful nature and do good works, or I confess, when I fall into temptation, and receive forgiveness.

Overhead: Overheads for Class 49

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Galatians Bible Class, Pt. 48: Description of a Believer

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Class #48:  We need to be careful how we speak about the description of the believer.  St. Paul draws a clear distinction between the unbeliever and the believer.  The unbeliever is a slave to the law relying upon it for salvation, while the believer is a son of God living by faith in Jesus Christ.  Because of this great difference, the unbeliever and the believer live differently.  The unbeliever indulges the sinful nature, gratifies its desires, and thus condones and perpetuates the works of the flesh.   Believers are led by the Holy Spirit, and thus have been set free to show forth the fruits of the Spirit and love to the neighbor.

In order to clarify last week’s lesson, we begin this lesson with four theses from C.F.W. Walther’s book, The Proper Distinction between the Law and the Gospel.  The believer has been given new desires as seen in St. Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit.  However, due to the sinful nature, the believer is constantly assailed and frequently does not progress beyond the will to the action.  Nevertheless, the believer, unlike the unbeliever, is not ruled by his sinful nature so that He sins purposefully.  A person living in mortal sin falls from grace.

Overhead: Galatians Class 48 Overhead
Handout: Handout for Class 48 Law and Gospel

Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 47: Repudiating the Works of the Flesh

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Class #47:  The works of the flesh are OBVIOUS–and thus St. Paul lists them for us.  Those who claim to be Christian, while at the same time perpetuating these obvious works of the flesh, are not Christian at all.  Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Even while St. Paul is pointing out fake Christians, he  is warning the true Christians to walk in the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the lust of the flesh.  The Holy Spirit leads Christians to love their neighbor.  Believers are not moved by the Law, but by the freedom of the Gospel.

St. Paul reminds us that we belong to Jesus Christ.  When we recognize the desires of the flesh to do these works, we repudiate them.  We do not consent to do them, nor do we resolve to live in them.  We avoid the works of the flesh.  If we find that we have done them, we confess them.

Overhead: Galatians Class 47 Overhead
Handout 1: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 16 thru 21
Handout 2: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 22 thru 26

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 46: Works of the Flesh

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Class #46:  Christians strive to avoid the works of the flesh, but we can’t avoid the desires which come from our sinful nature/flesh.  Therefore, the Christian life is a continual struggle against sin.  With our salvation secured through faith in Christ, we desire to please our Lord.  We walk by the Spirit when we confess those sinful thoughts and do not do the works of the flesh.  We also walk by the Spirit when after we find that we have sinned, we do not persist stubbornly in our sin.

In this study we begin to examine the works of the flesh described in Galatians 5:19-21.  St. Paul says, “just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  So Luther explains, “It is one thing to be aroused by the flesh and not to tolerate its desires any further, but to walk and to withstand by the Spirit; it is quite another thing to give in to the flesh and to do its works with a smug air, to persist in them…” (Luther’s Works, v.7, p.80).

Overhead: Overheads for Class 46
Handout 1: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 16 thru 21
Handout 2: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 22 thru 26
Handout 3: Chart for Flesh and Spirit

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 45: The Conflict of Spirit and Sinful Nature

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Class #45:  Before conversion there is nothing to oppose the lusts of the flesh, and therefore the sinful flesh has free reign.  After conversion, “the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another….”   Due to the remaining sinful nature, which wars against the Spirit, the Christian life is encumbered with much weakness.  We often fall short of our desire to do good, as described in Romans 7:14-19, “For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate that I do.”  When this happens we confess our sins and receive forgiveness.

It is also true as St. Paul assures us in Galatians 5:16-18, that believers “walk in the Spirit,” so that the Spirit prevents us from putting into practice the desires of the flesh–“…so that you do not do the {evil} things that you wish.”  Though we want to be free of those sinful desires and fight against them, we are comforted in our conflict that these sins are not imputed to believers.

Overhead: Galatians Class 45 Overhead
Handout 1: Gal 5 17 handout
Handout 2: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 16 thru 21

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 44: Walking by the Spirit

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Class #44:  What follows from St. Paul’s teaching of justification by grace through faith?  The Christian life becomes a gift of freedom to love the neighbor.  However, the Christian still carries within him the flesh which lusts against the Spirit, creating contradictory desires.  As a result, the Christian walks by the Spirit, so that he does not fulfill the sinful desires of the flesh.

The Christian is conscious of the sin within him, so that by confession he can resist the word/deed.  In great weakness, the Christian battles the rebellion and prayerfully desires to be free of sin.  We need neither despair, nor be surprised at the conflict within us.  Thankfully, those remaining sinful desires are not imputed to the believer.

Overhead: Galatians Class 44 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 16 thru 21

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 43: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

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Class #43:  Where there is no concord in the true Christian doctrine, there is also no peace in Christian love. Parties and factions form based on human law opinions. Making demands for particular external works, these self-appointed life-styles create dissension and thus cause limitations on love. In the end, each one bites and devours the other. For the Christian, the law reveals sin and the Gospel message is to be trusted for righteousness/ forgiveness. The forgiven Christian is free to serve the neighbor in love–the true spiritual life.  We carry each others burdens.

This lesson examines a list of good works compiled by Dr. Martin Luther.  It may not be what you would expect.  Some are passive directing us not to strike back when offended or harmed.  Others are mundane works within your vocation.  We also consider a list of those who are “your neighbor.”

Overhead: Galatians Class 43 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 16 thru 21

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 42: Freedom FOR…

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Class #42:  We often speak of how we are saved FROM sin, death and the power of the devil.  With Galatians 5:13ff, St. Paul tell us what we were saved FOR.  Having been slaves, we were called by the Gospel NOT FOR indulging the flesh, but FOR serving one another in love.  Having laid the true foundation (salvation through faith in Jesus alone), St. Paul directs us to build on that foundation by good works of love toward the neighbor.

When it come to the true doctrine, we are to hold firmly to the Word and not give up even one teaching.  When it comes to the life of others, we generously forgive sins, as love bears with all things.

Overhead: Galatians Class 42 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 16 thru 21

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