Category Archives: Bible Study

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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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 41: Not a License to Sin

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Class #41:  St. Paul has presented the truth of the believer’s justification through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  He has made it clear that anyone who admits the bondage of the yoke of the law into the article of justification has “fallen away from grace” (5:4).  Last of all, St. Paul tells the Galatians to remove the false teachers from the congregation.

Beginning with 5:13, St. Paul builds on this foundation of Christian freedom and directs the members to “Serve one another through love.”  The Galatians are not to use their Christian freedom as a license(permission) to sin.  St. Paul encourages and exhorts them to do true good works of love, which flow from faith.

 

Overhead: Galatians Class 41 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 16 thru 21

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 40: The Judgment on False Teachers

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Class #40:  If the baptized life of a Christian were a race, the Galatians were running it well.  They were justified by faith in Christ alone, and were continuing to hear and follow God’s Word.  But then false teachers persuaded the congregation to admit a little law into the article of justification.  This little leaven of false teaching quickly replaced the cross of Christ with outwards works.  This law created troubled consciences.

Having taught the Galatians the false teachings propagated by the Judaizers, St. Paul now asks the question, “Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”  All heads turn toward the false teachers.  Now, what will the Galatians do?  Having no other mind (than Christ’s), they are to remove the false teachers and their false teaching.

Overhead: Galatians Class 40 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 2 thru 15

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 39: In Great Weakness

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Class #39: “…as soon as the Holy Spirit has initiated his work of regeneration and renewal in us through the Word and the holy sacraments, it is certain that we can and must cooperate by the power of the Holy Spirit, even though we still do so in great weakness….  There is therefore a great difference between baptized people and unbaptized people because, according to the teaching of St. Paul, “all who have been baptized have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27), are thus truly born again, and now have a liberated will — that is, as Christ says, they have again been made free. As a result, they not only hear the Word of God but also are able to assent to it and accept it, even though it be in great weakness. But since in this life we have received only the first fruits of the Spirit, and regeneration is not as yet perfect but has only been begun in us, the conflict and warfare of the flesh against the Spirit continues also in the elect and truly reborn” (FC SD II 65, 67-68).

“We should not and cannot pass judgment on the Holy Spirit’s presence, operations, and gifts merely on the basis of our feeling, how and when we perceive it in our hearts. On the contrary, because the Holy Spirit’s activity often is hidden, and happens under cover of great weakness, we should be certain, because of and on the basis of his promise, that the Word which is heard and preached is an office and work of the Holy Spirit, whereby he assuredly is potent and active in our hearts (2 Cor. 2:14ff.)” (FC SD II 12-14).

Overhead: Galatians Class 39 Overhead
Handout: Faith working through love handout
Handout 2: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 2 thru 15

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