Category Archives: Bible Study

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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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 38: Faith Working Through Love

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Class #38:  In chapter 5, verses 1-4, St. Paul is warning the Galatians against requiring the keeping of any law into the article of justification by faith.  Those who are trying to be justified by law–which is impossible–have already fallen from grace.  The works-righteous requirements of the Judaizers does not avail anything, but only separates from Jesus Christ.

With verse 5-6, St. Paul contrasts the actions of those who follow the false teachers with the actions of himself and those who have remained true to his doctrine.  True believers “wait.” That is, they know that they are already justified through faith in Jesus Christ.  They wait for the final judgment when it will be revealed that they were, in fact, the saved ones. This godly waiting is not a lack of activity.  A confident, waiting faith produces love toward the neighbor.

Note: At a few points in this recording, there is an annoying clicking from a failing microphone battery.

Overhead: Galatians Class 38 Overhead
Handout: Faith working through love handout
Handout 2: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 2 thru 15

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 37: The Whole Law

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Class #37:  Having completed his teaching on salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone, the Apostle St. Paul now drives home what would be the result for the Galatians, if they obeyed the yoke of law provided by the Judaizers.

  • Christ will profit you nothing.
  • You will be a debtor to the whole law.
  • You will be estranged from Christ.
  • You will have fallen from grace.

Those attempting to be justified by even the smallest part of the Law have already fallen from grace.

Overhead: Galatians Class 37 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 5 2 thru 15

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 36: Freedom by Faith

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Class #36:  “For Christ has set us free, not for a political freedom or a freedom of the flesh but for a theological or spiritual freedom, that is, to make our conscience free and joyful, unafraid of the wrath to come.  This is the most genuine freedom; it is immeasurable” (LW, Vol. 27, p.4).

1 John 1:6-10 speaks of our Christian freedom from sin.  Believers do not walk in darkness.  Yet, it is not that we are sin-free.  We continually confess our sin and He continually forgives and cleanses us.  We say, “No,” to our own sinful nature and fight against it.  The Gospel promises freedom from sin, law, death, wrath, and the devil.  Through faith in Christ, I do not fear death, as I have the promise of eternal life.  Christ has taken the wrathful curse so that the devil’s accusations are not true.  I am not going to hell for my sins, I am forgiven.

“Therefore one’s spirit must be trained, so that when it becomes conscious of the accusation of the Law, the terrors of sin, the horror of death and the wrath of God, it will banish these sorrowful scenes from its sight and will replace them with the freedom of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, life, and the eternal mercy of God” (LW, Vol. 27, p.5)

Overhead: Galatians Class 36 Overhead
Handout: Freedom Study 2 in the Conscience

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 35 Freedom from Wrath (in the Conscience)

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Class #35:  Last Sunday we began with a thematic overview of freedom and St. Paul’s summary statement in 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty/freedom by which Christ has made us free.”

This Sunday we begin to unpack the New Testament liberty/freedom that we have in Christ.  The law cannot secure our freedom, either by refraining from sin or by doing good works.  It cannot provide freedom from wrath.  Only faith in Christ created by the Word of Gospel can set us free from the eternal wrath of God.

For what answer was St. John the Baptist looking when he said to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

Overhead: Galatians Class 35 Overhead
Handout: Freedom Study 2 in the Conscience

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 34: Freedom

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Class #34:  The Galatians Bible Study restarts after a summer hiatus. We begin with a thematic overview of freedom and St. Paul’s summary statement in 5:1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty/freedom by which Christ has made us free.”

The general idea of freedom is “to be at one’s own disposal” (in contrast with a slave). With political freedom, the laws (constitution) form the limits of individual freedom and protect that freedom.  With philosophical freedom, man seeks an independent self-determination by withdrawal from that which oppresses (false dogma from the world, inner desires, etc. ) so that there is an inward peace and control of the inner soul.

St. Paul’s liberty/freedom as taught by the New Testament is quite different from those ideas.  Galatians 4:7 says, “You are no longer a slave but a son….”  Man cannot be a free agent either outwardly or inwardly; there is no self-dominion(Romans 6:20-22, 7:23). Believers in Jesus Christ have been given a liberty/freedom of which St. Paul exhorts us to stand fast in it(5:1). It is freedom from sin, law, God’s wrath, and death.

Overhead: Galatians Class 34 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 4 21 thru 31

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 33: Sarah and the Promise

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Class #33:  Not all of the sons of Abraham are sons of the promise.  In Genesis 15:1ff, God tell Abram that the heir(Savior) would come from Abram’s body.  Before God’s words made it clear that the line of the Savior would come from Sarah’s body as well, Sarah tried to provide children by means of Hagar.  Although Hagar’s son, Ishmael, and his descendants were sons of Abraham, they were not sons of the promise.

The promises of the law are conditional and always in doubt (Ex 19:15, Dr. 28:9, Ps 95:7).  The promises of the gospel are unconditional and are sure.  The gospel promise is that through faith in Jesus Christ you will be saved.

Overhead: Galatians Class 33 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 4 21 thru 31

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 32: Abraham’s Mother’s Day

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Class #32:  St. Paul was not reading into the historical account of Genesis, chapters 16-21, when he declared that the children of Hagar and Sarah teach us about two covenants: the law and the promise.  The Scriptures themselves bear witness to Jesus (John 5:39) that all who believe in Him receive forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43).

These Old Testament stories are not designed to teach simple morals (e.g. don’t make fun of others).  Instead, they show us believers, like ourselves, who struggle with life as they believe in the Savior.  Abraham and Sarah are beyond the age of child-bearing, but they know that God has promised a Savior-descendant.  The actions of Hagar and Ishmael reveal a disdain for the promise of God and rejection of the Savior.  Those who reject salvation by faith in the Savior are “cast out” of the Christian church.

Overhead: Galatians Class 32 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 4 21 thru 31

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 31: The Messenger and the Message

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Class #31:  St. Paul came to the Galatians because of health problems(4:13).  Nevertheless, they welcomed him and received his message concerning salvation through faith in Christ alone.  Through the Gospel, St. Paul gave them a new birth unto salvation.  After some time had passed and in his absence, the Galatians have been wooed by false teachers so that they have now begun to trust in faith AND obedience to Jewish regulations.

In this quite emotional and personal appeal(4:12-20), St. Paul is troubled at how they could leave behind their freedom and chose to become enslaved again–this time by Judaic laws.  When they added works to their trust they had rejected both the gospel and their gospeler, St. Paul himself.

Overhead: Galatians Class 31 Overhead
Handout: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 4 8 thru 20

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 30: Not Knowing, Then Knowing

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Class #30:  Before the Galatians knew the one true God, they served, or rather were enslaved by idols.  They feared, loved, and trusted in something which wasn’t God.  Through St. Paul’s preaching of the Word and the efficacious work of the Holy Spirit, these pagans came to be saved through faith in the work of Christ, and not by obedience to any weak and miserable principles(laws).

In Galatians 4:8ff, St. Paul is shocked that the Galatians are leaving the freedom of the Gospel in order to be enslaved again.  This time they are beginning to trust in their obedience to the Mosaic law.

Overhead: Galatians Class 30 Overhead
Handouts: Galatians Bible Study Chapter 4 8 thru 20

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