Tag Archives: Message

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

Posted on by

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 11: The Medium and the Message

Posted on by

Class #11:  St. Paul defends both his apostolic office and the gospel message which he had preached to the Galatians.  The message of the gospel is that man is saved by grace through faith alone apart from works.  The ultimate proof that salvation is apart from any merit or worthiness in man is the Scriptural teaching of God’s eternal foreknowledge and election.  (See Handout on Election.)

Similarly, even before his birth, St. Paul was predestined by God to serve as the Apostle to the Gentiles.  God’s eternal foreknowledge and election had determined “to reveal His Son” in St. Paul apart from any merit or worthiness in him.  When Galatians 1:15 says, “it pleased God,” those words show that it is the graciousness of God which is the cause of St. Paul conversion and his appointed mission to preach Jesus among the Gentiles.

God was not pleased with the faithless sacrifices of the Israelites(Ps 40:6-8), nor was He pleased with the unbelieving rabble(1 Cor 10:5).  However, the heavenly Father was well-pleased with the sacrifice of His Son (Mt 3:17, 17:5).  Furthermore, “God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor 1:21).

Handout: Formula of Concord Ep XI

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS