One of the main accusations against Paul was that his gospel of justification by faith alone encouraged people to sin see (Rom. 3:8, Rom. 6:1). No doubt the accusers reasoned that if people do not have to keep the law to be accepted by God, why should they be concerned with how they live? Luther, too, faced … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: God cannot declare anyone righteous based on their behavior, for no one is perfect. Only by accepting what God has done for us in Christ can we be justified.. Lesson 4, July 22, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 2:15,16. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most … Continue reading –>
Paul makes it clear that faith absolutely is foundational to the Christian life. It is the means by which we lay hold of the promises we have in Christ. But what is faith exactly? What does it involve? What do the following texts teach us about the origin of faith? Gen. 15:5; John 3:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Gal. 5:6. Genuine … Continue reading –>
Strife in the church? Things are getting tense. What does Paul find in Peter’s experience in Antioch that trouble him? What would it have been like if you had been at that “potluck” as a friend of Peter’s? Imagine that you are an invisible guest in that church as you go through the issues and answers we … Continue reading –>
The word “Faith” in the title of this weeks’ lesson study opens a plethora of hymns in our Seventh-day Adventist Church Hymnal. Here are a few from which to choose to enhance your worship time: Hymn 100, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” Hymn 132, “O Come, All Ye Faithful” Hymn 169 or 170, “Come, You Faithful” … Continue reading –>
“And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” (Phil. 3:9, NKJV). We should not assume Jewish Christians were suggesting that faith in Christ was not important; after all, they were all believers in … Continue reading –>
Paul says three times in Galatians 2:16 that a person is not justified by “works of the law.” What does he mean by the expression “works of the law”? How do these texts (Gal. 2:16-17; Gal. 3:2, Gal. 3:5; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 3:20; Rom. 3:28) help us to understand his meaning? Before we can understand the phrase “the works of the law,” we first need … Continue reading –>
In Galatians 2:15, Paul writes, “We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners” (ESV). What point do you think he was making? Paul’s words need to be understood in their context. In an attempt to win over his fellow Jewish Christians to his position, Paul starts with something they would agree with — the traditional distinction … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gal. 2:15-21; Eph. 2:12; Phil. 3:9; Rom. 3:10-20; Gen. 15:5-6; Rom. 3:8. Memory Text: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: For further study on the issue of unity and diversity in the church, read Ellen G. White, “Investigation of New Light,” pp. 45, 47, in Counsels to Writers and Editors; “An Explanation of Early Statements”, p. 75, in Selected Messages, book 1;“Tactfulness,” pages. 117-119, in Gospel Workers; and “Manuscript Release 898,” pgs. 1092, 1093, in 1888 … Continue reading –>
