(Gal. 5:2-12) The way in which Paul introduces Galatians 5:2-12 indicates the importance of what he is about to say. “Look” (ESV), “Listen!” (NRSV), “Mark my words!” (NIV), “I, Paul, say to you” (ESV). Paul is not fooling around. By his forceful use of the word look, he not only calls for his readers’ full attention, but he even evokes his apostolic authority. He … Continue reading –>
Paul’s command to stand firm in freedom is not made in isolation. An important statement of fact precedes it: “Christ has set us free.” Why should Christians stand firmly in their freedom? Because Christ has already set them free. In other words, our freedom is a result of what Christ has already done for us. … Continue reading –>
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1). Like the rallying command of a military leader to his wavering troops, Paul charges the Galatians not to surrender their freedom in Christ. The forcefulness and intensity of Paul’s tone cause his … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gal. 5:1-15; 1 Cor. 6:20; Rom. 8:1; Heb. 2:14-15; Rom. 8:4; Rom. 13:8. Memory Text: “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13, ESV). In Galatians 2:4, Paul briefly referred to the importance of protecting the “freedom” that we have … Continue reading –>
Read Ellen G. White, “The Law and the Covenants,” pp. 363-373, in Patriarchs and Prophets. “But if the Abrahamic covenant contained the promise of redemption, why was another covenant formed at Sinai? In their bondage the people had to a great extent lost the knowledge of God and of the principles of the Abrahamic covenant. . … Continue reading –>
And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24 NKJV While reading through Galatians again, the part of this passage about even our desires being crucified jumped out at me. I have studied with people who tell me that even though they stopped smoking, the desire to smoke … Continue reading –>
The common view of law and grace. Many Christians accept only the New Testament as the basis for their belief in the gospel of Jesus. How do these Christians view the giving of the law on Mt. Sanai? What is wrong about this approach to salvation? The two covenants, your lesson declares, are not linked … Continue reading –>
Hymn 109, “Marvelous Grace of our Loving Lord” comes directly from the introduction to the weeks’ lesson study and threads its way through the lesson study for the whole week. Sunday’s lesson states that “God dealt with humanity by means of a series of covenant promises that centered on a coming Redeemer” with these hymns … Continue reading –>
Paul’s brief sketch of Israel’s history was designed to counter the arguments made by his opponents who claimed that they were the true descendants of Abraham and that Jerusalem — the center of Jewish Christianity and the law — was their mother. The Gentiles, they charged, were illegitimate; if they wanted to become true followers … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Two Covenants” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School … Continue reading –>
What type of covenant relationship did God want to establish with His people at Sinai? What similarities does it share with God’s promise to Abraham? Exod. 6:2-8, Exod. 19:3-6, Deut. 32:10-12. God desired to share the same covenant relationship with the children of Israel at Sinai that He shared with Abraham. In fact, similarities exist between God’s words to … Continue reading –>
Why does Paul have such a disparaging view of the incident with Hagar? Gal. 4:21-31, Gen. 16. What crucial point about salvation is Paul making through his use of this Old Testament story? Hagar was an Egyptian slave in Abram’s household. Hagar’s place in the Genesis story is directly related to Abram’s failure to believe God’s promise. … Continue reading –>
