Orphans and Slaves or Adopted Sons and Daughters

"Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir" (Gal 4:7, NLT).

A Vine Ripened Life

Stanley D. Gale, senior minister of The Reformed Presbyterian Church, West Chester, Pennsylvania, explains the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) in his book, A Vine Ripened Life. After two introductory chapters that encourages us to remain in the vine by abiding in Christ, Gale expounds in a chapter each on each of these nine virtues and finally concludes with humility and grace:

1. Fruit of the Vine (Jn 15:5).
2. My Father, the Gardener (Jn 15:1-2).
3. No Ordinary Love (1 Jn 4:9-12).
4. Joy Inexpressible (1 Pet 1:6-8).
5. Peace Beyond Understanding (Phil 4:6-7).
6. The Leaven of Patience (Col 1:9-11).
7. Not-So-Random Kindness (Eph 2:4-7).
8. Gracious Goodness (Gal 6:6-12).
9. A Great Faithfulness (Lk 16:10-12).
10. Gentle Strength (Mt 11:28-30).
11. Self-Control or Willpower (2 Tim 1:7-9).
12. Potent Humility (Jas 4:6, 10).
13. Grace Grown (Tit 2:11-14).

Freedom

Psalm 119:45 (Galatians)

"I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments." (NLT)

"Give me liberty or give me death!" These famous immortal words were the conclusion of one of the best speeches in history. They were uttered with the utmost of passion and earnestness in 1775 by Patrick Henry, a month before the start of the Revolutionary War against the expansive policies of the British Empire. Henry's extended quote says, "I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" It might be the words that most exemplify who an American is at his or her very core. It likely also expresses the utmost cry of every living human being.

Theme: Give me freedom or give me death. 

Faith (The Message of Galatians) Mark Dever

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT
Introducing Galatians
THE NEWS IS DIVINE

• The Source: God
• The Means of Distribution: A Cognitive Proposition
• The Fact-Checkers: The Galatian Christians

THE NEWS IS JUSTIFICATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST

• The Content, Part 1: Death of Christ
• The Content, Part 2: Faith in Christ

THE NEWS IS VITAL
THE NEWS CHANGES US

• It Changes Our Relationship with Our Teachers
• Paul and the Galatians
• The False Teachers and the Galatians
• It Changes Our Relationship with God
• It Changes Our Relationships with Each Other

CONCLUSION

ONLY ONE GOSPEL (The Message of Galatians) by John Stott

Synopsis and overview (in 19 sermons)

1. Gal 1:1-5; 3-4: Paul's Authority and Paul's Gospel

I. Paul's authority (1,2)

II. Paul's gospel (3-5)

1) Christ died for our sins (4a)

2) Christ died to rescue us from this present age (4b)

3) Christ died according to God's will (4c)

2. Gal 1:6-10; 8,9: No Other Gospel

I. The unfaithfulness of the Galatians (6)

II. False teachers distort the Gospel (7)

III. Paul curses the false teachers (8-10)

ACCOUNTABILITY [The "A" of Practical Christian Living]

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted" (Gal 6:1).

Christianity is ultimately not basic instructions for life but a loving relationship with a Person. There are no basic standard formulas for a healthy, productive and fulfilling life. There are no 7 steps to a happy Christian life that works for everyone. Yet some principles may be helpful, not as a rule or code, but as a guide for practical consideration.

Here are proposed ABCs that may help Christ followers in our journey of faith (please freely think of other words):

God's Grace is Never for the Good, Wise and Just Person

God's grace is ALWAYS counterintuitive.

The message of Galatians and the teaching of Christ (Mt 5:3) as captured by Martin Luther:

"Therefore, God accepts only the forsaken, cures only the sick, gives sight only to the blind, restores life to only the dead, sanctifies only the sinners, gives wisdom only to the unwise fools. In short, He has mercy only on those who are wretched, and gives grace only to those who are not in grace. Therefore no proud saint, no wise or just person, can become God's material, and God's purpose cannot be fulfilled in him. He remains in his own work and makes a fictitious, pretended, false, and painted saint of himself, that is, a hypocrite." Martin Luther, "The Seven Penitential Psalms."