Galatians Lesson 7
STAND FIRM IN CHRISTIAN FREEDOM
Galatians 5:1–15
Key Verse: 5:1
Read verse 1. What did Paul declare to the Galatians? What is the nature of the freedom Christ gives us? (Ac13:39; Ro8:2) What is the danger of going back to the law? (1b) What does it mean to “stand firm”? (1Co15:2; 2Ti2:8; Jn8:31–32)
What did Apostle Paul strongly forbid the Galatians to do? (2–3) If they agreed to circumcision, what did he say would result? (2–4) What does it mean to be “alienated from Christ” and “fall away from grace”? (4) Why is this so serious? In what ways do people today try to make themselves righteous?
Read verses 5–6. How does living by faith make us different from those trying to observe the law? When we have faith, how does the Spirit help us? (4:6; Ro8:23–24) What is the practical outworking of our faith in Christ Jesus? (6b)
How did Paul help the Galatians discern the intentions and bad influence of the Judaizers? (7–9) What confidence did Paul have about the Galatians and about the troublemaker among them? (10,12) What is “the offense of the cross”? (1Co1:22–23) Why should it still be our message, even if we are persecuted?
How might the Galatians have misunderstood their new freedom in Christ? (13) How instead should we use our freedom? (6b,13b) How does this actually fulfill the spirit of the law? (14) What results from trying to observe the law? (15)
Review how Paul helps us not to fall into the pit of legalism or of abuse of God’s grace. How is Christian freedom different from unlimited human freedom? In light of this, how can you stand firm in Christian freedom practically?