Saturday, March 14, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 56
Galatians 4; Galatians
5; Galatians 6
1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child,
he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 He
is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So
also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of
the world. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his
Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under
law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because
you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who
calls out, ""Abba", Father." 7 So you are
no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an
heir. 8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves
to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know
God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those
weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over
again? 10 You are observing special days and months and
seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have
wasted my efforts on you. 12 I plead with you, brothers,
become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 13 As
you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even
though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or
scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were
Christ Jesus himself. 15 What has happened to all your joy? I
can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes
and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by
telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous to win you
over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you [from us], so that you
may be zealous for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided
the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. 19 My
dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is
formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and
change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! 21 Tell me,
you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For
it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other
by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in
the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a
promise. 24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the
women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears
children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar
stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of
Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But
the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For
it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break
forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children
of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." 28 Now
you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that
time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of
the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the Scripture
say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son
will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31 Therefore,
brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm,
then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark
my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ
will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every
man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You
who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have
fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await
through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For
in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only
thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You
were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the
truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one
who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole
batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you
will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay
the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 Brothers, if I am still
preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the
offense of the cross has been abolished.12 As for those agitators,
I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! 13 You,
my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The
entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as
yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each
other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So
I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful
nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the
Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in
conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But
if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The
acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry
and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition,
dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and
the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not
inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness
and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those
who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions
and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in
step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,
provoking and envying each other.
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are
spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be
tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you
will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is
something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one
should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without
comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should
carry his own load. 6 Anyone who receives instruction in the
word must share all good things with his instructor. 7 Do not
be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The
one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap
destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap
eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at
the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore,
as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who
belong to the family of believers.11 See what large letters I use
as I write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to make
a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The
only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not
even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be
circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14 May I
never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the
world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.16 Peace
and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. 17 Finally,
let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.
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