Bible Readings:
Galatians 3 – 4
Sermon Outline:
Galatians 4:4–7 (NKJV)
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
I Theme of Galatians – justification by faith alone
Galatians 3:5–6 (NKJV)
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Galatians 3:11 (NKJV)
11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
II Trinity and Salvation
Galatians 4:6 (NKJV)
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
III God’s perfect timing
Galatians 3:15–19 (NKJV)
15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.
Galatians 3:21–25 (NKJV)
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Outline of Galatians
1. THE ARGUMENT FROM EXPERIENCE (1:1–2:21)
a. Greeting (1:1–5)
b. The subject of the letter introduced (1:6–9)
c. Paul’s conversion (1:10–24)
1. Paul’s protest (1:10–12)
2. Paul’s life before his conversion (1:13–14)
3. Paul’s conversion and subsequent events (1:15–24)
d. Later relations with Jerusalem church leaders (2:1–10)
e. The clash with Peter (2:11–16)
f. Death and the new life (2:17–21)
2. THE ARGUMENT FROM THEOLOGY (3:1–5:1)
a. Introduction (3:1–6)
b. Abraham’s faith (3:7–9)
c. Who is under the curse? (3:10–14)
d. Does law annul promise? (3:15–18)
e. What is the purpose of the law? (3:19–29)
f. The difference between son and infant (4:1–11)
g. A personal appeal for better relations (4:12–20)
h. An argument from rabbinics (4:21–5:1)
3. THE ARGUMENT FROM RESULTS (5:2–6:18)
a. The goal of the gospel (5:2–6)
b. A personal aside (5:7–12)
c. The true use of freedom (5:13–18)
d. The ‘natural results’ of human nature (5:19–21)
e. The harvest of the spirit (5:22–26)
f. How to deal with an offender (6:1–6)
g. Sowing and reaping (6:7–10)
h. The autographed conclusion (6:11–18)
Cole, R. A. (1989). Galatians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 9, pp. 61–62). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.