Galatians 1 (Bible Study)

Galatians 1:1-24

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you. For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
(Galatians 5:1-26)

Galatians kept looking to another gospel they were quick in turning to another gospel. Paul stated that if anyone preaches a different Gospel within the church to ban them from the church. Paul stressed that twice in verse 8 and 9. The Galatia church was allowing other gospels (false gospels) to be preached in their church.

Paul stressed that his was the true gospel because of his testimony. Paul was zealous for mans ways. He figured he was doing the right thing by following the law and abiding by it because of the tradition it had. Some of us stick to traditions and feel that it is the right way. “We do it because we have always done it.” When Paul got saved he no longer wanted to walk in the path of man or his flesh he wanted to follow God’s ways.

Those of us that know we are saved we have a change in our life that sticks. We do still fail but we go right back at it and walk with God again. We don’t turn around and go back to the person we were before. When you get saved there is a change. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in your life and provides you with the fruits of the spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23)

Inward Character (self)
Love, Joy and Peace.

Outward Character (man)
Longsuffering, Gentleness and goodness.

Upward Character (God)
Faith, meekness and temperance.

Paul swore before God that the things that he was telling the Galatians were true! (vs 20) That means he knew it was the truth!

When Paul got saved He went back to those he persecuted and they saw the change in him. He made a public testimony to his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.