April 23, 2017 | Kyle Brenon | Galatians 3:1-14
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, 04/23/2017
Open:
As believers we hold the gospel to be true, without compromise! We believe that Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross was, and will always be sufficient for our salvation, and we trust that by His sacrifice, we are secure.
We also believe that by this same sacrifice, we are declared righteous in God’s eyes, because Christ has fulfilled the law on our behalf.
Paul wrote his letter to the church in Galatia because they were beginning to stray dangerously far from the gospel. This week we looked specifically at Galatians 3:1-14.
Here we saw Paul’s continued plea to them not to forsake the gospel by addressing a specific error in their thinking. Their error was that after placing their faith in Christ for salvation, they believed they must now be justified (which is to be declared righteous) by the law. In essence, believing that while we are saved through in Christ, we are sanctified through our works. What a ridiculous thing to believe!
All too often though, if we are honest and willing to take a hard look at ourselves, we unwittingly fall into a similar trap, at least in practice. We may understand intellectually that we are saved by grace, but so often we live as though we are under the law.
Read Together:
Galatians 3:1-14, Ephesians 1:13, 2:13-15, Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:21-22, Luke, 19:9-10, Galatians 5:4.
Discuss:
1. In Gal 3:1-3 Paul asks the Galatians “Who has bewitched you” into thinking that you are justified by the law, even though you are believing you are saved through faith in Christ? Again we may agree with Paul intellectually, but often our actions and our hearts reflect otherwise. What often bewitches us into this same trap?
2. What is Paul’s argument to the Galatians concerning their receiving of the Holy Spirit? And what evidence does he give from the Old Testament? (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:21-22)
3. What does Paul say regarding “The sons of Abraham” and how is it different from the way the Jews had traditionally understood it? (Vs 7) What are the implications of this for us today?
4. What are a few symptoms of someone who is “relying on works of the law” rather than trusting in the work of Christ alone for their justification? (If you’re feeling brave… discuss among your group where you might struggle.)
5. How are we redeemed from the curse of the law, and brought in under the promise made to Abraham. (Hint: Us being unable to keep the law can’t break the curse of the law!!! - Verse 13-14)
6. Finally, what real difference is made in our lives by understanding this truth and in what way is the power of the gospel unleashed in the lives of believers?