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Philemon, lesson 6

Lesson 6

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we acknowledged that You are Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Rohi, Jehovah Jireh, and Jehovah Nissi. We confessed our sins before You and pray for forgiveness. We pray for You Word to minster to us and enlighten us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Philemon: 23-25, Final greetings

VV 23-25, 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Paul had a personal touch. He acknowledged all his co-workers by name. He sent greetings to Philemon from Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, his co-workers in the gospel. Epaphras was also a prisoner with him in the Roman prison.

He pronounced the grace of Christ to Philemon.

Romans 8:28:

According to Christian traditions, Onesimus was freed from slavery and went on to become a bishop of Ephesus. He was arrested, tortured, and beaten to death by the Romans for preaching the gospel. Onesimus was a real person, transformed, and freed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He suffered tremendous persecutions and eventually martyred for his faith in Christ. The epistle of Philemon is a good illustration of Romans 8:28 at work in the life of Onesimus. He was a slave. He committed a capital offence by running away from his master. Though God’s providence, he ran to Rome and met the great apostle Paul. Paul saved his soul, gave him a new life, new faith, new hope, and new beginning. Reconciled to his old master Philemon and freed from slavery, he served his new master Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”.

Application:

The epistle of Philemon taught us that all things worked together for good to Christians. No matter what circumstances we may be facing today it will eventually worked for good in our favour. We may not see it immediately but we will see it in the future. This is a promise that we can claim when we go through difficult times especially now when situations are so unprecedented.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the epistle of Philemon. Thank You for the promise of Romans 8:28. Thank You for for the forgiveness of sins, salvation by grace, justification by faith in Christ, sanctification, and the gift of eternal life. We pray for those who have run away from You to return back to You and be useful to You in the kingdom again, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Philemon, lesson 5

Lesson 5

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we acknowledged that Your are El Ellyon, El Olam, El Roi, ams El Sheddai. We confessed that we are sinners. We pray for the forgiveness of sins, in Jesus name, Amen.

Philemon: 17-22, charge everything into my account

VV 17-19, 17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay, not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.

Paul told Philemon to charge to his account all the criminal offences that Onesimus committed by running away from him unlawfully. Paul highlighted that he wrote this epistle himself. Paul reminded Philemon that he owed him his life because he saved his soul through evangelism. Paul took full responsibility for Onesimus’ debt to Philemon to procure his forgiveness and freedom from Philemon.

VV 20-22, 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

Paul drew spiritual strength by being joyful in the Lord. Paul appealed to Philemon to refresh his heart by forgiving and free Onesimus. Paul was confident that Philemon would agree to forgive and free Onesimus. He requested Philemon to prepare a guest room for him so that he could visit him upon release from the prison. Paul requested Philemon to pray for his release from prison.

Application:

We are all sinners before a Holy God. We owed a debt of sin to God that we could never repay. Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin on our behalf to procure our freedom from sin. Jesus appealed to His Father to charge our debt of sin to His account. 2000 years ago, He paid our sin debt by dying on the cross to pay our penalty of sin for us.

Romans 6: 23, “for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord’’.

2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”.

The epistle of Philemon is a story of forgiveness. According to Catholic tradition, Onesimus was freed from slavery, and became a bishop of Ephesus. Just as Philemon forgave Onesimus, Christ also forgave us. Even though we ran away from Christ, He restored us to fellowship when we came back to him in repentance. Our master, Jesus Christ is full of grace and truth.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love, mercy, grace, loving kindness, and faithfulness to us. Thank You for justification, sanctification, salvation, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Philemon, Lesson 4

Lesson 4

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we commit this time to You and pray for You to speak to each one of us according to our unique circumstances. We pray for opened ears, opened eyes, hungry hearts, and obedient spirits, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Philemon: 8-16, Paul appealed for Onesimus

VV 8-10, 8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you, being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ, 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains,

Paul considered himself an elderly prisoner of Jesus Christ. Although Paul had the apostolic authority to command Philemon to free Onesimus, yet for love’s sake he preferred to appeal to Philemon instead. Paul considered Onesimus as his spiritual son in the faith. Paul met Onesimus in the Roman prison, evangelized, converted, discipled, mentored, and adopted him as his spiritual godson in the faith.

VV 11-13, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. You, therefore, receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.

Onesimus is a Greek name that means useful. Here is a wordplay. Greek for unprofitable is “achreston” which means useless. Greek for profitable is “euchreston” which means useful. Onesimus was once useless to Philemon but now he was useful to him. He was transformed, regenerated, born-again, undergone spiritual transformation, or spiritual heart transplant if you like. Paul was sending Onesimus back to his master Philemon. He appealed to Philemon to extend his right hand of fellowship to Onesimus just as he would to Paul.

VV 14-16, 14 But without your consent, I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Although Paul wanted to retain Onesimus as his helper in Rome, he would not do this without Philemon’s consent. Paul appealed to Philemon to receive Onesimus back into his household not as a slave but as a brother in Christ. Paul appealed to Philemon to free Onesimus from slavery. In those days, the punishment for a runaway slave when caught was the death penalty. Paul took a risk when he sent Onesimus back to Philemon. If Philemon did not agree to Paul’s appeal, he could have sentenced Onesimus to death.

Application:

Onesimus ran away from his master and Paul had to send him back. Perhaps we may be running away from our master Jesus Christ by not walking with Him. We need to come back to Christ in obedience, in surrender, in faith and be useful to Him again. We can claim the promise of 1 John 1:9, “if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness”.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise of 1 John 1:9. We acknowledged that You are Almighty God and we are sinners saved by Your grace. Please enable us to return to You and be useful to You in the kingdom, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Philemon , lesson 3

Lesson 3

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom, knowledge, mercy, and grace. We pray for attentiveness and mindfulness. We pray for divine insight to understand scripture. We pray for obedience and faithfulness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Philemon: 4-7, Prayer for Philemon

V 4, I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

Paul prayed consistently, fervently, and persistently to God for Philemon mentioning him by name. Paul was a prayer warrior. He wrestled with the Lord in prayer every day. He remembered all his friends by name and interceded for them according to their needs. Even though Philemon was so far away, he still took the time to pray for him.

VV 5-6, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Paul was very encouraged to hear of Philemon’s love for the Lord and the saints, his faithful and effective evangelistic ministry in Collosae. Greek for saint is “hagios”, which means holy, sanctified, or separated for God. As Christians, we are saints, because we are holy, sanctified, and separated to serve God. We are a holy people and a royal priesthood, 1 Peter 2:9.

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”.

V 7, For we have great joy and consolation in your love because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Paul rejoiced when he remembered Philemon. He was refreshed when he remembered the times that he spent with Philemon in Ephesus. Greek for refreshed is “anapsucho”, which means relief. Even though Paul was under house arrest, he found joy, encouragement, comfort, and relief by Philemon’s love and faithfulness.

Application:

Paul was a great prayer warrior. Even though in chains, he spent times interceding for everyone. We are to emulate Paul to be a prayer warrior. We are to pray for all our immediate family members, relatives, friends, colleagues, church members, acquaintances, etc. mentioning them by name and interceding for them at a personal level.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking to us. We pray for the transformation of hearts and the renewal of minds. We give You permission to do spiritual heart transplants in us. We pray for renewed perspectives and a balanced worldview, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Philemon, Lesson 2

Lesson 2

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You on bended knees. We pray for wisdom and understand to unlock the truth of Your eternal Word. We pray that You will speak to us through the inerrant, infallible, and inspired Words of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Philemon: 1-3, opening salutation and greeting

VV 1-3, 1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, the author of Philemon, considered himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, not Rome, not Caesar, and not Nero. Paul included and acknowledged Timothy, his spiritual god-son in his opening salutation and greeting. Paul was a prisoner of Jesus Christ because he was imprisoned according to God’s will and sanctioned by Jesus Christ his Lord and Master. Paul sent greetings to Philemon, his beloved friend, a co-worker in the gospel, and founder of the Colossians house church. Scholars believed that Apphia was Philemon’s wife and Archippus was Philemon’s son and pastor of the Colossians house church. Greek for grace is “charis”, which means getting what we do not deserve to get. Hebrews for peace is “shalom”, which means welfare and tranquility. Paul pronounced grace and peace from God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace always precedes peace. When we are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we have peace with God, peace from God, and peace of God. The source of grace and peace is God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1 Corinthians 4:17, “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church’’.

Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”

Philippians 4:6-7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Application:
When we are justified by grace through faith in Christ, we are reconciled to God. We are no longer in enmity with God and God’s wrath is removed. We can come before God the Father in His throne room of God in heaven with boldness and confidence. We experience peace within us that transcends all understanding, we have access to God and the promise of the glorious heaven in the future.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for justification, sanctification, salvation, eternal life, the promise of heaven, and resurrection in Your second coming. Thank You for giving us the peace that transcends all understandings, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Philemon 1

Introduction

Dr. Andrew C S Koh

a photo showing opened bible
bible

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we acknowledged that You are the only true God, the Trinitarian God of the Holy Bible, the God of creation, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. We thank You for all that You have done for us in our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

Authorship

Philemon is one of the four prison epistles written during his first imprisonment in Rome between AD 60-62. The other three are Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Paul was under house arrest in Rome while awaiting trial under Caesar Nero. Although he was allowed to live by himself in a house, he was chained to a Roman Pretorian guard 24 hours a day, seven days a week, who rotated through shift duties. Epaphras visited Paul and brought him a financial love gift from the Colossian church. Paul sent the epistle of Colossians and Philemon back to the house church in Colossae through Epaphras.

Colossae

Colossae was an ancient Roman province along the Lycus River valley in Asia Minor, now in western Turkey. In its heyday, Colossae was famous for the manufacturing of a dark red wool cloth called colossinum.

Purpose and historical setting

The epistle of Philemon was Paul’s letter to Philemon, a wealthy leader of the Colossian house church. Paul shared the gospel with Philemon when he was in Ephesus, converted, discipled, and mentored him in the faith. Philemon returned to Colossae and planted the Colossian house church. Onesimus was one of Philemon’s slaves who ran away from his master and secretly found his way to Rome. Through providence at work, Onesimus met the apostle Paul in Rome who shared the gospel with him, converted, discipled, and mentored him in the faith. When Paul realized that Philemon was a runaway slave of Philemon, he sent Onesimus back to Philemon with a personal letter. Paul entrusted Tychicus to accompany Onesimus to his master Philemon with this personal epistle called Philemon, Colossians 4:7-9.

Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him

Acts 28:16

Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here

Colossians 4:7-9

Application

Onesimus was a runaway slave. Onesimus had committed a very serious offense. In first-century Israel, the consequence of a slave running away from a master was capital punishment. Onesimus confessed his situation to Paul who sent him back to his master. Before we came to know Christ, we too had run away from our Lord and Master but when we confessed our sins, believed, and returned to Christ, He forgave us and gave us eternal life.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for this small book of Philemon. We pray that You will speak to us through the pages of Your inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Dr Andrew C S Koh

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Galatians , Lesson 15

Lesson 15

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we are now in the last chapter of Galatians. We give You our full intention. We pray for a spirit of receptiveness and teachable hearts, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Galatians 6: 1-18, closing exhortations.

VV 1-3, 1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Greek for trespass in verse one is “paraptoma”, which means to cross a boundary line. “Paraptoma” is an intentional sin. Greek for sin is “harmatia” which means to miss the mark. “Harmatia” is an unintentional sin. Paul encouraged his audience and us that someone who has willfully sinned should be restored to fellowship in a spirit of gentleness. We are to shoulder one another’s burdens to fulfil Christ command to love one another, John 13:34. We are not to overvalue ourselves, for we are nothing in God’s sight.

John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”.

VV 4-6, 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load. 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

We are to examine our work and not to compare our work with others. We are to take responsibility for what we do. We are to be generous teachers who taught us the word.

VV 7-8, 7 Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Greek for mock is “empaizo”, which means to ridicule. We cannot ridicule God. Whatever we do will return to us. If we operated in the flesh and indulged in the works of the flesh, we will end up in eternal death. If we walked in the Spirit, we will produce the fruit of the Spirit and receive eternal life.

VV 9-10, 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

We are to do good to others, for God will reward us. We are to take every opportunity to do good, especially to those who are Christians.

V 11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!

Paul wrote Galatians with his own hands in large letters. In Romans, Paul dictated to his secretary or amanuensis who wrote for him, Romans 16:22.

Romans 16:22, “I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord”.

V 12-13, 12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

The Judaizers who compelled the Galatians Christians to be circumcised were legalists, opportunist, and hypocrites who did not keep the law.

VV 14-15, 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but a new creation.

Paul did not boast about himself except to boast in the crucifixion of Christ. Circumcision is of no spiritual value in the kingdom of God. What count is to be born again as a new creation, 1 Cor 5:17.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”.

1 Cor 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. VV 16-17, 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on, let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

If we walk in the Spirit, peace and mercy will be upon us and Israel. Paul called the scars on his body marks of the Lord Jesus. Paul’s body was severely scarred due to the beatings he received from the Jews, 2 Cor 11:25.

2 Cor 11:25, “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have been in the deep”.

V 18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Amen.

Paul ended the epistle of Galatians with a doxology of grace to his audience and us.

Application:

If you sow generously, you will reap well, but if you sow sparingly, you will reap poorly. You are to take every opportunity to help one another, especially those who are Christians.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Paul’s epistle of Galatians. Thank You for allowing us to hear Your words. We pray that You will empower us to apply all that we heard, meditated, memorised, and learned, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Galatians, lesson 14

Lesson 14

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, refreshed us with fresh insights, fresh understanding, fresh revelation, and fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Galatians 5: 16-26, the flesh and the Spirit

VV 16-18, 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Two opposed natures are at work inside every Christians, the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh waged war against the Spirit. The antidote to the lust of the flesh is to walk in the Spirit. If we walk in the Spirit, we will not do the works of the flesh.

VV 19-21, 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Verses 19-21 list out all the works of the flesh. Greek for inherit is “klenonomeo”, which means become a partaker of. Those who practice the things listed in verses 19-21 will not become a partaker of God’s kingdom.

VV 22-23, 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law.

Verses 22-23 list out the fruit of the Spirit. Those who walk in the Spirit will have the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is singular. There is one fruit of the Spirit, but there are nine virtues, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those who walk in the Spirit is under grace and not under the law.

VV 24-26, 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Paul encouraged his audience and us to crucify the passions and desires of the flesh and walk in the Spirit. Paul encouraged his audience and us to love one another in unity and harmonious living.

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.

Application:

You are to walk in the Spirit and free yourself from the flesh. You are to possess the fruit of the Spirit. You are to love one another as Christ love you so that others will know that you are His disciples.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to walk in Spirit and not in the flesh. Help us to love You and love others. Give us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Galatians , lesson 13

Lesson 13

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our trespass, even as we forgive those who trespassed against us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Galatians 5: 1-15, freedom in Christ

VV 1-3, 1 stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed, I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3, And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

Greek for stand fast is “steko”, which means persevere. Paul encouraged his audience and us to strive for the freedom of Christ and not be enslaved by the yoke of the law and work-based self-righteousness. Circumcision is of no value and will not make anyone righteous before God. Every person who underwent circumcision is obliged to keep the law which is utterly impossible, Romans 3:23.

Romans 3:23, for all, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

.

VV 4-5, 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 for we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Greek for estranged is “naqa”, which means alienated. Self-righteousness leads to alienation from Christ, falling from grace and faith to law-keeping and work-righteousness.

VV 6-8, 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but faith working through love. 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.

Circumcision and Jewish rituals are of no value in Christian spirituality. What count is faith in Christ alone, working through love for God and love for others. Greek for hindered is “egkopto”, which means cutting into someone’s way in a race. Paul continued his rhetorical question. Who cuts into your way and prevented you from knowing the truth?

VV 9-12, 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!

Leaven is symbolic of sin. A little sin somewhere will soon spread everywhere. Paul was confident the Galatians Christians would be able to break free from the false teachings and deceptions of the Judaizers. If Paul still preached on circumcision, why did he still suffer persecutions? The Jews persecuted Paul because he opposed circumcision and Jewish rituals.

VV 13-15, 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Grace is not a license to sin but freedom to serve Christ from gratitude for God and love for people. The ten commandments can be summarised into one, love God and love others. Christ’s new commandment is to love one another just as He had loved us.

Romans 6:1, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?”

Matthew 22: 36-39, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ “.

John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”.

Application:

Grace free you from legalism and work-righteousness. Grace enabled you to love God and others. You are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not by work.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to love You and to love others so that everyone will know that we are Your disciples. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, compassion, and faithfulness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Galatians, Lesson 12

Lesson 12

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that You are the Bread of Life, Living bread, Living manna, Living water, and water of Life. We pray for the filling and divine help of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Galatians 4: 21-31, Law and grace, flesh and Spirit.

V 21, Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?

Paul asked rhetorical questions. You, who wanted to be under the law, do you know what is in the law? The Jewish Rabbi had added so many oral traditions to the written Mosaic law until it was ridiculous and absurd. By the time of Jesus, there were 613 laws.

VV 22-23, 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. 23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,

Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was Hagar’s son, and Isaac was Sarah’s son. Ishmael was the son of a slave woman born according to the flesh. Isaac was the son of a free woman born according to the promise of the Abrahamic covenant.

VV 24-26, 24 which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children 26, but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Greek for symbolic is “allegoroumena”, which means allegorically. Symbolically, Hagar represents Mount Sinai, Mosaic law, and earthly Jerusalem. Sarah represents grace and heavenly Jerusalem.

V 27, For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.”

Paul quoted Isaiah 54:1, “Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate”.

VV 28-29, 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. 29 But, as he who was born according to the flesh, persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so, it is now.

The Galatians Christians and we are children of promise. We are born again by the Holy Spirit and adopted into God’s family as God’s children. Ishmael, who was born according to the flesh, persecuted Isaac, who was born according to the Spirit. Ishmael, the flesh, waged war against Isaac, the Spirit, Galatians 5:17.

Galatians 5;17, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish”.

V 30-31, 30 Nevertheless, what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Paul quoted Genesis 21. God rejected Hagar and Ishmael but accepted Sarah and Isaac. We are born according to promise, saved by grace and faith in Christ.

Genesis 21:9-10, “But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”

Genesis 21:14, “Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba”.

Application:

There is two nature in every Christian. The flesh and the Spirit. The flesh wars against the Spirit. The works of the flesh are sinful and immoral. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We are to cast out the flesh and walk in the Spirit.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we pray for victory over the flesh through Christ, by walking in the Spirit and by surrendering our lives to You. Empower us by the resurrection power of Christ to walk in the Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.