Download BAB614GalatiansP66Kirwa

Kirwa
1
Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians: For the African
Context
BAB614 Galatians P66
Daniel Kirwa (BA, MABC, MABS)
Mentor
Rev. Dr. Zugg
Miami International Seminary
1440 Old Cutler Road Mimi
Florida, 33158
USA
Kirwa
2
Outline
Lesson One: Introduction, False Teachers and the True Gospel
1.
False Teachers, the True Gospel and Paul’s Authority
2.
Church Defected from the Truth
3.
The Purpose, Author, Date and the Recipients/Receivers
Lesson Two: Paul’s Position as an Apostle and his Relationship with Jerusalem
Apostles (Gal.1)
1. Paul’s Personal Vindication of His Position as an Apostle (Gal.1:1-10)
2. Paul Called by God and his Relationship with Jerusalem Apostles (Gal.1:1124)
Lesson Three: Paul in Jerusalem and Contends for the True Gospel (Gal.2)
1. Paul Goes to Jerusalem (Gal. 2:1-10) and Contends for the True Gospel by
Opposing Peter (Gal.2:11-16)
2. Salvation Comes through Christ alone (Gal. 2:17-21)
Lesson Four: Theological Perspectives (Gal.3:1-14)
1. Paul’s Theological Perspectives on the Gospel and the Law (Gal.3:1-5).
2. Paul Argues for the Superiority of the Doctrine of Faith to the Doctrine of
Merit by Works (Gal.3:6-14)
Lesson Five: The Purpose of the Law (Gal.3:15-29)
1. The Purpose of the Law and its Preparatory Function (Gal. 3:15-18)
2. The Law was the School Master to Bring Israel to Christ ( Gal.3:19-29)
Kirwa
Lesson Six: The True Gospel (Gal.4)
1. The Gospel and Mature Sonship (Gal.4:1-20)
2. Childhood and Slavery (The Allegory Of Sarah and Hagar- Gal.4:21-31)
Lesson Seven: Standing Fast in the Liberty of the Gospel (Gal.5)
1. A Return to Judaism, A Denial of Christian Liberty (Gal.5:1-15)
2. Practical Results of the Doctrine of Faith (Gal.5:16-26)
Lesson Eight: Christian Burdens and the Duty of Sympathy (Gal.6)
1. Bearing One Another’s Burdens (Gal.6:1-5)
2. Duty of Sympathy and Liberality (Gal. 6: 6-10)
3. Paul’s Concluding Remarks (Gal.6:11-18)
Conclusion
Annotated Bibliography
Biography
Coordinator’s Manual
3
Kirwa
4
Course Content
The course is divided into eight lessons, beginning with the date of the epistle, occasion and
Paul’s purpose of writing, and how the apostle said the preachers of the false gospel are
accursed, and how Paul received the gospel by revelation as well as how he condemned the false
teachers, followed by Paul’s defense as an apostle, and his relationship with other apostles.
From lesson 4 and 5 we will show the superiority of the doctrine of faith to the doctrine of merit
by works, purpose of the law and its preparatory functions. We shall conclude by looking at the
practical results of the doctrine of faith in lessons 6 through 8 (Galatians 5 and 6).
Course Objectives
At the end of this course the student will able to:
a) Expose the false teaching of the Judaizers who were undermining the faith of the new
converts (Galatians 1:6-10). The student will be able to understand today’s false
teachers, false prophets as well as the present Judaizers. They will understand those
who will distort the true gospel and can sneak in strange doctrines.
b) Understand how the apostle defended his apostleship which was being challenged by
Judaizers (Galatians 1:11-17). At the end of this course, the student will be able to
defend the truth of the gospel today.
c) Emphasize that salvation is through faith alone by nothing less and nothing more. Not
by faith plus the law (the doctrine of righteousness by faith and affirms the value of
spiritual religion as opposed to a religion of externals (Galatians 1: 18 to 2:21). The
students will be able to teach salvation through faith alone in their churches. They
will also detect those who can sneak in false doctrine in the church today.
d) Understand that Christians today live in the liberty brought by Jesus (Galatians 5:1)
and to bring forth the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). The student will be
able to understand the practical results of the doctrine of faith.
Kirwa
5
e) Study the book for the Africa context in order to contend for true Gospel (Galatians 2:114).
Like Christians of Paul’s day, church elders in almost all main line churches have opted
to a return of African Traditional Religion (ATR) customs, and beliefs of their ancestors that are
not in line with biblical truths. Paul cannot build what he had destroyed (Galatians 2:18; 5:11).
Our Churches, pastors, church leaders, are trying to build what our church elders in the 1960s,
1970s and 1980s destroyed. The students are advised to learnt and understand how African
beliefs’/customs are sneaked into the church today. Elders refused totally a mixture of faith and
ATR. Elders faithful to the true gospel must oppose this syncretism at all costs. African
Christians must renew their attention to ATR, especially those training in Bible colleges and
seminaries. Olowala, a leading evangelical African scholar notes the following concerning the
revival of ATR.
The continuing revival of traditional African religion in our day presents a great and
unavoidable challenge to Christianity in Africa. Traditional religion is increasingly being taught
in secondary schools alongside of Christianity and Islam. Religious relativism is being promoted
by leading scholars of African Religion under the guise of ‘religious tolerance’ Examples of
these African theologians are Magesa, Idowu and Mbiti, to name a few. While Africans are being
exposed today to western education, traditional thought is still the source of basic worldview of
most. The growing Christian population is not exempt from such influence. In our day,
Christianity in Africa faces traditional religion as never before.
The above factors show the need to understand that salvation comes through faith
(Galatians 2:15-21) and that a return to ATR is denial of Christian liberty and they need to
understand today’s Judaizers and need to understand that the gospel is a massage of grace that
calls for faith and that liberty did not mean freedom from moral restrain and need to share one
another’s burdens.
Kirwa
6
Course Materials
The lecture notes are full of exposition for this course. The students are required to read them
thoroughly along with the scriptures, and to supplement their reading with Pauline Theology I
and II by Julian Zugg and other additional readings.
Course Requirements
1. The student should participate in 15 hours of teaching time.
2. The student should answer all questions as contain in the 8 lessons.
3. The student should read recommended textbooks.
4. The student should write essays / sermon from what we have learned in class.
5. The student should write the final exam.
Benefits of the Course
The course will help students address the major problems of syncretism (a mixture of Christian
faith with other beliefs) today. The book of Galatians is all about gospel freedom and it will
equip the students to teach the Bible alone to others and to understand God’s amazing grace. It
will also help them put in check (silence) today’s Judaizers, and legalists who are in their
missionary expedition to place Christians under yoke of slavery.
Course Evaluation
1. Class attendance 15%
2. Homework 25%
3. Reading 25%
4. Essay 25%
5. Final exams 10%
6. Total 100%
Kirwa
7
Essay Requirements
Read your lecture notes and prepare a sermon from Galatians 3.
a) Certificate & Diploma. Select a topic and write 3 pages in length.
b) BA students select a topic and write 10pages.
c) MA students select a topic and write 15 pages.
Reading Requirement
The MA students must read Galatians by Cole and write a 12 -15 page project. Certificate and
Diploma students read the Expositors Bible Commentary by Frank E. Gaebelein General Editor
and Galatians by J.M. Boice from 409-508 and write a 5-8 page project. BA students read NT.
Commentary on the Epistle of Galatians from 3-256 pages and write a 8- 10 page project. All
levels are to read Jeff Borden’s course notes on an Introduction to Theology for the African
Context as well Zugg’s Apologetics for a credit.
Kirwa
8
Lesson One: Introduction, False Teachers and the True Gospel
Although Galatians is one of Paul’s shorter epistles, it is highly esteemed as one of his greatest
and most influential epistles. Martin Luther and other reformers based their arguments on this
great book, in that the just shall live by their faith in Christ. And that justification is the work of
God as opposed to the merits of works of the law and the Roman Catholic teachings on
indulgences (salvation by works). This letter contains the most empathic statement of salvation
apart from the works of the law to be found in the Scripture. It revolutionized the thinking of
Luther and played a strategic part in the Reformation. Luther in his commentary on Galatians
said, “This is my epistle, I have betrothed myself to it, it is my wife” (referring to his wife
Katherine Von Bora). As we study this book, let us betroth ourselves to it. Galatians has 6
chapters, 149 verses and 3098 words.
The course, therefore, is designed to help students understand the theology of Paul on the
doctrine of justification by faith, as taught in his other writings such as the book of Romans. The
apostle Paul had planted churches in four cities Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe
during his missionary labors. The cities are recorded in the book of Acts chapters 13 and 14. On
his second missionary journey Paul visited these churches, strengthening them as he went.
Certain teachers had sneaked in and; after a period of time, although Paul had a close knit
relationship with these converts, he experienced a great deal of anxiety when he learned that
certain teachers were spreading their error. These teachers had disagreed with the gospel which
Paul was preaching. They were teaching what Paul called a “different gospel” which was really
“not another” gospel but a distortion or twisting of the true gospel into a false one.
At this time the apostle was far away from the Churches and he didn’t have time to take a
long journey, therefore he wrote to them instead. When we study the New Testament epistles,
you realize that the authors were writing to counter specific problems including theological
problems, leadership problems, relational problems, moral problems, marriage problem, and so
on and so forth. The same is true of the churches of Galatia. A problem had a rose over the
interpretation of the gospel itself-what was the gospel and how would a person get saved? How
Kirwa
9
can a person be justified, is it true the gospel or by the works of the law? Paul had said one thing
and then those so called apostles were saying something else. Who was right and who had the
apostolic authority to define the gospel?
1. False Teachers, The True Gospel and Paul’s Authority
Paul’s Gospel is in question as well his authority as an Apostle. Not only had these false
teachers question Paul’s gospel, they were also questioning his authority as an apostle. They
were slandering the apostle by saying that he really was not apostle at all. They claimed that Paul
did not know what he was talking about, and that they (false teachers) had come to clear what
Paul had confused in the minds of the faithful. Today we can be certain that some of us have
been attacked by the people we are trying to lead to the Kingdom of God. And as they attack us
(the messenger), they are in actual sense attacking the message. Discrediting the messenger
means you are discrediting the message.
The epistle was written by Paul, probably while travelling through Macedonia at the news
of a complete defection from the truth of the gospel in favor of a return to the bondage of the
Jewish law (a return to Judaism) observance of circumcision, festival days and the Sabbath in
order to be saved and then Paul was forced to write to them (Galatians 2:16, 21:3:2; 5:4; 4:10).
The group which advocated these teachings is called Judaizers.
Who are the Judaizers? They were Jewish believers who proclaimed a mixture of
Judaism and Christianity. They stressed obedience to Mosaic Law, which requires observance of
circumcision, festival days and the keeping of the Sabbath for one to be saved or to obtain
salvation. Before we look at the writer, receivers’ date and the purpose of Galatians let us see the
general structure of the book. The book is divided into four broad sections:
1. Salutation and the problem in Galatia (Galatians 1:1-9)
2. Defense of Paul’s apostleship (Galatians 1:10-2:14)
3. Defense of the Gospel and a defense of justification by faith alone Galatians (2:1516)
4. The conclusion Galatians (6:11-18)
Kirwa
10
2. The Messenger (writer) Recipients, Date and the Purpose
a) The author and the recipients of the epistle
b) The recipients (the receivers)
There is some uncertainty as to which churches were addressed in this epistle. Paul in 1:
2 highlights, “And all the brethren, who are with me unto the churches of Galatia” It really is a
very short unpleasant introduction. In Paul’s other epistles such as Romans and Corinthians, the
apostle uses the words saints and believers sanctified in Christ which are in Rome and Corinth
(Romans 1:7 and 1 Corinthians 1:1-2).
They were either in Northern Galatia the district of which Ancyra was the capital or in
the district on the boarders of Phrygia and Galatia that was visited by Paul on his first missionary
journey. In either case the Galatian churches were certainly visited by Paul on his second (Acts
16:6) and third (Acts 18:23) missionary journeys. Therefore the receivers were the churches of
Galatia.
Paul wrote the epistle, probably while travelling through Macedonia at the news of a
wholesale defection from the truth of the gospel and a return to the bondage of the Jewish law (a
return to Judaism). As the messenger, Paul begins by introducing himself and gave his
qualifications. Notice how he began: “Paul, an apostle, not from man nor through man, but
through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” (Galatians 1:1).
Paul the apostle, who was Saul before conversion, met with Christ on Damascus road and
heard the voice of the risen Lord. Jesus brought him to conversion by appearing to him in
heavenly glory. One of the marks of being an apostle is that one must have had a direct
revelation from the physical risen Christ (Acts 9). Paul was converted by Christ, called by God,
not by man, to be an apostle. An apostle means one who is sent or a messenger, who delivers a
message, thus Paul was the Apostle of Christ and God.
Kirwa
11
We all have specific callings from God at a particular time in our lives to do specific
work. Though we are all redeemed and justified we are not all called to do the same work. None
of us are called to be an apostle. It was a special office and is now closed. There can be no more
apostles, as there is no one left alive who saw the risen Christ. But we still have other God
ordained officers such as elders, deacons, shepherds, pastor/teacher, evangelists and overseers
(See Ephesians 4:11; 1Timothy 3:1ff; Titus 1:7). Each of these offices comes with its own
specific authority within the church and each also comes with its own specific duty and
responsibility.
What is God calling you to do? First, he called us to be remade into the image (likeness)
of his son. For God who (predestined) foreknew us, chose us to conform to the image of his
son…and those He chose He called and justified… (Romans 8:29-30). Secondly, he called us to
preach the gospel (1Timothy 4:1ff.), take care (oversee) of the church of Christ that He bought
with his own blood, and to feed and to shepherd the church of God (Acts 20:28).
In the epistle, Paul vindicates his own position as an apostle, enunciates the doctrine of
righteousness by faith, and affirms the value of spiritual religion as opposed to a religion of
externals. The special calling and appointment of Paul is to preach the gospel to the gentiles
(Acts 9:14-15). He was not just an apostle; he was an apostle to the gentiles in every sense of the
word. Like Peter who was called to be apostle to the Jews he was called to be apostle to the
Gentiles (Galatians 2:7-8). In Galatians 1:1 he begins introducing himself and giving his
qualifications as the apostle of Jesus Christ because he had met and seen the risen LORD and
Christ had called him to be an apostle.
The date of the book of Galatians is intertwined with the problem of its destination. Paul
names his recipients/readers/addresses as “Galatians” (1:2; 3:1). The question is, to which
“Galatians” was he writing? Let us follow the course of Paul’s first and second missionary
journeys in the book of the Acts of the Apostles’ 13:13 and 15:36 to 18:22. Here we discover
that this question has implications for the date of this epistle and its relationship to Paul’s other
letters in his career as an apostle.
Kirwa
12
There are theories that dates the letter late in Paul’s career have the merit of placing
Galatians in the same period as 2 Corinthians, Romans and perhaps Philippians that share
matters of common concern with Galatians. We will consider both theories below.
South Galatian theory holds to the date of AD 49. This is simply because they argue that
Paul visited (Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe) all cities in south Galatia on his first
and second missionary journeys (Acts 13; 14). McNeill states:
The book of Galatians was written by Paul to a group of churches in the southern part of
the province of Galatia which is now modern day Turkey. He had planted these churches
in the above mentioned cities. He argues that the apostle on his second missionary
journey passed through these four cities strengthening the Christian as he went.1
North Galatian theory is that many scholars believe that Galatians was written to the
Celtic people who lived in Northern Galatia known as “Galatians” in the entire province of
Galatia. Some commentators believe that it is known as Gaul. If this view is correct, we can
conclude then that Paul wrote the letter after passing through “Galatia and Phrygia” (Acts 18: 23)
on his third missionary journey.
Many who follow this theory think that Paul wrote either during his two-year stay in
Ephesus (Acts 19) or as he was travelling through Macedonia on his way to Greece at the end of
his third missionary journey. If this is correct, Galatians was probably written in AD 54 or 55.
Paul goes to Galatia during his first missionary journey. He was sent out from the church
at Antioch2 together with Barnabas (Acts 13:1-3). Paul and Barnabas travel to the cities of
Galatia in Asia Minor. The Jewish Synagogues in these cities provide Paul a platform for
preaching the gospel. At times however, he even encountered opposition from the synagogues.
When we study the historical background of Galatians we realize that Paul had founded many
churches in his first missionary journey. In Galatians 1:8 Paul says, “We preached a gospel to
1
McNeill, D.F., The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians (Kampala Uganda: Westminster Theological Seminary, 2012)
1. Print.
2
The church at Antioch now became the base of operation for Saul’s/Paul’s missionary endeavourers. Jerusalem
was still the mother church, but the missionary church was Antioch on the Orontes River. Furthermore, Peter was no
longer the central figure; Saul/Paul became that.
Kirwa
13
you”. In Galatians 4:19 he says, “My little children for whom I am again in labor until Christ is
formed in you!” Paul brought forth spiritual children like that of bringing physical babies into
the world. In his second missionary labors the apostle passed through these cities to strengthen
the churches to stand firm in the truth of the gospel.
Paul founded churches by the sweat of his brow during his missionary labors. In the same
way it is a challenge to us today that we need to strive to be spiritual fathers to others. All the
while we also thank God for our spiritual fathers who nurtured us so that we could grow as full
grown mature Christians. In 1Timothy1:2, Paul calls Timothy my true child in the faith. Paul was
Timothy’s spiritual father; he nurtured him, invested in him so that he would grow into maturity
and became one of Paul’s trusted companions in the ministry. Paul himself later appointed him to
oversee God’s work in the church of Ephesus (1Timothy 1:3). A quick history and geography of
these cities is:
1. Seleucia: The port of Antioch, 16 miles west of Antioch
2. Salamis: The most important city on the island of Cyprus and Pathos is the provincial
capital, 90 miles southwest. Evidently a large number of Jews resided there, so
Barnabas and Saul proclaimed God’s word…in the…synagogues, not a synagogue
(Acts 13:4-5).
3. Perga in Pamphylia: The city of Perga was in Pamphylia, an economically poor
Roman province on the South Coast of Asia Minor (Modern day Turkey). Perga was
five miles inland. It was this time that John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned
home.
4. Antioch in Pisidia: About hundred miles North of Perga and 3,600 feet above sea
level. It is in Phrygia but near Pisidia, and to distinguish it from another Antioch in
Phrygia it was popularly called Antioch in Pisidia.
5.
Iconium: Paul and Barnabas travelled eighty (80) miles, southeast from Antioch in
Pisidia to Iconium which was an ancient Phrygian town. Here the Greeks made it
their city state and under Augustus Caesar, it became a city in the province of Galatia.
Kirwa
14
6. Lystra and Derbe: The two cities are sixty five (65) miles apart. Derbe is South East
of Lystra. The two belong strictly to the Roman province of Galatia, although they
were part of the sub district called Lycaonia. From AD 37–72 Iconium was
linguistically and politically on the Phrygian side of the border. In 6 century BC
Caesar Augustus fortified Lystra and made it into a Roman colony of the province of
Galatia. He also settled the colony with Roman army veterans.
3. The Church Defected from the Truth
The epistle was written to answer the specific issue that the church was turning away to a
different gospel.
a) Not long before Christians had accepted the gospel (good news of salvation in the
crucified Christ alone) agitators (those who advocate a different gospel in this
case the false teachers) came among them and preached a distorted form of
Christianity (Galatians 1:6-7). Their brand of the “gospel” required circumcision
for salvation, which is the Mosaic Law or legislation (Law of Moses) in order to
be accepted by God. They were a group of false teachers who had a problem in
the interpretation of the true gospel. What was the gospel and how could a person
get saved? Paul had said one thing, and now these so-called apostles were saying
something else. Who was right, and who had the apostolic authority to define the
gospel?
b) The agitators were not merely content with their brand of the gospel, but they
sought to discredit Paul claiming that he is not an apostle and that he despised his
superiors, the Jerusalem apostles. They wanted to only listen to Jerusalem
apostles, and so he would be at best a second rate apostle. They also said that Paul
has been inconsistent in his preaching of the gospel. They claimed that he is not
preaching a fully Jewish gospel, which included circumcision, festival days and
all that the law requires.
c) Paul’s purpose in writing at this time was:
Kirwa
15
To persuade the Galatian believers that no gentile needs to accept circumcision in
order to belong to God’s covenant people. The truth of the gospel is that, entrance
into communion with the people of God the Israelites) come by grace through
faith in Jesus Christ.3 How did the gentiles become heirs with Israel? It is in
Christ through the Gospel or Gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel through the
gospel.
To demonstrate that the rumors about him are false and both his gospel and his
authority to preach it came from God Himself (Galatians 1:11-2:14 cf. 5:11;
6:17).
To defend the true gospel of grace; that faith alone in God’s free gift bringeth
salvation to all, to both Jews and Gentiles (Galatians 1:3, 6, 15; 2:19, 21; 6:18).
The author concurs with McNeill that Paul could not afford to lose these churches
to false teachers like a mother losing her babies. He was determined not to get this
happened.4
Like the Christians of Paul`s day church elders in almost all mainline denominations have
opted to return to African Traditional Religion (ATR) during the rites of passage (circumcision
of boys). They are in bondage of the beliefs, customs and the traditions of their ancestors that are
not in line with the Biblical truths. Over the years in my ministry, I have witnessed the revival of
ATR especially in the South and North rift valley regions of Kenya where Kalenjins (one of the
tribes of the Kenyan people) reside. Here the church elder’s wife (husband incognito) working
behind the scenes, colludes with others probably, uncles, aunts in order to circumcise the boys in
the traditional way. Every culture has good and bad things or beliefs which are good or evil.
We can have a spiritual contrast that the Holy Scripture is to rebuke evil, correct some
and affirm other beliefs/values which are in line (accepted biblically) with our Christian faith. Of
course there are good things in ATR which we can emulate as Christians. Some examples
3
4
See Paul’s explanation in Ephesians 3 concerning his works with the Gentiles.
McNeill D.F.3.
Kirwa
16
include respect to the older people, obedience, chastity, humility and the values which govern the
moral life in the community in general. Virginity was also highly valued in traditional society.
Today it is seldom to find virgin girls and boys in our church cycles and communities. Let us go
back to circumcision traditional way. Kalenjin’s rite of passage is pure worship. My argument is
that, what is the object of their worship? Or what or who is the center of this worship? The
question to ask is: are they worshiping the true God of the Bible or Satan?
We need to be very careful in applying Biblical truth to our context. In later lessons, we
will refer for example to a group, referring themselves as the ‘12 disciples’ which have come
openly to have a mixture of their ancestors beliefs with the Bible, and yet when measured with
biblical truth is a false gospel. It really is a distortion of the gospel. I believe that, church elders
should be the salt and the light of the world just as our lord said during His public ministry
(Matthew 5:13-16). They should uphold the spirituality (holiness) of the church at all costs.
If they can uphold this, they shall be in a position to stop syncretism (mixture of the
Christian faith with other faiths) either theological or cultural at all costs. At the same time, they
would not be preachers of false gospel whom Paul reiterated that they are accursed. Paul argued,
“I said before, so I say now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9).
The church leaders have gone to the extent of showing the superiority of ATR beliefs in
favor of the doctrine of Christian liberty. Like the apostle Paul, the author has personal appeal to
the leaders of the church throughout East African Region and beyond to come back to Christ
(Galatians 4:12-20). In ATR the chief actor is Satan himself and his agents, therefore the saints
who are children of God by adoption should worship God alone as the object of their worship.
A believer’s duty to worship God alone is based upon the fact that He is the creator and
that to Him all other beings owe their existence. In the Bible, His claim to reverence and
worship, above the gods of the heathen, is presented and there is cited evidence of His creative
power. The Psalmist David said, “All the gods of the nations are idols: but the lord made the
Kirwa
17
heavens,” (Psalms 96:5). “To whom then will be like me, or shall I be equal, says the Holy one.
(Verse 5)
In Isaiah God echoed “lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these
things, thus says the lord that created the heavens;” God Himself that formed the earth and made
it…. I am the lord; there is none else” (Isaiah 40:25-26; 45:18. Again in the Psalm 100:3 it says,
“Know ye that the lord is God: it is He who made us and we are the lambs of His pasture.” It
also says, “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the lord our maker,”
(Ps.95:6). Holy Beings who worship God in heavenly state, as the reason why their homage is
due to Him: “Thou art worthy, O lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou hast
created all things” (Revelation 4:11).
In Revelation 14 men are called to worship God the creator alone. Thus anything we
value more than Him is idolatry, be it our traditional beliefs, ancestor worship, veneration of
ancestors, material possessions and upholding highly our circumcision rites.
Conclusion
The Christian faith calls for nothing except the cross of Christ. The church needs to reject those
who advocate salvation plus works (faith plus something- circumcision, baptism, and Sabbath,
Western or African culture). We as evangelicals we can send the same message to people if we
are not careful enough to balance the theology of justification by faith alone and the theology of
works.
Lesson One Questions
1. What is the general structure of the book of Galatians?
2. State the two theories in Galatians and their dates.
3. What is the occasion of the book and who were these false teachers?
4. State 3 purposes of Paul in writing at this time.
5. How did, the Gentiles become heirs with Israel?
6. Where is the source of Gospel that Paul received?
Kirwa
18
7. List 3 things that Paul used in defense of his credentials as an apostle? How would you
react when someone discredits your call today?
8. Give the meaning of the words “unto another gospel” How can you tell when someone is
perverting (twisting or distorting) the gospel today?
9. Who are the Judaizers? And how as the church resorted to another gospel today?
10. Do you think there are pastors today who are men pleasers, if yes how (hint prosperity
gospel) what happens when you please God?
Kirwa
19
Lesson Two: Paul’s position as an Apostle and his Relationship with Jerusalem
Apostles (Galatians 1)
1.
Paul’s Personal Vindication of His Position as an Apostle.(Gal.1:1-10)
2.
Paul Called by God and his Relationship with Jerusalem Apostles (Gal.1:11-24).
In this lesson Paul defends his position as an apostle of Jesus Christ claiming that he received his
call directly from the risen Lord. We will also examine the incorrect gospel or doctrine that was
advocated by practitioners that made Paul believe that they are accursed. The new church is
challenged to depart from the gospel when false teachers came down from Jerusalem and began
to sow bad seeds that Paul had not sown.
Characteristic of Paul, he greets his readers, the church of Christ in Galatia. In all of his
letters, the apostle begins with an introductory section which normally includes an opening
greeting or salutation) and a prayer of thanks giving. You will notice that he begins by naming
the writer (the messenger) who is an apostle of Jesus Christ. This is Paul (verse 1). Then the
audience is identified in verse 2 (the troubled church of Galatia) and finally wished them the
grace and peace of God 5 in verse 3.
1. What is Grace and what is Peace?
Grace is God’s mercy and kindness to sinners. God gave us Christ while we do not deserve it.
God sent His son to deliver us. Peace means, no warfare, God is no longer at war with us,
because we are reconciled (brought near) to Him through his son Jesus Christ called the ministry
of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:16-21). This form of salutation which occurred in the other
+epistles states that Paul wished the Galatians a union of friendship with God, and along with it,
all the good things; for the favor of God is the source from which we derive every kind of
5
The traditional Greek and Hebrew forms of greeting, grace and peace were always used by Paul in his salutations
to express the hope that the believing readers might be sustained by daily portions of these blessings. “Grace and
Peace” find their source in God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ (see Paul’s introductions to his other epistles).
Kirwa
20
prosperity. In these verses Paul presents both petitions to Christ, as well as to the Father because
without Christ, neither grace, nor any real prosperity can be obtained.
We should also note that, after naming the writer he mentions something of paramount
importance on how he received the call. He says, “Not sent from men, or through the agency of
man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the father, who raised him from the dead” (Galatians
1:11-12).
2. Paul Received the Gospel by Revelation
Paul also defends his apostleship. What Paul says here in essence, is that his call to be an apostle
was not given to him by men or any man. He received it directly from the Lord Jesus Christ
himself. If you read Acts 9, Christ himself reprimanded Paul on Damascus road for his unbelief.
With that in mind Paul in his opening featured three things in defense of his credentials as an
apostle. An apostle means one who is sent.
(a) Not sent by man but by Christ Himself i.e. his apostleship is from divine origin.
(b) His greetings are part of his defense. His message is not his invention and he
wanted Galatians to recognize this.
(c) The message: He stresses the sacrifice of Christ who brings salvation/deliverance
to all in this present evil age and ushers in the new age. The new order of new
creation, the things of the flesh/world our works; our religious ceremonies,
circumcision, festal days and the like are long gone. What Paul is saying here is
that what matters is the creation we are in now, Sonship, Spirit, Gospel,
justification, sanctification through the risen Lord of all.
This evil age is a characteristic of the present apostate church which always snicks in
false gospel to the church in two ways: Compromises with the world to gain acceptance and
ignores God’s standards and measures success by human values and standards.
Galatians 1:4 has three important points each crucial for our understanding. It is also
highlighted in Galatians 6:14-15. First, the work is Christ’s. We see that Christ voluntarily died
for us, even though we felt unlovable and unworthy, God gazed across the centuries and loved us
Kirwa
21
enough to choose to die for us. It is Him who gave himself for us, delivered us from the old
creation (flesh, world, the devil and the law) and effects the will of the father, the new creation,
Christ, Sonship, spirit.
Second, because He died for us and rose from the dead, He now has the power “to deliver
us from this present evil age.” God had already delivered us and continues to deliver us, part of
the already and not yet. The world around us is controlled and manipulated by Satan to cause us
continual temptation, struggle and harm. But the power of Christ can deliver us from the
bondage of harmful addictions and behaviors.
Third, Christ’s power is not only able to provide deliverance, but God the Father deeply
desires this for each of us. God loves us and wills to save us. We are strangers and aliens with a
new creation and are still living in the midst of the first fallen broken sinful creation, still here
but we are new, sanctified, called and set apart, drawn out from the old creation and placed in the
new.
Application Question: Study the current scene, what are the challenges facing Christians today?
Do Christians still understand their worldview (of course the biblical world view) or are being
bombarded by worldly values or systems contrary to biblical truth?
In Galatians 1:6-10, we see the occasion, and Paul’s condemnation of the false teachers.
Secondly, we see two great themes the fear of men or the fear of God. What motivates you or
what makes you act or who makes you act. Are you motivated by the fear of men or the fear of
God? We respect men but have great honor to right doctrine
As stated earlier, we are all familiar with Paul’s letters to the churches; we like so much
to expect to see a thanksgiving immediately after the greeting. In 2 Corinthians and Ephesians,
we see phrases such as “Praise be to God…” but such a thanksgiving is missing in Galatians.
Here Paul replaces it with a rebuke. He gets right to the point and very abrupt in the way he goes
about. McNeill says, “We Africans do not like when people are abrupt, but sometimes it is
necessary to be abrupt.”6 Paul was abrupt. Don’t be afraid of anything, when it comes to right
doctrine. Look at verse 6 and 7, the apostle says, “I am astonished (marvel, or amazed or wonder
6
McNeill 12
Kirwa
22
or surprised” that you are so soon removed (deserted) from Him who called you into the grace of
Christ into another Gospel, (verse 7) which is not another, but there are some who trouble you
and would pervert (twist) the gospel of Christ.
We also see corruption of the doctrine by the False Apostles. To preach a different gospel
is to corrupt the right doctrine. The issue of circumcision and the law arose that the church at
Antioch was not circumcising and not being very Jewish which made Paul to make a second trip
to Jerusalem. The apostle then administers a rebuke. He would not compromise the message,
even if it is offensive. Paul’s astonishment and wonder convey the depth of his feelings. The
apostle is really shocked and in wonder of the church’s actions. They have had the grace of God
put before them, they have tested of the Spirit, they have known great blessings, they are being
turned away from the gospel (see also Galatians 3:1-4). It was removed or deserted. They were in
the act of falling from Christ who called them by grace, others read it “from Him who called by
the grace of Christ.” Simply they were called by Christ through grace. Calvin says, “To revolt
from the son of God under any circumstances is unworthy and disgraceful; but to revolt from
Him, after being invited to partake salvation by grace is more eminently bad. In his commentary
on Galatians, Calvin says, “His goodness to us renders our ingratitude (being in grateful) to Him
more dreadfully heinous.”17
Turning away from him who “called you.” The scripture speaks of two types of calling:
The general call that God offers to all men regardless of race, sex, color, language or ethnic
origin and all who hear the gospel. In Acts, God command all men everywhere to repent. All
men are to be called, all men are to be invited to the gospel truth, and all are called to
acknowledge the Lordship of Christ (Acts 17:30). The second call above is called effectual
calling. The Westminster confession of Faith renders it “effectual calling.”8 God works faith in
us so that we respond, that is, God works in us effectually, so that in His calling the gospel is
effectual, men hear, obey and finally respond.
7
Calvin, accordingly he enjoins them to regard as devils those who shall dare bring forward a different gospel.
The Westminster Confession of Faith (chap. XII, pg. 71-3) This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace
alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man (II Tim.1:9) who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened
and renewed by the Holy Spirit, ( I Cor. 2:14), he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace
offered and conveyed in it (John 6:37)
8
Kirwa
23
He said, “Unto another gospel.” Another means another thing or a different gospel (vs. 7)
or a new teaching which is not gospel. It is a distortion of the gospel and a twisting of the gospel
into something else. The Greek word used is metastrepho which literally means to “turn about,”
“twist” or to change completely into something else. “The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led by
rebel leader Joseph Kony in Uganda which is fighting for a biblical state is a real distortion of the
gospel. According to one of the local news papers (the Ugandan), the group says, it is fighting
for a biblical state.”9
At the garden of Gethsemane when our lord Jesus was captured and arrested by Roman
authorities, one of His disciples named Peter drew his sword and struck the slave of the high
priest, cutting off his ear. Jesus told Peter to put back his sword to its place; for all those who
take up the sword shall perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father,
and He will at once put at my disposal more than 12 “legions” 10 of angels, He said (Matthew
26:51-56).
Jesus didn’t come to establish a worldly state (kingdom) for He Himself answered Pilate
and said, “My kingdom is not of this world, if my kingdom were of this world, then my servants
would fight for me, that I might not be delivered to the Jews; but as it is my kingdom is not of
this realm”11 (John 18:36-37). He prayed to the disciples in John 17:16 that they are not of the
world as He himself is not of the world.
Thus the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) under Kony’ is literally twisting the gospel and so
changing it into something else. All worldly kingdoms and states are classified as secular states
but they were instituted by God (Romans 13:1-2). Let every person be in subjection to governing
authorities, for there is not authority except from God; and those which exist are established by
God. Therefore if we resist authority we literally oppose God and we receive condemnation.
Kony and his squad are totally opposing God who in the first place established the Ugandan
Government under president Museveni.
Kiwanuka, G, “Kony claims to fight for a biblical state” The Ugandan News paper, 3 Feb. 2015. B 12 Print
(Words underline for emphasis).
10
A legion equaled 6,000 troops times 12 making a total of 72,000 troops (quite a large army)
11
Literally, from here (Words Underline for emphasis)
9
Kirwa
24
On the call to prayer, the church is urged to pray for the state and those who rule, kings,
presidents whether democratic, or dictatorial (I Timothy 2:1-2). Paul urges Timothy to pray for
kings, rulers and other governing authorities. God raises men to power even cruel and notorious
men like Emperor Nero, Hitler, Napoleon, Idi Amin and others. The church’s business is to pray
for such mad men. Believers are not to worship them. We worship God.
On April, 26th 2015 in Yatta Sub County in Kenya, an area chief had to intervene and
closed the Healing Ministry Church.”12 The members of the church are only women. The so
called “pastor” (the only man in church) tell women to undress for a breakthrough in prayer. This
is pure distortion of the Gospel. “Ni Imani Potovu” which is a Swahili term meaning very wrong
faith and gospel. I wonder what these women think seeing a male pastor in the church and
commanding them to undress. “Some who trouble you” the circumcision group from James or
the Judaizers who in their missionary expedition are there to pervert or subvert Paul’s true
gospel. Subversion is an enormous crime. It is worse than corruption. The Gospel of Christ is
explained in two ways:
(a) The author of the gospel is Christ Himself. It originates from Him. As already
stated that every blessing that the church in Galatia had, came through the work of
Christ. It is today, the blessings of the gospel are free for us, but Christ worked
and paid for us. Christ acts as a substitute for us (he died in place of sinners i.e.
one for the other) in humility he placed himself in a position to take our sins to
himself. He took the Adamic curse as well the curse of the Jewish law so that the
curse would not fall upon us. The work of deliverance, ransom and redemption
are purely His.
(b) The Gospel purely exhibits Christ. Paul states that there is no other gospel. He is
very adamant. He stresses the exclusive nature of the gospel of God. God has one
gospel and it is the gospel of grace plus nothing. It is the work of God and we do
not add to anything and no one can change it. The theology of the gospel of Paul
is one of grace; and a gospel offered to us and can only be received by grace and
faith.
Citizen TV News at 7 PM, “Pastor commands women to undress in church for breakthrough in prayer,” 26 Apr.
2015.
12
Kirwa
25
But though we or an Angel from heaven (vs. 8); in this case Paul defends the authority of
his doctrine. He declares that the message he had preached is the only gospel and that an attempt
to set it aside is highly criminal. What these false apostles were teaching changed the gospel into
something which is not the gospel. He tells the Galatians very plainly that if anyone, including
himself or even an angel from heaven, preaches a gospel other than the gospel which he has
already preached to them, that man, angel, or even Paul himself, will be accursed, another word
for being delivered over to the divine wrath or that person will go to hell.13
As I observed earlier, over the years in the ministry, the church had resorted to another
gospel by adding the inventions of men. When the gospel is mixed up with human inventions
and things that are contrary to it, the author concurs with Calvin when he states, “Those who
bring forward a gospel different from the true gospel (justification by faith alone i.e.
accreditation of righteousness through faith alone in the crucified Christ) are regarded as devils.”
14
The church should promote the true gospel alone and abstain from the teachings and values of
their ancestors in this case a mixture of Christian teachings and their ATR beliefs as some church
elders advance through the revival of the African religionists.
What concerns us here then and now are the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
The mixture of the Bible doctrines and the introductions of men’s culture as well as customs is a
dreadful perversion. The belief among Roman Catholic circles that the Pope is endowed with the
authority of the original apostles has no foundation in the Bible. The doctrines of Purgatory and
soul sleep among the Catholics and the Seventh Day Adventists respectively do not have any
biblical basis.
It is distortion of the gospel. When Christ returns at the second coming
(translation of the church, some called Rapture) believers’ body will be raised and reunited with
their soul (1 Corinthians 15:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16).
Only by the Bible could men and women in this century can arrive at the truth. Long after
the Reformers had understood the scriptures, and they engaged in controversy with the Catholic
Church. Tyndale replied, “We were better to be without God’s laws than the Pope’s. I defy the
13
14
Paul the Apostle to the faithful in Galatia Province
Calvin, J., Commentary On Galatians, Kindle 4. Print.
Kirwa
26
pope and all his laws; and if God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the
plow to know more of the scriptures than you do.”15
The grand principle maintained by Paul was the same that had been held by the
Waldeneses, Wycliffe, John Huss, John Knox, Luther, Zwingli and those who united with them
about the infallible authority of the Holy Scriptures as a rule of faith and practice. They denied
the rights of popes, councils, fathers, and kings to control the conscience in matters of religion.
The Bible was their authority, and by its teaching they tested all doctrines and all claims. Faith in
God and His word sustained these holy men as they yielded up their lives at the stake. “Be of
good comfort,” exclaimed Latimer to his fellow martyrs as the flames were about to silence their
voices, “ we shall this day light such a candle, by God’s grace, in England, as I trust shall never
be put out.”16
And sure enough the light of the gospel was lit and was never quenched. The gospel
spread to all over Europe, the America and to the other most parts of the world in a very short
time. The church is not our authority unless its teaching is in agreement with the Bible. It is not
the church which determines what the gospel is; it is the Bible which reveals the true Gospel.
McNeill states, “The Bible is not dependent on the church, but rather the church is dependent on
the Bible. The truth of the Bible, mediated through the Holy Spirit, gave birth to the church, but
to say that the church gave birth to the Bible is like saying the child gave birth to his or her
mother.” 17
Paul concludes this text (verse) by saying that he is a bond-servant of Jesus Christ,
meaning that his service to Christ will force him to condemn anything which robs Christ of His
glory.18 God’s glory is the overflowing and overwhelming nature of His deity. His glory includes
His endless holiness, righteousness, love, justice, grace, mercy, purity, beauty, power and
wisdom. And the happy duty that comes with being alive in this world that God created by and
for his glory is to glorify Him. Our purpose in living is to focus on, draw attention to, live for and
delight in God’s glory. God deserves this from us and not be men pleasers.
15
Anderson, G., Annals of the English Bible (London, UK: IVP, 1920) 19. Print.
Latimer, H. Works of Hugh Latimer, vol. xiii (London, UK: IVP 1960) 45. Print.
17
McNeill 20.
18
McNeill 20.
16
Kirwa
27
Paul’s opponents had accused him of being a man pleaser that is not the case. If it were
so he would not, be admonishing the Galatians by using a harsh language. The only thing that
mattered to Paul was to please Christ who called him in the first place. He says if he is a pleaser
of men then he is not a servant of Christ. The text is very plain here. “For do I now persuade men
or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I am yet (still) pleasing men I should not be the
servant of Christ” (Vs 10).
In your preaching and church leadership do you please men or God? The attack on Paul
was that he was not inconsistent and a man pleaser, he was one who was not in fear of men,
rather than obeying and pleasing God alone. The attackers accused Paul that he said we do not
need to circumcise and yet he has circumcised Timothy, then again he had not circumcised Titus
who was a gentile.
Paul was not motivated by the fear of men. The words God or man can be interpreted to
mean divine and human concerns. Paul had accepted divine call from the beginning and thus
needs to defend himself. He did not need to circumcise Timothy as it was not necessary for him
to be saved. He wanted Timothy to accompany him and he circumcised him because of the Jews
who were in these places. It would be easier for him to preach to Jews who branded Timothy an
uncircumcised gentile because his father was a Greek. As for Paul circumcision is irrelevant to
the gospel and so he could be flexible so long as it is not essential to the gospel, if one makes
circumcision essential to the gospel, or must be added to the gospel, then it must be rejected at all
costs.
Paul did not water the gospel. He stood firm and he stood fast. He did not compromise
even a second. He was not subject to the fear of men. Peter in Galatians 2 is contrasted with Paul.
Peter was moved by pressure and feared men who came down from Judea. He was motivated by
human concerns. Paul did not flex in his stand against Judaizers and he does not show any
inferiority to own brothers and fellow apostles.
Today we need to watch ourselves. When we do not have consistent message, it makes
harder for everyone else to take a stand. The church or preachers of the gospel should always
seek to please God. Prosperity gospel preachers seek to please men and they fear to preach
against sin. The presentation of their message is social and commercial in nature. They want
Kirwa
28
favors from men. They serve for food because their desire and ambition is to fill their stomachs
thus failing to become bond-servants of Christ. Let us see what Paul says, in Philippians 3:18-19,
“That they are the enemies of the cross and gospel and that their end is destruction, their god in
their belly and they glory in their shame, and their minds set on earthly things.”
Many at times we are all subject to the fear of men, but we need to understand that the
gospel of Christ sets us free from being in bondage to men. From the gospel we get liberty and it
demands that we serve God first and foremost, before we serve others. Christ echoed in his
public ministry, “love the lord your God with all your heart, with your entire mind and with all
you soul, and strength and then love your neighbor (men) second. In his summary of vv. 6-10,
after the salutation in Vs.1 to 5, Paul having extolled the one who called him as apostle these
verses can be summarized as follows: adapted from McNeill19
(a) First, no person dead or living today can claim to have apostolic authority and no
one can change the gospel.
(b) Second, there is only one gospel (faith alone in the crucified Christ) once and for
all delivered or entrusted to the saints or believers in the Bible and anything else
is a false gospel (commentary on the book of Jude vs. 1-3).
(c) Third, the one and only gospel is a gospel of grace plus nothing. Any other gospel
is of gospel works which is not good news.
(d) Fourth, pleasing God sometimes requires us to displease others
In 1:11-17 Paul defends his apostleship: This is vindication of his position as an
Apostle of Jesus Christ, called of God and not by any human being. (Gal. 1: 11-17)
Paul’s apostolic call and authority and His relationship with other apostles is summarized in
Galatians 1:18 - 2:21. There always have been attacks on Pauline theology right from the early
church to the present time. Over the years some have branded him the first corrupter of bible
doctrines. Liberal theologians have said of Paul that he had created another gospel and that he
did not preach the same Gospel with Jesus Christ. “Now these attacks are not aimed at Paul
himself, but they are instead aimed at attacking his doctrines. “Attack the man, discredit the
19
McNeill 20. Print.
Kirwa
29
man,” and if you can undermine his authority, then you attack the message that he preached.” 20
This is why Paul writes these next verses from 11 to 24. He wants to show the origin of the
gospel that he preached.
Paul’s message was not based on mere human reasoning. He received from no human source
but by direct revelation from Jesus Christ (Acts 9:3-5; 22:6-10; 26:13-18; I Corinthians 15:8).
Paul defends himself against his opponents’ charge that he is in rebellion against the Jerusalem
apostles who gave him his authority in the first place. Paul contends that his authority comes
from God alone, the Jerusalem apostle were just confirming it (vs. 11-12). They added nothing to
Paul; he was an apostle as they were. They saw and recognized his calling, he had been entrusted
the gospel to the uncircumcised (gentiles) just as Peter was entrusted to the circumcised (Jews).
The gospel that Paul preached is the gospel that was preached in Jerusalem. Paul and Jerusalem
have the same gospel.
In verses 13-14; Paul tells them that, they themselves knew him, how he followed the
Jewish traditions, and how he violently persecuted the church of God doing his best to destroy it.
He had a zeal for the traditions of his ancestors (Paul the persecutor) and how God intervened for
his church, because of the havoc Paul had done to the church, trying to bring it down.
Paul is ashamed of his past before he was called. He witnessed Stephen’s martyrdom in
Acts 7 and in Acts 8 he ravages the church of Christ. In Acts 7:3 Luke states; “But Saul was
ravaging the church and entering house after house he dragged off men and women and
committed them to prison.” This was Saul’s character before he met Christ at Damascus road and
earns him the great apostle to the Gentiles.
His zeal for the law would not save him. The false teachers of his day taught that what
Jesus did on the cross is not enough. They taught to be saved is not just to repent of your sin; you
must keep the ceremonial Law of Moses which included circumcision. Therefore even a zealous,
Jew in not sufficient for salvation, (see Romans 9:30-10:4; 2 Corinthians 11:22; Philippians 3:4 –
6).
20
Comp. by Zugg, Galatians Sermon Notes, 2013.
Kirwa
30
Paul cannot rebuild what he had destroyed. As we shall see in Galatians 2:18 and 5:11
later, here Paul says, “He cannot build what he had destroyed”. He could not return to Judaism.
Peter was returning to Judaism, he was falling back to the old ways of living, a vivid picture and
the whole summary of the book. The Jews from Jerusalem were in essence telling the churches
in Galatia that they had to become Jews in order to be saved and the churches were beginning to
believe them.
Application Question-:
Our churches, pastors, church leaders are trying to build what our church elders’ in the 1960’s
1070’s and 1980’s destroyed. They said they were not part and parcel of the traditions and
customs and the culture of our ancestors. They refused totally a mixture of faith and ATR. They
opposed this syncretism at all costs. A story is told of some AIM (Africa Inland Mission)
Kapsabet church elders who were cursed by Nandi tribesman in 1960’s because they preached
against their beliefs. Weeks turned into months and months turned to years no one elder died, but
the one who administered the curse died later in the year. The church grew and the church elders
received new strength day by day and the gospel spread to UasinGishu, Keiyo, Marakwet,
Transnzoia and Pokot counties of Kenya.
Today we err and the truth is not in us (I John 1:8) when we see church elders resorting to
ATR when our early church elders defeated darkness. In the above example, the church is
returning to the cultural beliefs, in which it is falling back into those miserable things, the old
way of living. Christians have been set apart (separated) from worldly indulgences, converted,
called out of the world and elected to be partakers of the divine nature. Listen to what Paul’s says
in Vs 15-17,
But when it pleased God who set me apart (separated) from my mother’s womb and
called me through His grace to reveal His son in me, that I might preach Him among the
gentles, I did not immediately consult with anyone, nor did I go to Jerusalem to those
who were apostles before me, but I went to Arabia, and return again to Damascus
(Galatians 1:15-17).
Kirwa
31
Paul the preacher after God’s grace is important because his conversion and call
powerfully illustrates the type of the Gospel he preaches. The events in his life showed that the
gospel was a revelation of the Son of God and that there is no one time that he would preach
another gospel. He further stresses that His call to preach to the Gentiles came from God and not
from the leaders of the Jerusalem church, James, Peter and John. These church leaders or
apostles are prominent in the books of the Acts of the Apostles and Galatians as leaders of the
early Christian community in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9).
Why didn’t Paul immediately want to discuss his newfound faith with others? Why go to
Arabia for all places? All his life Paul had followed human counsel that led him astray, but now
he wanted to meet with God alone. There in the desert of Arabia, Paul thought and prayed about
all that happened to him. We need to make sure we have our own private Arabia’s, where we can
meet God, away from all distractions.
In Acts 9:10-19 Paul met with Ananias for three days after his conversion. He did not
consult Ananias in this sense but Ananias role was just to confirm Paul’s calling to preach to
gentiles and probably baptize him.
The word “consult” is a translation of laying something before someone or submitting it
for comment and approval. Therefore neither Ananias nor the Apostles James and Peter and John
laid the gospel to Paul but the gospel came to him through the revelation of Jesus Christ
(Galatians 1:11-12). He did not need to learn the gospel from others. He did not have to go to the
Jerusalem to confer (learn about the gospel). He was not under them in any way. The Jerusalem
apostle’s calling had no more validity than his. Therefore Paul stated clearly that he did not
confer with men or the church or the reputed chiefs of the apostles Peter or James. But travelled
to Arabia instead, stressing his isolation from them including the church.
4. Paul’s Relationship with Other Apostles (Galatians 1:18-2:21)
The relationship was accepted by Jerusalem. Paul’s conversion and call took place near
Damascus (Acts 9:3) and the apostle spent several days in the city (Acts 9:19) as he travelled to
Arabia and back to Damascus. When the apostle said I went away to Arabia, I believe it is for
more revelations from Christ who commissioned him to preach to the Gentile world.
Kirwa
32
Geographically Arabia is where Mt. Sinai is situated, the place where God established His
covenant with Israel (Exodus chapter 34). So it corresponds to God establishing his covenant
with Paul before he embarks on as the great apostle to the gentiles -The great persecutor becomes
the great apostle.
Some scholars believe that he (Paul) stayed in Arabia for 3 years (Galatians 1:18), living
in very harsh conditions (desert heat, isolation, thirst, hunger) meditating on the Old Testament
Scriptures about the coming promised messiah, receiving new revelations about Christ and the
Gospel message recorded today in his Pauline epistles which would have been unknown to us
today in the 21st Century without this divine revelation.
This serves as an example to pastors, together with members of church to emulate. In the
past when the author was fresh in ministry, he used to attend pastors conferences in various
places, spiritual retreats where he could be rejuvenated or revitalized afresh for Christ’s service.
These retreats, conferences and seminars cannot be experienced anywhere today. There is need
to be build up and to grow spiritually for the sake of the gospel message.
During my studies in USA the church that I attended organized a spiritual retreat for three
days in 2003 at camp Fortson Peach Tree city, Georgia. It was called Atlanta men’s walk number
27. In this retreat, I came out afresh after many years of paper work, and trying to catch up with
deadlines for submission of papers. We were isolated for these days from studies, work and from
our daily chores only for worship, prayers and sought God with all our hearts, minds and
strength. It was awesome. My spirituality was rejuvenated and made afresh again.
Three years later after returning back to Damascus from Arabia (Gal. 1:18-20), Paul says:
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with Him
fifteen days. But I saw none of the apostles except James, the Lords brother in what I am
saying to you before God, I did not go to Syria and Cilicia. I was still unknown to people
of the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They were only hearing that, He who used to
persecute us in now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy, and they glorified God
Kirwa
33
because of me. It was only after three years stay in Arabia that Paul visited Peter and
James in Jerusalem (vs. 18:19) Paul only stayed here for 15 days.
Jerusalem was the cultural, religious center and the capital city of Palestine and Israel and
home of James, Peter and John. During this period of only 15 days, Paul would not have learned
anything he needed to know about Christ. In like manner we have already shown that he had a
direct revelation and call from God.
Paul had gone to Jerusalem for an express purpose to see Peter not for Peter’s and James’
approval or sanctions before undertaking the office. This short time shows that Paul had come
not to learn but solely for mutual acquaintance. The writer concurs with McNeill when he states,
“Such a short visit could not be interpreted as a period of discipleship by these two apostles,”21
The words “I saw none of the apostles except James” is added to mean that he had just
visited them and amounts to nothing else.” He briefly met with the leaders temporarily for 15
days. He went to see Peter, since he (Peter) was a leader and it was just natural to see him. He
did not go there for their approval, he would not need to be taught by them or report to them. He
was not trained under Peter and Peter did not give him any authority and James, neither is he
commissioned by them. Paul’s first contact with other apostles was only after three years again
stressing his independence. Paul’s call did not come from Jerusalem. He was personally called
by Christ. Notice what he said in vs.12, “I did not receive it from any man, nor I was taught it;
rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ” (NIV). The Apostles Peter and James: Who
is Cephas? And who is James? Cephas is Peter’s Aramaic name and both “Cephas” and “Peter”
means rock. His other name is Simon featuring number one in the list of Apostles in gospels:
With James, the author does not hold the opinion of John Calvin that he is one of the 12
disciples whose surname was The Just and appears to him, far probable that the person of whom
Peter is speaking of is James son of Alpheus. The author is in agreement with “Jerome”22 one of
the early church fathers in his defense that the word apostle is sometimes applied to others
21
22
McNeill 13.
Jerome: An early church father together with Tertullian.
Kirwa
34
besides the 12.” Therefore, this James is not James son of Zebedee who is frequently mentioned
with Peter and John in the gospels. The James mentioned here by Paul is James the Lord’s
brother who had been the leader of the church in Jerusalem during the period of the 1st Century
AD.
Almost all 21st Century AD theologians including myself agree that James the brother of
John was murdered by King Herod in the church’s earliest days. St. Luke the writer of the book
of the Acts of Apostles pens, “About that time Herod the King laid violent hands on some who
belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword” (12:2 ESV).
To content on the accuracy of his message Paul sworn by an oath that he is telling the
truth in God i.e. God Himself is his witness (vs. 20). This is not his first time calling God a
witness. He had done that in other occasions as well (see Romans 1:9; 9:1; 2 Corinthians 1:23; 2
Corinthians 11:31; I Thessalonians 2:5).
Paul, himself a Jew understood the seriousness of an oath, so to his readers the Galatian
churches. An oath is viewed simply as an appeal to the integrity and truth of our words and
actions. “Another example of the accuracy of his message is when he said he went to the regions
of Syria and Cilicia. “Brown,”23 believes that there were no apostles in these two religious, a
prove showing that there was no consultation and that he had received his instruction from Jesus
in person and needed no one else to teach or train him.
While in Jerusalem after his conversion Paul disputed against the Hellenists. The Greek
speaking Jews, and they tried to kill him. But when the brothers learned this, they brought Paul
down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus his home which is the most important city in
Cilicia. This part of Cilicia was under the administration of the Roman Province of Syria during
the early first century (see Acts 9:11, 30 21:39; 22:3) so, Paul’s use of the two names Syria and
Cilicia is accurate (vs. 21).
23
Brown, J. Galatians, Kindle, 27. Print.
Kirwa
35
In Galatians1:22-24: Paul says he was unknown to the churches of Judea; they only heard of
him, that the one who persecuted them is now preaching the gospel he once tried to destroy. If
the churches of Judea (OT Judah or the Roman province of Judea which included ancient Judah,
Samaria and Galilee) have only heard of Paul and have not seen him by face, would give glory to
God for the amazing change He had wrought in Paul, how disgraceful was it that those who had
tested the fruits of his amazing labors should not have acted in the same way? This shows more
strongly the wickedness and the magnitudes of Paul’s slanderers.
Studying the passage in Greek, we realize that Paul was saying, “It was not because of
how good or bad he had been, but God was glorified because of the work He God had done in
him (Paul).” This too should be our desire, that the work God had done in our lives would bring
Him honor and glory. The churches in Judea glorified God,24 for two reasons:
1. They saw how the grace of God can change the worst of evil men such as Paul into a
genuine Christian. The chief persecutor of the church into a great apostle. If God can
change a man like Saul. He could change anyone even the worst of sinners (1Timothy
1:15).
2. Since Saul who has now changed into Paul and a Christian, the Christians in Judea
and the surrounding areas could now breathe a sigh of relief from prosecution. In
Acts 9:31 we read that after Paul’s conversion. “The church throughout Judea, Galilee
and Samaria enjoyed peace, being build up, and going on the fear of the Lord and in
the comfort of the Holy Spirit and it multiplied.”
Before then the name Saul had struck terror in the hearts of all Christians in Jerusalem,
Judea and the surrounding regions. Now they are happy that the man who terrorized the church is
preaching the message he used to destroy. Paul had become a preacher. Paul takes pride in his
ministry, not to his own praise but to the praise of God. Writing to the Romans, he declares,
“Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my office,” i.e., I want to be received
not as Paul of Tarsus, but as Paul the apostle and ambassador of Jesus Christ, in order that people
24
We see here that Paul does not say they praised or glorified me, but they glorified God. They glorified God in
Paul, for all that belongs to Paul was from the grace of God. Today preacher’s need praises from men, a tough
lesson to all of us to take stern measures against such praises and glory, which are reserved, for God alone.
Kirwa
36
might be more eager to hear. He made up his ambition to preach the pure Gospel and nothing
else. “Paul exalts his ministry out of the desire to make known the name, the grace, and the
mercy of God.”25 He has fulfilled the ministry of the Gospel of Christ.
There are a number of lessons we learn from Paul’s conversion and preaching today. Christians
were set apart for salvation in Christ before we were conceived and born. Ephesians says, “We
were chosen in Christ even before the world began” (1:4). In Jeremiah 1:5, God says, “Before
you were formed in the womb I knew you and before you were born I set you apart (consecrated)
you.
The verb “know” is equivalent to “choose” and set apart, see Genesis. 18:19 and Amos
3:2. This setting apart before birth is the ground of believers standing in Christ. Compare also
Moses whose birth narrative in Exodus 2 has the same meaning, and or with Paul in Galatians
1:15. See also Paul’s salutation in Romans 1:1 and Jeremiah’s call in 1:5. We see something
similar in Isaiah 49:1, on the call, consecration of the servant of the LORD – the Prophesy of the
coming Messiah.
The certainty of our calling is not only that we were set apart from birth to be Christians;
God called us out of darkness into the light of the gospel in a specific point in time. In Colossians
1:13, Paul says, “God delivered us from the Domain of darkness and transferred us into the
Kingdom of Light of his son he loves.”
Deliverance portrays God’s rescue of Israel from Egyptian slavery and then from
Babylonian captivity in Babylon. Scripture especially Pauline Epistles envisions humans outside
of Christ as being helplessly under the domain of darkness, the evil rule of Satan (Ephesians 2:13; 6:11). Christians have been rescued from this world order (Galatians 1:4) and brought into the
dominion and protection of God’s beloved son, our lord and savior Jesus Christ. At a particular
time in our lives God convinced us that Christianity is true. Just the way we believe that the
Bible is true, we also believe that Christianity is true. The Bible is the book used by all Christians
25
Luther, M, Commentary on Galatians, Kindle 30. Print.
Kirwa
37
throughout the world. “Zugg”26 makes a number of observations concerning us Christians
holding to secular reasoning. Our authority is based upon the Bible because God says that it is
true.
(a) Why do you believe the Bible? Because it is true.
(b) How do you know it is true? Because it tells me it is true.
(c) So you believe that the Bible is true, because it is God’s word to us
As Christians we were called by grace and not according to what we deserved. Like the apostle
Paul we did not deserve grace. Others want to earn salvation by works. In Ephesians 2:8-10 Paul
makes clear that, “…by grace you have been saved through faith, not by works but it is the gift
of God lest anyone should boast. We are God’s work created in Christ Jesus to do good works
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
An unknown author has defined grace as follows
G
-
Stands for
God’s
R
-
”
”
Riches
A
-
”
”
At
C
-
”
”
Christ’s
E
-
,,
,,
Expense
Hence, the words “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense”.
It is an underserved favor. We were dead in our sins, rebellious in our hearts, we were
controlled by the lust of flesh, lust of eyes and the pride of life, we were hostile to God and by
nature we were children of wrath as the rest of human kind notice what Paul told the church of
Ephesus, “But God who is rich in Mercy and because of His great love that he loved us even
when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive in Him” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
26
Zugg, J, Apologetics (Belize: Belize Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2008) 57. Print.
Kirwa
38
Just as Paul was called by God for a specific purpose, Christians are also called by God
for a specific purpose. None of us are called to be an apostle, but we were, called by God to do
something for Him in this life as Christians in the church, and the community around. We are the
body of Christ where as our Lord and savior Jesus Christ is the head of the church and the chief
cornerstone (Colossians 1: 18; Ephesians 2:20).
With the work we are doing we worship Him. Whether, carpenters, builders, masons,
architect, engineer, driver, housewife, college principal, college president, nurse, housewife,
mothers and farmers, it really does not matter what work God has called you to do. One African
American human rights activist by the name Martin Luther King Jr. in his book “I have a
dream” once echoed in his final address in 1968 (Selma Alabama) before his assistant bullet tore
his body:
If God called you to be street sweeper, sweep the streets with all your heart, all your mind
and with all your heart, all your mind and with all your strength, with a sense of purpose,
and when you are called into His presence, the whole heaven (the angelic hosts,
seraphim, cherubim) would testify here lived a street sweeper who did his or her job well
come and well done faithful servant and enter into the Kingdom through the gates.27
Besides, in our daily chores as well as our work places, we are called to testify the truth
of the gospel, lead others to faith in Christ and live exemplary Christian lives. In their work
places, Christians fear to share their faith in Christ to others. They say evangelism is the work of
the pastor and the evangelist. There are a few Africans I know who are Kenyans with courage
who can witness to others the love of God in their work places. But this is difficult in American
culture. They say there are churches to attend and listen to the minister of the Gospel there.
Nevertheless, how can the unreached folks get the truth of the Gospel and yet evangelism
is part and parcel of the ministries of the church? We evangelize the world, our neighbors,
friends, workmates with the unconditional love of God and grace.
Luther, Martin King Jr., “ I have a dream,” Baptist church in Atlanta, GA USA, also human rights activist in
1950’s and 1960’s (words in brackets mine).
27
Kirwa
39
Conclusion
Paul had made it clear that he has been called not by man but by God, and the Gospel he had
been preaching is not his own, nor does it come from any man, but it comes from God. With his
relationship with other apostles, he made two claims: He acknowledges his claim to be an
apostle; when he says, “They were apostle before me,” he does not say they were not apostles,
but he also indicates his independence, that he was equally an apostle of God. Not only an
apostle with equal authority, but that he also had a specific calling within the gentiles (Acts
26:15-20). Today we have ministry to do, preach the gospel, lead the church and nurture others
to take the mantle of the gospel to greater heights and God alone will take the glory.
Questions for Lesson Two
1. Paul’s opponents charged him that he is in rebellion against Jerusalem apostles. True or
False.
2. Explain Paul’s zeal for the traditions of his ancestors. As a Bible scholar/pastor do you
have a zeal for the gospel alone, or are you pleasing the traditions of your people?
3. What did the church elders destroy in the 1960’s through the 1980’s?
4. What is syncretism?
5. Read Galatians chap. 1:15-17. Why is this passage important?
6. Where did Paul’s conversion take place? Give a reason for his travel to Arabia.
7. Can Paul’s visit to Jerusalem be interpreted to mean a period of discipleship by Peter and
James?
8. State Peter’s Aramaic name. Which James was he spoken by Paul?
9. Give 2 reasons of the accuracy of Paul’s message.
10. Outline 3 lessons Christians learn from Paul’s conversion and preaching today.
Kirwa
40
Lesson Three: Paul in Jerusalem and Contends for the True Gospel (Galatians 2)
This lesson focuses on Paul contending for the true Gospel when he visited Jerusalem once again
after 14 years. The apostle had a passion for the truth in Galatia because he understood the
importance of the truth, the truth and nothing but the truth. He records that he went up to
Jerusalem along with Barnabas and Titus. The text says, “Then after 14 years I went up to
Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set
before them (the apostles) the gospel I proclaim among the gentiles, in order to make sure I was
not running or had not run in vain” (Vs.1-2).
1. Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Contends for the True Gospel (Galatians.
2:1-7)
This is Paul’s second visit to Jerusalem. We cannot determine when this period of 14 years
began. What is very important to understand is that Paul was preaching and teaching for 14 years
independently of the Jerusalem apostles. He had been personally preaching among the gentiles
for the last 14 years. Paul went to Jerusalem and the reasons for this second visit were:
a) The reason for this visit is not that Paul needs approval and confirmation from the
Jerusalem apostles. It is not that Paul has been in doubt about what he has been
preaching. As already said, Paul knew that his gospel is the true gospel of Jesus
Christ because he received directly from Christ Jesus.
b) “Paul himself gives us the reason for the visit in verse two. It was because of the
revelation that he should go to Jerusalem. No one knows what this revelation was;
even Paul himself does not say that, it was a revelation given to him personally. Some
commentators such as Stott”28 and “Bruce”29 believe that this revelation is the one
recorded by St. Luke in Acts 11:20.
28
29
Stott, John, The message of Galatians (Grand rapids: Baker Books, 1999) 41.Print.
Bruce, F.F., The life of Paul (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000) 244. Print.
Kirwa
41
c) McNeill states that, “It is possible that the revelation mentioned was a private one to
Paul from God, indicating that it was now time that Paul and that Jerusalem apostles
met over the most important thing in the world over the Gospel”. It is therefore
advisable that the student will have to decide which interpretation he/she prefers.
d) So if Paul is not trying to gain approval of the apostles, why does he consult with
them about the gospel after 14 years? The answer is found in the later part of vs. 2.
He says, “For fear that he might be running or had run in vain.” What does this mean?
It means that after 14 years of preaching the gospel of Christ, he recognized that
many of his converts or disciples could become confused and fall away from the faith
(apostate) if they believe that Jerusalem apostles and Paul were not fully agreed about
the gospel.
Because of divine revelation, Paul would not change his mind even if Peter and his
company disagreed with him. Paul could not change his mind even if angels appeared in Galatia
preaching a different gospel. After all, Paul had told them, in the first place with strongest terms
that, even if he or anyone else (even Peter and the apostles in Jerusalem) or an angel from heaven
preached a gospel different from the one he had already preached to them, that man, or angel or
even Paul would be accursed (Galatians 1:8-9). We can therefore make a conclusion that
Jerusalem authorities added completely nothing to Paul’s original calling.
In mentioning Barnabas and Titus “going up to Jerusalem together” Paul shows a very
important move or decision on his part. Barnabas was a Jew and a native of Cyprus and one of
the earliest converts to Christianity (See Acts .4:36). Barnabas’s name in Aramaic means “son of
encouragement”. As a son of encouragement, he sold a field that belonged to him and brought
the money to the apostles thus presenting a good example for Christian who gave to the needs of
others.
From then on Barnabas led in mission work, interceded and sought for Paul after his
conversion (Acts 9:27). And when in Jerusalem for the first time after his conversion the apostles
were afraid of him not knowing that he had become a disciple of Jesus. Barnabas brought him to
Kirwa
42
the apostles and explained to them, how Paul was converted on the Damascus road. Paul was
then accepted by Jerusalem.
Ten years later Barnabas sought for Paul in Tarsus his home town, where he had gone
when the Hellenists (Greek speaking Jews) plotted to kill him in Jerusalem (Acts 9:28-29). This
time he brought him to the church at Antioch (Acts 11:25-27) and together they ministered for a
whole year. This demonstrates that Barnabas really lived up to his name. Have you at times
deserted ministry because of some problem? If yes what was the problem and how did you
resume back?
Titus was uncircumcised gentile who had been converted under Paul’s ministry. He was
one of Paul’s trusted companions and messengers. Although Luke never mentioned him in Acts
during Paul’s mission work, and the New Testament provides little information about him, Paul
took him to Jerusalem in his missionary labors (Galatians 2:1-3).
Scholars believe that Titus probably travelled with Paul on his second and third
missionary journeys and the better part of the fourth. Paul could count on him on delicate
situations such as those in the church of Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:13; 7:6, 13, 14; 8:6; 12:8). On
the earliest leg of their missionary endeavors, Paul and Titus had been involved in Mission work
on the Island of Crete. “When Paul departed, he left Titus behind as his representative on the
Island (Titus 1:5) and in the province of Dalmatia”30 (2 Timothy 4:10). Sometime in future they
were to meet together again in Nicopolis (see Titus 3:12) a city on the west cost of the Roman
province of Epirus (Modern Day Albania).
2. Paul Accepted by the Apostles
The term gentile is a word used to refer to anyone who is not a Jew. In 2 verses 1 we have
already seen that Paul took Titus (a gentile convert to Christianity) with him to Jerusalem. The
words “Titus was not forced” (another translation was not compelled) to be circumcised (vs. 3) is
to prove that the false teachers of Galatia were telling a lie about the difference between Paul’s
Paul had left Titus in Crete to appoint church elders and to put things straight in the church, see McNeill’s Notes
on Pastoral epistle of Paul to Timothy and Titus.
30
Kirwa
43
gospel and that of Jerusalem apostles. Jerusalem and Paul had agreed on the same Gospel
message. Paul was thus accepted by Jerusalem. The false teachers had put Paul a lot of pressure
to circumcise Titus.
These false teachers commonly referred to as Judaizers or the (Jewish Christians)
believed that gentiles also had to accept circumcision and thus become Jews before they could be
Christians and belong to God’s chosen people. They therefore insisted that uncircumcised
gentiles such as Titus are not allowed to have fellowship with circumcised Jews. Circumcision
was the badge of identity (distinguishing mark) of a Jew and the final step in the conversion of a
male gentile to the Jewish religion. In Genesis 17:10-14, Abraham is given the covenant of
circumcision.
This is my covenant which you shall keep between me and you and your offspring
(descendants) after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised; you shall be
circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and shall be a sign of the covenant between you
and me. He who is eight days and among you shall be circumcised. Every male
throughout your generations, whether born in your house, or bought with your money
from any foreign who is not your offspring, both who is born in your house and who is
brought with your money shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your
flesh and everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the
flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people because he has broken my covenant.
In Galatians 2:4-5, Paul does not just say that the false teachers are merely mistaken
Christians; he says that “they are false brothers or brethren” who had sneaked into the church as
spies seeking to bring people into slavery (bondage to sin and the curse that the law pronounces
to those who sin (Romans 6:15-23; 7:25, Galatians 3:10). It is for freedom that Christ set us free,
thus we must stand firm not being subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Believer’s freedom is not freedom to sin but freedom from the curse of the law. We will
deal on this subject in Galatians 5 on Christian liberty. Therefore Paul along with the Jerusalem
apostles, Peter, James and John did not yield to these false teachers even for a second moment,
so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved (remain) with Paul’s converts and those in
Kirwa
44
Jerusalem. Yielding to the demands of the law is to give up the liberty (freedom) of the gospel
and to be placed into the bondage of the false gospel. Paul did not give in to them (false teachers)
for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel will remain with the church then and now.
Paul’s achievements in this trip (Galations.1:6-10) and Titus actions in refusing to be
circumcised are a powerful illustrations of the agreement between Paul and Jerusalem apostles.
Peter and company did not attempt to add or subtract anything from the message that Paul was
already preaching. The word’s in the text, “those who seemed to be influential (ESV), those who
were of reputation and important (NIV) added or contributed nothing to me” means that:
(a) Peter and others offered no changes to what Paul was already preaching.
(b) They were preaching the same gospel.
(c) Peter and others did not offer any additional authority to Paul than what he had
already possessed though they were pillars of the church in Jerusalem.
From Verses 6-10 we get some insights that Paul and Barnabas received the right hand of
fellowship from the Jerusalem apostles who recognized that Paul is an apostle chosen by God to
take the gospel to the gentile world where as Peter, James and John were chosen by God to take
the gospel to the Jews.
Regarding his conversion and call, Paul echoes Jeremiah’s call (1:5) that he was set apart
(dedicated, separated) before he was born. In his other epistles, he frequently referred to his call
as God’s grace given to him (Romans 1:5; 12:3; 15:15; 16:1; 1Corinthians 3:10).
The only thing that the apostles in Jerusalem wanted Paul to do was to remember the poor (vs.
10) something that Paul was eager or happy to do. Some scholars believe that this was Paul’s
second visit to Jerusalem (Acts 11:27-30) and the purpose was that he and Barnabas were
commissioned to take an offering by the church in Antioch to the Christians in Judea who were
suffering because of famine. This would have been a literal poverty which had stricken the whole
territory of Judea and the surrounding areas. Others believe that these words refer to Paul’s
collection for the Jerusalem saints (Acts 24:17; Romans 15:26; I Corinthians 16:1-3; II
Kirwa
45
Corinthians 8 and 9) to which the Galatians contributed (I Corinthians 16:1). Either case, Paul
had in his heart to help the poor Christians not only in Judea but also in every place they
preached the gospel as well as among the Gentiles.
3. Paul Contends For the True Gospel and Opposes Peter (Galatians 2:1116)
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For
before certain men came from James, he was eating with the gentiles, but when they came, he
drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted
hypocritically, along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But
when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before
them all, “if you, though a Jew live like a Gentile and not a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles
to live likewise (Galatians 2:11-14 ESV).
In the above passage, Peter also called Cephas came to Antioch, the largest and the
capital city of the Roman province of Syria. This city was a home of large Jewish community
and in Acts 11:19-20, we see Jewish Christians preaching the gospel to the gentiles. The church
in this city became the first church to bring Jewish and Gentile Christians together in worship
and fellowship. There were no first class and second class Christians as we practice today in our
churches; showing favoritism and discrimination; the rich are being favored over the poor ones.
The apostle James noticed this and he condemned it in Jerusalem during the early days of the
Church (2:1-13).
The church here again broke the record in that it became the first church in the history of the
church to send missionaries to preach the gospel specifically to gentiles (Acts 13: 1-3).
3:1. Peter Stood Condemned
The situation here is that Peter used to eat with gentiles Christians and having social fellowship
with them. But later when some Jews came who claimed to have been sent by the Apostle James
Kirwa
46
in Jerusalem (yet they were not; see Act 15:24) he was afraid to mingle any longer with the
gentiles. The text says: Peter feared the circumcision party” verse 12 and Titus 1:10 (the
Judaizers, perverters of the gospel, false teachers, empty talkers and deceivers) who claimed that
a person had to be circumcised to be saved, people who denied the very gospel which the
Jerusalem apostles and Paul had already agreed upon in Galations.1:1-10.
Lucky enough Paul was closely watching him and the other Jewish Christians who made
the same mistake of refusing to have fellowship with uncircumcised gentile Christians including
Paul’s close friend and companion Barnabas who had also been tracked into Peter’s hypocrisy.
Peter and the group were in danger of compromising the very truth of the gospel. He would have
quickly understood that these men could not represent James’s point of view, simply because
James was one of the apostles who did not require Titus (a Greek) to be circumcised in the first
place.
In the church of Jesus Christ today, there are no classes, superiority of Christian heritage,
racism, tribalism as well as clanism. We are all one in Christ. Galatians 3:28 says, “there is
neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for
you are all one in Christ Jesus.” God loves unity in the body of Christ, because He is Him who
gave us our race, our tribal background, our social standing, our education and money in the first
place. Showing favoritism to others on the basis of race, or tribe, or social and economic status is
sinful before God.
Apostle Paul saw that this is perversion of the gospel and he confronted Paul publicly. In
Africa people fear to confront others publicly. Paul knew with strongest terms that Peter was not
being straightforward about the truth of the gospel. What two problems that would arise if Paul
did not speak against what Peter was doing:
1. The gospel itself would be compromised. Peter’s action was not a slight mistake but a
serious error. Gentile believers would think that something more than faith is
necessary for salvation.
Kirwa
47
2. Without the true gospel, there was no basis of genuine fellowship in the church. For
this reason Paul had to confront Peter’s problem head on in public view of all
Christians in Antioch. He rebuked Peter publicly to correct the harm that he had done
to the gospel. Paul did not do this to gain authority over Peter and that people would
respect him over Peter but his one motive was to protect the gospel and to protect
God’s people from the false gospel. Christians need to do this today, especially ruling
(deacons) and teaching elders (trained pastors in the field of right theology). They
will in turn protect the true gospel from the false one. Paul urged Timothy to guard
the gospel and rebuke those with false doctrine. (For further study- see McNeill’s
commentary on pastoral epistles).
3:2 Paul Fought Cultural Bigots
When Paul fought for the gentiles to have the right to come to Christ as gentiles, he was fighting
cultural bigots who (in that case) said that one had to be Jewish to be a first rate Christian. Like
Paul we need to fight and guard the true gospel and believers from drifting away to apostasy.
These cultural bigots read the Bible in the light of their own culture and tradition and
thought that everybody else should read it the same way they did. They had quite a lot of
company, unfortunately, because their problem was not Jewishness; Paul was just as Jewish as
they were. The problem was that they read the Bible in the light of their cultural assumptions,
which is the same problem we have, unless we train ourselves to see beyond these assumptions.
We need to apply biblical truth to our context.
4. Salvation Comes Through faith in Christ (vv. 15-21)
Entrance into the community of God’s covenant people (the church) comes only by grace alone
through faith in Christ alone. This was Martin Luther’s primary emphasis in the development of
his new theology in Germany (1517). “Luther pioneered a radical departure from traditional
medieval theology as he rediscovered the theology of Paul (Romans 1:17) and Augustine, and
Kirwa
48
the nature of justification and salvation, that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone.” 31
Like Paul, Luther makes a defense of the gospel. He now began to teach.
a) Sola gratia: salvation is by grace alone. Salvation is not acquired by man
through works and merits. Justification of sinners is a legal forensic act, a
judicial declaration by God whereby He declared that mankind is justified. That
is to say (emphasis mine) through the shed blood of Christ, the righteous
demands of a Holy God have been met. Through faith alone the righteousness
of God in imputed to the believer and Christ’s righteousness is reckoned to our
account (Romans 5:18-19).
b) Sola fides: salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. Faith is the means by
which God’s grace is appropriated. Faith is not a mere intellectual assent but a
commitment of truth and man’s full surrender of the will. Therefore the
doctrines or teaching of doing good to please God has no any biblical basis at
all.
c) Sola scriptura: scripture alone is final authority pertaining to faith and practice.
Only what the scripture teaches is authoritative. Through the works of the lawactions such as (circumcision, dietary laws and restrictions and the Sabbath
keeping) no one is justified (vv. 15-16) no one is declared righteous before a
holy God. Through our faith on the crucified Christ we receive the gift of God’s
righteousness as well as well as forgiveness through Christ’s atonement- a
picture of the Levitical bull as sin offering (Exodus 29:36). Christ was wounded
for our transgressions, that in His dead, the penalty of sin is removed. He had
undone the effects of sin in us. Believers died to the law in the death of Christ
for we are crucified with Christ.
31
Zugg, J, Reformation History: A study Guide for Reformation Church History (MINTS: Miami International
Seminary, 2012) 13-24. Print.
Kirwa
49
4:1. Paul Cannot Build what He Had Destroyed (vv. 18-21)
Judaizers considered Paul to be a sinner by breaking the Jewish dietary food laws. They had also
accused Paul’s gospel as that of promoting sin (see Romans 3:8). The King James Version (KJV)
of the Bible says:
But if while we seek to be justified by Christ we ourselves also are found sinners is
therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again which I destroyed I
make myself a transgressor. For I through to the law am dead to the law that I might live
unto God. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me
and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate (nullify, set aside) the grace of God for if
righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.32
Paul here says that all who have union”33 (Union with Christ-Union means, born again, or
one who has faith in Christ) are justified. We are justified in what Christ had already done not by
works of the law, because what the law did no not achieve, Christ did in taking man to his
original fellowship with his creator. Paul went on to say, he will not change or take the grace of
God for granted because if we are justified by law then Christ died for nothing. Paul had died to
the law.
Chrysostom and other commentators interpret Paul’s mind here to mean “If while we
seek to be to be justified by Christ, we are not yet perfectly righteous, but still unholy and if
consequently, Christ is not sufficient for our righteousness, it follows that Christ is the minister
(servant) of the doctrine which leaves men in sin.”34
Christ who discovers the sin, which lay concealed, in man since time in memorial is not
therefore the minister of sin, as if by depriving us of righteousness. The false teachers were
wrong to say, He (Christ) opened the gate to sin, or strengthened its dominion. Paul denies it and
in strongest tone of voice said. “He cannot build what he had already destroyed (vs.18). The
St. Paul, to Christians in the province of Galatia (Paul’s epistle to Galatians) Galatians 2:20
Zugg, Pauline theology I, mints course notes 2013
34
Chrysostom, J, The commentary on Paul’s Epistle to Galatians, Kindle 25. Print.
32
33
Kirwa
50
Jews were mistaken in claiming any holiness for themselves apart from Christ. Christ did not
bring sin, but unveiled it; he did not take away righteousness, but stripped the Jews of a false
disguise. The apostle John in his letter (1 John 3:8) teaches us that Christ came not to build up
the kingdom of sin but “He came to destroy the works of Satan.” So Paul declares that, in
preaching the gospel, he had restored true righteousness, in order that sin might be destroyed.
Application: Now some other applications of this text need to be made lest anyone think that
this passage of scripture has nothing to do with us who are living in Africa-Kenya in the 21st
Century. The passage is relevant and important to us in every way.
First, we have already seen how Paul responded, “If I rebuild what I tore down.” I prove
myself to be a transgressor. The Greek word translated “tore down” is used in the New
Testament to mean the tearing down of an edifice (Matthew 24:2; Mark 13:2; Luke 21:6;
Romans 14:20. The NASB uses the word “for if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove
myself to be a transgressor”
Our people (church leaders, pastors today) more than ever before are trying to build what
our elders in the 60’s, 70’s and 80 have destroyed. If we do that we err and the truth is not in us
(1 John 1:8). The church elders must refuse a mixture of faith with traditions invented by men.
Like Paul they should totally refuse to build what is not in the teaching of the Holy Scriptures.
Second, in the month of May, 2013 I attended a funeral at Leseru/Turbo Uasin- Gishu
county Kenya. There was a group of men calling themselves the “12 disciples”. They argued that
there is need to revive the cultural traditions of our ancestors (the writer is writing as a Kenyan,
Kalenjin/Nandi pastor, scholar, educator and theologian). The group commanded the church to
incorporate their ideas (in these case ATR beliefs) into the Bible.
These 12 men come from three main line denominations of Kenya, the Roman Catholic
Church (RCC), the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and the Africa Inland Church – Kenya
(AIC-K). The group’s chairman is the son of one of our pioneer church elders who was devoted
to the sound doctrine of the Bible and preached against pagan influences of our ancestors.
Kirwa
51
The author has no idea whether the son had believed in Christ but he turned into ATR
believer and is now leading a squad against the true teachings of the Bible. Paul cites in II
Corinthians 6:14-16 and warned believers against associating with darkness, wrongs, Belial,
pagan festivities and idolatry.
Believers are portrayed as the temple of the living God and must not have fellowship
with idols. ATR beliefs are all forms of idolatry and pagan. The church should get ready to revolt
against it rather than allow it. In Ephesians 5:11-12 we read, “And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (expose) them. For it is shame even to speak of
those things which are done of them in secret” (KJV). A secret society is a group of people who
practice things kept hidden from the knowledge of others or which are unknown of the common
folks
Like the secret society, the group (“12 disciples”) advocates ideas that are not in line with
the truth or the teachings of the Bible. One of the ATR beliefs revived by this group is the Nandi
traditional circumcision. Our church elders as earlier said exposed these acts, and confronted the
practitioners with the light of the true gospel.35 Because what they do are contrary to the true
teachings of the scripture, are performed at night in the forest and those in attendance are men
alone. As we said earlier in the introduction study in the African context, church leaders have
opted to return to ATR and are in bondage of the beliefs, customs and the traditions of their
ancestors which are not in line with the biblical truth. It is really disgusting because it is now
darkness in the light. Darkness is creeping into the church.
The following are examples of secret societies in Kenya and elsewhere:
a) Free masons
b) Mungiki in Central Kenya
c) Jingororo in South Nyanza
d) Zunguzungu in western Kenya
e) Vigilante groups in Nairobi and the central Kenya
35
The work by Bryson, S. The History of the Nandi Bible. Kijabe Printing P.,1950. 5-10 Print. Rev. Bryson was one
of the pioneer AIM (Africa Inland mission) missionaries’ in the larger rift valley regions of Kenya. The light shineth
in darkness (I John verse 5) and as the light of the gospel shines among the Nandi people their hearts were
transformed.
Kirwa
52
f) Nandi and all Kalenjin Traditional circumcision practitioners.
g) Mombasa Republican Council (MRC)
h) Sabot land defense forces (SLDF). They do not live up to their name.
e) We can add Boko-Haram in Nigeria (in the month of May 2014 they kidnapped 200
university girls students, indoctrinated them and forced them into their beliefs’, ideals
and ideologies as well as their religious beliefs.36
f) The Al-Qaida group in the globe: terrorizing others into submission to their ideas,
ideals, and values. They shed innocent blood in the name of God.
g) Al-Shabaab: Al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist militants seek to over throw a Somali
government and impose its strict version of sharia law.
Class Discussion: After reading through this list above do you think the people worship
true God or Satan?
A third issue is the veneration (consulting) of ancestors. Some devoted evangelical
Christians in certain Asian and African cultures still venerate their ancestors, while American
and European Christians generally consider such veneration as pagan. Veneration of ancestors is
a wrong practice and when measured with the gospel amount to idolatry. The Bible cites that the
living does not have relationship with the death. “Should not people inquire of their God, should
they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?” (Isaiah 8:19)
This is syncretism (the mixture of religions) and should be condemned at all costs. It was
a heathen practice that was practiced by the Greco-Roman, and the near Eastern folks (people)
who had forsaken God to serve idols. As church, if we forsake God and the true gospel, we
would definitely serve idols.
Interestingly, an American or European often explains away tests such as “you cannot
serve both God and Mammoth” (another word for money and materialism) and covetousness
which according to scripture is idolatry, so that they can live the way they want. Their culture’s
materialism when measured by biblical standards in pagan too. In his public ministry Christ
36
The Boko-Haram uprising has raged for six years, killing more than 13,000 people and the sect has in recent
months increasingly posed a regional threat. Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger have since launched an
unprecedented joint effort to crush the uprising, raising hopes that this new cooperation could turn the tide.
Kirwa
53
warned the audience against serving two masters; “you cannot serve both God and mammoth or
wealth” (Matthew 6:24-34). This applies to both the rich and the poor. God demands that we
give generously for the proclamation of the good news and compassionate ministries whether we
are rich or poor (I Timothy 6:17-19).
Fourth: mixing of good prayers to God with the invitation of a traditional elder in order to
conduct traditional prayers. In April 2013, some county assembly leaders invited a traditional
elder to conduct prayers in Baringo county of Kenya (The Standard News Paper Wed, Apr. 24,
2013).”37 Leaders opposed to the traditional prayers walked out of the chambers saying the elder
did not qualify to bless the sitting on grounds that he had been praying and blessing suspected
cattle thieves. They accused the man of blessing community warriors suspected to be behind
rampant incidents of cattle rustling in the county. A section of the leaders ejected the old man out
of the meeting. The move sparked heated debate between the members of the communities
forcing religious leaders present to intervene.
According to “Pulse magazine”, a pull out of the standard newspapers-Kenya,”38 new
gospel game changers have revolutionized the scene. A young man and woman are now living
together under one roof even before they tie the knot (saying their vows). It really is a new breed
of gospel celebrity who have even had babies out of wedlock and at the same time moved on
with ministry.
These gospel artists are expected to stay chaste, abstain from sex before marriage and
worldly pleasures and spent most of their time in missions spreading the gospel. They are not
scared to unveil their secret illicit love affairs to the public. This is a perversion of the Gospel.
They have been lured to believe a false gospel. As bible scholars keep an eye on such distortions
and correct it before it took root in our churches, villages and communities. The Bible condemns
Kimutai Tanui, “Invitation of a Traditional Elder to conduct Prayers,” Standard News Papers, 24. Apr. 2013. E
5+. Print.
38
Mogere, Juma, “The Undercover Gospel Preachers” The Pulse Magazine (a pull out of the standard news paper
Kenya- Fri. 6 Feb. 2015,D 2+. Print. You can hear them boasting that God is love and therefore we love each other.
They live in sin by indulging in fleshy and worldly pleasures contrary to leading righteous lives in Christ. I also
learnt that these young people have not been taught the bible correctly, so they come up with their own selfish ideas
of life in general.
37
Kirwa
54
fornication (sex before marriage), adultery (sexual intercourse with a married person not your
spouse or sex with a young woman and man with married person).
Conclusion
In some cases there must be a call to a theological controversy, the call to war. If there are
brethren who had gotten themselves into a position in which they are wrong, we need to address
it. As the church we need to have spiritual discernment as well as theological discernment so
that in all things we speak the truth in love. There is need to teach the church the right doctrine
and come up with hand outs of theological issues such as faith and self effort, a return to our
cultural traditions (like Jews returning to Judaism), the law, faith and grace. Teach folks that we
need not live by human merit; we live by the grace of God. We need to trust that all God’s
blessing come through grace and the sole source of saving grace is found in our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ alone. Pastors and the laity alike should be effective ministers of the true gospel
when we stand firm and condemn additions to salvation which are not in the Bible.
Questions for Lesson Three
1. Paul preached and taught for 14 years among the gentiles independently of the Jerusalem
apostles. True or false
2. What is McNeill’s interpretation for the Apostle Paul’s second visit to Jerusalem? What
is your opinion?
3. Who is Barnabas and who is Titus? Why Paul did mentioned them in going to Jerusalem
together?
4. State the meaning of the words “Titus was not forced or compelled to be circumcised”
what is circumcision?
5. Summarize Paul’s achievements’ in Galatians 2:6-10.
6. Why was St Peter afraid to mingle with the gentile Christians? How Paul did oppose
him? What problems would arise if Paul did not speak against him?
7. How did, Martin Luther developed his new theology?
8. List some of the ATR beliefs revived by the so called “12 disciples.”
Kirwa
9. What is a secret society? Cite a few examples.
10. Explain traditional prayers. Is it a worship of the true God or Satan?
55
Kirwa
56
Lesson Four: Paul’s Theological Perspectives on the Gospel and the Law (Gal.3)
1. God Gave the Gospel to Abraham (Galatians Chapter. Three), Those of Faith are Sons of
Abraham (VV. 1-18)
2. Paul argues for the Superiority of the Doctrine of Faith to the Doctrine of Merit by
Works.
3. The Mosaic Law Added because of Transgressions (VV. 19-23), Christians Baptized into
Christ and Clothed in Him, not under a Tutor (VV. 25-29).
After Paul sets forth the nature of his apostleship, he now states that the gospel is a message of
grace that calls for faith. He defends the gospel from the Galatians’ personal Christian
experience. He begins a series of questions to remind the Galatians of the way in which they
began their journey in the Christian faith. At this point the apostle is very much concerned how
things ended in the church’s life. The church had begun well, that is, they have started well, but
they were in danger of falling away from the true gospel. Paul incorporates a comprehensive
view of Abrahamic, Mosaic, and New Covenant in defending the Gospel, arguing- from the
superiority of the Abrahamic covenant to the mosaic covenant vv. 3-29.
1. The apostle reproves the Galatians for their folly by saying “who had bewitched you?”
that is, why are you acting as fools or idiots? The chapter begins with a sharp scolding
“you foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your very eyes that Christ
Jesus was publicly portrayed as crucified (vv.1). The word “bewitched” is derived from
the Greek word “Baskaino” which means casting a spell on someone by means of an evil
eye (witchcraft) practiced in ancient Palestine during the journey of the Israelites in the
wilderness and apparently in Asia Minor in Paul’s day. This is also prevalent in Africa.
Class Discussion: Can you mention some tribes in Africa who practice hoodoo or witchcraft or
magic or having an evil eye toward others (Deuteronomy 28:54)? The false teachers had lured
the Galatians into believing the false doctrine, that is, those who were corrupting the gospel had
blinded believers.
Kirwa
57
Paul knew that behind all these teachings was Satan himself who is able to blind their
eyes. This corresponds to Jesus mentioned of Satan in John 8 v. 44 that “He is a liar and the
father of lies, he can blind the eyes of the believers to believe a lie.” To understand the sense in
which the churches were blinded McNeill observers:
When we follow with this allusion of the “evil eye” with reference with what the church
of Christ in Galatia had seen with their own eyes, we get an important lesson that they
had beheld Christ, as if by their own eyes, as publicly crucified. The expression,
“publicly portrayed” as the connotation of posting something in public as in posting a
sign post or notice in the town square or on the road for all to see. Through Paul’s vivid
account of the crucifixion of Christ, he had painted a picture, so to speak, of the
crucifixion event and it was Jesus crucified which served as the basis of the gospel.
Rather than being captivated by this vivid picture of Christ crucified for their sins (and
our sins too) emphasis mine. They had been captivated by the “evil eye” of Paul’s
opponents who were teaching a false gospel i.e. a gospel of performance and personal
moral purity.39
2. Paul Argues with the Galatians Faithful
Beginning in verse 2, Paul begins to ask a series of questions by stressing their personal
Christian testimony and experiences and these are questions we must ask ourselves even today.
A) How did you receive the Holy Spirit?
Did you receive the Holy Spirit by being circumcised and keeping the Law of Moses, or did you
receive the Holy Spirit by hearing with faith?” To put it in other words, Paul in essence is saying,
“Did you receive the Spirit by works or by faith? How the church in Galatia received the spirit of
God; was by faith alone nothing less.
39
McNeill, 33
Kirwa
58
This is how Paul looks at what it means by the Spirit. Some scholars think that Paul is talking
about miraculous gifts when the spirit of God came during the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and
during the day of Cornelius when the Holy Spirit in poured to gentile believers in Acts 10.
The author concurs with Zugg that “We know that these events were unique in the history
of the church. God was bringing in the new period, a new age in which the Spirit was
being poured out. And He shows this beginning of the new age by miraculous signs and
wonders that accompany that. Just as Moses and Sinai was a new age, with signs and
wonders even so the coming of the Spirit is part of the new age, with signs and
wonders.40
Some commentators such as Derek Thomas think that Paul is speaking of the work of the
spirit in conversion. When Paul says, “how did you receive the Holy Spirit”, he is really referring
to the work of conversion. In other words Paul is asking, what part did you play in receiving the
Holy Spirit? Did you earn Him (Holy Spirit) by keeping the law or did you simply receive Him
through faith?
As Christian folks today we receive the gift of the spirit by faith in Christ at the day of
conversion but not when we follow the requirements of the law according to Judaizers (false
teachers). We experience the filling of the Holy Spirit when we first believed in Christ. By faith
in the crucified Lord Jesus Christ, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, not by keeping the law
and being circumcised. From this point on Paul refers to the Holy Spirit sixteen times: It really is
a major theme in Galatians.
B) Paul’s Concern How Things Ended in the Church
Paul asks the Christians here in Galatia “Having begun in the spirit are you now being perfected
in the flesh?” Here Paul is asking a rhetorical question to which the answer is definitely no. He
calls on them to consider their past and present conduct. “They had begun well and now they are
turning to the law and expected to be advanced to higher degrees of perfection by adding the
40
Zugg, J, Preaching Notes on Galatians or Sermon Notes on Galatians, 2013.
Kirwa
59
observance of it to faith in Christ in order to bring their justification.”41 This really is a
perversion of the gospel which corresponds to1:6. They have so quickly deserted Him who
called them by the grace of Christ for a different Gospel.” They had embraced the right Christian
doctrine consistent with the teachings of the scriptures.
Both salvation and sanctification are the works of the Holy Spirit and not by any human
effort (the flesh) a reference to human nature in its unregenerate weakness. Anyone trying to
achieve righteousness by works, including circumcision, is falling back from the gospel. Paul’s
hope was that those who have been misled will return to the true Gospel.
Application Question: As stated earlier in the previous lessons, today many Christians who had
begun their Christian journey with love, enthusiasm and burning desire to follow God in
obedience to the true Gospel, have been misled by liberal theologies. Like the faithful in Galatia,
they had begun well and now they are turning totally to the world and its values. They are tested
or tried in their faith to blend it with the world and accept its values and life styles. They don’t
conduct their lives according to the pattern of Jesus Christ.
Striking examples are our youth today. They make great claims to follow Christ, but are
often guilty of being betrayed by their actions and challenges facing them in the current society
(problems of stress, feeling of suicide, idolatry, valuing things more highly than God,
immorality, drunkenness and all sorts of worldly pleasures. They also have a philosophy that
says, if you see it fit do it. Just like in the days of the Israelites during the days of Judges, they
say they should be given freedom to do what they want, that is “if it is appealing to your life and
eyes do it” (Judges 21:25).
We are facing the greatest challenge in the history of the church. There’s a series of
powerful and growing seduction that is subtly changing biblical interpretations and undermining
the faith of millions of people. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 clearly states “that a great apostasy
(falling away from true faith)”42 must occur before Christ’s second coming.” Under a strong
decision everyone who did not “receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” 2 Thessalonians
41
42
Matthew Commentary on Galatians (New York: Zondervan, Harper Collins Pub., 1992) 52. Print.
Hoyt, H. The end Times: A Hand Book of Bible Doctrine (Chicago: Moody P. Pub., 1969) 97-8. Print
Kirwa
60
2:10, will believe a lie and would be initiated into Satan’s kingdom. This lie is the life of infinite
human potential, demonstrated in godlike mind powers, that lie is already at work in the world.
Over the years, they have always been many apostles who deny:
a) The virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
b) The Divinity and uniqueness of Jesus Christ
c) The authority of the scripture as final authority pertaining to faith and practice
d) The necessity of redemption through the sacrifice of Christ alone on the cross and
other essentials of faith
The precise scenario here is that the Bible makes it very clear that the major signs of the
last days prior to Christ’s return will be (a) Religions deception, (b) Attitudes and beliefs that are
totally opposed to that of the God of the Bible (c) Compromise (which is the seed of apostasy)
(d) Belief in oneself and in others (I Corinthians 1:31) (e) Placing hope in self and hopes in
others (Jeremiah 17:5-6) (f) Denying the Holy Spirit and listen to seducing spirits (1Timothy
4:1). The time is now, when we are witnessing many false teachers, false prophets, spiritual
dropouts and heretics. With such a setting our church folks would no longer listen to right
teaching. They will follow their desires and would look for people who would teach them
whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths (see I Timothy
4:1-2; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).
The books of Titus and Timothy are the Apostle Paul’s letters of faithful ministers or
believers who were not shaken by the trends of events or challenges of their day. Today more
than even before, we are called as the church to watch our lives and doctrine closely. This is the
central theme around which we can apply practical advice on living the Christian life. We can
practice this in two ways:
(a) Being in constant guard against falling into sin (being perfected in the flesh)
(b) Being in constant teaching of the truth (I Timothy 4:16)
“Watch your live and doctrine closely.” This is simply because, the world has enticed us
to believe that “how we live in more important than what we believe” The beloved disciple, St.
Kirwa
61
John among the three inner circle of Christ states, “The world and all its desires pass away, but
he who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17). To believers, what is important is what
we believe and not how we live.
C) Was all Your Suffering for the Gospel in Vain vs. 4?
“Have you suffered so much for nothing- if it really was for nothing?” (NIV) Christians in
Galatia had been persecuted by the Jews for believing in the Gospel, especially the ones who had
been Jewish proselytes, gentiles who adopted the Jewish religion, as well as those who regularly
attend the Synagogue. There is no direct reference in the book of Acts to this persecution, but
there is direct persecution of Paul and Barnabas in the cities of Galatia Acts 13:50, 14:5, 19, 20
which is reasonable enough to assume that Christians were given the same treatment and vv. 4
confirms this.
D) Did you Witness Miracles by Keeping the Law or by Hearing the Gospel?
“Does he who supplies the spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the
law or by hearing with faith”? Just has Abraham believed God and it was counted to him
righteousness? Vv. 5-6 (ESV) believers believe in Christ and by the Spirit’s power, a miracle of
new and changed lives is witnessed.
The Galatians church experience of the miracle of the lame man walking in Acts 14:1-10
was performed through the power of the Holy Spirit and faith but not accomplished by the works
of the law. The church here had ever experienced this until Paul showed up with the Gospel of
faith. Even the of leaders of the synagogue had never received the spirit and perform miracles
before then. They received the spirit and perform miracles in faith through the gift of the Holy
Spirit that really is the true Gospel.
Abraham was the Father of the Jewish nation, the person with whom God first
established circumcision as a covenant sign (Genesis Chapter 17). Paul presents this OT (Old
Testament) figure or patriarch to confirm that justification (to be declared righteous before a
Holy God) has always been by faith not by works.
Kirwa
62
3. Other Meanings Of Justification
Before we turn to Paul’s argument from the experience of the believers in Galatia let us see
other meanings of justification:
(a) To be right with God
(b) To be accepted by God as a righteous man and women
(c) Acknowledged by God as righteous
(d) To be reckoned as righteous
(e) To be accounted righteous
When Abraham believed God’s promises of many ancestors (descendants) as the stars of
the heavens and the sand of the sea, his faith was reckoned or accounted as righteous, that is, he
was justified. This was before he was circumcised. Abraham was between 75 and 86 years old
when he believed and was 99 when he was circumcised. (Genesis 12:4:17-24).
In Romans 4 Paul makes it clear that Abraham was declared righteous before he was
circumcised that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised and the
father of all those following in his footsteps of faith. It was not only Abraham who was justified
but also David who testified of justification of God without works (vs. 6). Abraham accordingly,
is the father of all who, like him, believe in God and take him at his word. He is the father of
uncircumcised believers and father of circumcised believers too, not on the ground of their
circumcision but on the ground of their faith. It is a lesson to us today that we are not made right
with God (justified) through anything we do. But we are made right with God only through faith
and faith alone in the Lord Jesus.
4. Superiority of the Doctrine of Justification over the Doctrine of Merits by Works
After Paul explains the Gospel through the argument from experience (Gal. 3:1-5) and through
the argument from the scripture (the case of Abraham, the revered Patriarch (Gal. 3:6-9), he goes
on to explain it through by addressing the law (Gal. 3:10-14). In vs. 10 the words “of the works
Kirwa
63
of the law” can be translated to mean trusting upon the law for justification. Those who trust in
this means of justification are all under the curse of the law. The law does not lend itself to
partial or incomplete obedience, you either keep the whole law or you might end up keeping
nothing as far as justification is however concerned. Notice it says: “Cursed is everyone who
does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.” Referring how
these fellows (false teachers) were confused, McNeill notes:
The false teachers in Galatians were confused fellows about the design and the function
of the Law of Moses. They reiterated that by keeping the law person could earn his or her
acceptance with God. Paul makes it clear that the law could not bring justification
because there is great difference between the law and the promise. By faith, Abraham
believed God’s promises and he was declared righteous. Faith brings blessings, but the
law produces a curse because of the requirement that one must continue to meet its
demand faithfully (Deuteronomy 27:26).43
Galatians 3:11 is a quotation from Habakkuk 2:4. Paul argues that the practical
impossibility of being justified by the Law, is now added; the truth that God uses another
method- the just shall live by faith. The Septuagint (Greek translation of the OT) renders “but he
who is righteous by faith shall live.” The text originally had reference with the faithful Israelites
living under the Babylonia captivity.
The verb is future imperative (“shall live”) signifying the continuous blessings to those of
faith in contrast to those living under the law. Paul used it in Romans 1:17 as well as the writer
of Hebrews in 10:38. In vs. 12, Paul cites another O.T text in support of his argument. Under the
law, one must do before he can live (Leviticus 18:5). Under the Gospel one gets life from God
through faith then begins to do the will of God in the energy of that faith. It may appear that Paul
the apostle excludes all blessings for those living under the law in pre-Christian days; for
comparison read the first Psalm which presents in sharp contrast, two extremes, and the truly
righteous way of life and the basically wicked way. The psalmist shows the present and the
future destinies of each group.
For further study McNeill states that what most people think about God’s grading system that he is grading us on
a curve based on how the best man and woman performs in respect to the law. McNeill, 37
43
Kirwa
64
In vs. 13-14, what has Christ done for the faithful? All along, Paul had pointed out that
the way of salvation cannot be through the law. Humans are sinners who cannot keep the law.
Far from bringing life, the law brings a curse. If we are under the curse of the law for our
disobedience to the law, how can we be acquitted of this curse? This is the theme of verses 13
and 14 that Christ redeemed as from the curse of the law.
The Greek word for redeem is “agorazo” which is used to refer to the liberation of slaves by the
payment of a ransom. It means “to set free” and then “to redeem” to purchase or buy back or buy
out of. The same word occurs in 1 Peter 1:18 to describe the nature of our ransom price and Jesus
used a related term in Mark 10:45 (“ransom”). As sinners under the bondage of sin, we are to be
set free by Christ’s purchase on Calvary’s tree. We receive salvation as a free gift by faith, but
purchasing our salvation cost Jesus life (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). He gave his life voluntarily
as the ransom or purchase price for our life. In the Book of Titus 2:14 Paul gave two reasons that
Jesus gave Himself for us:
a) To redeem us from all lawlessness
b) “To cleanse for Himself a special people,”44 eager (zealous) to do good works.
“Lawlessness”45 refers to an attitude of rebellion and independence that leads to lawless
actions (see 1 John 3:4). But Jesus also desired to cleanse for himself a special people. Paul
applied Old covenant language (see Exodus 19:5) to describe believers under the new covenant.
A special people refer to “a people that are his very own” (NIV). Christians belong to Jesus.
Although we are Jesus’ “special people” we are not saved for a life of privilege though we have
glorious privileges as believers. Rather, saved people should be eager to do good works
(Ephesians 2:10). According to the New Testament, the lack of good works in a person life
demonstrates that he or she has not experienced God’s saving grace; see again Ephesians 2:10;
James 2:17, 26; 1 John 2:3-6). If we have been redeemed from all lawlessness and cleansed to be
a special people then we will definitely produce good works.
The Apostle Peter used the words a chosen nation (race) a royal (priest hood, a holy nation, a people for God’s
own possession… for you once were not a people but now you are the people of God (I Pet. 2:9-10).
45
Barry, M, Advanced Bible Study Commentary: Family Bible Study, Life way Church Resource, vol.5 2004, 53.
Print.
44
Kirwa
65
Conclusion
In the summary of verse 13 and 14; the law is both a mirror of the will of God for His covenant
people and taskmaster that brings a curse. But at this point, Paul is not discussing this brighter
aspect of the law, for he confines himself to the law as a means of condemnation (cf. II
Corinthians 3:6-9). The curse of the law was real. It took Christ to the cross. The inflexibility of
the law’s demand is clearly seen in the fact that when Christ took the place of the lawbreaker,
though He Himself was perfectly holy; he had to endure exactly the same penalty as any other
who came under the curse of the law. The circumstance that Christ died by hanging on the tree of
Calvary emphasizes the element of the curse itself (see Deuteronomy 21:22-23).
By becoming a curse, Christ fulfilled the obligations of the curse of the Mosaic covenant.
This curse of the covenant applies to both Jews and gentiles alike. The blessings of Abraham
come to the gentiles by virtue of Christ becoming a curse. That is, the death of Christ occasioned
the blessings of Abraham (justification) on the gentiles, through God’s own initiative of His
grace and the promised Holy Spirit. We will see later in Galatians 4:6 at the succeeding lessons.
Questions for Lesson Four
1. What is the Greek word for bewitch? What does it mean?
2. Explain the words “publicly portrayed as crucified.”
3. What is the basis of the gospel?
4. How do Christians receive the gift of the Holy Spirit today?
5. Faith brings blessings, but the law produces a curse because of the requirement that one
must continue to meet its demands faithfully? True of False. Cite a verse in the OT.
6. State the definition of apostasy and differentiate it from compromise.
7. What is the call of the church before Christ’s return? Cite a verse.
8. The ongoing work of the Spirit in miracles depended not on --- but on --.
9. Why did Paul present Abraham the revered OT Patriarch? (hint, the argument from the
scripture; case of Abraham, Galatians 3:6-9).
10. Define Justification.
Kirwa
66
Lesson Five: The Purpose of the Law (Gal.3:15-29)
1. It’s Preparatory Function; The Law as School Master to Bring Israel to Christ (Gal. 3:15 18).
2. It was added “because of Transgressions”(V. 19-29)
In this lesson we come to the heart of the Apostle Paul’s arguments to the church of Galatia. The
apostle spends a great deal of time showing the defense of the gospel from the superiority of the
Abrahamic Covenant to the misapplication of mosaic covenant. We will discover the purpose of
the law in that it was a tutor or the schoolmaster to bring Israel (and us today) to Christ.
The inviolability of the covenant of promise (Abrahamic covenant) and its priority to the
law (the Mosaic Law) in vv. 15-17 says that in its very nature, a covenant is something fixed, not
subject to change even when it is a human arrangement. The promise cannot be set aside by law,
which came much later. God not only made the promise to Abraham but also to his seed. Here
the seed is singular not plural seeds. In Galatians Paul limits the application of the biblical
promise to a singular seed, namely, Christ himself. It is not given to millions of Jewish ancestors
from Abraham but to all who belong to Christ according to the spirit including Hebrew folks
who believe even today. This seed is the one who brought an end the age of law or the mosaic
covenant and ushered in the new age of grace, the new dispensation of faith alone on Him
crucified. God’s saving grace in Christ. Paul brings forth another feature. The law does not
condition promise as to change its character, for this would violate the unconditional nature of
promise.
1. The Preparatory Function of the Law (V.18-22)
The inheritance is the enjoyment of the blessings of Abrahamic covenant that justification like,
Abraham’s own blessings, would be ultimately extended to all the families of the earth. The two,
law and promise are fundamentally different. If the inheritance were contingent on law, then the
promise would be nullified because of the well-known character of the law that it is a yoke
Kirwa
67
which none can bear. It is an indisputable fact that God gave the inheritance to Abraham by
Promise. Nothing can change that basic truth.
Here’s a crucial question, “Why the law?” Verse 19-22 says, “The law did not set aside
the promise (faith in God) of God why was it given in the first place?” It was added because of
transgressions, i.e. to give sin the distinctive character of transgression (cf. Romans 4:15; 5:20).
When Paul in the above passages commended Abraham being justified by faith he says, “If those
who live by the law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, because the law
brings wrath, and where there is no law, there is no transgression. The law was added so that the
trespass might increase, but where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (NIV).
We can sum up here that the law had two functions, a positive and negative side. On the
positive side, it reveals the nature and the will of God and shows people how to live. On the
negative side, it points out people’s sins and shows them that it is impossible to please God by
trying to obey all His laws completely. God’s promise to Abraham dealt with Abraham’s faith,
the law focuses on actions.
The law was given 430 years later. The covenant with Abraham (which was introduced
430 years before the law or the mosaic administration) shows that faith is the only way to be
saved; the law (Mosaic Law) shows how to obey God in grateful response. “As said earlier, faith
does not annual (NKJ) or invalidate (NASB) both meaning put aside or do away with) the law,
but the more we know God the more we see how sinful we are then we are driven to depend on
our faith in Christ alone for our salvation.”46
The law was fulfilling its mission of preparing the way for the seed “Christ” who is the
end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes? (Romans. 10:4) The law then is:
a) Mediated through created beings such as Moses angels (double mediation)
46
Life Application Study Bible, The living Translation, Commentary on Galatians (Wheaton Illinois: Tyndale Pub.,
1996) n. pag.
Kirwa
68
b) Therefore inferior to a covenant mediated directed from God to man. This is the
Abrahamic covenant which needs no mediation agency because the covenant
conditions were met absolutely in the promises of God.
c) Not opposed to the promises of God. Paul’s answer to the rhetorical question in vv.
21 is absolutely no that is to mean may it never be.
d) Here Paul affirms that when we are put in the prison of the law (either the law of
Moses or the law of our own conscience – Romans 2:14-15). We feel the weight of
sin’s bondage as well as the condemning power of the law. Vs. 22 corresponds and
parallels Paul’s reference in Romans 2 and 3 where he said, “All men are under sin,
both Jews and gentiles, what then? Are we (i.e. we Jews) better than they (gentles),
not at all, for we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,”
(Romans 3:9).
1.1 Before Faith Came
But before faith came we were kept in custody under the law being shut up to the faith that was
later to be revealed. Therefore the law has become our tutor (school master guardian,
disciplinarian, governor) to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But now that
faith had come we are no longer under the tutor” (vs. 23-25 NASB).
Well, in the previous verses of Galatians Chapter 3, we have been looking at the law and
how it doesn’t present salvation to man, but confines man to a prison of his own sin. The law
showed man his sinfulness. In Baker’s Galatian sermon notes, “the illustration of the sea saw is
interesting to note.”47 Being under the law is like walking up the sea saw, the uphill struggle, the
curse of the law (Israel, Moses and the law). It is hard to balance until you get to the tipping
point (the coming of Christ, new covenant, better things and promises, new realm, and
jurisdiction of the grace of God). The already cited vs. 23-25 deal with the transition point
between those two states or realms.
47
Zugg, J., Galatians Sermon Notes, 2013
Kirwa
69
a) The hard uphill struggle: the curse of the law- the realm of Israel and the law (before
faith came).
b) The coming of Jesus Christ into the world; the point at which all things change; the
realm of faith, the new covenant prisoners released, new mediator brings in a new age
of faith.
But this new covenant must be appreciated, received by faith alone in Christ alone or we
would still be kept in custody of the law and under the tutor. Note also that Paul summarizes this
idea of transition of a tipping point and place of change in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness
of time had come, God sent His son (tipping point of the fulcrum) born of a woman, under the
law, (the up hillside of the sea saw) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might
receive the adoption as sons (down hillside).”
We will deal with this verse later in the
succeeding lessons.
1.2 Conceptual Framework (Temporal Limitations of the Law before
Christ)
Chart: Temporal limitation of the law and the objective appearance of Christ in Time
First realm
-
The Mosaic economy/legislation
Before faith come i.e. custody of the law
Old covenant, tutor
Curse of the law-an uphill struggle
Temporary
Prison, condemnation
No life, kills
Slavery and childhood
Demands perfection. Deuteronomy 30:1619. Do this and live.
No real substitute. Hebrews 9:15, 10:1-4
Bring guilt and a curse Galatians 3:10
No power over sin Romans 8:1- 4
Second realm
-
The new covenant , the new mediator/Jesus
New age-age of faith
After faith came
The New Kingdom of Christ. Gospel of
Grace
Permanent
Justified by faith, freedom in Christ
Imparts life; saves
Son ship
Provides perfection (Romans 3:21-24)
Provides our substitute
2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:6; 1Peter
2:21, Romans 1:16-17.
Romans 3:21; Philippians. 3:8-9.
Brings righteousness i.e. the righteous
requirements of the law are fully met in us
who work after the spirit. Romans 3:1,
8:3ff.
Kirwa
70
-
Power over sin comes by Gospel faith,
which gives us the power of the Holy
Spirit. Romans 6:14-18.
Summary of the Chart: We can now understand the gospel power verses, the
powerlessness of the keeping of the law. Now that Christ has come, the necessity of the Old
Covenant (Israel, Moses and the law) as a paradigm for the Nations has terminated. The gentiles
no longer have to become Jews under the Law of Moses to be counted as God’s people. A new
covenant is in place that has made the old covenant null and void to believers. As Galatians 3:267 says:
For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ; for all of you who were
baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female for you are all one in
Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ then you are Abraham’s offspring (seed) heirs
according to promise (NASB).
The above verses are the integral part of our salvation as believers. Why is Paul using the
second person plural pronoun “you”? He is finished with the Jewish paradigm model of
Galatians 3:23-25. Nonetheless, Paul now applies salvation to the gentiles. Time and time again
Paul stressed this truth of the sons of God in his other Pauline epistles of Romans, Corinthians
and Ephesians. It dominated his thinking that we are sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ
that we are in Him, we are joined with him and identified with him because He came down from
heaven to make us sons of God. John says, “He became flesh and made his dwelling among
us.”48 Zugg in his Galatian sermon notes said this when our lord Jesus made His dwelling
among us “We are incorporated into Jesus, baptized into Him and into the new covenant.”49
48
49
John, The Gospel according to John 1:12-13
Baker, Unpublished Bible Study Notes, Covenant PCA, 2013.
Kirwa
71
2. Sons and Heirs in God (Vs. 28-9)
How do we become sons of God? Conditions: Not membership in Jewish race but by believing.
Not a return to our man-made beliefs of our departed descendants or ancestors. Sons are
contrasted with children. Sons are full grown people and mature ready to enter into full benefits
of inheritance. We will discuss this in more detail in chapter 4. All of us Jews and Gentiles are
sons no longer under the law as tutor to lead us to Christ. We are in Christ already no longer
being led to Him.
By baptism into Him: Vs. 27 is synonymous with being “clothed” with Christ in Vs.. 28,
also used in Romans 13:14 put on Christ. “To be clothed with Christ is the same as being united
with Him and points to the purity of character (in word and deed) demanded of believers in light
of their union with Christ in His death and resurrection.”50
What is the act of God in accepting believers in His family? When we are in Christ
(Galatians 4:5). At first we were sons of disobedience before we believed in Christ (Ephesians
2:2). Our father was Satan and we followed the desires of the flesh. In his commentary in the
book of Ephesians Kogo states, “Anyone who walked contrary to Christ’s expectation is a son of
disobedience, and if we are not the sons of God then we are the sons of the evil one.”51
And now because we are in Him (Jesus Christ), God the father had accepted us into His
family, being made heirs of His estate, and that we are no longer slaves but sons and heirs of
God’s inheritance (Galatians 4:7; Romans 8:14-17).
For purposes of clarity let us see what Baker says on the meaning of the sons of God.
“What it means to be the son of God?”52 First, we are in Him, that is, we become the sons of
God by being in Him. Notice the sequence below:
-vv. 26- in Christ Jesus,
-vv. 27- we are in Him.
50
Murray, Romans, Rev. Ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. Eerdmans, 2001) 170. Print.
Kogo Abraham. Pauline Epistles: Ephesians, MINTS, Course, 2013. 21. Print.
52
For and extended discussion on this topic see Baker, Unpublished Bible Study Notes, Covenant PCA, “that is
being in perfect relationship to Jesus and God as well the many faces of Baptism.” Baker, Unpublished Bible Study
Notes, Covenant PCA, (Galatians 3:21-28) 2013.
51
Kirwa
72
-vv. 28 we are baptized into Him (singular).
The word in Him is mentioned 160 times in the NT. It denotes the closeness’ of the
relationship. It is close, it is not identical, it does not obliterate our personality, we are still who
we are, but it is federal and legal. He is our legal and federal head and representatives in Him.
A further implication of being sons of God (vs. 28) is that there is no distinction between
Jews and Gentiles, slave of free, male or female. We are all one in Christ: we are all one in Him.
There is no distinction between race, sex and class. Cultural differences are no longer valid. The
Greek or Jew barrier goes back to the old world, the gap that was there between the Hebrews and
Gentiles. In Christ and salvation there is no male or female, free or slave; all have the same
footing in salvation. We have the same footing with the head of state, the Ph.D. fellows, the
teachers, the masons, carpenters and the street sweepers. It does not matter whether you are
circumcised or not (Galatians 6:15). We must see other believers as Christ sees them, not as
inferior or superior to us on the basis of race, socio-economic status.
Today, it is sad to say in our churches we practice “clanism, class and economic
distinctions, walls of separations are prevalent such as between the rich and the poor, tribalism.53
and racism,54 Muslim dominating countries treating non Muslims as second class citizens. Our
relationship to one another should be so close and knit because through Christ’s advent the
hostility and the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles and between all races, tribes and
language groups is torn down. Paul writing to Ephesians gentiles says:
Therefore, remember that formerly you, the gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcised
by the circumcised…and that at that time separated from Christ, separated from the
commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, without hope and
without God in the world…you were far in Christ have been brought near by the blood of
Christ… For He Himself our peace who made both groups into one and broke down the
barrier of the dividing wall, abolishing in the flesh the enmity, the law of commandments
53
Tribalism: is being practiced in Kenyan churches. I have personally witnessed this in one of the mainline churches
in Kenya-the AIC, a bishop talking ill of another because he comes from a different tribe.
54
In Americas and other parts of the world, white and black folks are fighting for supremacy. Racialism is the order
of the day.
Kirwa
73
contained in the ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man,
thus establishing peace and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross,
by it having put to death the enmity (Ephesians 2:11-16 NASB).
Therefore whatever the good times, the difficulties, the hurts, the troubles, hardships, we
go through, the economic, the social status we are in, we must always remember that we are all
one in Christ. One more point before we sum up this section. The original creation structures still
exist, ranging from social ties of manhood and womanhood, servants or slaves to their masters
and the poor. St. Paul himself referred to them in a number of times. In Ephesians 6:5, he talked
on obedience as to Christ by the slaves:
a) 1 Corinthians. 11:3, the poor still exist. Christ Himself in His public ministry referred
to them when rebuking the disciples who reprimanded the woman with an alabaster
vial of very costly perfume which she poured upon Jesus head. The disciples pointed
out that this is a waste. But Jesus said, “don’t bother the woman for she has done a
good job for me, for the poor are with you always but as for me, I am not with you
forever” (Matthew 26:6-13).
b) In 1Timothy 2:11, Paul explained the role of a woman as that of submission (a
submissive woman).
c) In 1Timothy 6:1, slaves are to regard their masters worthy of honor.
d) In Titus 2:9, Bond servants to be subject to their own masters in everything, pleasing
them with no arguments
e) In 1Peter 2:18, servants be submissive to your own masters with respect.
f) Not only are we all one in Christ, we also have a common link with Abraham’s
offspring (children) verse 29.
3. Superiority of the Abrahamic Covenant
Abraham believed in God and His promises (Genesis 12:1 ff.). When we clearly analyze
the Abrahamic covenant, we see that it fits clearly the new covenant in Christ. Therefore those of
us who believed in Christ find our blessings with Abraham the believer. We are Abraham’s seed
Kirwa
74
and heirs of the things of God. All the spiritual blessings of Abraham are bestowed upon us.
McNeill observes:
The real descendants (ancestors) of Abraham and the only true heirs to the promise are
believers and not physical Jews or Jewish proselytes who subject themselves to the law
(Romans 9:6-8). Consequently, Paul’s opponents are putting the cart before the horse. A
real Jew is not one with Jewish DNA and real circumcision is not the cutting off of
physical flesh (cutting of the foreskin of a male’s penis). A real Jew is a believer who
shares Abraham’s faith and true circumcision is repentance.55
Genuine circumcision is not the physical rite itself. Rather, true circumcision is of the
heart and by the Spirit. A circumcised heart is one that is (separated) from the world and
dedicated to God. Some of my tribes’ men56 are, (boasting that they are Jews) and are now in the
business of reviving the rite of circumcision. They followed the law’s regulation outwardly, but
their hearts are not right with God. Isaiah 29:13 says: professing to know God, involving in acts
of worship but they do not worship God in their hearts, they do not worship the true God of the
Bible, and they are more concerned with man-made legalistic rules. They suppress the truth in
their rejecting the clear evidence of God as the sovereign creator and their perversion of that
knowledge into idolatry. They have turned from the very purpose for which God made them; to
glorify Him for His person and thank Him for His works (Romans 1:21). With such a willful
rebellion against God, it is a wonder that their thinking became futile (Greek emataiothesan,
literally meaning “became worthless, purposeless”; and their foolish morally senseless hearts are
darkened (Romans 1:31; Ephesians 4:17-18).
Christians in Rome were also led astray by false teaching. Paul condemned the church in
Rome because of their trust in outward rites (external things). However, it is better to understand
that circumcision of the heart fulfills the spirit of God’s law instead of mere outward conformity
to the law (Romans 2:28-29). This is eluded with Paul’s stern warning to the church of Colossae.
55
McNeill 59.
No biblical basis whatsoever that Nandi people are Jews. Anybody who is not Jew by physical birth is a Gentile
by physical birth unless one is a Jewish proselyte.
56
Kirwa
75
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception,
according to the traditions of men and according to the elementary principles of the world
rather than according to Christ. We have been made complete in Him and our
circumcision is not made in human hands as in the removal of the flesh, but the
circumcision of Christ the circumcision of our hearts for in Christ we have been
circumcised. This ‘spiritual’ circumcision was done by Christ, not by man. We were
dead in our sins but made us alive in Him having forgiven us our transgressions canceling
out the certificate of debt (Christ paid the debt, wiped the slate clean) consisting of
degrees against us and nailing it on the cross, taking out of the way and triumphing over
them57, fulfilling the demands of the Law (Colossians 2:8-15).
Conclusion
Do the law and Gospel differ? Yes, radically so! It is faith from first to last. Anyone willing to
exchange Christian freedom for the Jewish law (and also a return to ATR by some of our church
leaders and members) says Paul is a fool. The Jewish Christians were in the business of making
gentile believers sons of Abraham through the rite of circumcision. So to our people today who
have quickly deserted Him who called them to righteousness and instead compromise the true
gospel by adding their traditional beliefs?
But gentiles Christians are already Abraham’s sons and heirs because they share his faith
(Galatians 3:7, 29). So to us today in this century, we are Abraham’s sons and fellow heirs with
Christ because we believe in Him. We do not need to add or mix with anything else. If we do this
it amounts to man-made rules and adds nothing to our salvation in Christ.
God accepted Abraham centuries before the law was given through Moses. So how can
the law win people free pardon? (Galatians 3:15-18) The law was like a caretaker and tutor
(Galatians 3:24). In Greek is ‘paidogogos’ meaning (the slave who escorts and protects the child
and sometimes helping with the home work) until the promise made to Abraham was fulfilled in
57
Paul here wrote not against all philosophy but against false philosophy as the bible also speaks against false
religion (James 1:26) the particular false philosophy at Colossae was hollow (kenos, empty) deceptive and based on
human tradition…rather than Christ. True Christian philosophy takes captive every thought to make obedient to
Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) . Philosophy is the love of wisdom, but if one loves wisdom that is not Christ (the sum of
all wisdom, Colossians 2:3) he or she loves and empty idol.
Kirwa
76
the coming Christ (Galatians 3:19-24). Christ is the mediator of the new covenant and thus the
pedagogue no longer applies.
Now, in the 21st century, by faith in Christ, we are God’s children regardless of race,
status or sex. “We believe in Him and we are children and offspring of Abraham indeed.
Through our faith in Him and baptism into him in union with Him,”58 we are given power to be
called the children of God (John 1:12). Abraham gains paternity over us and over the nations of
the earth according to the promise: “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed”
(Genesis 12:3).
The promise was made to Abraham and to Christ (thy seed) and because we have the
faith of Christ (union or being in him), we have the faith of Abraham and therefore we receive
the blessing.
Lesson Five Questions
1. What is the purpose of the law?
2. Differentiate between the seeds and the seed.
3. Does the law annul (set aside) the promise” why was it given? Cite a text.
4. The law was given 430 years later after the promise. What then was its mission?
5. State the transition point and illustrate it with Zugg’s illustration of the sea saw.
6. Compare and contrast the temporal limitations of the law and the objective appearance of
Christ in time.
7. How do believers become sons of God? And what does it mean to be the son of God?
8. A real Jew is not one with Jewish DNA; a real Jew is a believer who shares Abraham’s
faith. True or False.
9. What does the phrase “the law was our tutor” mean? State the Greek word for this?
10. How do believers receive the blessings of Abraham?
58
For further study on union with Christ, see Zugg’s course notes on Pauline Theology II.
Kirwa
77
Lesson Six: The True Gospel (Galatians 4)
1. The Gospel and Mature - Sonship.
2. Childhood and Slavery.
In this lesson, we will deal with Paul’s defense of the Gospel from the superiority of mature
sonship to childhood and slavery vv. 1-11. We shall discover that believers are children and sons
of God by adoption. Here the Apostle builds upon the contrast between the law and the Gospel.
Also we can see the Apostle’s own appeal to Galatians (calling them back to Christ (vv. 12-20).
Finally he (Paul) compares the two covenants: that is the allegory of Isaac and Ishmael (vv. 2131).
1. The Gospel and Mature Sonship
The saints are children of God by adoption (vs. 1-11). In vv. 1-3, it is interesting here that Paul
uses his imagination and painted a picture for us to understand better (proper) the difference
between our condition before Christ’s coming and our position now. Paul uses the picture of
human birth and growth images with reference to mental and intellectual development rather
than to physical growth. Note what the apostle says in Galatians 4:1-3;
(NASB) “Now I say as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave
although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers” The NIV
renders- Guardians and trustees, while the New English Bible put it guardians and
administrators- NEB) until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children
were in bondage under the elemental things of the world
The child as Nepios: The word nepios in Hebrew is translated in classical Greek to mean
“baby.” Paul had other uses of this term, for example in 1 Corinthians 3:1, the nepios is a baby
who is still in ‘milk’ and unable to use ‘solid food’ of Christian doctrine. However the New
English Bible (NEB) uses the word ‘minor’ to mean that the child is not yet old enough to fulfill
Kirwa
78
the terms of his father’s will. This is my view which can possibly mean an infant. In the Jewish
Heritage (JH) the boy passed from adolescence to manhood or adulthood at age 12 or 13.
In the Greek and Roman world, the minor came of age later at around 17 and 18 years.
Cole in his commentary on Galatians, says, “Paul dropped the word or term paidagogos
(custodian) he had used earlier and spoke instead of ‘guardians’ (epitropous) and ‘trustees,
managers’ “(Oikonomous).”59 The apostle is not thinking so much of the child’s education as of
the administration of the estate which, though belonging to the child by right, is not yet his to
manage. Therefore the purpose of epitropouskai and oikonomous, ‘guardians and trustees is
correctly alluded to the world ‘tutor’ in Galatians 3:25. A point of contact here is that, in the
African traditional religious and heritage when a father dies his minor/child will have to wait a
long time to own the property. Usually this child is under others prevalently a guardian, such as
uncles, aunts, or close relatives (grandma or grandpa) until he is of age. The child was normally a
son and the time of owing the property or estate is first circumcised placed in a secluded area in
forest for six to 12 months depending on the amount of degrees and statues taught. After this he
comes out and immediately takes control of the estate as a grown man at age 25-30.
In vs. 3, Paul continues to describe the bondage which he began in Galatians 3:23-24. So
also we, when we were children, were in bondage (enslaved) by the elemental (rudiments) things
of the world. The best interpretation of these elemental things is from the Greek ‘stoicheia’
meaning elementary principles (rituals and ceremonial observance of the Mosaic Law).
It is used again in reference to ritual observance of days, months, seasons and years,
teachings “regarding rules and regulations” (the law) by means of which before Christ’s coming,
people, both Jews and gentiles, each in their own way, attempted by their own efforts and in
according with the promptings of their own fleshly (unregenerate) nature to achieve salvation.
59
Cole, R.A, Tyndale New Testament Commentary on Galatians (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP: 1989) 158. Print.
Kirwa
79
2. Superiority of the Gospel (vv. 4-7)
While under the law, the Hebrews were in the state of childhood and slavery. In contrast being in
Christ is the state of liberty and adoption as sons. When we a deceived into thinking that keeping
the law is saving us we became enslaved to trying and failing to keep it.60
Before the Gospel came to Africa our people lived in inferior conditions e.g. their rules
and “regulations (customs) traditions and pagan cultures which immersed people in superstitious
activities to appease the gods, practice of heathen religious activities and restrictions upon some
food stuffs as well as all manner of man-made rules with no power to save mankind from the
bondage of sin. McNeill reviews the evidence of the inferior conditions in which Jews also lived
under (the Mosaic Economy) by giving us ten points. 61
‘Fully come’ refers to the completion of time between the promise of the Messiah by Old
Testament prophets and his first coming (birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension). Our Lord
appeared in time in human history the word became flesh, John 1:14-15, the time fixed by God
himself through His promises in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament.”62
How was the world prepared for the coming of Jesus? It was at the fullness of time
(Galatians 4:4). The world at this time was under the authority of the Roman Empire. The empire
had good roads that allowed the magi (wise men) travel to Jerusalem at the onset of the news of
the birth of Christ. It also allowed the apostle Paul in his travels to the remotest parts of the world
during his mission journeys.
There was also the Greek world. Greek was the language of the day and so the news of
the birth spread like wild fire throughout the civilized world. We can again point out the Hebrew
world. The Jewish people expected the messiah who would be a conquering King to help them
chase the Romans who had dominated their land for so long. Therefore, the presence of the
60
Notes on Galatians 5:4-7, Life Application: Study Bible.
Galatians 59-60. Print.
62
I encourage the students to read Hageman’s course notes on Christology available at www.mints. courses.edu
pages 18 to 19 “showing scriptural references of Christ in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Him in the New
Testament”.
61
Kirwa
80
synagogue in many places enables their rabbis and leaders teach about the Old Testament
prophecies of the one to come (the Messiah).
3. Christ the Redeemer
Human Christ as the redeemer vv. 5-6; “born of a woman, born under the law” describes the
doctrine of Christ’s humanity. He was real flesh and blood, so that he would completely enter
into the human scene. The fact that He was now sent forth means that our Lord and Savior
assumed human nature (John1:14) which was miraculously prepared inside Mary’s womb by the
Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).
But not only Christ was born human, he was born under (condition of) the law, that is the
requirement and the curse of the law (to bear the law’s penalty) and to propitiate (satisfy) the
demands of a Holy God. Two reasons for Christ being born of a woman and under the law:
a) To redeem those who were under the law (see my discussion on Galatians 3:13).
Jesus had to buy believers back out of the slavery of sin because all souls belong to
God who gives life (Ezekiel 18:4). We are dead to sin because the wages (penalty) of
sin is death (Romans 3:26). We have fallen from the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and
the glory of God is His holiness. Christ is a substitute of our lives that through His
death we have been made alive (bought back) from death (see the atonement +
substitutionary death of Christ).63
b) The second reason is that we might receive adoption as sons. In the NIV the word
‘adoption as sons’ is rendered, “full rights of sons.” The idea comes from the OT and
refers to the new status given to Israel by God and the new relationship into which
she had been called.”64 In the book of prophet Hosea chapter 11:1ff. Israel is seen as a
son of God and are all members of one family and their father is God Himself.
Though the NT never separates the two doctrines, it neither confuses them. Humanly
speaking it is quite possible to imagine a person being justified without being adopted. This helps
63
64
Borden, J., Doctrine of salvation: Soteriology (MINTS: Miami International Seminary, 2014) 40.
Cole, R. A., Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (TNTC): Galatians (Downers Grove: IVP, 1989) 162. Print.
Kirwa
81
us to understand the Grace of God and that by faith in Christ we are justified (declared righteous)
and adopted as sons; a legal term referring to a new status. The NEB translates “the status of
sons.” That is, we are home in the family of God enjoying all the privileges as sons of God and
heirs according to the promise.
All men require regeneration and rebirth, to be born again. Christ discussed at length with
Nicodemus about regeneration when he came to Him at night (John 3). One receives new birth
upon receiving Christ as Lord, those who are born not of natural descent or of human decision or
a husband’s will but born of God (John 1:12-13). Two things are involved in bringing us to
sonship (adoption):
(a) We are born again in union with Christ and have been given the nature of sons.
(b) We are also given adoptive right (right to become children) so that we have a true
status as sons commensurate (in standard) with our new nature.65
The doctrine of adoption brings the believer into the family of God and is made an heir of the
things of God. Paul not only used here in Galatians 4:5 but also in Ephesians 1:5 and in Romans
8:15, 23; 9:4. The teaching is also present every time we read the fatherhood of God. His
regenerating power, which plants the divine, seed in our hearts (1 John 3:9) and declared us as
His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:18).
4. The Spirit of Sonship (Galatians 4:6-7)
This is God’s second action in sending the Holy Spirit; “God sent the spirit of His son.” The first
act in His great redemptive act in history; ‘God sent forth His son.’ Paul points out “Because you
are sons, God sent the spirit of His son into your hearts, the spirit who cries out Abba Father” vv.
6.
When God adopts He imparts (instills) to believers the spirit of His son. It is interesting
that Paul tells the Galatians that God is their Father and are free to call Him Abba! Father!
Though they were mislead by the false teachers, ears they are the sons of their heavenly father by
65
See also 1 John 3:1ff. And 2 Peter 1:4b in that we share the divine nature (fellowship with the character of God).
Kirwa
82
virtue of their faith in Christ the savior and not their obedience to the mosaic legislation. The
Spirit is the gift of God that the Galatians had received by faith and not by the works of the law
(Galatians 3:5). Their position now is that they are not minors but majors.
Today, Christians are members of God’s family by adoption, that God had sent forth his
spirit into our hearts. We are sons, therefore, we receive the spirit and hence we become
conscious of our sonship (Romans 8:15). We are then called to address God our Abba father.
Abba is the Aramaic equivalent for the word father (Mark 14:36) that is the English word
“daddy.” Verse 7 sums up all what Paul had previously said; “therefore you are no longer a slave
but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (NASB).
Formally slaves to the law, the believers in Galatia are now both sons and heirs, likewise
Christians today. The only ground of our salvation is to accept Christ’s sacrifice on the Calvary’s
cross and to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace; addressing God as “Abba
Father,”66 then and only then the shackles of bondage to the law have been thrown off. No longer
are we slaves to anything apart from Christ crucified.
Those who advocate a return to slavery in this century by going back to African
traditional religious beliefs, for prosperity gospel and mixing of the Christian faith and other
faiths (syncretism) absolutely err. These things are weak, miserable and foolish and it has
nothing to do with man’s salvation; since they are matters of no value against fleshly indulgences
(Colossians 2:20-23). Summary and the conclusion of vv. 1-7:
a) Sonship is the capstone of salvation; it is the climax, all salvation blessings culminate
in it.
b) Relationship between justification, forgiveness and God as father in sonship. In union
with Christ we receive justification, forgiveness, redemption at the same time (that is
simultaneously) with sonship at the resurrection, that God has sent the spirit His son
into our hearts crying “Abba Father” vv. 4-6.
66
Implying intimate relationship Jesus habitually used in His prayers to the father.
Kirwa
83
c) The relationship between sonship and spirit leads to the gift of the spirit in us and acts
as our substitute interceding for us in groaning in our weakness and reveals the things
of God for us (Romans 8 vv. 23).
McNeill quoting Packer in Knowing God67 said: “In adoption our conduct as believers is
governed and modeled to imitate God, glorify God, pray to God, have faith in Him and get
assurance of salvation and God’s love towards believers.”68
5. Childhood and Slavery
The church was under pressure to obey the Mosaic legislation. Galatians had experienced the
spirit of adoption because of their faith in Christ and not by the outward observances of the law.
A return to the slavery of external requirements disturbed Paul who all along had been their
pastor. It is a return to the law’s bondage and the state of immaturity. In one sense the Galatians
believers portrayed their folly by turning to those weak, miserable, and bankrupt elements that
once controlled them. In reality it was not a new error but the very old one.
The believers had begun to observe the feasts, Sabbath days, new moon and as a result
wavered and defected from the truth of gospel. Formally they had been in bondage of the Jewish
law (a religion of Judaism) through the ignorance of true God. Thus they were enslaved to those
who by nature are no gods. But now they have known God, and they have been known by God,
they chose to return to those weak and miserable things. Paul is astonished that his labors in
bringing the gospel to them had been wasted and in vain (vs.11).
Application: The discussion above can even happen in a church today. We are concerned of
some of our pastors who get easily side tracked from the gospel to social messages, prosperity
gospel and praising wealthy church elders. They are under pressure to yield to the wishes of men.
They don’t honor the passage or the text or the context of the book.
I encourage students to read Parker “knowing God” to fully understand how sonship/adoption governs believer’s
life in a number of ways.
68
McNeill quoting Parker, Pauline Epistles- (Galatians) 75 Print. When he quoted
67
Kirwa
84
1. I once attended a burial service for a prominent church elder in 2012.The pastor who had
privilege to minister read John 14:1-6. With a spirit of pride, he introduced himself that
he heads a geographical area of more than 100 churches. Because of his pride he
addressed God and placed Him in the level of human being. 69 He said in local language
“Ngot ko moyan ng’etatai kiyokwech bamwai komobendi kipseng’wet” (meaning if you
do not believe in “ng’etai”(uncircumcised boy) referring to Jesus send by ‘Bamwai’ (an
old man and woman) who took one’s daughter for marriage to their young man or son,
you will not go to heaven. He referred to God as ‘bamwai’ sending ‘ng’etai’ who is
Jesus. What he preached is totally different from what the text meant.
2. Music is another example that has gone astray in our churches. They have borrowed the
rhythm from pagan practices and secular music. The movement and dancing are from
the secular world. Clothes the choir members use are questionable, tight skirts in women
and tumbo cut-shirts, young men tie their trousers almost showing their buttocks, and
the Gospel music has been commercialized.
Revival of pagan religious practices in some areas recall the “12 disciples” mentioned by
the author in previous lessons church members have opted to return to mediums, and witchcraft
to aid them in their problems.
3. Mediums/diviners: For example in 2014, my neighbor (member of a church) lost a
cow and he consulted; kipsogeiyot (medium) and the orgoiyot (prophet) for help to
locate where the cow was and who stole it. The cow has not been found. Also 2010, a
diviner in Loliondo-Tanzania claimed to have power to heal folks from all diseases.
Hundreds of thousands of people from the East African region stroke the place
seeking for help from him but all to no avail. Many died immediately from coming
back. The Holy Scripture forbade us to practice these things. The Bible condemns
any form of pagan or heathen practice (Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:6; Isaiah 8:19).
69
Funeral service for a prominent church elder in UG county- Kenya 2012.Pastor sidetracked by calling God the big
man upstairs, places the bible under culture, instead the bible judges all cultures.
Kirwa
85
4. Testimony of a young man from western Kenya: Mr. Harrison Mumia. He was
brought up in a staunch Christian family. He got easily sidetracked from the gospel
and questions the existence of God. He says, once we die that is the end of us, and the
existence of God or Satan is one big hoax (lie). In an interview with the Daily
Nation70 (one of Kenyan news papers) he said, “God does not solve any of our
problems because He does not exist.” The story of creation portrays an unfair and
inconsiderate God who placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden with a lying
serpent. And when are deceived, He gets annoyed and chased them out to toil and
sweat for their survival,” Mr. Mumia complains. He talked of the unfairness of God
who brings pain and suffering to his people, and sometimes leading to the death of
His followers. Baptized at nine in Friends Church, Mumia never question the
doctrines of religion until 1996 as a High School student. Now he says there is no
evidence on the existence of either heaven or hell, or even life after death.
The guy is a learned person and works as a web administrator at the central bank of
Kenya, and has been an atheist for a decade. The last time he was in church was for social
reasons. He now serves as the president of the unregistered atheist group in Kenya. Atheist’s
mission in Kenya is to challenge and confront religious faith and to strengthened global atheism
by promoting the growth and interaction of atheist free thought apart from the true God as
revealed in the Holy Scripture.
6. Paul Calls the Galatians back to Christ (vv.12-20)
The idea here is that, the apostle digresses from the main subject. “He interrupts his defense of
the gospel to interject a personal appeal for the sake of winning the Galatians back to the true
gospel. Paul changes course from the theologian to the pastor, for he was their pastor in every
sense of the word.”71 Note how the apostle changes tone, from a theologian to a caring pastor:
I beg you my brothers and sisters be like me. After all am like you. You have not done
me any wrong. I preached the gospel to you the first time, because I was ill. But even
Joy, Wanja Muraya, “Believe in God or Satan: That is one big hoax” Daily Nation: Thursday, C3. 24 Apr. 2014.
Print.
71
McNeill 76.
70
Kirwa
86
though my physical condition was a great trial to you, you did not despise or reject me.
Instead you receive me as you would an angel from heaven; you received me as you
would Christ himself. You were so happy! What has happened!! I myself can say that
you would have taken out your own eyes, if you could and given them to me (vv.12-15
the Good News Bible, GNB).
Here the Apostle sounds very affectionate to the Galatians. And he pleads with them to
be like him. They should reciprocate and have the same affection towards Paul. At first they
were happy toward Paul, though he (Paul himself) had come to them with a bodily affection. In
His mission journeys the Church had welcomed Paul with open arms, and thus the apostle says,
“They had received him as an angel of God or Jesus Christ himself.”72 The Church received Paul
as they would Christ because; the Gospel he preached is from Christ directly. Because of the
influence of false apostles/teachers the church turned against Paul, and considered him an enemy
for telling the truth. As the church turn against you and considered you an enemy for telling them
the truth? Cite examples from your previous ministries.
Listen to what Paul tells them again in verse 16.”Have I then become your enemy by
telling you the truth; the Apostle” paused. What does Paul refer when he asks this
question? In what way does he assume that he might have become their enemy? He had
warned them as first against the false teachers in his 2nd journey through Galatia
(Acts15:40ff.). Paul had used a strong language earlier when he was writing the letter to
them (Galatians 1:6; 3:1; 4:5).
Paul had proved himself a good friend by telling the truth, whether in their past or present
relationship with the apostle. One of the marks of a genuine friend is one who tells the truth,
even though it hurts. For example, Prophet Nathan in second Samuel 12:7 confronted and
rebuked King David with the truth because he loved David. He (the prophet) proved that he was
David’s genuine friend and supporter, saying, “you are the man.”
Do we have genuine friendships in our churches or congregations today? Do we love one
another as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25)? Can the world know that we are Christ’s
Paul had visited Galatia on two separate occasions. See Paul’s 1 st and 2nd missionary journeys ( Acts 13 and 14;
15:40-16:5) respectively.
72
Kirwa
87
disciples when we love one another (John 13:34-35) or do we fight, quarrel and backbite each
other (James 4:1-2)?
The writer has personally witnessed folks in churches who do not greet or share with
each other. They harbor grudges and they don’t love each other, instead they quarrel, exchange
bad bitter words and devour one another. They don’t even walk the same route or path, and if
this happens one can run away literally into the bushes and into another bypass path, avoiding at
all costs the meeting.
He has also seen churches happy and gland to receive their new pastor with open arms
and hearts, only to terminate them at will. Sad to say, some pastors have been literally chased
away by their congregations not because of a flawed character but because the minister stood
firm with the truth of the gospel. When the pastor rebuked sin and urge members to live
exemplary lives, Christ like character, Christ like attitude and Christ like service, he or she is
branded a bad pastor and always rubs people the wrong way.
A pastor friend of our family was chased away from one of the churches of AIC (Africa
Inland Church) in Eldoret town in May 2006. The pastor had rebuked sin in the church. One of
the church council members had a public affair with a woman. “The man mobilized the other
council members to have the pastor terminated, and chased out of the church house.” 73 The
clothes, beddings, chairs, utensils, tables and anything belonging to the pastor was thrown out of
the house. For some days and raining the pastor’s property were outside for the passersby to see.
It really is a sad story but it is true; a church council who received the man of God with praises,
only someday turned their back upon him.
This is a tough lesson for all of us who desire pastoral ministry as their vocation. For
those who want to be popular and be men pleasers, think again. According to Paul
popularity was not his first concern. The choice is yours; between pleasing God and
Christ who called you to His service or ministry or being in good favor with men. The
73
The man used money to bribe other council members to approve his schemes (see Romans 1:32) although they
know the law of God… they also approve with those who do such detestable things.
Kirwa
88
apostles in the 1st century church, resolved to please God rather than man (Acts 4:19-20;
5:29) and in the process of pleasing God first all other things were in place.74
The pastor is to preach the word in season and out of season whether the times are right
or not. He is to reprove, rebuke and exhort. Time is now when people will not endure sound
doctrine but will follow teachers who teach them what they want (own desires), they will turn
away their hearts from the truth and to myths and to doctrines taught by demons (2 Timothy 4:14).
7: The Motives of the False Apostles
Paul exposes the motives of the Judaizers vv. 17-20: The text says, “Those people are zealous to
win you, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us so that you may be zealous
for them. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just
when I am with you,” (NIV).
The false teachers were zealous to steal the Galatians away from their pastor. Notice two
things Paul saw about the actions of the false teachers; their zeal and their motives. Zeal in itself
is not bad. The apostle himself had been zealous for the Galatians as he worked among them, and
he encouraged them to be zealous for the true Gospel. “If zeal is placed at the service of Christ, it
is a fine characteristic, while in the case of the false teachers, this zeal was misdirected as it was
in their own cause and for their own glorification”75 to lock the church to be dependent upon
their teachings (the law) that they might be separated (alienated) from Christ and the church’s
relationship with Paul.
Paul’s concern and desire is to see that the church should not be removed from one kind
of bondage to another from the law to dependence upon people. “Failure to maintain Christian
liberty (will tackle on this doctrine later in lesson 7, Galatians chap. 5) always leads to
God’s kind providence takes care of everything else as the pastor presents the whole counsel/truth of God and
nothing else. See also Paul’s farewell speech to church elders in Ephesus, he said, I never held back to announce to
you the whole purpose/ counsel of God (Acts 20:25-31).
75
Boice J.M. Galatians, The Expositors Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids Michigan: Zondervan, 1976) 459. Print.
74
Kirwa
89
ecclesiastical as well as other forms of bondage.”76 In vs. 19, Paul comes to his main point in
referring to his attitude toward Galatians and the legalizers (false teachers) attitude towards them.
Study the chart below: Contrasting Paul and the Legalizers:
Paul’s Attitude
False Teachers Attitude
1. He had not come to make them his followers
The false teachers had
2. He had come to help them understand
The false teachers had come
the true Gospel.
to alienate them from both
Paul and Christ.
3. He is loved and accepted righteous
A return to the law as the basis
by Grace alone and faith alone in Christ.
for their ongoing acceptance with God
(that is seeking righteousness before God by law)
4.Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
The law is the end for righteousness
(Romans 10:4).
5. Earning salvation by accepting Christ.
Paul’s Attitude
1
Earning salvation by keeping the law.
False Teachers Attitude
He had not come to make them his The false teachers had
followers
2
He had come to help them understand The false teachers had come to alienate them
the true Gospel.
3
from both Paul and Christ
He is loved and accepted righteous by A return to the law as the basis for their ongoing
Grace alone and faith alone in Christ.
acceptance
with
God
(that
righteousness before God by law)
4
76
Christ is the end of the law for The law is the end for righteousness
Boice, J. M. EBC (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1976) 459. Print.
is
seeking
Kirwa
90
righteousness (Romans 10:4)
5
Earning salvation by accepting Christ
Earning salvation by keeping the law.
“There could be no greater contrast between the actions of the Judaizers or legalizers or false
teachers and the aim of the very law which they profess to teach.”77 “The law, legalism and the
gospel are at war. Although all three are primarily concerned with our quest for acceptance with
God, there are serious differences between them.”78
The law…demands perfection (Deuteronomy 30:16-19), “For I command you today to
love the lord your God, walk in His ways and to keep his commands, decrees and laws, then you
will live and increase…. I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses…chose life so
that you may live.” This passage of scripture has to do with the laws of do’s and don’ts, that is to
say do this and live. Thus the law demands perfection, to which at the end no one person is made
perfect or righteous.
Legalism… imagines perfection. In practice “Christian Phariseeism” focuses on
externals, but ignores the heart as well as the thought life. Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ in
Matthew 5:27-28, echoed, “You have heard that it was said…Do not commit adultery, But
anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his or her heart.”
In Romans 3:21-24 Paul commends, “But now the righteousness from God has been
manifested apart from the law… and are justified freely by His Grace through redemption which
in Christ Jesus.” Thus, when calling the Galatians my children (vv. 19), Paul pictures himself as
a mother who went through the pains of childbirth. At the time of conversion, Paul had born
them in Christ. Apparently, because of their going back (defection) to the law, Paul is in labor
again until Christ is formed, established in their hearts. Paul knew that the church had gone back
to those miserable things (the law which demands perfection and legalism which imagines
perfection) instead of the Gospel, grace alone, Christ alone, faith alone, which provides
perfection.
77
78
Cole, R.A. TNTC- Galatians (Downers Grove: IVP, 1989) 174. Print.
Long, J. W, Sonship for Africa (NP: World Harvest Mission, 2002) 5-6. Print.
Kirwa
91
So he (Paul) is in pain again trying to bring them back to Christ. Metaphorically, Paul’s
concern is that when he had preached Christ earlier to them, they should not be won over to
Judaism and that their zeal for Christ should not diminish.
Can you recall a time in your ministry when you led a friend to Christ? How painful it is
when that friend defects (backslides) back to his or her former life? What would you do to bring
him or her back to Christ? Would you write a letter like St. Paul who did or visit personally,
having in mind limitations of time and space in the ministry? Like Paul would you like to be
present and persuade the person to come back to Christ, notice what he says,
“But I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed
(state of confusion) about you” (NASB), The apostle was apparently very confused with the
change of things in the churches of Galatia. He was very concerned how things ended; the
church had begun with the Spirit of God and now ending with flesh, in going back to Judaism,
Law, slavery and bondage.
For sure no one knows why Paul was unable to visit Galatia again at this time, so he
wrote to them. The apostle was worried about them. Right now, he wishes that he could be with
them. Some scholars believe that the apostle was tied up in Corinth and to rush off to distant
Galatia was possibly impossible but the change of tone, does not mean that Paul would change
his teachings, but his approach would be different. He might no longer rebuke them and not
called them ‘foolish Galatians’ again.
Paul compares the two covenants in Galatians 4:21-31. This passage illustrates the
distinction between the law and the gospel. In the Old Testament Ishmael is a slave and Isaac is
free. Ishmael was born according to the flesh and Isaac according to the promise. God never
promised Abraham a son by Hagar but a son by Sarah and this is Isaac to carry on the covenant
promise and the covenant seed of Abraham. Isaac fulfilled all OT promises when he becomes a
child according to faith in contrast to Ishmael’s birth which had nothing to do with faith.
Kirwa
92
Sarah and Hagar represent two covenants;79 McNeill had shown the difference between
the two as follows, Hagar and Sarah, “the first producing slaves and the second one producing
free men80. The law produces slaves because it demands obedience but cannot produce
obedience. It also shows the distinction between Ishmael and Isaac (vv. 21-23). “Tell me, you
who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had
two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bond woman
was born according to the flesh and the son by the free woman through the promise” (NASB).
Paul had earlier shown that the law brings a curse to those who desire to be under it
(3:10-14). He (Paul) then was both indirect and negative, but now he appeals directly and
demands that those (Galatians or false teachers) desiring to be under the law should study the
scriptures in order to understand better what the law says. They should not just boast that they
are physical ancestors of Abraham. They forget that Abraham had not one son but two sons;
Ishmael by Hagar as well as Isaac by Sarah and other sons by Keturah.81
Social ranks of the two sons (vs. 23) Ishmael was born of a slave women, thus he is a
slave. Isaac was born by a free woman Abraham’s true wife. Another distinction between the
sons is the nature of their births. Ishmael was born according to the flesh (natural power of
procreation) normal process of human birth and physical act in sinful deliberation of Abraham
and Hagar. Isaac was born through the promises; Abraham was 99 and Sarah was well beyond
childbearing. God supernaturally intervened in a special way.
Thus Isaac’s birth became a fulfillment of OT promises in Genesis 18. There was no such
divine intervention in the case of Ishmael. Consequently God never promised Abraham a son by
Hagar. As said earlier, this was according to carnal behavior; fleshy arrangement of Sarah who
thought she would help God by telling Abraham to take Hagar as a wife and bore children on her
behalf since she was past menopause (Genesis 16:2). Ishmael was not the son of promise but
Isaac was; the one God had chosen to carry on the covenant promise and the covenant seed of
Abraham. Paul’s arguments, says Hendriksen,
79
The story of the slave/bond woman (Hagar) and her son verses the free woman (Sarah) and her son is narrated in
the Genesis account chap 16:1-4; 21: 8-12. Cast out the slave woman and her son. We are children of a free womanwho live by faith and no longer enslaved individuals who live by the law nor live by the demands of our ancestors
80
McNeill, Galatians, 80. Print.
81
Abraham’s sons by Keturah are not within the range of God’s promises to him.
Kirwa
93
There is indeed a marked difference between the son of Hagar, the slave woman and the
son of Sarah, the free woman, but the difference is not of a physical nature but a spiritual
nature. It represents the contrast between those who live by the law and those who live by
faith. In other words, between those who depend on that which they themselves are able
to bring about (human effort) and those who rely on the effectuation of God’s gracious
promises in order to earn salvation.82
Salvation is purely by faith in Christ and not through keeping the law. Furthermore,
salvation is not by human birth or physical descent, but by divine birth wrought by the Holy
Spirit. For one to be set free, he must be born again or to be regenerated. John in the gospel
preached about this supernatural birth; “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right
power to become the children of God, even those who believed in His name, (faith in Christ)
who are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh (body) nor of the will of man, but born of
God (supernatural birth)”83
Thus coming from Abraham’s posterity (physical birth) or anyone born of Christian
parents today; whether Jew or gentile, is not the defining factor of being accepted by God. The
expositors Bible Commentary puts it very plainly what Paul had all along been arguing.
It is apparent that this contrast lends itself well to the very distinction Paul is trying to
make between natural or man-mad religion and supernatural or God-made religion. The
religion of works and the law corresponds to the natural birth (man-made) of Ishmael
(will of man), the religion of the spirit which is Christianity corresponds to the
supernatural (God-made) birth of Isaac” (will of God or born of God).84
So, far Paul had given us the distinction between the two sons and the manner of their
conception and birth. “A little reflection shows that Paul uses complete spiritual terms applying
82
Hendriksen, W, N.T. Commentary On Galatians (Grand Rapids: Baker Book Pub.1968) 180. Print.
John 1:12-13
84
Carson, D A, at al. The Expositors Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
1976) 483. Print.
83
Kirwa
94
the historical account (use of the OT) as an allegory to press the point home to the struggle
between Judaism and Christianity.” 85
6.
The Meaning of Allegory
An allegory, a deeper significant meaning of something, is the use of historical occurrences in
order to interpret a great spiritual truth. To some commentators,’ the word means “behind the
plain meaning or beneath the obvious” is the real meaning”.86 The ESV and NASB, both use the
word allegorical but the NIV uses the word ‘figuratively’ (vv. 24-27).
Now this may be interpreted allegorically (NIV-figuratively). These women are two
covenants. One is from Mt. Sinai; bearing children for slavery she is Hagar. Now Hagar
is Mt. Sinai in Arabia she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with
her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written
“Rejoice oh barren woman who does not bear break forth and cry aloud you who are not
in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a
husband (ESV).
From verse 24 Paul begins the allegorical interpretation of Genesis 21: 8-12. Sarah and
Hagar represent two covenants. The Holy Scripture teaches two covenants. The Mosaic
legislation/covenant which had its origin at Mt. Sinai called the old covenant (OC) was about
man under the law, from Moses to Christ. Those under this legal covenant were slaves. As Hagar
brought forth slaves, so does the law. The second Covenant is the New Covenant (NC) enacted
on better promises (Hebrews 8:6). At this point we are expected to understand and supply the
implicit reference to the Abrahamic Covenant, a gracious system represented by Sarah who
through its messianic promise brought forth children who are free- Believers in Christ of all ages
the living and the departed.
85
86
Carson, at al. 484. Print
Cole, R.A. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (TNTC): Galatians (Downers Grove: IVP, 1989) 180. Print.
Kirwa
95
There are two main covenants.87 As we study the historical background of Covenant
Theology, we realize that Covenant Theology is a system of interpreting the Scriptures on the
basis of two Covenants: the covenant of Works (Genesis 2:16-17) where God laid down the
terms- in this case between God and Adam and two the covenant of Grace (Genesis 17:7; cf.
Jeremiah 31:33; 32:38-40; Ezekiel 34:23-31; 36:25-28; 37:26-27; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18;
Hebrews 8:10) made by God with the elect in which He offers salvation to the elect sinner in
Christ). Some covenant theologians specify three covenants: works, redemption, and grace.
Covenant theology teaches that God initially made a covenant of works with Adam (the federal
head of the human race), promising eternal life for obedience and death for disobedience. Adam
failed, and death entered the human race. God, however, moved to resolve man’s dilemma by
entering into a covenant of grace through which the problem of sin and death would be
overcome. Christ is the ultimate mediator of God’s Covenant of grace (I Timothy 2:5)
One of the earliest statements of covenant theology can be found in the Westminster
Confession of 1647.
This statement reads as follows:88
1. The distance between God and His creation is so great, that, although
reasoning creatures owe Him obedience as their creator, they
nonetheless could never realize any blessedness or reward from Him
without His willingly condescending to them. And so it pleased God to
provide for man by means of Covenants.
2. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works. In it life
was promised to Adam and through him to his descendants, on the
condition of perfect, personal obedience.
3. By his fall, man made himself incapable of life under that covenant, and
so the Lord made a second, the Covenant of Grace. In it He freely offers
sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ. In order to be saved He
The author’s takes the position that there are two covenants because the bible speaks of covenants which is plural
not singular
88
Douglas Kelly et al., eds., The Westminster Confession of Faith: A New Edition, 2nd.ed. Greenwood, S.C. 1981.
13-14. Print.
87
Kirwa
96
requires faith in Jesus and promises to give His Holy Spirit to everyone
who is ordained to life so that they may be willing and able to believe..
4. This Covenant of grace is frequently identified in Scripture as a
testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ, the testator, and to
the everlasting inheritance and everything included in that legacy.
5. This Covenant was administered differently in the time of the law and in
the time of the gospel. Under the law it was administered by promises,
prophesies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types
and ordinances given to the Jewish people, all foreshadowing Christ. For
that time the covenant administered under the law through the operation
of the Spirit was sufficient and effective in instructing the elect and
building up their faith in the promised messiah, by whom they had full
remission of their sins and eternal salvation. This administration is called
the Old Testament.
6. Under the Gospel Christ Himself, the substance of God’s grace was
revealed. The ordinances of this New Testament are the preaching of the
word and the administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s
Supper. Although these are fewer in number and are administered with
more simplicity and less outward glory, yet they are available to all
nations, Jews and Gentiles, and in them the spiritual power of the
covenant of grace is more fully developed. There are not then two
essentially different covenants of grace, but one and the same covenant
under different dispensations.
The Jewish folks could not grasp this aspect of two covenants. To them there was only
one and the same covenant; God’s eternal covenant with His people (see Ezekiel. 37:26). The
‘New Covenant’ to them was something eschatological (future event) still to come and belonging
to the age of the Messiah (cf. Jeremiah 31:31). What they could not belief was that this day had
already come (in the person of Christ) without their noticing.89 St. Luke writing to gentile
89
Cole 181
Kirwa
97
Christians uses the word ‘ephthasea’ meaning to come unexpectedly upon you (St. Luke chapter
11:20).
As the arrangement unfolds, Hagar the slave woman stands for the Old Covenant enacted
at Mt. Sinai (another name is Mt. Horeb) which is sometimes referred to as the Sinatic or the
Mosaic Covenant. While her son Ishmael stands for Judaism with her center at earthly Jerusalem.
This is one form of religion. On the other hand, Sarah the free woman stands for the New
Covenant enacted on Mt. Calvary, through the blood of Christ, and her son Isaac, stands for all
who have become part of the Church of the heavenly Jerusalem through faith in Christ’s
sacrifice.
In verse 26, Paul uses two metaphors to enrich his meaning: “the present city of
Jerusalem” (both Jews and Gentiles are unbelievers in slavery to sin) and “the Jerusalem above”,
God’s dwelling place which was revealed by Christ is our mother. This Jerusalem is now present
in those born again by the Spirit of God. While it is true that there is a Jerusalem to come (cf.
Hebrews. 12:22 and Revelation 21:2), Paul did not speak of that.
Verse 27-31: In vs. 27, Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1, which is a prophecy of Israelite
restoration from their Babylonian captivity. This signifies that their later years will be enjoyable
than their years in exile. “It is also a prophetic message that the Gentile world would turn to God
in multitudes and that they would not need to become Jews first. Notice how Christianity
spread”90 from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria and unto the utter most parts of the world from
century one to the present date (Acts 1:8). The gospel entered European lands, the Americas,
Canada’s and then to the remotest parts of African continent.
In 1844, the Church Missionary Society sent Dr. Ludwing’ Craft and Johann Rebman to
start mission work in Kenya. This is the present Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) and in
Uganda, as well as the Episcopal Church in Tanzania, and the South African countries
(Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa).
In 1862, the British Methodist sent their missionaries’ to Africa. It is the present
Methodist Church in Kenya and other African countries. In 1895, the Africa Inland
90
Zugg, J, Reformation church History A Mints Course, 2013
Kirwa
98
Mission (AIM) in USA sends the Rev. Peter Cameroon Scott and started mission work in
Ukamba land in Kenya. This is the present Africa Inland church in Kenya. The gospel
had today spread to other parts of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the
South Sudan.
Followed by the Mill Hill Fathers (MHF) also in 1895 who camped in western Kenya and
then to the lake city of Kisumu Kenya in 1903. These were the Dutch group.
From 1912 and onwards other small denominations such as Pentecostals, Presbyterians
and Reformed church followed suit. Indeed the gentile world turned to God in large
numbers, and today the church is almost found in every nation.
Christians like Isaac are children of promise. Christians like Isaac had supernatural birth.
Galatians’ believers who had accepted Christ’s sacrifice are under the New Covenant and in
contrast to those under the Old Covenant Ishmael (natural birth) unbelieving Israel.
Here Paul repeats an incident in Genesis Chapter 21 where Ishmael laughed and mocked Isaac.
This is one of the reasons why Sarah had asked that Hagar and her son be sent away. The one
born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit and in the same way
those saved by faith in Christ alone are persecuted by those living under the Law. So it is today
says Paul; true Christians will be hated and persecuted. But the question is who, are the present
persecutors of the true church? Stott explains,
“Not by the world, who are strangers unrelated to us (but sometimes) but by our halfbrothers, religious people and the nominal church. Paul suffered under his countrymen
(Jewish folks) the persecutor had now become Paul the persecuted. Jesus Christ Himself
was hated, rejected and condemned by His own people.” 91
In the same way the medieval papacy persecuted the Reformed church at the time of the
reformation. In parallel, the greatest enemies of the evangelical faith today are not unbelievers,
but the “Church” the established systems and structures and the hierarchy.
91
Stott, J., The message of Galatians (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1999) 26. Print.
Kirwa
99
In contrast, the British Prime minister, David Cameron at his 4th annual Easter speech in
Downing, London Apr. 2014 made a general comment on how believers are persecuted all over
the planet. He said, “I have always felt the strength of the Christian faith is the basic core of
moral guidance… But it is sad that Christians are the most persecuted people around the
world.”92
The moral decay in our societies today is a result of declining faith in God. Statistics do
not lie; moral delinquency is in alarming rate. The moral values (Christian values) that used to
govern families, communities, and nations are considered obsolete by many today. And yet the
Christian faith really is not only the basic core of moral guidance but final authority pertaining to
faith and practice.
A split has already occurred in the Africa Inland Church in Kenya. The incumbent
Bishop Silus Yego had flashed (persecuted) out hundreds of churches and their pastors
because they have a different opinion from his in the writing of the church’s new
constitution. Yego had systematically persecuted the church. Anyone going contrary to
his opinion has been branded a rebel (another word for a terrorist). He has used
government agents to close up churches and dragged pastors and Reverends to secular
courts. Pastors have been chased away from church premises (houses).93
It really is satanic. The “bishop” had terminated many pastors from their jobs even
though they qualify. The author included. He had done all he can do to discourage and sabotage
the work of the church which remained in the old constitution. What would you do if you are in
such a church with such a bad leader (dictator, totalitarian, undemocratic) that does not honor
others’ opinions?
David Cameron: “Christians, the most Persecuted People around the World” Standard News Paper, 11 Apr. 2014,
Print.
93
To cite one example is pr. Hosea Chumba Landich of Kitale- Kenya. He and his wife and children were removed
from the AIC Stoneham pastor’s residence. It really is a curse on the part of those who forced the pastor and his
wife and children out in the cold. I heard one of the pastors who aided Yego to chase the pastor out of the church’s
house died in Febuary 2014, while another one is seriously sick as I write this paper. God had come to the aid of the
persecuted pastor and his family
92
Kirwa
100
The late Bishop Alexander Muge of Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) was also
persecuted by powerful government forces during retired President Moi’s reign.” 94 The Bishop
had helped the less fortunate in the society and condemned bad governance. He died in a tragic
road accident in mysterious circumstances in 1990. His death remains a mystery to this date.
Rev. David Githii of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) was recently
excommunicated by his church. He preached against homosexuality (unnatural sex between
people of the same sexes) and immorality in the church. He had stood firm in the true gospel by
presenting the whole counsel of God. “Like Paul, he did not shrink back (never hesitated even
once) from declaring the whole purpose (will and counsel) of God” (NASB).95 He condemned all
satanic rituals in most government offices, rubbing shoulders with leaders (the low and the
mighty, small and great) that support devil worship and immorality. The man of God claimed
that the church (PCEA) had failed terribly to deal with devil worship and immorality.
He has over and over again spoke against idolatry and satanic symbols in one of the
PCEA churches; Sigona church where he once ministered. There were also such symbols at
PCEA St. Andrews church in Nairobi. The bishop encountered a strong fight from those who
wanted the symbols protected. But it was the Sigona church controversy that escalated so much
to the extent that the man of God was taken to the court of law. In his six-year period as the
Church’s General Assembly Moderator (GAM), there were many people who were not happy
with the changes. The moderator had worked with the business committee to remove all the
traditional Scottish images and symbols that had been part of the spiritual life of the Church for
years.
Did you know that Christian martyrs are men and women who willingly give up their life
because they refuse to renounce their faith? Most of today’s Christian martyrs are unnamed. It is
easy to remember martyrs from the Bible days and from centuries ago; “Elijah the prophet and
man of God stood fast in a world that had compromised the Scriptures”96 however most of
94
Before his untimely death, he had been warned not to set foot in Busia western Kenya by the late Peter Okondo
the then labor minister in Moi’s regime.
95
The apostle Paul in giving farewell to Ephesians’ elders in Miletus in Acts chap. 20:17-38
96
Study Elijah’s faith in God, when he chose to go against the flow of the culture around him and stood up for what
he believed. God’s followers will face persecution for their faith, taking a stand for Christ is a challenge when it is a
call to live differently from all those around. The Ugandan martyrs of 1886 never renounced their faith in God even
Kirwa
101
today’s martyrs we may never hear about. Study the martyrdom of Paul, Peter and the rest of the
apostles who stood firm, declaring that they could not make compromise with paganism. They
were imprisoned and slain. They fought the good fight of faith and they were ready to receive the
crown of glory when Christ returns. Their living example and dying testimony were a constant
witness for the truth; and, God declared them as conquerors.
In the biblical story of Esther, we learn how she trusted in God and put her faith in Him,
even though she knew she could perish. She knew that she must put her faith in God in order to
keep her people and their faith from being destroyed. God was with Esther and He gave her the
strength to face the king. She went before the king even though she knew it might end her life. It
is this kind of faith that has been placed in the hearts of millions, even when face-to-face with
death.
Galatians 4:30-31 says, “Get rid of the slave woman and her son.” Sarah’s words in
Genesis 21:10 were used by Paul as the scriptural basis for teaching the Galatians to put the
Judaizers (false teachers) out the church. Hagar and her son are slaves and therefore they will not
share in the inheritance with true sons. Those born of the flesh (Galatians. 4v.29), gentiles and
Jews (Abraham’s physical ancestors) will share in the inheritance God had preserved for His true
children, born after the Spirit.
Today, Christians should reject legalism and those who teach it. Social messages,
prosperity gospel and all those who advocate them should be rejected by the true preachers of the
true gospel of grace and salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ alone plus nothing.
Judaism and legalists,’ nominal religious people, the Roman Catholic folks, the Seventh Day
Adventist’s (SDA) and ATR believers all teach and believe in Salvation by faith in Christ plus
works.
One striking example is the Rev. Peter Chemaswet of Mt. Elgon Region in Kenya. In his
preaching, he mixes ATR beliefs and the Bible. He applies most of the OT passages to his subtribe, the Kalenjins of north and south rift regions of Kenya. He is one of those preachers who is
though their persecutors forced them to. Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna was burned on the stake when he was forced to
deny his lord and he said “eighty and four years have I served and believed in HIM and He has done me no wrong,
never will I” And he was martyred.
Kirwa
102
a staunch believer that Kalenjins are the Israelites. Kalenjin’s are not Israelites as claimed by
some of my tribes men including Chemaswet .97 Chemaswet preaches social and prosperity
messages (pleasing his tribesmen as well as big men around).
I have never heard him teach or preach on the nature of man and his relationship with a
Holy God. That man is a sinner and has no fellowship with a Holy God. Does he understand the
doctrine of sin and salvation? He leaves people under sin’s bondage. God does not look on the
physical descent (natural birth) but on spiritual affinity. The true sons of Abraham are those who
are born of the Spirit of God.
There is also another learned minister I know, who does not honor the scriptural text
when on pulpit or an open air preaching. He quotes out of the context and applies the text to his
tribesmen. He also believes that Kalenjins are the descendants of the revered patriarch Abraham.
Kalenjins, specially the sub-tribe (the Nandi’s) are militant in nature and the application of OT
messages of God (Yahweh) commanding the Israelites’ to fight other nations to them, they can
wreck havoc to their neighbors, the other tribes.
Another example is the Rev. Jackson Kosgei who with his powerful voice, like thunder,
can mobilize men to war. One noted example is his application of David killing Goliath. Protect
your land boundaries, your rights, your communities lest anyone slap you on the face, says,
Kosgei, in his native language. His messages does not appeal to the native’s sinful nature, that
they need a savior who would redeem them from sins bondage. I urge the two ministers to return
to the sanity of biblical orthodoxy (truth) and to understand the background of the book, its
context, before applying to our present context.
Conclusion
Summary of the whole of Paul’s argument is found in verse 31b: “we are not of the children of
the bond woman or slave woman” Paul again reminds the Galatians of their true identity that
they are not the children of the slave woman but of the free woman. As believers we are not
97
Anybody who is not a Jew is a gentile. The bible differentiates Jews and Gentiles. Thus Chemaswet and his
tribesmen are not Jews/Israelites but they are Gentiles.
Kirwa
103
enslaved to the law, we are children of promise living by faith in what Christ had done to us. If
the Galatians could understand that they are in Christ it will help them cast out “the bond woman
and her son” (false teachers and their teachings) and return to the true gospel.
We are also today called to cast out and to counter the great damage that the so called
“prosperity” or “health and wealth” gospel is doing in Kenya, Africa and around the world. They
make promises of worldly prosperity to our people leading them far away from the lord Jesus
Christ and the genuine gospel that is found in the Holy Scripture. Galatians 5:1 also summarize
the Gospel. “It was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore keep standing firm and do not be
subject again to a yoke of slavery” (NASB).
Paul’s tone here is that he emphasizes believers position; freedom from the yoke of the
law. It is the burden of rigorous demands of the law as the means of gaining God’s favor
(acceptance). This freedom (another word liberty) is not a license for sin but leads to a mature
responsibility and holiness before God through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We shall
deal on this theme in the last two chapters of the epistle.
Lesson Six Questions
1. What is this yoke of slavery?
2. What is man’s condition before Christ’s coming and after?
3. What inferior conditions did our people live in before the gospel?
4. Explain the meaning of the phrase “when time had fully come.”
5. State two reasons for Christ being born of a woman and under the law.
6. How is the church today under pressure to sidetrack from the truth?
7. Why, did the church in Galatia turned against Paul and considered him an enemy? Do
we tell the truth and have genuine friendships in our churches today? Discuss in 3
sentences.
8. Explain the motives of the Judaizers.
9. Contrast Paul and the Legalizers
10. What is the distinction between Ishmael and Isaac
Kirwa
104
Lesson Seven: Standing Fast in the Liberty of the Gospel: Galatians 5
1.
A Return to Judaism, A denial of Christian Liberty (Vs 1-15)
2.
Practical Results of the Doctrine of Faith (Vs 16-26)
Freedom or liberty in Christ. Verse one of chapter 5 is the key verse of the book of Galatians.
Paul, having laid the foundations in chapters 3 and 4, builds his case for Christian liberty in
chapter 5. Christians are saved by faith not by keeping the law (Galatians 5:1-12). The yoke of
slavery clearly has reference to the children of the bondwoman of Galatians 4:31 and the
freedom we enjoy in Christ is the result of our parentage. Believers are sons of the free woman.
This yoke of slavery is circumcision and all that circumcision represents in the context of the
Galatian controversy; namely obedience to the law as a means of securing one’s salvation.
Those who place their hope in keeping the law in this case (observance of circumcision
and the entire Mosaic legislation) for salvation are truly under a yoke of bondage. This is a return
to Judaism that is really is a denial of Christian Liberty. But those who have been justified by
faith in Christ are not subject to the bondage of the law; they always seek faith, love, Christ and
the Spirit. The works of the flesh do not have power over them; they are not enslaved to sin but
manifest the works of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives.
1. A Return to Judaism a Denial of Christian Liberty (Galatians 5:1-12)
In verses 2-6, the apostle sets the record straight; if indeed righteousness is based on keeping the
law (circumcision, or baptism, obedience to ATR beliefs, cultural norms and anything else apart
from the work of Christ) then Christ is no benefit at all (vs. 2). If we add anything else to the
work of Christ as we do today in our churches, then Christ’s work is unnecessary. Here the
apostle highlights his defense of the gospel from the superiority of faith to human merit and
those who are seeking to be saved by obedience of their cultural norms, the man-made rules, and
the regulations of their ancestors (a return to African Traditional Beliefs (ATR) by some of our
elders in our churches today), Paul says have been cut off from Christ and fallen from grace.
McNeill writes that the beauty of the Christian religion is that Christ is all in all and is sufficient
Kirwa
105
Savior. He goes on to warn that if we add our circumcision, or baptism, obedience to social or
cultural norms, obedience to God’s law, or anything else the work of Christ, then His work is
unnecessary since the critical, deciding factor in our salvation is not His work but our work.
Hence, His atonement (Christ’s death on the cross, His saving significance to provide
satisfaction for man’s sin)98 is no benefit to us (Galatians 2:21).99
If we adopt the method of circumcision and other traditional beliefs, or one’s personal
merit of his own, we must then comply or rather under obligation to keep the whole law (v.3).
Paul’s statement in v.4 does not imply that a person loses salvation; he simply means that we
cannot have salvation both ways. Either we look to Christ for grace or we trust in our personal
performance for salvation. “To be “severed” from Christ means that Christ has become of no
effect,”100 or you will derive no advantage from Christ,101 since His death on the cross would be
rendered useless to the one who seeks to be saved by his or her own merit.
Paul uses the same word in Romans 7:2 indicating a woman being released from the law
(marriage contract) of her death husband or the Christian being released from the law (Romans
7:4-6) for the reason that a Christian would produce the fruit of holiness. The whole context of
Romans chapter 7 is about the inability of the law as far as sin is concerned. The law has no
power to produce practical righteousness in believers’ life. The believer who has died to the law
and has been joined to Christ is already released from the laws’ jurisdiction as a widow is
released from any obligations to her former marriage. The result of this death to the law and
union with Christ is a new marriage102 is that a believer can now serve in newness of the Spirit
and not in the oldness of the letter – Romans 7:6. We can apply this to Galatians 3:4; to place
oneself under the jurisdiction of the law for justification is to severe one’s relationship to the law
for the purpose of joining yourself to Christ; leading to righteousness is by faith through the Holy
Spirits power in our Christian lives vv. 5-6. Paul’s questions and imprecations to the Galatians:
98
Words in brackets mine
99
McNeill 86.
Calvin J, Galatians. Kindle 151.
101
Brown Galatians.1:11 Print.
102
Zugg’s Pauline Theology,courses.mints.edu
100
Kirwa
106
You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did
not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I
have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view, but the one who is
disturbing you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. But I brethren, if I still preach
circumcision why am I still persecuted. Then the stumbling block of the cross has been
abolished. Wouldn’t those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves
(Galatians 5:7-12).
The above passage is yet another interruption of the apostle’s thought. This time round,
rather than making a personal appeal to the faithful at Galatia, he simply asks two questions
followed by an imprecation; Who hindered you and why am I still persecuted? The believers or
Christians were running well (a metaphor or imagery) taken from the Greek athletics games (1
Corinthians 9:24). They were running well and obeying the truth, who was it that hindered them?
At this time, Paul seems to already know those causing the trouble in the church. The false
teachers had desired to add circumcision to Christianity instead of trusting Christ alone for
salvation. The Galatian faithful had a good beginning; however, something had terribly gone
wrong. They were actively engaged in running strongly (that is obeying the truth) but the false
teachers set up an obstacle or break up the truth by introducing circumcision to faith. In our
churches today we witness a group of folks who have changed their convictions. They were
running well, obeying the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27), but have turned to their traditions;
pushing them to the doctrine of salvation by works.
In verse 8, Paul traces, the origin of these false teaching. The persecution to abandon the
truth of the gospel did not come from Christ but from the leaven of the Judaizers (vs. 9). As
`Paul warns a little yeast can leaven the whole lump of bread or dough. It does not take many
false teachers to trouble a whole church; sometimes one is enough. An examination of prosperity
gospel preachers is just enough to believe that idolatry is a major expression of religion today.
Pastors in big cities in Kenya, the eastern African regions and Africa at large are perverting the
gospel in the name of either “kupokea sadaka” or “kupanda mbegu” (receiving offerings or
Kirwa
107
planting seeds).”103 Their god is their stomach, thinking of the things of the world instead of the
things of God (Philippians 3:19).
Today’s idols, which have persuaded church members to abandon the truth, range from
money, cars, food, worship of self or serving one’s interests rather than God’s, sex power,
pleasure and prestige. As a matter of fact there is nothing wrong with money, cars and food, and
yet if we value them more than God, we are in the wrong. These things force us to ask, what is
your attitude toward money, riches and material possessions? These are human temporal
necessities to help us in this world as we wait the second coming of Christ. We are sojourners,
(visitors, and strangers) men and women of destiny, our citizenship is in heaven where we wait
our lord to come and take us there forever (I Peter 2: 11-12 and Philippians 3: 19-20).
In the European nations, the Americas and other developed countries the trend has gained
momentum that Christian men and women have placed God in the periphery, that is, in the list of
their priorities God is last. They have changed the biblical worldview into a whole spectrum of
modernism where God is shut out completely in the following order:
1. Money
2. Car
3. Food.
4. House
5. Wife/Husband
In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul warned the church in Corinth against idolatry. Idolatry as well
as immorality caused the death of 23,000 Israelites (vv. 6-11) Instead of looking to God as
the creator and sustainer of life; they see themselves as the centre of the universe. They have
invented “gods” that are projections of their own selfish ideas. They are then inclined to
believe lies that reinforce their own selfish personal beliefs.
Ally Jamah, “Perverting the Gospel in the Name of either Receiving or Planting Seeds”, The standard news
paper 26 Jan. 2015. E6. Print. The Kenyan clerics are a dangerous lot. They can say anything; preach anything to get
their stomachs full. They preach commercial, social messages.
103
Kirwa
108
From Vs 9, Paul is confident that, the true gospel he ministered to the church would in
the end prevail. By the work of the Holy Spirit they will embrace no other teaching than Paul’s.
The lesson here is that, we need to encourage our brothers and sisters from persistent error, but
the false teacher himself shall bear his own judgment. Without reasonable doubt, this is God’s
Judgment, He judge them at Christ’s return.104 Even today, false prophets, prosperity, social
preachers shall be judged by God in the Day of Judgment; they will bear the far heavier burden
of the wrath of God.
If Paul still advocate circumcision there is no reason for some to keep persecuting him
because the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished (the offence of the cross ceased)
Boice says; “But why would Paul link his refusal to approve circumcision for gentiles to the
offense of the cross? Obviously, for same reason that he opposed circumcision or any other work
of the flesh generally?”105
All these things: feasts, circumcision, ceremonies, legal observances, or anything
symbolizing external religion today are of man and are part of a system that seeks to attain
standing before God through merit. In opposition to this, the cross proclaims man’s complete
ruin in sin, to the degree that nothing he does or can do can save him, and thus also proclaims
man’s radical need for God’s grace.
The meaning of Paul’s statement in vs. 12 is this; I wish the false teachers would not stop
at circumcision, but would go all the way and mutilate (castrate) themselves. In the Greek
Translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint) the word emasculation or castration is used.
This has the connotation of disbarring one from the congregation of the Lord (Deuteronomy
23:1). Paul would wish that the false teachers (Judaizers) in Galatia would not just stop at
circumcision, but would be emasculated, thus cut off from the assembly of the Lord He wished
that they would cease from the land. We too can cut off from the church those who are twisting
the truth, thus relieving the church of their presence.
God’s judgment’ God Himself would condemn the false teachers: That is they would be under God’s curse or
wrath (Gal. 1:8-9).
105
Boice, J. M., Expositors Bible Commentary (EBC): Gal. Vol. 10 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. Co., 1976) 491.
Print.
104
Kirwa
109
6. Paul Defends the Gospel from the fact of the Superiority of the Holy Spirit’s
Sanctifying Work in Believers (Galatians 5:13-6:10)
McNeill calls this part of the book of Galatians the most exciting part of the epistle.
106
The
preceding section is the doctrinal part of Galatians but this has practical application to the
believers’ life. It has many exhortations to Holy Living.
We begin with a discussion of the meaning of freedom or liberty; the work of the Holy
Spirit is to change believers’ behavior. This is in contrast with the inability of the law to change
anybody. Christian liberty is freedom from sin not liberty to sin. Paul reiterated it in his epistle to
(Romans 6:1-7:6). Jeremiah 17:9 makes the same point in. “Human heart is just more than the
seat of emotion. It represents the basis of character, including the mind and the will”107 (Jeremiah
4:19; Proverbs 4:23; 16:23).
The second meaning of Christian liberty is freedom to serve i.e. loving your neighbor as
yourself. Note that, it says “through love we should serve one another.” The whole law is
fulfilled in love to one’s neighbor (vs. 14). Laws against, murder, fornication, adultery,
dishonoring parents, stealing, giving false witness, and coveting are all completed in the
command. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
In Romans 13:8-10, the perfect completed action is that the law has received the full
measure of what it requires. Murray in his comments on Romans says, “It is the law that love
fulfills” 108 Unfortunately many ungodly things can be done in the name of love. Christian should
be cautious of such acts, such as self-love when a woman terminates (aborts) her unborn child.
This is not love which fulfills the law of God.” 109
106
McNeill 90.
Zugg 21. Erasmus –freedom of the will- we are not totally depraved, Luther, Bondage of the will, Human nature
is dead in trespasses and sins, needs to repent.”
108
Murray, J, Romans, Rev. Ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker books, 2000) 161.Print.
109
Murray. 161
I also like to encourage students to read The Dangers of Self Love by Bownback, People practice relativism,
individualism in the name of loving yourself brought forth by secular psychologies but scripture teach to love God
first and then the neighbor, thus sequence: God, others and myself last.
107
Kirwa
110
Again in the name of love, men and women engage in sexual intercourse outside of the
bond of marriage, but this is not love since the law of God forbids fornication and adultery. On
the other hand, the law in the Old Covenant, which demanded perfect obedience, must be done
away with in order to be saved by grace (Galatians 2:9). The moral requirements of the same law
are consistently preserved by New Testament (NT) writers as commandments to be obeyed by
those who are not “under the law” but “under grace” (The New Testament). We can therefore
conclude these vv. 13 and 14 that true liberty does not mean license; that is freedom means love
not license. It does not welcome the works of the flesh but the fruit of the spirit. If produces unity
not strife.
God’s will for the Christian community is to love one another. But in verse 15 Paul
describes the opposite of serving one another in love. Here church members in Galatia and our
churches today are pictured in the very act of rushing at each other like wild animals. A series of
cruel acts, violence, discord and contention are the order of the day in our churches. Evils of
biting and devouring already exist in our churches. Members have obeyed the dictates of their
old self and if they persist, they will in the end be consumed by one another.
One notable example is the church of the Africa Inland Church in Kenya (AIC). As the
author writes there are two factions, one led by Rev. Yego and the other led by Rev. Mbuvi.
With each yielding to the wishes of it’s leader, just as the members of Galatian church yielded to
the wishes of the Judaizers. It is obvious today that one is turning liberal; it abuses the doctrine
of grace as implying a license to sin. At least to some extent the one which turned liberal exerted
pressure, on the one which tried to remain Spiritual, to accept its wishes, desires and doctrine,
instead of adopting the more excellent way of love to solve the disputes? How high is your love
quotient? Love is the operative word as we see in five parallel passages in Paul and James
(Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:6; Galatians 5:15; 1Corinthians 7:19; James 2:8-10). “We don’t go
measuring our love quotient by how well we think we love others. We measure it by how much
others feel loved by us.”110
The Spirit of God is at work in opposing the works of the flesh. Being led by the Spirit,
the Christian is walking by the spirit and in this walk he or she cannot carry out the desires and
110
Long, J . W. Jr. 4-5.
Kirwa
111
works of the flesh. McNeill writes, “Being under grace then is the same as being led by the
Spirit”, a condition by which the believer is “Putting to death the deeds, works, desires of the
body.”111
And he or she does so by, or by means of, the Spirit (Romans 8:13). The Spirit therefore
is superior to the observance of the law that did not accomplish sanctification because it was
weak through the flesh (Romans 8:3).
“Walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh” is the remedy to
such biting, devouring and destroying one another. Paul here says that we should not permit the
flesh (sinful nature) to control us or to rule in us instead we should live by the Spirit or rather
yield ourselves to the direction of the Holy Spirit of God. In his other passages Paul uses the
expression “walk” in order to urge believers to live the Christian life (Ephesians 5:2, 8, 15;
Colossians 2:6; 4:5; 1Thessalonians 4:1 and 1 Corinthians 3:3). It is consistent walk in the Holy
Spirit indicating the present imperative, which could be, translated “go on walking in the Spirit.”
a) The Spirit and the flesh verse 17 (See also 1Corinthians 6:11). As Christians living in
the New Covenant in the 21st Century, we are sanctified and called to be saints.
Sanctification underlines the aspect of our Christian life which calls our attention as
distinctive people of God. As God’s chosen people there is a cosmic battle within (the
great controversy between the flesh and the Spirit; the sinful human nature, (old man)
and the dictates of the Holy Spirit; the New Man). In this verse, Paul is showing the
sufficiency of the spirit in restraining the desires of the flesh. We can therefore
illustrate vv. 16-17 in the diagram below:
111
McNeill 64.
Kirwa
112
THE COSMIC BATTLE
Galatians 5:16-17
SPIRIT OF TRUTH
SPIRIT OF FALSEHOOD
THE REALITY (TRUTH)
















UNITY
DIVERSITY
BRESPONSIBILITY
ROLES
AUTHORITY
GENEROSITY
LOVING
HUMILITY
TRUTHFULNESS
OBEDIENCE
MERCIFUL
PEACE
POLITE
SELF CONTROL
Compassion/pity
CHEERFUL
PURITY
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
VS
THE REALITY OR (A LIE) DECEPTION
DIVISIONS
UNIFICATION
BLAME
JEALOUSY
REBELLION
GREEDY
HATRED
PROUD
HYPOCRISY
DISOBEDIENCE
UNMERCIFUL
TURMOIL
ARROGANT
SELFISH AMBITION
VENGEANCE
GLUTTON
IMPURITY
In Summary we can say that Paul describes the conflict between two forces battling in one
person – the nature of the old man fighting against the new regenerate nature of the (new man).
A great battle is waged between the two and yet Christ is dominant. Sin is still active and yet it
has no power to overcome the new person. Below is Paul’s theology on the battle between the
two forces in one person in Romans 7
Kirwa
113
Excursus: The Discourse of Romans 7
Paul describes at length the conflict between two forces in one person the unregenerate person
and the Regenerate (new man) person. Christ dwells in believer’s life and yet sin also dwells in
him (Rom. 7 Verse 17, 20 and/but God in Christ has given us [power to overcome the flesh
(sinful nature). We are grateful to the prospect of our future deliverance from this frustration, in
Rom 8:23, the apostle says, “We groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the
redemption of our body.” The whole creation i.e. both the animal and the plant kingdoms,
including us humans made in the image and likeness of our creator God are waiting the son of
God to be revealed to set us free once and for all forever. In Philippians 3:20, he (Paul) says, we
are citizens of heaven eagerly waiting our lord and savior from there, who will change our lowly
bodies to be like His glorious body in the power of His Spirit and who also will make all things
subject to Him
“But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law.” This verse does not follow
what Paul’s says in verses 16-17 but follows what he said in verses 13-14 and as well as other
previous chapters. It is a summary in which the apostle reminds the Galatians that, though he is
now talking of the need to live a godly life (a Spirit led life); he is not thereby reverting to
legalism (living under law or faith plus law). Life by the Spirit is neither legalism nor license –
nor a middle way between them. It is a life of faith and love (pursue of Christian freedom) in
contrast to the life of do’s and don’ts.
Note also Paul’s consolatory declaration in his letter to the Romans 6:14. Boice in the
expositors bible commentary clearly says: “You are not under the law.” Being led by the Spirit
as described in vs.16, 18 and vs. 25 and “walk” (RSV) does not imply passivity but rather the
need to allow oneself to be led (total surrender) and in the process He (the Spirit) emancipates
(makes us free) us from the yoke of the law.”112
112
Boice 495.
Kirwa
114
The Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21): Paul highlights the
conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. The works/deeds of the flesh find their source in the
desire of the flesh found in Galatians 5:16.
a) Beginning with sexual sins, the apostle enumerates the negative characteristics of the
flesh, Immorality, impurity (Ephesians 5:13), and sensuality (Romans 13:13)
b) Followed by idolatry and sorcery or Religious sins. Idolatry refers to illicit worship or
valuing/loving anything more highly than God. Anything that takes the place of God
in one’s life is an idol. Greed also amounts to idolatry (Colossians 3:5) and Matthew
6:24. Today it is easy to find professing Christian serving God and riches or
mammon.
As an illustration, we reference the latest trend of bull fighting in Western Kenya. It is a
major source of entertainment. Priscah Malala of the shepherd magazine May 2014 says, “As
bull fighting becomes a major source of entertainment sport in parts of western Kenya,
evangelicals in the region warn that most activities involved are ungodly and that the whole
game amounts to idol worship.”
Bull fighting is a form of idol worship and is being practiced by the Isukha and Idakho
communities. It is a raised alter and the people worship it. The evangelical pastors tried in vain to
discourage the bull fighting culture. For instance, bishop Buluma of the International Faith
church (IFC) echoed, “When people esteemed the bulls so much that they can do anything for
them and even sing sacred songs to them, then this is pure idol worship. People are indeed not
genuinely aware that the sport is demonic,” he added.113 The same sentiments are shared by his
counterpart, Pastor Galomba: “This practice is a challenge to opening evangelical churches here
because this is something the people literally worship.”114
Before the fighting, the bulls are taken to shrines or a graveyard where rituals are
performed so that bulls are infected with fighting spirit for them to win. When measured with
Malala, P., “Idolatry in Western Kenya: A Threat to Christianity,” The Shepherd Magazine B, 14 May 2014. 1.
Print.
114
Malala, P., “Idolatry in Western Kenya: A Threat to Christianity,” The Shepherd Magazine B, 14 May 2014. 1.
Print.
113
Kirwa
115
biblical truth, this is not right. What mostly bother spiritual churches in this region are things
associated with this practice directly or indirectly. I concur with the two gospel ministers, that
bull fighting abets immorality, polygamy, drunkenness and other vices that hinder people from
worshipping the true God of the bible.
Sorcery is the secret tampering with the power of evil that may include witchcraft, orgies
or voodo: - it is prevalent and most practiced in many African countries. In East Africa, it is
practiced in Western Kenya by the Luiya folks, and are designated as night runners – also some
of the parts of the lower and upper Eastern Regions of Kenya: In Tanzania, it is found in North
and Central parts of the Country. It is also being practiced by the Sukuma, the Nyamwezi, the
Chagga and the Wasanagki tribes’ men. The Kalenjins had beliefs that the journey is bad when
they encounter a snake crossing the road. They will right away postpone the trip with a mindset
that a bad omen or spirit is ahead of them. Mark you these are African Christians who have not
allowed their Christian profession to eliminate their loyalties to African Traditional Religious
practices.
Paul’s list continues to the social sins and these include enmity, strife, and jealousy,
outburst of anger, disputes, dissensions and envy. All the above gross vices are the “natural
results’ of human nature which threatens the love and the unity of the body of Christ the church
then and now. Many of these social sins are taught by those who emphasized aspects of the
Mosaic Laws which are now are done away as they have been fulfilled in Christ. If a person or
churches practices such things, he/she proves that he/she is not being led by the Spirit and is not
walking by the Spirit. Issues over Sabbath keeping remain today just as there was dissension and
strife over the observance of the Sabbath day in Galatia there is, even today in our communities.
Members of the Seventh Day Adventists (SDA) are in their mission to lure others to keep the
Sabbath. The Jewish Sabbath was the shadow of things to come. 115
In keeping the Sabbath no one is justified, but justification was brought by the advent of
Christ Jesus, the bringer of eternal life. Christ Himself urges everyone, every tongue, nation and
tribe to come unto Him. Thus the N.T. teaches “But now that Christ and salvation in Him had
115
The law and its regulations foreshadowed salvation in Christ. Why cling to the shadow when the reality had come
and that is Christ.
Kirwa
116
arrived” What further use could such shadows serve? If we try to impose the law to the NT
church and to believers today, then we are denying the all-sufficiency and pre-eminence of
Christ (Colossians 1:15-20).
Drunkenness and Carousing (vv. 21) (see also Romans 13:13): Paul is probably referring
to the drunken orgies encouraged at festivals of the pagan gods in Galatia and at Asia at large.
Modern equivalent are wild parties and drug abuse of various other kinds. FM, Vernacular Radio
Stations in Kenya hold similar parties which are not in line with the truth of the gospel. They
normally refer to those wild parties as Mlembe night, KAS Night, Inooro Night, Musyi,
Kesegese Nights, Ramogi night to mention but a few. It is not a surprise that those in attendance
are professing Christians. Advocates of these night parties are purely promoting immorality,
fornication, and alcoholism. In 1 Corinthians 6:10, the Bible clearly states that drunkards will not
inherit the kingdom of God. So to the immoral, fornicators, idolaters, hero worship/celebrities
and other various vices as mentioned by Paul in 1Corinthians 6:9-10 and that the list is not
exhaustive as is indicated by the Apostle’s words “and the like” or “and things like these.”
“East African countries, especially Kenya and Uganda are designated as Christian
nations. According to Operation World (Operation Mobilization)”116 Kenya is estimated to be
80% Christian while their Ugandan counter parts are estimated to be 88.65% and yet they are the
most corrupt countries in the world. Corruption does not simply exist at the top of the
government hierarchy, rather it penetrates to every level and corner of our society; from the
smallest of the house help and the grounds man to the college principal and University
presidents, from the watchman (Securicor) to the police officer, to the most top guy up the
ladder, from the top government officer to the public service servants.
Many cannot be trusted in their business services because of shoddy deals in the business
world, prices of commodities have doubled. Parents have been known to bribe their children.
How can such atrocities happen in a “Christian Nation?” Abortion is the order of the day in
United States of America (USA) which is estimated to be 85% Christian. In the name of
unwanted pregnancy, selfish men and women, boy and girl, friends, wives and husbands are
116
Johnston, P, at al. Operation World, Operation Mobilization (OM) 21st Century, Ed. (CA: Paternoster Lifestyle
Pub., 2001. 380.
Kirwa
117
ready to terminate the fetus (the unborn baby) at will. When measured with Biblical standard,
this practice is wrong and very evil. Jesus in His public ministry said:
Not everyone who says to me Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven but he who does the
will of my father. Many will say to me on that day Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in
your name and in your name cast demons and perform miracles?” and I will openly
declare to them, “I never knew you depart from me you evil doers (Matthew 7:22-23).
With a pastors loving heart the apostle issued a warning that those who continue to
indulge in their former evil habits will not enter the promised inheritance (see Galatians 3:18),
the kingdom of God, the new heaven and earth with all their glory.117 The discourse about
kingdom of God is dominant in the synoptic Gospels especially Mathew. The kingdom of God is
the dwelling place of God where believers will spend eternity with Him forever. Hendrickson
writes, “Here, too, Paul has a message for every age, including the present, that those who
practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”118 Cole summaries Paul’s point:
Paul’s whole point is that those who do such things thereby show themselves to be
without transforming gift of faith which leads to the gift of the promised spirit which in
turn leads to the fruit (Harvest) of the spirit the seal of our inheritance. To all these things
the Christian has died already therefore he/she shows the reality of the faith that justifies”
and the reality of ‘new life in Christ’ that is within by a clear break with all these ‘works
of darkness’ (Sexual sins, religious sins, social sins) though they may have practiced in
the past.119
If our lives are dominated by sin, we are not Christians and we will not inherit eternal life. When
we receive the Spirit through faith that is the guarantee that our lives will not be dominated by
sin, for sin cannot be our master, for we are not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14)
and how shall we who have died to sin live in it again? We cannot live any longer in sin.
117
For additional information see Cole The kingdom of God, 218-9.print.
Hendrickson W., New Testament Commentary on Galatians (Grand Rapids: Baker Book Publishers, 1968) 222.
Print.
119
Cole 218.
118
Kirwa
118
The fruit (harvest) of the Holy Spirit Galatians 5:22-23: Paul continues the contrast
between the works of the flesh and the works of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit find their source
from the “desire of the Spirit.” Here Paul speaks of the “Fruit” of the Spirit using the singular
form in contrast to the “works of verse 19 of which the flesh is capable. The fruit of the Spirit
clearly suggests a natural product of the Spirit rather than of man. This product of the Spirit is
made possible by the living relationship between the believer and God (cf. Galatians 2:20, John
15:1-17).
Jesus is the vine and His followers are the branches. The singular form “the fruit” of
these endowments or virtues or qualities stresses that these are here considered as a unit. Paul
had driven the point home, when he appealed to the total inward moral change brought about by
the gospel’s freedom in combination of the fruit of the spirit which brings change in character in
the Christian’s life. It is only, by means of the spirit that the flesh can be conquered. “It is the
good that expels the evil and it should be noted that by no means does this representation cancel
human responsibility.”120
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit: Paul writes in verse 22 and 23, “But the fruit of the Holy
Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (longsuffering), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
(meekness), self-control, against such things there is no law.”121 Other translations of the Bible
say, “The harvest that the Spirit brings is love, joy, tranquility, forbearance, kindness, generosity,
reliability, humility and self-control.
a) The nine virtues can be divided into three groups: Each group comprises of 3 fruit of the
Spirit
b) Category I
120
1) Love
Basic believers
2) Joy
spiritual qualities (Christian’s habits of mind.
3) Peace
Their primary direction is God-ward).
James 1:22. Human responsibility; believers have a moral obligation to be doers of the word even if the operation
of the Holy Spirit is active in their lives.
121
Italics for emphasis
Kirwa
119
Love heads the list of the Spirit’s fruit. This is the agape love meaning the love of God.
God Himself is love and this love, sent Jesus Christ to die for sinful men (Romans 5:8; 1 John
4:8). Because God is love, Paul says in 1Corinthians 13:13 that love is the greatest of all. Now,
that the Spirit of Christ lives in believers’ life at conversion, the believer is to show love both to
other Christians and to the world. It is by love that the world will know that Christians are indeed
Christ’s disciples when they love one another. (John 13:35) It is astonishing to find Christians
not greeting one another in church after the service.
The author has personally witnessed many who don’t shake their hands outside the
church sanctuary. It is common to find someone running away, saying I hate him or I don’t like
so and so. In your ministry have you witnessed such people? What was your reaction? As their
pastor have you tried to reconcile them? Nelson Mandela, the first Black President in South
Africa, forgave his apartheid (the Former government policy in South Africa of separating
people of different races and making them live apart) oppressors. After 27 years behind bars, he
knew that the secret is love and forgiveness. In his address to the Nation (1990) before assuming
office he said, “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his
background, or his religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate they can be
taught to love for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite”122 He really
changed the course of his country’s history. His extraordinary compassion and shrewd
understanding of his enemies sustained him throughout and beyond his 27 years in detention, and
his determined pursuit of racial reconciliation were exemplary; must be emulated by many today
especially the household of faith. Honestly, I don’t know whether Mandela had come to a
professing faith in Christ before his death in 2013.
Peace is the third in this category which is equivalent of the Hebrew word shalom. It is
God’s gift to man, received by man at the cross of Christ. In Christ, a Christian has peace with
God (Romans 5:1) and peace of mind (Philippians 4:6-7) together with all those who know God.
It is the peace that brought down the dividing walk between Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:1417). This peace should be seen in homes within the church and the relationships of believers with
all men (1 Corinthians 7:12-16; Ephesians 4:3, Colossians 3:15 and Hebrews 12:14) and that
Christians are admonished to strive for it, twenty four, seven (24-7) and (1 Peter 3:11).
122
Nelson Mandela “A long Walk to Freedom” (South Africa: NP, 1990) n. page
Kirwa
120
Joy is the second in this category or set in joy – a virtue in the Christian life and
corresponds to happiness in the secular world. Humanly speaking the two seems related. But
happiness depends on circumstances, whereas joy does not. The Christian joy is quite
independent of outward circumstance because its source is the Holy Spirit (see 1 Thessalonians
1:6 and Romans 14:17). It should be borne in mind that when love is present, joy cannot be far
behind as we already mentioned that love is the law’s fulfillment.
In Romans 8:28, Paul says, “All things work together for good for those that love God.”
This shows that like Paul who rejoice even amid the most distressing circumstances, (II
Corinthians 6:10, 12:9, Philippians 1:12; 4:11; II Timothy 4:6-8 and Acts 27:35), believers too
can rejoice amid the present hardship, disappointments, difficulties, persecutions. Worldly things
cannot satisfy human deepest needs of the soul but the joy of the spirit can, because it is always
full of God’s glory (I Peter 1:8).
Category II
1. Patience /Long suffering
-This set concerns Christians in their
2. Kindness/mildness
relationship to others and are normally
3. Goodness/Generosity
called social virtues
Patience or longsuffering is first of the Spirit’s fruit mentioned in this group or category
is patience and sometimes referred to as long suffering. It is the quality of putting up with others
even when one is severely tried. It is interesting to note that Paul placed this fruit perhaps
because in Galatia neither party displayed much of this virtue. This virtue is not fully a human
but also a divine attribute, being ascribed to God Himself (Romans 2:4; 9:22) and to Christ II
Timothy 1:16 as well as to man II Corinthians 6:6, Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:12-13, and II
Timothy 4:2, 8; Hebrews 6:12). In Joel 2:13 it is used of God’s character as a long-suffering
God. “Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate (merciful) slow to
anger abounding in loving kindness (steadfast love) and relenting of evil.
The church greatly needs this virtue today because of outburst of anger, strife and
divisions on the part of its members. To those believers who are annoyed, opposed, ridiculed,
Kirwa
121
being talked ill of, exercise patience at all costs. Some members in churches go to the extent of
fielding to the outburst of anger because of luck of patience or endurance.
We are therefore admonished to be like Christ who while being revived (another word for
curse). He did not revile in return; while suffering he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting
himself to Him (God) who judges righteously (1 Peter 2:21-23). Our Lord Jesus Christ has left
an example for us to follow in His footsteps (Isaiah 53:7).
Kindness is the second virtue and quality of endowment in this category. It is the divine
kindness out of which God acts towards humans. It is a virtue in the OT when the Psalmist David
meant when he many times declared that “God is Good” (Psalms 25:8; 92:1; 100:5; 119:68;
125:4; 135:3; 136:1) In the gospels we find Christ’s numerous kindness shown to sinners. To
mention but a few, see Mark 10:13-16; Luke 7:11-17; 36-50; 8:40-56; 13:10-17; 18:15-17; 23:34
and John 8:1-11 as well as 19:25-27.
As believers today we need to show kindness by behaving toward others as God had
behaved toward us. King David showed kindness to Mephibosheth when He led Him to the
royal palace, and restores all that belonged to King Saul to Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of
Saul. In other kingdoms of that day, Mephibosheth would have been killed. David instead sought
him out, restored his land and welcomed him as a permanent guest at the royal table; a
considerable honor (2 Samuel 9:1-13). Jonathan was David’s friend; a friendship that costs the
throne (I Samuel 19:4-5; 20:32). He spoke well of David. He never led his personal ambition
distort his perception of David’s true theocratic spirit. Theirs was a life full of grace and grit.
Goodness or generosity is the fruit which completes this group. Generosity in its original
meaning and as the connotation of the spirit – created endowment, spiritual per excellence, could
refer especially to the spirit of giving generously to those in need. Once the heart has made a
decision to generously give put it in action. This is generosity of heart and action and it is related
with kindness above. “Though it is related to kindness, it differs from it in being a more active
term and being often directed toward that which does not merit the action. The primary idea
seems to be generosity that springs from kindness.”123
123
Boice 510
Kirwa
122
Category III
-Basically man ward rather than God ward in
Faithfulness or loyalty
their aspect, and are mostly relevant to the state
Gentleness or meekness, Humility
of Church strives, Disputes or wrangles.
Self-Control or Chastity or Temperance
-They are qualities of restraint and humility
and victory
The root meaning of the fruit of faithfulness is faith. It means loyalty or fidelity,
trustworthy or reliability. Paul all along in the epistle was complaining of lack of loyalty toward
himself but more so to God and His word and the true Gospel. Galatian believers were supposed
to be faithful to God and His will. This however, does not exclude but includes loyalty toward
men. Faithfulness is the word also used to describe faithful servants (Luke 16:10-12) as well as
the ministers of the Gospel (1Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:2). It is also used to describe those who
die for their faith in Christ (Revelation 2:10; 3:14). Here in Paul’s list, when this virtue is
lacking, people will be suspicious to each other, will believe nothing nor yield to anybody.
Christians are people whom others can rely on. What kind of life would this be if one person
could not believe another person?
Paul describes a person who is in control of himself. A person is gentle and meek when
he is not quick to get angry. It would seem probably right when we interpret this fruit as being
gentle or meek toward one another and toward all men. This virtue is the very apposite of
violence, and outburst of anger, Christians are to emulate Christ. He was meek, gentle and
humble in His dealings to humans (Matthew 11:29; II Corinthians 10:1). Many things occur in
daily life to provoke a person’s anger but the Christian gets over his anger by being gentle.
Moses is applauded for being the gentlest or meekest among his contemporaries (Numbers. 12 v.
3). With this virtue, the Christian can apply it to various human conduct and character such as
strife, faults and for countering opposition (2 Timothy 2:25).
Kirwa
123
“This virtue is neither God ward nor man ward but more probably self-ward - a relation
of self to self”.124 It is closely related to chastity and temperance. The fruit is usually employed
to describe self-control in matters related to sex. It really is an opposing virtue to vices such as
immorality, impunity, adultery, fornication, drunkenness; quarrels mentioned earlier (vs.19).
When Christ is in the Christian’s live, i.e. when Christ directs believers life he has the power to
keep himself in check against fleshly desires and enables him to fully compel every thought to
surrender itself in obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). “At my counseling practice, many at
times I have personally heard Christians’ say the devil lead me to sin, and yet they really did not
exercise the gift of self-control in their lives. It really is unfortunate, because God gave us power
over sin while we still await the adoption (deliverance) of our bodies.”125 (Philippians 3: 20) Our
citizenship is in heaven, longing for Christ’s return that will change our lowly bodies to be like
His glorious body, a time of our complete salvation.
Paul had just completed a list of virtues (fruit of the Holy Spirit) which are things not
people. Against such things such virtues, there is no law. There is a law of course, but it does not
apply to those who bear these fruits of the Holy Spirit. The law is not given to the righteous man
and women. A true Christian conducts himself or herself in such a way that he or she does not
need any law to warn or to restrain him or her. He or she obeys the law without compulsion. The
law does not concern him or her. As far as he or she is concerned there would not have to be any
law. Encourage every believer to manifest these qualities, in order that by so doing, the vices
may be destroyed.
Those who belong to Christ are true Christians who indeed have crucified the flesh
(Galatians 3:29). In Romans 6:6 and the proceeding verses, Paul says that our old self was
crucified in Him (Christ). This means that the old self was crucified not by us but through the
crucifixion of Christ. As much as we say God did it for us in Christ, we have a responsibility as
Christians to do the same. The verb used here as aorist passive indicative which means that the
act of crucifixion in definitive, once and all an action which the subjects (those who belong to
124
Cole. 89. Print.
Salvation/deliverance is past (sin has no power over us), present and future (deliverance from the presence of
sin). Salvation Complete. There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the spirit of life
has set us free from the power of sin and death (Romans 8:1 ff.).
125
Kirwa
124
Christ) carry out. Through believers union with Christ, the old man in the flesh undergoes
crucifixion.
The believer is not passive but active because we exercise our faith in the crucified
Christ. By our faith in Christ we voluntarily and actively entered into this union with Him a
union in which our old man was crucified.
In Colossians 3:8-10, we again see the dynamics between the passive crucifixion of the
believer in Christ and his active involvement in the crucifixion. But now you also, put them all
aside; anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one
another since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the New self who
is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the one who crated him,”
(NASB).
The above vices are the same as “such things” of Galatians 5:21; the deeds of the flesh
which must be laid aside by the believer like an old cloth which cannot be worn anymore, but
must be thrown away. Also in Romans 8:13b believers are instructed to put to death the deeds of
body; sinful pattern of the old self, old man, works or deeds of the flesh which once enslaved us
(1 Corinthians 6:11). “And such were some of you; but you were washed…. Sanctified and
justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”
If we live.... let us also walk by the Spirit. (5: 25) The two phrases “by the spirit” “by the
spirit” in the center of this verse receives the strongest emphasis. Every believer in every age
living a consistent Christian life does intact live by the spirit, and this fact presents the obligation
to walk by the spirit. This naturally leads to the exhortation (command) to walk by the Spirit in
opposition to the flesh. The two words living and walking employed, is brought out with full
force as Hendriksen insists: “If the source of our life is the Spirit, the Spirit must be allowed to
direct our steps, so that we make progress, advancing step by step toward the goal of perfect
consecration to the Lord.”126
126
Hendricksen 226.
Kirwa
125
Therefore, this walking and living by the spirit is the only way to deal with the flesh
along with its passions and desires. Since the Spirit has made believers alive we are also to walk
by the spirit. The Spirit leads we are to follow; that is to get in line with Him or keep in step
because we follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham by believing as he believed
(Romans 4:12) and to obey the truth of the gospel (Galatians 6:6).
Here Paul returns to the theme of Galatians 5:15. There were those in Galatia who had a
“know it all” attitude or think they have – envying one another, biting and devouring one
another. Paul exhorted them against the Spirit of pride, competition and envy. They were
challenging one another and no one portrayed the spirit of humility toward another.
They were always showing the opposite of the spirit they claim to live or walk by. If we
are living and walking by the power of the Holy Spirit, boasting is surely eliminated. The theme
of this verse is of course a practical example of not walking by the spirit. The results are very
obvious, boasting, challenging and envying one another. Note the column below:
Flesh
Spirit
Vices in the absence of Holy Spirit
Virtues in the presence of Holy Spirit
-
Evil
-
Good
-
Boasting/bragging
-
Humility
-
Challenging/Provoking
-
Cooperation
-
Envying
-
Loving
-
Biting/Gossip
-
Leniency
-
Oppression and possession
-
Liberating and nurturing
-
Devouring
-
Strengthening
-
Destruction
-
Production
Conclusion of lesson 7
A church in which the spirit of gossip, pride, competition and envy reigns is in the verge of
collapse. We have seen Christians who envy the possessions of others and wish that they would
Kirwa
126
be equally theirs. Some are proud of their property or wealth to the extent that they can overlook
others. One elder I was high schooling with was blessed with material possessions (cars, tractors,
business and rental houses). One day he had a quarrel with one of his friends, and in his pride
told the friend, “I will crash you with a car and pay you,” which means that he will terminate
another’s life and boast that he will just pay to make it better? How much does man’s soul cost?
Some church members despise and provoke one another, just because they are jealous or
envious of what this person has. On the contrary Paul in 1 Corinthians 13 (the great chapter of
love) said “Love (the fruit of the spirit) is not jealous, love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not seek its own, is not provoked …but rejoices with the truth”. Rejoicing with the truth
means that love rejoices in the gifts, talents and possessions of other believers who have the
ability to use these things to build up the church; the body of Christ. Writing to Ephesians church
Paul, says, “When he ascended He led captives in His train and filled all things, gave some to be
apostles, some prophets, evangelists, pastors/shepherds and teachers for the work of ministry and
to build up the body” (4:9-13).
Having defended both his authority as an apostle in Galatians 1:11 - 2:21 and the doctrine
of justification by faith alone (chapters 3 and 4), Paul turn to defend the life of Christian
freedom. The apostle describes the Christian’s life as a life apart from the law by giving as 5
things on the insufficiency of the law:
(a) Turning to law ruins grace (Galatians 5:1-2).
(b) Turning to law makes a man a debtor (Galatians5:3), a person is obligated to obey the
whole law. The law is a unit, and if you put yourself under any part of it for
justification, you are a “debtor” (KJV) to the entire code with its requirements and its
curse (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10)
(c) Turning to law is to fall away from grace (Galatians 5:4-6.)
(d) Turning to law hinders the progress of believers (Galatians 5:7-10)
(e) Turning to law removes the offence of the cross (Galatians 5:11-12)
Kirwa
127
Conclusion of Galatians 1-5
Paul in Galatians 1and 2 defends his credentials as an apostle of Jesus Christ, sent and appointed
by God and not man. In his salutations he defended his authority as apostle while chapters 3 and
4 he defends the doctrine of justification by faith alone in the crucified Christ that we are
justified not on the works of the law but by faith alone in what Christ had done for us as
believers. In addition to the above, Paul goes on to describe the believer’s life as a life of
freedom apart from license (Galatians 5:13-15), a life according to the spirit (Galatians 5:16-26),
and concluded that it is a life of service to others in need (Galatians 6:1-10) (see lesson 8 below
on this theme)
Lesson Seven Questions
1. State the key verse of the book of Galatians.
2. Those who have been justified by faith in Christ are not subject to the bondage of the law,
but they always seek ____, ____,____, and the_____.
3. What should happen to those who are seeking to be saved by obedience to their cultural
norms or a return to their ATR beliefs?
4. In your opinion what is the leaven of the Judaizers?
5. Give two meanings of Christian’s liberty?
6. How do we as Christians measure our LQ?
7. What is the cosmic battle within the believer’s life?
8. The works of the flesh are grouped into 3 categories. Name them.
9. Group the fruit of the Holy Spirit into 3 categories and state whether they are Godward/
man-ward or social.
10. In Romans chap. six, what does Paul mean when he said our old self was crucified in
Christ?
Kirwa
128
Lesson Eight: Christian Burdens and the Duty of Sympathy (Galatians 6)
1. Bearing One Another’s Burdens (Vs 1-5)
2. Duty of Sympathy and Liberality (Vs 6-10)
3. Paul’s Concluding Remarks (Vs 11-18)
This is the last chapter of the epistle of Paul to Galatians. The book concludes with the
practical examples of walking by the Spirit. Rather than provoking (challenging) one another in
order to gain advantage over others, believers have an obligation of bearing each other’s burdens.
We are instructed to help one another, to reveal the real character and spiritual maturity of our
Christian life. An old Roman Catholic Hymn says has a powerful message for us even today to
emulate. “We are happy to share, happy to share, one another’s burdens and that is why we are
here under the sun’ turn around and greet you neighbor that is why we are here, turn around and
kiss your neighbor, that is why we are here.” Paul enumerates four areas of bearing each other’s’
burdens (vv. 1-10).
a) Toward a brother who had sinned
b) Toward a brother who had burdened
c) Towards bearing the financial burdens of the pastor-teacher (preachers and teachers
of the word)
d) Towards all men (vs. 10)
From vv.11-15, Paul takes the pen to write his final personal greetings. This is to validate
that the letter is genuine because it bears his signature. He also repeats the seriousness of the
situation. False teachers attempting to force circumcision upon Galatians were not doing so out
of pure motives. They do it for their own reasons (vs.12), fear of persecution and they want to
boast in the Galatians flesh (vs.13) and having masses behind them; huge following. Paul had no
desires to boast in his converts except on the cross of Christ (vs.14). He had no time to place
confidence in the flesh, what he only needs is to know Christ and the power of resurrection and
to fellowship in Christ’s suffering (Philippians 3:7-10).
Kirwa
129
(a) In verses 16-18, Paul gives a benediction (blessing) followed by a final warning and a
final benediction (vs. 18).
(b) The church is reminded that she had received sufficient salvation through the cross.
Paul had been troubled by the Judaizers (false teachers) and therefore had to warn the
church once more.
1. Bearing one another’s Burdens
In Galatians’ 6:1, 2 Paul says “Brethren, even if a man is caught in sin or any trespass, you who
are spiritual should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to yourself, lest
you too be tempted.” Paul presents a clear course of action on the erring brother. He shows what
to do, who should do it and finally how it should be done.
What should be done? Restore the person. Christians are to restore the person who has
fallen into sin. Brown said, “The verb “caught” (overtaken or by surprise) implies that the
brother is not habitual sinner (living in sin) but one who slips into sin.”127 Thus it is the church’s
business to restore (put in order) such a person. Today, it is sad to say that many brethren
withdraw from them and fall into gossip, pushing the fallen brother further to total ruin. We must
not brush him off but restore him to righteousness. The situation in this verse is different from
the situation in 1 Corinthians 5. A brother had been approached severally to shun his living in
incest with his stepmother. Paul had ordered the church to excommunicate such a person
following Matthew 18: 15-20 and the man in Corinth must be expelled from the church. But if a
brother repented his sin and had a proof of changed life, he does not require expulsion. That is
Paul’s spirit in 2 Thessalonians 3:15 where he says “admonish him as a brother.”
Who should do the restoration? Paul says that those who are spiritual must do the work of
restoration. The word “spiritual” is pneumaticos (one who is genuinely led by the Holy Spirit)
have the maturity to deal with the sins of others. It can also be interpreted- you who are
spiritually minded. It was an appeal to Galatians then and our appeal today as well. At its value
Paul uses the word as meaning simply “you who are walking by the rule of the spirit” certainly
fitting with the previous lesson.
127
Brown, Commentary on Galatians. Kindle. 140. Print.
Kirwa
130
How it should be done. The restoration of the Christian who has fallen or lapsed, whether
by Judaizing or any other way should be done gently. As we follow the Spirit, we should do it in
the Spirit of gentleness or meekness. This is the same word used in the list of the fruits of the
Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22. No matter how spiritual we are, Paul says we should be on the alert
lest we are also tempted and fall. Christians are not immune to temptations, and chances of
falling are high. In 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, Paul cites the same words that, “He who thinks that
he is standing should all the more take heed to himself lest he falls.”
For over 20 years in the ministry, the author has over and over again seen Christians
(pastors, elders included) who are self-righteous and arrogant in dealing with the fallen brother.
They gossip about the brother or the sister and ignore the matter altogether. They are rude and
boastful; they do not follow the positive course as stipulated by Christ in Matthew 18:15-20. In
the process, the trespasser is hurt, becoming more harmed, leading to a more serious backsliding
on the part of the brother. If the brother goes to hell, who will be blamed?
Bearing of burdens is in connection with Vs. 1. The word bear is from the Greek word
(Bastazo) and it means ‘to shoulder’. It was used of Christ bearing His cross towards Golgotha
(John 19:17). Boice showed how the apostle used the word. “Paul used this word four times in
Galatians.”128
(a) The Judaizers (false teachers) who are to bear their judgment (Gal 5:10).
(b) Each Christian is to bear his own load (Gal 5:6).
(c) Paul speaks of bearing the marks of Christ on his body (Gal 6:17).
(d) In this verse the reference is to help another Christian sharing his load whenever
temptations oppress him or life depresses him.
By so doing, Paul says, “we fulfill the law of Christ.” Christ loved us and died for us, He
bore our burden of sin on the cross. Christians are admonished to jointly shoulder each member’s
burdens, proving our love for the brethren and so fulfilling the law of Christ to love one another
as Christ loved us. God himself demonstrated it, while we were sinners, Christ died for the
128
Boice 501.
Kirwa
131
ungodly (Romans 5:8). In John 1 John 3, John says, “Children of God, love one another, not like
Cain who slain his brother, because his deeds were evil and his brother’s were righteous (vv. 1116). The world would know that we are Christ’s disciples if we have love for one another. It will
be a testimony to the unbelieving world (John 13:35). McNeill’s notes:
Although it obviously may apply to other burdens the burden of sin is the burden in view
in the text. By doing so (it) we fulfill the law of Christ who bore our burden of sin on the
cross. He went on to say “By bearing our sin Christ broke the dominion of sin in our lives
and by bearing one another’s burdens of sin we help break patterns of sin in their lives. In
this way we also imitate Christ in his sympathy with sinners. “for we do not have a high
priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in
every way like us and yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Christ never sinned, but He knew
all about the power of temptation and sympathizes with the weaknesses of his
creatures.129
Boice says, “There are two errors that might keep the Christians from fulfilling this role”
vv. 3-4.”130 The first is conceit (self-deception) that is, thinking of him to be more important than
he is. The implication is that if the believer neglects to bear another’s burdens or refuses to bear
them, it is because he thinks himself above. But this is to be self-deceived, for measured by
God’s standards, no one amounts to anything, “For anyone thinks he is something, when he is
nothing, he deceives himself” (vs. 3).
This does not mean that we are completely unfit to perform the work of the kingdom of
God. Elsewhere Paul says, “I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me
(Philippians 4:13). It must be born in mind that Paul is attacking the Spirit of over confidence in
oneself that even caused Peter to deny his Lord (Matthew 26:33; Mark 14:29; Luke 22:33; John
13:37). Much earlier, the same thinking had brought down Goliath (1 Samuel. 17), Benhadad of
Edom in 1 Kings 20:1ff. and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in Daniel 4:30 (see also
Revelation 3:17 and 18:7).
129
130
McNeill 4.
Boise 502.
Kirwa
132
The second error that might keep the believer from bearing the burdens of another
Christian is to be always comparing himself and his own work with others. This can be harmful
both in a positive sense, “I am doing better than they are” the very conceit Paul had just warned
against, and in a negative sense “I am unable to do anything; everyone is much better” vs. 4. To
counter both these forms of error, Paul suggests that each believer has a task from the Lord and
is responsible only to the Lord for doing it. We are not to look down upon the rest of the
members but we should examine ourselves and in the end we would boast in the Lord (2
Corinthians 10:17), the result, God Himself will receive the glory.
The duty of the Christian is to carry his own load. The false teachers in Galatians would
carry their own load; the Galatians themselves would likewise carry theirs. There is no transfer
of responsibility. Each man will be judged according to his own deeds, his ways as well
(Jeremiah 17:10; 32:19; Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6). Remember works and
deeds do not save any one. That truth has been emphasized over and over again in this epistle.
“But rewards”131 will be measured in harmony with each man’s work. The conferment of these
rewards (crowns) is an eschatological event as shown in the words of Paul to Timothy, “Now
there is in store for me,” a crown of righteousness-the crown which is the reward of the righteous
Christian (2 Timothy 4:8).
2. Duty of Sympathy and Liberality (Galatians.6:6-10)
The third practical example of Spirituality is the bearing the financial burdens of pastors and
teachers who preach and teach the word of God. Some commentators such as Boise cite that Paul
is giving the Christian wisdom in the use of money wisely. He says, “There are three uses of
money. The support of a teacher in a Christian congregation (vs. 6); the use of money to build up
the life of the spirit rather than feed the flesh (vv. 8-9) and the spending of money to help others,
particularly Christians (vv.10)” 132
On the subject of rewards and crowns 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 is the classic passage dealing with God’s judgment
of every individual believer on the basis of the lasting quality of the work. A reward is promised to the Christian
who successfully meets the test- the emblem of Spiritual success. Other passages include James 1:12; 1thess 2:1920; 2 Tim 4:8.
132
Boice, 503
131
Kirwa
133
The three principles are tied up together in the proverb: reaping is in proportion to sowing
(v.7). It is probable that during Paul’s day, the teachers and ministers of the word at the time
were neglected. How disgraceful it is to defraud them of their material support? Pastors and
teachers are people whom Christians receive heavenly benefits. Thus, Paul exhorted the
Galatians to perform this part of their duty. It is the church’s duty today, no exemptions. 1
Corinthians 9 teaches us on Paul’s authority and rights as an apostle. Those who preach the
Gospel must live by the Gospel, or don’t you know that you don’t muzzle the ox when thrashing
the grain? He gave up his personal rights, for example marriage, payment etc. for the sake of
propagation of the Gospel, vv.4-10.
This concept of voluntary giving to provide for the Lord’s servants is echoed by Christ
Himself; “Workers or laborers are worthy of their wages” (Luke 10:7). Though he gave
up his rights, Paul urged the church to be sure to pay their Christian workers. Today,
churches have neglected this divine duty; the responsibility to care for their pastors and
teachers and other spiritual leaders. It’s the churches duty to see that those who serve in
the ministry are fairly and adequately compensated. In his commentary on Pastoral
Epistles, McNeill expounded at length how Christians should conduct themselves
properly towards elders in the church. He put forward several practical and important
principals.133
(a) Elders must be supported and appreciated because they labor in the ministry and
teaching and preaching.
(b) They rule well, that is, make important church decisions (McNeill on Pastoral
Epistles 1 Timothy pp. 41-43). He further showed how churches in Africa don’t
provide material support for their pastor in Africa and how western partnership has
really put pressure and temptation to the African pastor.
The admonition is very clear that as a teacher shares the good things of the word of God,
a believer is to reciprocate by sharing all good things with his instructor. For the scripture says,
133
McNeill, 41-3
Kirwa
134
“You shall not muzzle the ox while threshing and the laborer is worthy of his wages”
(1Corinthians 9:9; 1Timothy 5:18).
Why believers do not financially support their pastors today? There is nothing
embarrassing today than a pastor who works so hard in the gospel ministry to receive his dues.
The Bible teaches that everything we have is for God (James 1:17-18), so when believers refuse
to return to Him a part of what He has given, we rob Him (Malachi 3:8). There is nothing God
loves more for us to do than give. This will be manifested in:
(a) Believer’s behavior toward God and ministry has to do with his personality. There are
three dimensions of human personality.
(b) The mind (the thinking part of the man).
(c) The heart (the decision making part of the man).
(d) The will (the doing part of the human being).
Why do believers not give? Often believers fear losing what they had worked so hard to
get. Fear is triggered by things that are unreal in the human mind a false evil appearing real;
hence the acronym [FEAR]. As believers we should not depend on emotions and feelings, we
instead should live by faith in God who provides in abundance (2 Corinthians 5:7; 9:8; Ephesians
4:19; 2 Peter 1:3). Love is from the heart and should always be genuine. When a Christian loves
God genuinely, he or she will not fear to give to Him.
A classic Old Testament text is Exodus 35:20-29, which indicates that when one’s heart
or spirit is stirred (moved) he can give to God willingly. Everyone gave as the heart stirred,
moved or convicted (vs. 2) (Nehemiah 4:6). Everyone gave as his spirit (the will) moved him
(vs. 21). Then all whose hearts moved them (both men & women) brought their brooches,
earrings, signet rings, and bracelets, all articles of gold, so did every man who presented an
offering of gold to the Lord vs. 22.
Another classic New Testament teaching is 2 Corinthians 8: Surrender Thyself (one’s
whole being, mind, heart, intellect, will, body, spirit) to God, 2 Corinthians 8:5. Let God’s grace
overflow in your life i.e. excel in His grace, 2 Cor.8:7. Prepare your conscience, 2 Cor. 8:12.
Kirwa
135
Resolve in your will and make up your mind, For God loves a cheerful giver 2 Corinthians
9:7.How to give to God?
a) Giving is a matter of willingness not wealth; it is an attitude not amount.
b) Give from the heart; true giving is sharing.
c) Give generously; every act of generosity builds faith.
d) Give simply and humbly just as God gave us his son.
e) Give gladly and you will receive (Luke 6:38-39). Giving is God’s antidote (medicine
or remedy) to materialism. Jesus Christ said, “there is more happiness in giving than
in receiving (Acts 20:35).
God is speaking and calling to Christians today more than ever before to to do His work.
Like the first century church, He is urging us in the 21st century to keep our priorities straight,
remain in active service to him and continue to put first things first. Maisha ya Mkristo ni
kumtumikia Mungu kwa hali na mali.” is a Swahili phrase meaning that a believers life is a life
of service to God in body soul and wealth and possessions. Ni maisha ya kutoa mwili wako,
wakati wako na mali yako kwa yeye (Mungu) is another Swahili phrase meaning; it’s a life of
giving your body, time and possessions to Him.
How we use money or material possessions to build up the life of the Spirit, rather than to
feed the flesh. Verses 7-8 elaborate on the previous exhortation of verse 6, that it is the
responsibility of each believer to shoulder the financial support of the pastor in the church. First
it says, “Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked.” This is a solemn warning and to alluniversal in scope. No one can snub (Greek- Mykterizetai), literally “turn up the nose” at God
whose rule, a man reaps what he sows, is immutable (never changing, unchangeable). Each
sower decides what his harvest will be. If a person sows to please his sinful nature, that is, if he
spends his money to indulge the flesh, he will reap a harvest that will fade into oblivion (the
condition of being entirely forgotten).
We should never mock God. Example of one who turn up the nose at God, via internet
was forwarded to me by a friend through the e-mail. In the process of mocking the almighty
Kirwa
136
God, creator of everything (including them [creatures]) they were in the process of sowing seeds
of destruction, completely forgotten in this life and in the life to come. The message reads:
“Make a personal reflection about this. Very interesting, read until the end…” it is found in the
bible (Galatians 6:7); “be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall also reap.” 134 Here are some men and women who mocked God.
John Lennon: Some years before, during his interview with an American magazine, he
said: “Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain.
Jesus was Ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him” (1966).
Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.
Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil): During the presidential campaign, he said if he got
500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from presidency. He got the
votes, but he got sick a day before being made president and died.
Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During a show in Cane Cao (Rio
de Janeiro), whilst smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: “God,
that’s for you.” He died at the age of 32 of AIDs in a horrible manner.
The man who built the Titanic: After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him
how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: “Not even God can sink it.” The
result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic.
Marilyn Monroe: She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He
said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the preacher had to say,
she said: “I don’t’ need your Jesus.” A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.
Bon Scott: The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: “Don’t stop
me, I’m going down all the way, down the highway to hell.” On the 19th of February 1980, Bon
Scott was found dead; he had been choked by his own vomit.
134
Men and Women who Mocked God: Fwd. to me by a friend, 10 July 2014, E-mail.
Kirwa
137
Campinas/sp in 2005: In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a
friend. The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her
friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car; “My
daughter, go with God and may He protect you.” She responded, “Only if He (God) travels in the
boot135 cause inside here it’s already full.” Hours later, news came by that they had been
involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died and the car could not be recognized what type of
car it had been, but surprisingly, the boot was intact. To their surprise, inside the boot was a crate
of eggs, none were broken….
Baringo County- Kenya in 2013: Some women mocked (despised) prayer in BaringoKenya. In the month of May 2013, in Baringo county-Kenya, at a church meeting, a woman
refused prayers and speed off with her car which she had packed near the meeting venue. She
was told by the day’s MC (master of ceremony) to hold on for a minute or so for the closing
prayers. She responded what prayer can do to me or what does prayers help me. In the car were
three of her children. She was then involved in a tragic road accident in less than two kilometers
from the venue. She died instantly while her children were spared.
Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given
so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died but only Jesus died and rose again, and
he is still alive today.
If the Christian uses his funds to support the Lord’s work or sows to please the Spirit,
and promotes their own spiritual growth, he will reap a harvest that will last forever. It is true
that the statement can be applied to immoral behavior of any kind, but the context in which it is
given is clear that Paul goes on to argue that those who fail to do so by spending too much of
their material resources on themselves are in essence sowing to the flesh and that from the flesh
they will reap corruption. As previously observed, the metaphor of sowing and reaping is often
used by the apostle in reference to giving (1 Corinthians 9:11, 2 Corinthians 9:6). Believers
should be obedient and committed to giving appropriate portions of their incomes to their pastors
and teachers of the word.
135
In Kenya the boot of a car means the trunk
Kirwa
138
Pastors in the church in East African region are so despised and neglected by their
congregations. They toil for hours and hours in the ministry only to get a meager wage, which
cannot afford to support himself and his family. If the church could understand that the pastor’s
work is the greatest task on earth, they would support him fully and gather for his financial
needs. I have known pastors who have gone without a salary for almost a year because of lack of
commitment on the part of the church. For example the AIC (a district church council,
comprising of more than 20 local churches) called me to minister during a funds drive for their
pastor’s arrears. They raised Kshs.40000 which was not even enough to cater for one pastor’s
arrears. There were eight pastors needing up to Kshs.800000 to clear their arrears before they
begun getting salaries for the succeeding months. It was quite embarrassing. These are believers
who own material possessions ranging from cows, sheep, corn, wheat, and businesses, workers
in government institutions including teachers, police officers, constructors, carpenters and mason
men.
In examining the reality of salvation for such professing Christians, leaders of churches
can be blind. Church leadership should examine whether these people are in faith or not and if
they are, do they worship the true God of the bible? As a matter of fact statistics do not lie;
pastors go without pay here in Africa, for the whole year and they go through agonizing times to
make ends meet to gather for his food, education for the kids, clothing and healthy and at times
not getting good shelter. Perhaps the most spiritually gifted church in Paul’s day was in Corinth
but they were so fleshly and self-centered, a typical case of our churches today- century 21st.
They are fleshly, self-centered, mean, Christians who despise their pastors by not caring for their
needs. Like their Corinthian counter parts that Paul gave them this advice; “Examine yourselves
to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5-6), such professing
believers should then examine themselves to see if they are in Christ. To me, they are acting like
unbelievers, which have in word and deed failed the test, and they will someday reap the
corruption which they have sown.
The example of Nehemiah is helpful: - He reinstated the Levites to their spiritual temple
service. The Bible says that, when Nehemiah discovered that the Levites including the singers
had not been given their dues and that all had returned to work in their farms, he immediately
Kirwa
139
convened the meeting. He confronted the leaders and demanded that the Levites should go back
to their proper duties. The people of Judah with immediate effect began bringing their tithes of
grain, new wine and olive oil to the temple storerooms (Nehemiah13:10-12).
As stated earlier, it is not a surprise today to find pastors are no longer supported and had
returned to work in their farms, others open up business premises, neglecting their church duties
and spiritual welfare of their members. A pastor friend of our family ended up opening a shop at
Namgoi, Kapsabet town of North Rift of Kenya. He also sold charcoal and roasted corn (maize)
to passengers and some pedestrians. During my college days, a pastor by the name Simon
Nyoros whom we used to invite to minister in our youth conferences was hired by a Bus
company to ferry passengers from Eldoret town to Nairobi for a fee. Fortunately he had a
driver’s license. Spiritual workers (pastors, teachers of the word) deserve their pay and their
support ought to be enough to care for their needs. They shouldn’t have to suffer or leave
because believers don’t adequately assess and meet their needs.
3. Doing Good to all Men Particularly to Christians (Galatians 6:9-10)
In our human nature, we are often prone to grow weary in doing good. God will not forget our
kindness to others because He will reward us in due time (His own appointed time, either in this
time or the life to come). Another version says “due season” (NIV) or appropriate time (NLT).
We are not to be discouraged and give up or lose heart; we must keep on doing good/well
especially with spiritual sowing and to trust God for the results. In due time, we will reap a
harvest of blessing as we come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves.
A retired police officer in my village (Nandi County) came to Christ recently (August
2014) after I ministered to him for almost 20 years. God is not obligated to reward us with
immediate results but at His own proper time, Galatians 4:4 calls it, “at the fullness of time or
rather when time had fully come.” As the saying goes, “God‘s timing is the best time.”
McNeill narrated a story about a friend of George Mueller (a great saint of the 19 th
century) who resisted all Mueller’s efforts at evangelism and prayer. “Mueller would pray daily
for this friend to come to Christ but he died without ever seeing this happen. But his lost friend
Kirwa
140
was converted through the preaching of the gospel on the day of Mueller’s funeral. Mueller
never lost heart in doing good to his friend by sharing the gospel, and finally he reaped the
harvest in due season.”136
Christians have a measure of responsibility to all people to do good, while they have the
opportunity in this life. When the occasion arise let us do good to all men without growing weary
especially to our fellow believers (the household of faith). When the passage says “toward all
men” Paul had in mind the 5,000, both saved and unsaved who participated in Jesus feeding
program, (Matthew 14:13-21). Therefore as believers we are not restricted except that our fellow
Christians are to have the priority for our mercy. As in the home, family needs are met first; then
those of the neighbors. Critically analyzed, this passage then speaks clearly about Christian
social responsibility, but it should be noted that it is addressed to individual believers. The
church is not an agency of social work (though the Catholic Church practices it) but individual
Christians are charged to minister in this way as they are able and have opportunity (cf. Romans
12:17-21).
Mother Teresa is classic example for us today to emulate. From as young as 12 years she
knew that she had to be a missionary to spread the love of Christ through charitable activities. At
age 18 she left her parental home and proceeded to Calcutta India after a few months of training
in Dublin-Macedonia, and from her convent school she devoted herself to working among the
poorest of the poor in the slums. In the 1950’s she received permission from the Holy See to start
her own order, “The missionaries of charity” whose primary task was to love and care for those
persons nobody was prepared to look after (doing good to those nobody thought of).
From 1965 onwards the society of missionaries became an international religious family
and spread to all parts of the world, providing effective help to the poorest of the poor in a
number of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Today they undertake relief work (doing
good) in the wake of natural catastrophes and calamities such as floods, epidemics and famine,
and for refugees. Well done to mother Theresa and the missionaries of charity.
136
McNeill 107
Kirwa
141
In high school where the author ministered as the chaplain upon his return from further
studies in the USA, he organized to visit an elderly man with the students in the community in
2007. The students raised 600 Kenya shillings then we bought a big nice and warm blanket. I had
a new set of clothes (a shirt and trouser). I came with from the U.S. We donated these things to
the old man, after we had sung gospel songs, prayed and shared the gospel of Christ. The man’s
name is Mr. Arap (son of) Chilei. The old man asks about me, still talks about that to this very
day. As I write he is still alive and very old, may be at his nineties and praying for an opportunity
that I may as the Lord tarries visit and do good to him again.
4. Postscript (Paul’s Concluding Remarks Galatians 6:11-18)
Paul had probably dictated the letter to a scribe (secretary). Apparently this was Paul’s normal
practice to which he often followed in his other epistles. For example in Romans 16:22, he
identified the secretary’s name as Tertius; sending his greetings to the church in Rome. Here in
6:11 he is identifying himself as the writer of the letter. He writes in “Large letters” written with
his own hand. Paul takes the pen from his secretary and in his own hand wrote his final personal
greetings. This is similar to I Corinthians 16:21; Colossians 4: 18; and 2 Thessalonians 3:17 in
which Paul purposely draws attention to his distinguishing mark in every letter.
a) Paul’s reasons writing in large letters
1) To prevent the possibility of someone forging his name
137
To prove that the letter
really is from him (genuine) and those false teachers were not writing letters in Paul’s
name
2) Paul wanted to give a final emphatic thrust to his message and the authenticity of his
message.
3) It also gives the letter a personal touch.
From here, the rest of epistle is a postscript (conclusion) after Paul’s autograph or
signature. Paul is repeating the seriousness of the situation. The false teachers (Judaizers) who
137
Stott, J. Romans, 175. Print.
Kirwa
142
attempted to force circumcision upon Galatians were doing out of bad motives. They do it for
their own selfish reasons.
In summary, the Judaizers; were only men pleasers (cf. Galatians 1:10) seeking to make a
good impression outwardly. They were afraid of persecution of the Jews, the primary persecutors
of believers in the early days of Christianity. Paul knew this too well since he was the fiercest
persecutor of the Christian faith. This is why, he had said earlier, “But if I still preach
circumcision, why am I still persecuted?” (Gal 5:11) Then the stumbling block of the cross has
been abolished. If circumcision in a pre-requisite, a requirement of salvation, the false teachers
and apostles have won their argument that Christ is not sufficient. Paul was teaching and
preaching the truth and thus was persecuted by both Jews and Judaizers.
Have friends or loved ones rejected you because you have taken a stand for Christ?
Definitely the author has been. In John 15:18-19 Jesus said “Do not be surprised if the world
hates you, because it hated him first.” Paul who continually and faithfully proclaimed the
message about Christ is a lesson for us to continue doing the ministry; God has given us in spite
of the obstacles, disappointments and difficulties others may put in our way.
Thirdly, they wanted to boast in the Galatians flesh and having masses behind them and
huge following (the number of Galatians they hoped to win over to circumcisions) as essential to
salvation. Furthermore Paul says, that “those who advocate circumcision do not really keep the
whole law” but ignore the other Jewish laws.
This is happening today. We brag about a chicken thief or someone who steals two
corncobs to quench his hunger and ready to tolerate adultery, fornication in churches and
corruption in most government offices. We have tolerated many African head of states that have
dragged their people and countries into poverty when they stashed billions of taxpayer’s monies
into foreign banks. This is exploitation of Africans by their own presidents.
Paul’s boast (vv.14-16) The Judaizers wanted to boast in winning the Galatians flesh (vs.
13). In verses 14 the contrast is vivid (clear) as Paul declared his boasting to be in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ. The world always entices Christians to follow its course. Daily we are
Kirwa
143
being confronted with subtle cultural pressures and human achievements independent of Christ.
The world systems with all its allurements such as:
a) Daring dress code (waist high slits, miniskirts, bikini tight trouser and Tumbo cut Tshirts. All these, when measured with Biblical truths, are devilish stuff.
b) Freshly displays – greater sexual permissiveness through movies and TV sets,
pornography and sex affair with a brother’s wife.
c) Permissive society (mad crave for pleasure, the age of celebrity, worship and the
worship of human body, the cult of beauty; rapid increase of divorce and the
undermining of the sanctity of the home).
Even professing Christians defile themselves by the above enticements. Paul in first
Timothy 2:9-15 gave Timothy instructions for women. They are to submit to authority
prevalently male authority and male leadership of the church. They are to be descent in their
dressing and not as pagans do in their outward adornment. The directives are relevant for the
church today for modesty and proper adornment for Christian women.
Paul had no desire to boast in anything apart from the cross of Christ. The cross speaks of
the atonement (literally to cover over the sin of man in the sight of God) of Christ with which
Paul was identified (Galatians 2:20) and by which the world was crucified to Paul and he to the
world. The worldly system, it enticements and allurements was seen by Paul as putting
confidence in the flesh. This was the world he knew before he met Christ on Damascus road.
(Acts 9) He wrote to the Philippians: “He was circumcised on the 8th day, of the Nation of
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as to the law a Pharisee; as to the zeal,
a persecutor of the church as to righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (3:5-6).
But this was the world which was now crucified (dead) to Paul and the world to which
Paul was also crucified for he said
Whatever things were gain to me, I have counted a loss for the sake of Christ. More than
that I counted all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ, for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish in order that I may
Kirwa
144
gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the
law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God
on the basis of faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the
fellowship of his suffering, being conformed to his death…” (Philippians 3:7-10).
Water Baptism: Today this easily yields to human boasting because it is at external sign.
Those who teach that baptism is a necessary requirement of justification or a proof sign of true
conversion are always proud to announce that during their public ministry hundreds of people
were baptized. Hundreds of baptisms, they believe give them reason for boasting. One notable
church, which teaches baptism as sign of true conversion, is the Peace and Mercy Church of East
Africa (PMCEA). McNeill writes, “This boasting in a peculiar temptation of missionaries to
write home to their supporters that dozens, perhaps hundreds of folks (people) have come to
Christ and been baptized under their ministry. “This kind of thing impresses donors who are
more willing to send more money to “successful” missionaries since they are really getting
results. But all of this is boasting in the flesh and Paul would have nothing to do with.”138
The pastor of the already cited church or denomination goes in the river and called
everybody “are you ready to be baptized, come on then” and immerses everybody including the
passersby, and there he is job well done, while the saying goes “into the water a dry sinner and
out of water a wet sinner.”
We must die to the world of achievement in order to lay hold of the righteousness of
Christ by faith alone. We should not boast on anything be it prosperity, theology, good sermons,
baptisms or any external religious practice, worldly achievements, living good life without
inward change or philosophy but the cross of Christ and to lay hold of the righteousness of Christ
by faith no matter the setbacks or problems we face.
As humans, it is easy to get caught up with the externals. Paul says it does not make any
difference whether we have been circumcised or not. “The important thing is not circumcision
nor is it baptism or any external religious practice, but a new creation; a changed heart and a
138
McNeill, 65
Kirwa
145
changed life. In view of the cross of Christ, believers are brand-new people on the inside.”
139
Through the Holy Spirit, they are given new life and they are not the same anymore. In 2
Corinthians 5:17, Paul (who had only one thing to boast in “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”)
said’ when one is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation behold the old has gone and the new has
come.” In our vital union with Christ we are re-created; we begin a new life under a new master.
Therefore no outward religious symbol or lack of it means anything as a way of salvation (cf.
Galatians 5:6), for those in Christ Jesus, the true sphere of salvation, neither circumcision nor the
lack of it, is of any significance).
Being in Christ is to be a new creation. The new creation is brought about by the Holy
Spirit, the agent of regeneration (Titus 3:5) and the giver of the new divine birth (John 3:3, 6-8).
God’s new creative work, begun in each one who believes in Christ, will one day be
consummated (accomplished, fulfilled) on a universal scale (Revelation 21:4-5). The old life of
slavery to self (literally according to flesh) and sin has gone (2 Corinthians 5:16-17; cf. Romans
6:6-14; Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9). The new life of devotion to Christ means that one has
new attitudes and actions (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Romans 6:4; Ephesians 4:23-5:2).
Paul’s Theology: “We can contrast Paul’s theology on new creation (inner man) and his
teachings on the old man (outer man) as repeatedly used in his other epistles. Paul used examples
that show the ongoing nature of the new life (creation)”140
The difference between new creation (the inner man) and the old creation-(the outer man)
New self, righteous
Old self, corrupt, sinful nature
Holiness; Christ/new creation
Desires of the flesh; falsehood, anger,
Truth, new minds, kindness
Bitterness, rage and malice, sexual
Compassionate, forgiveness
Immorality, envy, drunkenness and idolatry
Purity, unity, love, faithfulness
Impunity, discord, selfish ambition
141
Old nature under spiritual darkness
New nature- fruit of the holy
Crabb, L., “Inside out” (Springs, Colorado: Navy P., 1988) 41. Print.
Carson, D.A., at al. New Bible Commentary (NBC): 21st Century Ed., Grand Rapids: IVP, 1995. 1220.Print
141
Carson 1220.
139
140
Kirwa
146
Spirit, changed heart, changed Life.
No change of heart, no changed life
The only thing that matters is to be a part of the new creation. All others (outward religious
symbols, external mosaic legislation (salvation by works); a return to Judaism, a return to ATR
beliefs) amount to nothing. Christians are justified by the finished work of the redeemer (Savior)
and in no manner by forms or ceremonies. And in our new creation we die to the world of human
achievements and boasting.
Peace and Mercy from God are available to those who walk according to this rule, that is,
according to the message of salvation by grace through faith alone. This blessing is pronounced
to both believing Jews and Gentiles and upon “the Israel of God” (NASB). While some (such as
McNeill, Pauline Epistle Galatians 109. Print.) and others believe that “Israel of God” is the
church, the evidence does not support such a conclusion. First, the repetition of the preposition
(“upon” or “to”) indicates two groups are in view. Second, all the 65 other occurrences of the
term “Israel” in the New Testament refer to Jews. It would thus be strange for Paul to use
“Israel” here to mean Gentile Christians. Third, Paul elsewhere referred to two kinds of
Israelites: believing Jews and unbelieving Jews (cf. Romans 9:6). Lest it be thought that Paul is
anti-Semitic, he demonstrated by means of this benediction (blessing) his deep love and concern
for true Israel, that is, Jews who had come to Christ; true descendants of Abraham and have been
delivered from the law. This is a powerful statement and argument against the false teachers
(Judaizers). The true Israel lives by a different principle from that of submission to the Mosaic
Law.
Paul follows the benedictions in vs. 16 by a word of warning. His calling and the message
he preached had been challenged by the false apostles and thus asks for an end to such trouble,
and he offered a final proof to his critics the brand marks of Christ on his body. These “Marks”
(Greek stigmata) refer to the sufferings of Christ; the nail prints on his hands and feet, the scars
on his head from the crown of thorns and the hole in his side from the spear. Paul like his master
had also suffered in the earliest times of his ministry.
Kirwa
147
In his first missionary journey he was stoned to the point of death, but was
supernaturally healed or revived (Acts 14:19-22). Yet in 2 Corinthians 11:23-26 Paul referred to
numerous incidents: afflictions, punishments beatings with rods by Jews (his countrymen) and
Gentiles alike. He was exposed to countless dangers in the city… in the country … at the sea (vs.
25). Even within the churches, such as, at Corinth, he faced the danger of attack instigated by or
at the hands of false brothers. “The persecution he received demonstrates that he really was a
servant of Christ and not just a pleaser of men. The false teachers had no such brand marks as a
proof of their suffering; therefore they should remain silent and quit troubling those who have
suffered.”142
Paul’s benedictory remarks: Paul concludes with another benediction. This final word is
note worthy because the apostle ended as he began, expressing the grace of the Lord Jesus
Christ. In Galatians 1:3 he began “Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord
Jesus Christ”. In Galatians 6:16 he said, “Peace and mercy” be upon them who walk by the spirit
of God, while in this final verse (18) of chapter 6, he said “the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with your spirit brethren (brothers) Amen!
Paul expressed his heartfelt desire to the Galatians believers that the grace of God and of
Jesus Christ would be their abiding portion. However, there is a notable difference; the addition
of the word brethren (brothers) in an emphatic position at the very end. This reveals the apostle’s
intensely pastoral heart; reminding them of his love, as did among all his other epistles. It also
softens the severity of the whole letter and stresses Paul’s confidence that the Galatians are truly
God’s people and so they will respond to the truth as they should (cf. Galatians 3:4, 5:10).
Like the apostle Paul the author also calls upon his tribes men ( the Kipsigis, the Nandi,
the Keiyo and the Marakwets) traversing 5 counties of Kenya- Kericho, Nandi, Uasingishu,
Transnzia and Elkeiyo-Marakwet) to respond to the truth of the gospel and not a return to
traditions of our ancestors (ATR) which measured with biblical truth are idols. We should refuse
totally a mixture of faith and ATR. We should understand that salvation comes through faith
alone in the crucified Christ, and that a return to ATR is a denial of Christian liberty.
142
Walvoord F, at. al. The Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC) (USA: SP Pub., 1983) 611. Print.
Kirwa
148
Conclusion
Every reader of this letter of Galatians must acknowledge the importance of the epistle to
Galatians. This great controversy promulgated (publication of a new law or degree) by the
Judaizers (those who proclaimed a mixture of Judaism and Christianity, stressing obedience to
Mosaic Law) was a threat to the Galatian churches. In quick response, Paul wrote to expose these
false teaching which were undermining the faith of the new converts. Paul called the believers
back to the pure gospel; that is salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ and nothing
else. Let us also do this today, preach and bring back believers to a pure gospel. Let us not add
anything to the bible.
Like the apostle Paul, we need to defend the truth of the gospel in this century (21st). We
should teach the doctrine of justification by faith alone and to build on that foundation a defense
of Christian liberty against any form of legalism; faith plus the law. We should take this epistle
as a Magna Charta of Christian liberty or emancipation by proclaiming to modern generations
that salvation from the penalty and the power of sin comes not by works but by grace through
faith alone in God’s provision-namely the crucified Christ.
Let us preach the true gospel and urge those who want a return to ATR to shun and come
back to the sanity of the gospel. Let us counter the great damage the so called “prosperity” or
“health and wealth” gospel is doing in Africa and around the world. Some preachers present the
gospel at face value by making promises of worldly prosperity to men and women and leading
them far away from the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us no longer preach baby Jesus and the baby cross
with which at the end of the day will lead to syncretism. Let us preach the whole gospel (the
whole counsel of God). Paul in Acts said He never hesitated even one day to preach the whole
purpose of God. The NASB says, Paul did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of
God from house to house (20:27).
May every one of us acknowledge the grace of Christ, the freedom of the Gospel and the
power of the Holy Spirit. The gospel is the church’s most precious gift to cherish, protect, and
pass on. We must never stop checking what we believe and preach and then asking the question:
is it the gospel that God has revealed to us in the Bible? And may all of us attend to the
Kirwa
149
circumstances in which God has placed us, so that our faith will indeed work through Love in the
lives of those around us. This is because, so widespread are these false teaching that many people
may not even realize that they have been influenced by it as their preachers weave it into their
ministry.
Lesson Eight Questions.
1. What are the 4 areas of bearing one another’s burden that Paul enumerated?
2. What did Paul say we do when we bear one another’s burden?
3. State 2 errors that might keep the believer from fulfilling Christ’s love.
4. List 3 uses of money in Boice’s thinking.
5. Summarize the concept of voluntary giving in 2 sentences.
6. Give the meaning of the phrase “do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked” and state
what happens if a person sows to please his sinful nature?
7. Define spiritual sowing and differentiate with social work.
8. The false teachers (Judaizers) had 3 selfish reasons for attempting to force circumcision
to Galatians. Name them. What was Paul’s boast?
9. Contrast the inner man and the outer man in Paul’s thinking. What examples does Paul
use that shows the ongoing nature of the new life?
10. Explain the words “Israel of God.” What is your opinion?
Kirwa
150
Bibliography
Anderson, George. Annals of the English Bible, London: IVP, 1920. Print.
ATR and the Christian Faith: Theological Perspectives in Africa, Achimota: Africa Christian P.,
1993. Print.
Baker, Unpublished Bible Study Notes, Covenant PCA, Web access 2013
Barry M. Advanced Study Commentary: Family Study Bible, Life Way Church Resource. Vol.5
2004. Print.
“Believe in God or Satan, A big hoax”. Daily Nation. Nairobi. 24 Apr. 2014, late ed.: c 3. Print.
Borden J. Soteriology: The doctrine of salvation. MINTS: Miami International Seminary, 2014.
Print.
Boice, J. M. “Galatians.” The Expositors Bible Commentary (EBC) vol. 10. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan Pub. Co., 1976. Print.
Brown, J. Commentary on Galatians. Kindle. Print
Bruce, F.F. The Epistle to the Galatians, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1982. Print.
Bruce, F. F. Paul. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000. Print.
Bruce, S. The Christian Life. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth trust, 1981. Print.
Bryson, Stuart. History of the Nandi Bible. Kijabe/Kapsabet: Africa Inland Mission, 1950. Print.
Calvin, John. Commentary on Galatians, Kindle.
Kirwa
151
Carson D.A. at al. New Bible Commentary (NBC). 4th ed. Downers Grove: IVP, 1995. Print.
Cole R.A. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (TNTC) Galatians. Downers Grove: IVP,
1989. Print.
“Christians are the most Persecuted People around the World.” Standard News Paper, Nairobi.
11 Apr. 2014, late ed.: D 1-2. Print.
Chrysostom, John. Commentary on Paul’s Epistle to Galatians. Kindle. Print
Hendriksen, W. New Testament Commentary on Galatians. Grand Rapids: Baker Book Pub.,
1968. 180. Print.
Holy Bible. English Standard Bible (ESB). Wheaton: Good News Publishers, 2000. Print
Holy Bible, NIV, Study Bible. Rev. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973. Print.
Holy Bible, New American Standard Bible (NASB). La Habra: The Lock man Foundation, 1960.
Print.
Holy Bible, The Reformation Study Bible (RSB): Lake Mary: Ligonier Ministries Pub., 2005.
Print.
Hoyt, Herman A. The End Times: A Hand Book of Bible Doctrine. Chicago: Moody P., 1969.
Print.
“Idolatry in Western Kenya-: A Threat to Christianity.” The Shepherd Magazine. Nairobi.14 -21
May 2014: B 1. Print.
“Invitation of a Traditional Elder to Conduct Prayers.” Standard News Paper. Nairobi. 24 Apr.
2013, late ed.: E 5-6. Print.
Kirwa
152
Johnstone, P. at al. Operation World, Operation Mobilization. Carlisle: Paternoster Lifestyle
Pub. 2001. Print.
Kogo Abraham. Pauline Epistles: Ephesians, MINTS: Miami International Seminary, 2014.
Print.
“Konyi Claims to fight for a Biblical state.” The Ugandan Newspaper. Kampala. 3 Feb. 2015
late ed.: B 12. Print.
Long, J. W. Sonship for Africa. NP: World Harvest Mission, 2000. Print.
Life Application Study Bible: The Living Translation. Wheaton: Tyndale Pub., 1996. Print.
Luther, M. Commentary on Galatians. Kindle.
Mathew Henry Commentary. New York: Zondervan, 1992. Print.
McNeill D. F. Pauline Epistle – Galatians. Kampala: Westminster Theological College, 2012.
Print.
Murray, J, Romans. Rev. Ed. Grand Rapids, MI. Baker books, 2001. Print.
Hegeman, Neal. Christology. MINTS: Miami International Seminary, 2009. Print.
Olowala, C. ATR and the Christian Faith, Achimota, Ghana: Africa Christian P., 1993. Print.
Packer, James, Innell. Knowing God. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 1973. Print
“Perverting the Gospel in the Name of either Receiving or Planting Seeds.” The Standard
Newspaper. Nairobi. 26 Jan. 2015 late ed.: E 6. Print.
Kirwa
153
Stott, John. The Message of Galatians, Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 1968. Print.
“The under Cover Gospel Preachers.” The Pulse Magazine in the Standard News Papers.
Nairobi. 6 Feb. 2015: 2-3. Print.
Walvoord, F, at al. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Dallas TX USA: SP Pub., 1993. Print.
Zugg, J.M. Apologetics. MINTS: Miami International Seminary, 2008. Print.
---. The Book of Acts. MINTS: Miami International Seminary, 2009.Print.
---. Pauline Theology I & II. MINTS: Miami International Seminary, 2008. Print.
---.Reformation History: A Study Guide for Reformation Church History. MINTS: Miami
International Seminary, 2009. Print.
Kirwa
154
Biography
Rev. Daniel Kirwa, an ordained pastor of the Africa Inland Church was born 46 years ago to a
non-Christian family. He attended AIC Cheptonon primary school and proceeded to Laboret
High School from 1985 to 1989. He came to know the Lord Jesus in his high school days and in
October, 27th 1989 he received Christ as Lord and savior. When he finished high school he
taught as an untrained teacher for a while and received a call to serve God. He got married to his
lovely wife Lena (now deceased) and had two grown up men, Stanley and Nehemiah.
In 1993 he joined Kapbaset Bible College and graduated with a diploma in Bible and Pastoral
ministry. He was posted to serve at Ndalat Gaa Girls High School as the chaplain. At the same
time he shepherded at AIC Ndalat and other two churches. This was a period of 5 years (19972002). Daniel had a desire to further his studies and in the year 2002, Jan. 4th he flew overseas to
Carver Bible College in Atlanta Georgia USA. He graduated with a BA cum laude in Bible and
Theology (2002- May, 2004). Daniel also holds a Masters’ Degree in Biblical Counseling from
Trinity Theological Seminary in New Burgh State of Indiana, also in US (2004-2005).
He came back to Kenya and served as the chaplain at the same high school (Ndalat Gaa)
and also taught religious education (2006-2008). From 2009 to 2011 he lectured Bible and
Theology at Africa Theological Seminary in Kitale, Kenya. He also taught counseling courses
and was head of counseling department as well as Dean of students. In April, 2012 Miami
International Seminary opened a MINTS center (Vineyard college-Eldoret MINTS), Rev. Kirwa
is the college principal and he teaches theological and counseling courses. He has also finished
working on another Master’s Degree in Bible (Master of Arts in Biblical Studies-MABS) and
will be graduating soon, to pave way or enable him to enroll on a D.Min Program.
Kirwa
155
Instructors Manual (coordinators manual)
Lesson One Answers
1. Salutation and the problem in Galatia (1:1-9)
Defense of Paul’s apostleship (1:10-2:14)
Defense of the Gospel: A defense of justification by faith alone (2: 15-6:10)
The Conclusion (6:11-18)
2. South Galatian theory (AD 49) & North Galatian theory (AD 4 0r 55)
3. False teachers came and preach a different gospel which required circumcision. They
were referred to as Judaizers. They also discredited Paul, that he is not an apostle and that
he defied his superiors the Jerusalem apostles.
4. No gentile needs to accept circumcision to be saved. Rumors about Paul are false and
both his gospel and his authority to preach it came from God himself. Paul wanted to
defend the true gospel of grace alone, faith alone, in God’s free gift which brings
salvation to all-both Jews and gentiles.
5. In Christ through the gospel or gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel through the gospel.
6. From the lord Jesus Christ Himself.
7. i)Not by man but by Christ i.e. his apostleship is from the divine origin ii)his greetings
are part of his defense iii) his message in not his invention iv)stressed Christ’s sacrifice
which brings deliverance in this present evil age and ushers in the new age.
8. Another thing or a different gospel or a new teaching which not gospel and is twisting of
the gospel into something else.
9.
The circumcision group from James- Jewish believers who proclaimed a mixture of
Judaism and Christianity.
10. Yes, prosperity gospel preachers seek to please men; their message is social and
commercial in nature.
Kirwa
156
Lesson Two Answers
1. FALSE
2. He followed Jewish traditions, violently persecuted the church of God:- as he did his best
to destroy it.
3. Traditions/customs/culture of their ancestors which are not in line with biblical truth.
4. A mixture of Christian faith and other beliefs/faiths
5. Paul’s conversion and call powerfully illustrates the type of the gospel he preaches.
6. Near Damascus (Acts 9:3), travel to Arabia for more revelations and to establish or make
a covenant with God before he sets into the gentile world.
7. No, he had just visited them and amounts to nothing.
8. Cephas; James, the lord’s brother-the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
9. (i)He swore by an oath (ii) he went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. There were no
apostles in these two regions, approve that there was no consultation and that he had
received instructions from Christ in person and needed no one else to teach or train him.
10. The student to list 3 from the 5 lessons (1) Christians are set apart for salvation (2) we are
called by God out of darkness into the light of the gospel (3) Christianity is true. (4) we
are called by grace (5) Christians are called for a specific purpose
Lesson Three Answers
1. True
2. Paul and the Jerusalem apostles were to meet over the most important thing in the worldthe gospel.
3. Barnabas was a Jew and a native of Cyprus and one of the earliest converts to
Christianity. Titus was an un-circumcised gentile, converted under Paul’s ministry and
one of Paul’s trusted companions and messenger.
4. i) Jerusalem Apostles would not force the rite of circumcision on gentile believers. Paul
knew that both Jews and gentiles are accepted by God through faith alone in Christ
without any distinction. This proves the victory of the true gospel. (ii) Circumcision is a
badge of identity (distinguishing mark) of a Jew and the final step in the conversion of a
male gentile to the Jewish religion.
Kirwa
157
5. Titus not forced to be circumcised: a powerful illustration of the agreement between Paul
and the Jerusalem apostles. Together they did not attempt to add or subtract anything to
the message. At the same time Paul and Barnabas received the right hand of fellowship
from Jerusalem apostles who also wanted Paul to remember the poor, a thing which Paul
was eager to do.
6. He feared some Jews who claimed to have been send by the apostle James in Jerusalem,
yet they were not. They are normally called the circumcision party. Paul confronted Peter
publicly. ii) The gospel itself would be compromised, and no true gospel no basis for
genuine fellowship in the church.
7. He discovered that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone;
pioneered a radical departure from traditional medieval theology as he rediscovered the
theology of Paul and Augustine and the nature of justification.
8. Traditional circumcision, naming of children and ancestor worship (veneration of
ancestors)
9. Group of people performing secret things, kept from the knowledge of others-they also
have secret plans, hidden and concealed from the public and which applies to anything
kept under cover.
10. These are prayers offered to ancestors, spirit beings and other divinities. They are prayers
offered to other gods and not to the God we worship as revealed through the Holy
Scripture-the true God of the Bible.
Lesson Four Answers
1. “Baskaino” meaning casting a spell on someone by means of an evil eye.
2. Posting something in public for all to see
3. The crucifixion of Christ
4. By faith in Christ at the day of conversion
5. True; Deuteronomy 27:26
6. Falling away from the true faith: Compromise is the seed of apostasy.
7. To watch her life and doctrine closely ( I timothy 2:15)
8. Not on works but by hearing the gospel
Kirwa
158
9. To confirm that justification has always been by faith not by works
10. To be declared righteous before a Holy God
Lesson Five Answers
1. The law was the school master (Tutor) to bring Israel to Christ.
2. The seeds are millions of Jewish ancestors while the singular seed is Christ Himself.
3. No, it was added because of transgressions (Rom. 4:15; 5:20)
4. The law prepared the way for the seed-Christ who is the end of the law for righteousness
to everyone who believes (Rom 10:4)
5. With the law we were kept in custody until faith came. The law was a tutor to lead us to
Christ; the uphill struggle is the curse of the law (realm of Israel and the law) the tipping
point (Jesus had come, new covenant) new realm/jurisdiction of God’s grace.
6.
The law
Christ
Custody, tutor, prison, curse, condemnation
-new covenant, mediator, new age
Temporary, slavery, demands perfection, -gospel of grace, new kingdom of Christ,
Imagines perfection
freedom in Christ, provides perfection
No life, no salvation
-Christ, imparts life, saves, provides
perfection
No real substitute, no power over sin
- Christ himself real substitute, power over
sin
Slaves, no Spirit of God
- Sonship, new life of the Holy Spirit
7. Not membership in any race but by believing in Christ, being baptized into him. We
become sons of God by adoption and that we are in him.
8. True
9. Care taker or custodian and in Greek Paidogogos
10. Through Abraham’s seed (Christ) as they believe in Him (Christ).
Kirwa
159
Lesson Six (6) Answers
1. Bondage of the law
2. Baby/slave in bondage or enslaved, under guardians or managers; in Christ man is in the
state of liberty.
3. Man made rules, pagan practices, and superstitious activities to appease the gods and
heathen religious activities as well
4. Completion of time between the promise of the messiah by OT prophets and His first
coming
5. To redeem those under the law and to receive adoption as sons
6. Pastors preach social and prosperity gospel/ messages, elders have turned to mediums for
help in times of crisis/problem and our church music has turned secular.
7. Paul had earlier told them the truth and proved himself a true friend to them, the student
to give his own opinion
8. They had a misdirected zeal as it was in the own cause and for their own glorification
(I.e. they wanted to lock the church to be dependent upon their teachings).
9.
Paul’s Attitude
Legalizers/ false teachers attitude
-Had not come to make Galatians his followers
-the false teachers had
-Paul helped them understand the true gospel
- had come to alienate them
from both Christ and Paul.
-Christ is end of the law for righteousness
-Earn salvation by keeping the law.
10. Ishmael born of a slave woman, (i.e. born according to the flesh) while Isaac was born of
a free woman (i.e. according to the promise)
Kirwa
160
Lesson Seven Answers
1. Verse one of chapter five
2. Faith, love, Christ, and the spirit
3. They will be cut from Christ and fallen from grace.
4. Wrong doctrines
5. Freedom from sin not liberty to sin, freedom to serve
6. By how much others feel loved by us.
7. The conflict between the flesh and the spirit; the old man and the new man; spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood; sinful human nature and the dictates of the Holy Spirit.
8. Sexual sins, religious sins, and social sins
9. Love, joy, peace (God-ward); patience, kindness, goodness (social virtues); faithfulness,
gentleness and self control (man-ward)
10. Through believers union with Christ our sinful nature (flesh) undergoes crucifixion
Lesson Eight Answers
1. A brother who had sin, a brother who had burden, financial burden of the pastor/teacher,
toward all men.
2. We fulfill the law of Christ. Christ loved us unconditionally and died for us, He bore our
burden of sin on the cross.
3. Self deception (2) comparing yourself and your work with others
4. Support of the teacher; use to build the life of the spirit rather than the flesh; use to help
others particularly Christians.
5. It was echoed by Christ in Luke 10:7; Paul urged Christians’ to make sure to pay their
Christian workers, it is a divine duty.
6. It is a warning and means to snub at God:- literally “turn up the nose at God” whose rule
is, a man reaps what he sows.
He or she will reap a harvest that will fade away and
forgotten in this life and the life to come.
7. The effort of presenting the gospel to unbelievers while social work is charitable
programs such as feeding the hungry, visiting and lending monies to the poor and the
sick, widows, orphans and donating clothes to the needy.
Kirwa
161
8. Wanted to please men/men pleasers; were afraid of persecution; wanted to boast on
Galatians flesh-large numbers of those won to circumcision. Paul declared his boasting to
be on the cross of our lord Jesus Christ.
9.
Inner Man
-New self, righteous
-Holiness, new creation
-Christ
Desires of the spirit
-New nature, fruit of the H.S. changed heart
-Changed life/character or conduct
outer Man
-old self, sinful nature
- wicked, old creation.
-Adam
- desires of the flesh
-old nature; - under spiritual darkness
-unchanged life/conduct
10. i)The whole church throughout the world (McNeill); NT ii) refers to Jews; iii)Believing
and unbelieving Jews i.e. true descendants of Abraham who have been delivered from the
law and natural Israelis-those who practice the religion of Judaism- still in submission to
the mosaic legislation. iv)The student to give his own opinion.
Final Exam Answers
1. From the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
2. The circumcision group from James- Jewish believers who proclaimed a mixture of
Judaism and Christianity. Human inventions are added and ATR beliefs, some churches
have borrowed catholic teachings and mixed with bible doctrines.
3. Traditions/customs/ culture of their ancestors which are not in line with biblical truth.
4. He swore by an oath. He went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. There were no apostles
here, a prove that there was no consultation and that he had received instructions through
from Christ.
5. Jerusalem apostles would not force the rite of circumcision on Gentile believers. Paul
knew that both Jews and Gentiles are accepted by God through faith alone in Jesus Christ
without any distinction. This proves the victory of the true gospel.
Kirwa
162
6. He feared some Jews who claimed to have been send by Apostle James in Jerusalem, and
yet they were not. They are normally called or referred to as the circumcision party. Paul
confronted them publically.
7. The crucifixion of Christ,
8. To confirm that Justification has always been by Faith no by Works.
9. True.
10. The seeds are millions of Jews ancestors while the singular seed is Christ.
11. The Law prepared the way for the seed (Christ) who is the end of the law for
Righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom 10: 4)
12. Through Abraham’s Seed (Christ) as they believe in HIM (Christ).
13. Bondage of the Law.
14. Man-made rules, pagan practices, superstitious activities to appease the gods as well all
heathen Religious activities.
15. Completion of time between the promise of the Messiah by OT prophets and His first
coming.
16. Freedom from sin, not liberty to sin. Freedom to serve.
17. A) Sexual Sins. B) Religious Sins. C) Social Sins.
18. Through Believers Union with Christ our sinful nature (flesh) undergoes crucifixion.
19. We fulfill the Law of Christ. Christ loved us unconditionally and died for us, He bore our
burden of Sin on the Cross.
20. The effort of presenting the Gospel to unbelievers, while Social Work is charitable
programs such as feeding the hungry. Visiting and lending monies to the sick, widows,
and orphans and donating the cloths to those in need.
Kirwa
163
The Final Exam Questions, Derived from the Eight Lessons Above
1. Where is the source of the Gospel that Paul received?
2. Who are the Judaizers? And how has the Church resorted to another gospel today?
3. What did the church Elders destroy in the 1960’s through the 1980’s?
4. Give one example of the accuracy of Paul’s message.
5. State the meaning of the words “Titus was not forced to be Circumcised”
6. Why was Peter afraid to mingle with the gentiles Christians? How did Paul confronted
him? What problem would arise if he did not speak against him
7. What is the basis of the Gospel?
8. Why did Paul present Abraham the revered Patriarch (gal 3:6-9)
9. The purpose of the law was the school master (tutor, caretaker, or custodian) to bring
Israel to Christ. True or False?
10. Differentiate between the seeds and the seed?
11. The law was given 430 years later after the Promise. What then was its mission?
12. How do Believers receive the blessings of Abraham?
13. What is the yoke of slavery?
14. What inferior conditions did our people lived in before the Gospel?
15. Explain the meaning of the phrase “when time had fully come”
16. Give one meaning of Christian Liberty
17. Name the 3 categories of the works of the flesh
18. In Romans 6, what does Paul mean when he said “our old self was crucified in Christ”?
19. What does Paul say we do when we bear one another’s burden?
20. Define Spiritual sowing and differentiate with Social Work?