What the Law Was Always Meant to Do [Family Worship lesson in Galatians 3:15–25]

Pastor prepares his family for the morning sermon at Covenant PCA in Panama City in Galatians 3:15–25. The revelation of the law has always been within the context of the promise made to Christ, into which we come by a faith that unites us to Him.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Church-to-Church Diaconal Ministry (1) [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #41, 2023.07.09 Sabbath School]

In addition to overseeing person to person ministry in material things, deacons administer that temporal ministry that must be done corporately, including church-to-church ministry.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Spiritual Men to Lead a Spiritual People in Service to the Soul and Body [Biblical Theology of the Diaconate #40, 2023.07.02 Sabbath School]

By virtue of other believers' union with Christ, they ought to be the special objects of our love and service—especially in helping their weaknesses, since we have missed our opportunity to reciprocate Christ's love to Him in His human weakness. Service to one another in soul requires corresponding service to one another in body. And both require that the work of the Spirit in us be expressed in the manner in which we help one another. To lead us in this service, the Lord has given us ordained servants over both the spiritual service of the body and the material service of the body.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

WCF 14.2.9b Faith Rests upon Christ ALONE for ALL of Salvation (2021.05.02 Sabbath School Lesson)

Saving faith is in Christ ALONE for EVERY part of the salvation of the elect.

2020.07.21 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:1–25

Read Galatians 5:1–25

Questions from the Scripture text: In what does the apostle command them to stand fast (Galatians 5:1)? Who has given us our freedom? What does the apostle again call submission to the Jewish church calendar and ceremonies? What are they considering doing, according to Galatians 5:2? How much will Christ profit them, if they seek spiritual value in circumcision? And if a man is circumcised because he feels a religious obligation to, what else is he indebted to do (Galatians 5:3)? What two things does Galatians 5:4 say have happened to those who attempt to be justified by law? Through Whose power did we come to faith (Galatians 5:5)? What do we eagerly expect to receive by this faith? What two things avail nothing, according to Galatians 5:6? What, in Christ Jesus, is effective? How does the apostle describe their former Christian walk in Galatians 5:7? What question does he now ask? From whom does the apostle say that their new ideas have not come (Galatians 5:8)? What does Galatians 5:9 call additions to the Christian religion that do not come from God? What do such additions do to the rest of one’s Christianity? What does the apostle have confidence will be their response to his letter (Galatians 5:10a)? But what does the apostle say will happen to the one who holds to these additions? What have some, apparently, been saying that Paul still teaches (Galatians 5:11a)? But what is he suffering for preaching as sufficient without circumcision? To what does the apostle equate the idea that circumcision has spiritual value (Galatians 5:12)? What does the apostle call them in Galatians 5:13? To what does he say they have been called? What does he warn them against using their liberty as? For what should they use their liberty? Through what may we serve one another? Does Galatians 5:14 argue for disregarding the law? How does it say to fulfill the law? What does he warn them against doing to one another in Galatians 5:15? What does he warn them will happen if they do this? Looking back at verse 15, what would be the outcome of walking according to the flesh? By what (Whom!), instead (Galatians 5:16), does the apostle urge them to walk? What would they then not fulfill? Against what does the flesh set its desire (Galatians 5:17)? Against what does the Spirit set His desire? What is the relationship between the flesh and the Spirit? What does the believer end up not doing? What are believers not under, if they are led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18)? Which works are evident (Galatians 5:19)? What sixteen specific works do Galatians 5:19-21 mention? How does Galatians 5:21 end the list? When does the apostle say that he is telling the church? Before what—of what event is he speaking? Is this the first time that he tells them? About whom is he especially speaking at the end of verse 21? What will they not do? Which works had been covered in Galatians 5:19-21? Whose desires are against these (cf. Galatians 5:17)? What does Galatians 5:22 call the list in these verses? How many aspects of the (singular!) fruit are named? Which aspects are conditions of the heart? Which govern relation toward others? Which govern one’s relation to himself? How do these relate to God’s laws? To Whom do some people belong (Galatians 5:24)? What have those who genuinely belong to Christ done? In Whom do those who belong to Christ live (Galatians 5:25)? What must they also do in the Spirit? 

Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, and Confession of Sin come from Galatians 5 in order that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with Come, O Come, Thou Quickening Spirit.

This chapter highlights that it is Christ who has freed us, and the Spirit who is applying Christ to us by producing love in us (Galatians 5:1–6). Manmade rules or rituals bring us back into slavery, because they take us away from Christ’s cross to self-trust and self-atonement (Galatians 5:7-15).

Contrary to this, the Spirit does not indulge our flesh but opposes it, and we must also (Galatians 5:16-21), trusting in Him and trusting in Christ, Whom He applies to us. As the Spirit applies Christ to us, the first principle of the fruit that He produces in us is love (Galatians 5:6, Galatians 5:14, Galatians 5:22), together with all of the other aspects of Christ’s character in one whose life is the Spirit-fruit of Christlikeness (Galatians 5:22-23).

A Christian can be neither one who trusts in self or lives for self, but rather one who is Christ’s (Galatians 5:24), trusting in Him and walking with Him by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25)!

To which do you think you are more prone: trusting in self or living for self? How is each of these inconsistent with how God saves/sanctifies? For your own particular spiritual/theological weakness, of what about Jesus or His Spirit do you need to be reminding yourself?

Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH391 “Come, O Come, Thou Quickening Spirit”

2020.03.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:24–26

Read Galatians 5:24–26

Questions from the Scripture text: To Whom do some people belong (Galatians 5:24)? What have those who genuinely belong to Christ done? In Whom do those who belong to Christ live (Galatians 5:25)? What must they also do in the Spirit? What must we not become instead of dependence upon the Spirit (Galatians 5:26)? What would this false pride cause us to be toward one another? 

Galatians 5:26 brings us to the end of a unit with what began in Galatians 5:13-15. Our freedom is not for indulging the flesh but for killing it—otherwise, in our fleshliness, we will consume one another (verse 15), provoking and envying one another (Galatians 5:26).

The Spirit is out for death—the death of the flesh. The apostle uses a word image that is pretty gruesome: crucifixion. If you belong to Christ, you have crucified the flesh. You have pinned down your remaining sin, nailed it up, and are determined to choke every last bit of air-gasping life out of it.

This is not a passive, just-learning-to-enjoy-Jesus-more-and-more, low-effort, low-activity approach to sanctification. But it is the Scripture-picture for what it looks like to keep in step with the Spirit. Why? Because the Spirit’s desires are against the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). The Spirit wants our remaining sin dead, and if we are being led by Him, then our battle against our flesh is a ruthless death match. Crucifixion.

If we forget that we are dependent upon the Spirit, and try to approach sanctification in any other way, then we are conceited (Galatians 5:26a). And, when we fall out of step with the Spirit, it is then that we shift from being hard on ourselves to being hard on others (verse 26b). On the flipside, if we find ourselves hostile to or envious of others, we have good reason to ask ourselves, “Am I walking in the Spirit? Do I belong to Jesus? Am I locked in a crucifying-to-death battle with my sin?”

Against which of your sinful desires are you currently engaged in mortal combat?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

2020.03.14 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:19–21

Read Galatians 5:19–21

Questions from the Scripture text: Which works are evident (Galatians 5:19)? What sixteen specific works do Galatians 5:19-21 mention? How does Galatians 5:21 end the list? When does the apostle say that he is telling the church? Before what—of what event is he speaking? Is this the first time that he tells them? About whom is he especially speaking at the end of verse 21? What will they not do? 

In the previous passage, we read about a great battle between the flesh (our remaining sin from our original nature in the first Adam) and the Spirit—and how we are to be led by the Spirit into battle against the flesh. Of course, that immediately presents the question of how we can tell which side we happen to be fighting on. This week’s passage gives us a list of things to be fighting against. Next week’s passage gives us a list of characteristics to expect to grow as we trust in the Spirit for His work.

One important thing to note is that there are some things in this list that people excuse by saying that’s their “personality.” That’s not what this Scripture calls them. The Scripture calls them “works of the flesh”—expressions of that guilty, wicked nature with which we came into this world.

Galatians 5:19 targets especially the 7th commandment. These are sins where one indulges earthly desires over against the self-control and purity to which we are called. A couple of the terms especially highlight purity in our thought life and a regard for helping others remain pure in their thought life.

Galatians 5:20 targets especially religious sins—sings against the first table of the law, the first four  verse 20 commandments. Any compromising of the holiness or truth of God; promotion of self or of personal preferences or ideas about God; or, manmade ways of increasing spiritual vitality (“sorcery” in the NKJV, but the Greek word from which we get pharmaceutics, and implying concoctions of man to achieve health or power)—things that result in harm to the purity of the church, and often by this harming the peace of the church.

Of course, there is overlap between harming the church generally and harming others individually, and Galatians 5:21 brings us full-circle: highlighting sins that immediately damage ourselves or others, physically or spiritually.

It is important to note that this Scripture invites us to other Scriptures that give us such lists (Romans 1:26-31, 2 Timothy 3:2-4, etc.), so that we can take an honest catalog of what behaviors we are nursing that are “harboring the enemy” in our spiritual battle.

It helps us rather little to go through such a list and focus upon those sins that are not issues for us. If we want more help, we need to focus especially upon those sins that are battles for us right now, and with the Scripture as an exposing mirror (Psalm 119:105, James 1:21-27, Hebrews 4:11-13), consider which side of the battle we have been fighting for.

Finally, there is a very serious warning. If those who are sons of God are led by the Spirit of God, and those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God, then our eternal destiny may be discerned by assessing which side of the battle we are on.

Because Jesus makes a true difference in every individual whom He redeems, this Scripture can say with 100% truthfulness and seriousness: “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

God redeem us, and adopt us, and send forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, that we may be engaged on the right side of this battle!

Against which sins in this list have you been doing battle? Which, if any, have you been coddling? 

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”

2020.02.27 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 6:16-18

Read Galatians 6:16-18

Questions from the Scripture text: Upon which people does Galatians 6:16 pronounce a blessing? What blessing does it pronounce? What does verse 16 call them? What does he say for no one to do in Galatians 6:17? Why? What does he call them in Galatians 6:18? What blessing does he give them now?  

Our Lord is everything to us—we are nothing in ourselves, but HE has everything in Him. This has been the apostle’s point about justification in this book—we are right with God only by His righteousness, through faith in Him.

This has been the apostle’s point about sanctification in this book—it is not our ideas or effort that produces it, but only the new-creation-life of Christ, applied by His Spirit, who leads us in the battle and gives us the victory.

And now this is the apostle’s point about the identity and blessedness of God’s people. It is not children of the flesh whom he calls “brethren” (Galatians 6:18), but those who are believers. Even more forcefully, he calls those who walk according to the rule of Christ in this book “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16). Even the apostle feels no need to defend himself against the Judaizers—his certificate of authenticity has literally been inscribed in his flesh by what he has suffered for the Lord Jesus and in union with the Lord Jesus (Galatians 6:17). God’s people have that identity only in Jesus Christ.

And their blessing is only in Jesus Christ. This is seen by the three words that describe this blessing: peace, mercy, and grace. Peace: having God as our ally—God bringing to bear all that He is for our good in every way. Mercy: the good comes to us not because we are good, but because God is good—He has compassion upon us in our sin and misery. Grace: strength, blessing, and goodness for those who have none of their own—and from where does this strength, blessing, and goodness come? From our Lord Jesus Christ.

He is Lord. The sovereign God. He is Jesus. The Savior. He is Christ. The anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. It’s no wonder, then, that the apostle loves Him so much, and desires so much for His people that no one would distract them from having the Lord Jesus as their everything. May He be our everything, and may we desire that He be one another’s as well!

How can you be right with God? How can you be made holy? Who are God’s people?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH265 “In Christ Alone”

2020.02.20 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 6:11–15

Read Galatians 6:11–15

Questions from the Scripture text: By whose hand is Galatians 6:11 written? What difference is there in the handwriting? How does the apostle identify the person he’s talking about in Galatians 6:12? What are they trying to do to the Galatians? What do they get out of it? What don’t the circumcised do (Galatians 6:13)? Why do they want the Galatians circumcised—what do they want to boast in? What is the only thing in which the apostle is willing to boast (Galatians 6:14)? What has the cross done to the apostle’s desires for the world’s approval? What does the apostle have (Galatians 6:15)? What doesn’t do anything for him now? What does (cf. Galatians 5:6)? 

Whether we are rejoicing over our Christianity, or over someone else’s Christianity, the only truly Christian boasting is to be full to bursting with who Christ is and what Christ has done.

Not so the Judaizers, who were working so hard to see the Galatians circumcised. They were not spiritual men who were careful to depend upon the Spirit for their own crucifying of the flesh (Galatians 6:13, cf. Galatians 6:1-5). And their goal for the Galatians wasn’t their spiritual good either—just as long as they had some tradition they could be proud of getting the Galatians to conform to. And this particular religious tradition had the added benefit for them that they wouldn’t have to suffer so much from the Jews for the sake of Christ (Galatians 6:12). Let us beware of this temptation to follow religious practices that will make us more palatable to those who care little for the genuine miraculous work of Christ in us or others!

But for Paul, Christ Himself (and especially His cross) is just too glorious. How could he boast in something that came from himself? Or in something that came from the Galatians? Or, actually, in anything at all except the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ?! The apostle doesn’t mind if the world considers him dead to them—as many Christians often find their former families and friends treating them for Christ’s sake. He doesn’t need their approval, because the world is dead to him. He himself is a new creation that Jesus has made, and he is looking forward to the new creation that Jesus has earned for him and promised to him.

True Christianity is impossible. It absolutely cannot be done in the flesh. But it is also wonderful, because it is a miraculous work done by a crucified and risen Savior, who works in us by His Spirit. And, since it is something that Jesus does, it is sure to succeed. Why would we aim at anything less for ourselves or others?

What should you be giving Christ credit for in your life and in others’ lives, and what would that look like?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH338 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

2020.02.13 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 6:6-10

Read Galatians 6:6-10

Questions from the Scripture text: Who is doing the sharing in Galatians 6:6? With whom is he sharing? What does Galatians 6:7 command us not to do? What truth does it tell us about God? What fact does it tell us about man and his life? To what can a man sow (Galatians 6:8a)? And what will such a man reap? To what else may a man sow (verse 8b)? And what will such a man reap? How? What will happen, as believers keep sowing to the Spirit (Galatians 6:9)? What phrase does this verse use for that sowing to the Spirit? When will we reap? What must we not do? When should we do good (Galatians 6:10a)? To whom should we do good? Especially to whom? 

When we are trusting not in ourselves but in God the Spirit to do for us not according to our own priorities but according to the priorities of the Spirit, it reshapes everything for us. And, one of the plainest ways that we see this is in how we use money.

Is our first priority with our money to sustain the ministry of the gospel under which we sit (Galatians 6:6)? Is our second priority the care of our brothers and sisters (Galatians 6:10b), with whom we are walking in the love that the last chapter or so has been setting before us? Is our third priority to do good to as many as possible—following this pattern of spiritual nearness (congregation, presbytery, synod, evangelical churches near and far, etc.)?

You notice that we haven’t yet gotten to that thing that seems to keep coming up in your heart and mind that you don’t really need but would very much enjoy and has caught your eye. One sobering way to assess whether the flesh or the Spirit is setting the priorities for your life is to follow where you are spending money beyond your most absolutely basic needs.

Of course, Galatians 6:6 and Galatians 6:10 are giving us an example of an important general principle. In all our desires and all our decisions, we are sowing either to the flesh or to the Spirit (Galatians 6:8). Every choice takes a side in that great battle that we were told about in Galatians 5:17. The Lord Jesus makes a real change in those whom He redeems, so that He can raise a red flag to us if we aren’t in the Christian battle: “God is not mocked!” Yes, we are justified by grace alone, and our sanctification is also powered by grace alone (even though we are to be battling!), but a grace that doesn’t make any difference is the most dangerous of counterfeits.

But as we think about the fruit we have seen, let us take to heart the pastoral caution in Galatians 6:9. Fruit will often take longer to reap than we had expected. And the waiting will be wearying. So, don’t conclude from your frustration or weariness that you are not in the battle. Rather, if your pursuit of spiritual fruit is difficult and tiring, heed the encouragement “do not grow weary!” Let us not lose heart!

What spending choices have you been making? Time? Emotional/relational investment?

Suggested songs: ARP116B “I Still Believed” or TPH538 “Take My Life, and Let It Be”

2020.02.06 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 6:1-5

Read Galatians 6:1-5

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostle call them in Galatians 6:1? What brothers need restoration? What brothers should do it? Why would only a specifically “spiritual” (cf. Galatians 5:23) brother be able to do it in the spirit commanded in verse 1? Considering the lists in Galatians 5:19-21 and Galatians 5:22-23, to what might the “spiritual” brother in verse 1 be “tempted,” and what is he supposed to be doing about it, while he restores his brother? How does the first half of Galatians 6:2 describe this effort of helping a brother out of the violation in which he has been caught up? What does this fulfill (cf. Galatians 5:14) in opposition to the temptation at the end of verse 1 (cf. Galatians 5:13-17)? What shouldn’t anyone think about himself (Galatians 6:3)? To whom should we be comparing whatever maturing in grace we have experienced (Galatians 6:4)? And, when each maturing believer considers himself before God, what does he still find (Galatians 6:5)?

There’s something that happens, when the Holy Spirit is maturing in us His multi-faceted fruit from Galatians 5:22-23. We become more and more supportive of our brothers, who believe in the same Christ, and walk by the same Spirit, and are engaged in the same battle.

This is why, when a brother is caught up in a violation (“overtaken in any trespass”), it really needs a brother who is marked by a spirit of gentleness to come alongside and help.

First, he must be a “spiritual” brother—that is that the helper himself is someone who walks with the Holy Spirit. How would someone who is not already in an alliance with the Holy Spirit against his own flesh enter rightly into an alliance with his brother, and that same Holy Spirit, against his brother’s flesh?

And, since both are sinners, it is especially the “gentleness” aspect of the Spirit’s fruit that is necessary for the process. This is needed for the sinner who is receiving the help, since when we are caught up in a sin, we are already primed for hostility and resistance to help. But it is also needed for the sinner who is giving the help, “considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

If we can’t enter into the process with the idea that we are alongside a weakened and wounded dear one, helping him bear up under the challenges of his battle, then we are not following that second great commandment—as Christ summarized it and was quoted in Galatians 5:14—“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” How self-deceiving—and, indeed, self-defeating—it would be if we were convinced that we were helping a brother with his flesh, in the very act of indulging our own (cf. Galatians 5:13-21)?!

The great red flag for us is if we think that we are something. The fact of the matter is that we are nothing. In Galatians 6:3, the apostle (and the Spirit who carried him!) was misaligned with the religious self-esteem gurus of our time. He bluntly tells us that we are nothing, and that any other conclusion or feeling is merely self-deception.

And the self-deception of feeling ourselves to be something is especially dangerous when trying to help a brother with his sin. If we do that, we will run afoul of Galatians 6:4, and rather than thanking God for His mercy as He grows us—who are nothing—in grace, we will end up feeling and praying like the Pharisee, “I thank you, God, that I am not like this other man.” Truly, if we are honest before the face of God, rather than self-deceivingly comparing ourselves to others, each of us will see our own load (Galatians 6:5), and not fall into that self-deception that we are qualified to bear our brother’s burden because our own burden is less.

God grant unto us to be continually engaged in battling our own flesh, so that our own weakness and dependence would be continuously before us! Thus continuously humiliated, the Spirit-fruit of gentleness will be ripening so that we may be useful to our brothers rather than harmful to both ourselves and to them.

What fleshly aspects have you been battling? How has this been emphasizing to you that you are nothing? In light of what this passage teaches: if you do start to feel that you are superior to a brother, what would be a good way to cultivate renewed humility and gentleness?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”

2020.01.30 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:24-26

Read Galatians 5:24-26

Questions from the Scripture text: To Whom do some people belong (Galatians 5:24)? What have those who genuinely belong to Christ done? In Whom do those who belong to Christ live (Galatians 5:25)? What must they also do in the Spirit? What must we not become instead of dependence upon the Spirit (Galatians 5:26)? What would this false pride cause us to be toward one another?

As we come to the end of Galatians 5:26, we see that this has all been a unit with what began in Galatians 5:13-15. Our freedom is not for indulging the flesh but for killing it—otherwise, in our fleshliness, we will consume one another (verse 15), provoking and envying one another (verse 26).

The Spirit is out for death—the death of the flesh. The apostle uses a word image that is pretty gruesome: crucifixion. If you belong to Christ, you have crucified the flesh. You have pinned down your remaining sin, nailed it up, and are determined to choke every last bit of air-gasping life out of it.

This is not a passive, just-learning-to-enjoy-Jesus-more-and-more, low-effort, low-activity approach to sanctification. But it is the Scripture-picture for what it looks like to keep in step with the Spirit. Why? Because the Spirit’s desires are against the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17). The Spirit wants our remaining sin dead, and if we are being led by Him, then our battle against our flesh is a ruthless death match. Crucifixion.

If we forget that we are dependent upon the Spirit, and try to approach sanctification in any other way, then we are conceited (Galatians 5:26a). And, when we fall out of step with the Spirit, it is then that we shift from bring hard on ourselves to being hard on others (verse 26b). On the flipside, if we find ourselves hostile to or envious of others, we have good reason to ask ourselves, “Am I walking in the Spirit? Do I belong to Jesus? Am I locked in a crucifying-to-death battle with my sin?”

Against which of your sinful desires are you currently engaged in a crucifying-to-death battle?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”

2020.01.23 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:22-23

Read Galatians 5:22-23

Questions from the Scripture text: Which works had been aspects named here are all of a single fruit—the Spirit fruit. While the unbeliever may seem to possess one or more of these aspects, he rarely demonstrates them all superficially; and more importantly, they are neither his in the heart and nor especially aimed first at the Lord. Believers will have all, and more importantly have them first and foremost toward the Lord, and in increasing measure.

Love—wholehearted desire for the good of the object, first and foremost the desire that God would receive His due glory, and then one’s neighbor as oneself. Joy—especially flowing from love for God, because of delight in the absolute confidence that He will, indeed, receive that due glory. Peace—the resting that this God bends all things toward that glory and our good.

And how does one whose heart is ruled by love, joy, and peace act toward others? With patience—necessary, because others are sinners, and love/joy/peace means bearing long with their sin. And with kindness—that countenance, and word choice, and tone, and manner that communicates a desire for others’ good. And goodness—actions that aim to covered in Galatians 5:19-21? Whose desires are against these (cf. Galatians 5:17)? What does Galatians 5:22 call the list in these verses? How many aspects of the (singular!) fruit are named? Which aspects are conditions of the heart? Which govern relation toward others? Which govern one’s relation to himself? How do these relate to God’s laws?

Is Paul teaching against the law? That’s an important question, because those whom Christ genuinely saves, He also genuinely changes, and their hearts start to view God’s law as “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25), crying out things like, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

The answer, of course, is that the apostle is not teaching against the law. He is teaching against the flesh—that same flesh that abuses the law to feel superior to others (Galatians 5:15), even while the flesh violates that same law in every way (Galatians 5:19-20). What the apostle is promoting is yielding ourselves up to the Spirit (Galatians 5:18) who is at war with that flesh (Galatians 5:17). And what happens when we are led by the Spirit?

He produces in us fruit. Not fruits, plural, but singular in Galatians 5:22. The nine fulfill this desire for the good of others. And faithfulness—saying what you mean, keeping your promises, fulfilling your obligations; never needing to compromise, because your wellbeing can’t be improved beyond that perfect good that the Lord is already doing you.

Finally, how does one whose heart is ruled by love, joy, and peace act toward himself? Primarily by distrusting our heart, actually. Distrusting our heart’s opinion of ourselves, and distrusting our heart’s emotions desires.

Gentleness, in many ways, is distrusting our heart’s overinflated view of ourselves. The word translated ‘gentleness’ is actually meekness. Meekness toward God: submissiveness to obey God’s Word and submissiveness to accept His providence. And meekness toward man: recognizing that any good we have is a gift, esteeming others better than ourselves, and preferring their interests to our own.

And self-control acts upon a distrust of our heart’s emotions and desires. It begins with the recognition that our feelings are not to be trusted, and that even when our desires aren’t wrong (as they often are), they constantly tend toward disproportion. So, self-control is really Scripture-control by Spirit-control. It measures feelings and desires against the Bible, and acts not according to the impulses of our hearts but according to the revealed will of God.

So, does being led by the Spirit mean that we have rejected the law? No! It means that we pursue the keeping of that law in the only possible way: by the Spirit producing His fruit in us, and our growing in all of those things that are perfectly consistent with the law of God. Against such things, there is no law.

In which aspects of the fruit of the Spirit do you find yourself weakest? Since it is the fruit of the Spirit, how can you grow in it, and Whom must you trust to produce the growth in that way?

Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH400 “Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me”

2020.01.16 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:19-21

Read Galatians 5:19-21

Questions from the Scripture text: Which works are evident (Galatians 5:19)? What sixteen specific works do Galatians 5:19-21 mention? How does Galatians 5:21 end the list? When does the apostle say that he is telling the church? Before what—of what event is he speaking? Is this the first time that he tells them? About whom is he especially speaking at the end of verse 21? What will they not do? 

In the previous passage, we heard about a great battle between the flesh (our remaining sin from our original nature in the first Adam) and the Spirit—and how we are to be led by the Spirit into battle against the flesh. Of course, that immediately presents the question of how we can tell which side we happen to be fighting on. This week’s passage gives us a list of things to be fighting against. Next week’s passage gives us a list of characteristics to expect to grow as we trust in the Spirit for His work.

One important thing to note is that there are some things in this list that people excuse by saying that’s their “personality.” That’s not what this Scripture calls them. The Scripture calls them “works of the flesh”—expressions of that guilty, wicked nature with which we came into this world.

Galatians 5:19 targets especially the seventh commandment. These are sins where one indulges earthly desires over against the self-control and purity to which we are called. A couple of the terms especially highlight purity in our thought life and a regard for helping others remain pure in their thought life.

Galatians 5:20 targets especially religious sins—sins against the first table of the law, the first four commandments. Any compromising of the holiness or truth of God; promotion of self or of personal preferences or ideas about God; or, manmade ways of increasing spiritual vitality (“sorcery” in the NKJV, but the Greek word from which we get pharmaceutics, and implying concoctions of man to achieve health or power)—things that result in harm to the purity of the church, and often by this harming the peace of the church.

Of course, there is overlap between harming the church generally and harming others individually, and Galatians 5:21 brings us full-circle: highlighting sins that immediately damage ourselves or others, physically or spiritually.

It is important to note that, when it says "and the like," this Scripture invites us to other Scriptures that give us such lists (Romans 1:26-31, 2 Timothy 3:2-4, etc.), so that we can take an honest catalog of what behaviors we are nursing that are “harboring the enemy” in our spiritual battle.

It helps us rather little to go through such a list and focus upon those sins that are not issues for us. If we want more help, we need to focus especially upon those sins that are battles for us right now, and with the Scripture as an exposing mirror (Psalm 119:105, James 1:21-27, Hebrews 4:11-13), consider which side of the battle we have been fighting for.

Finally, there is a very serious warning. If those who are sons of God are led by the Spirit of God, and those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God, then our eternal destiny may be discerned by assessing which side of the battle we are on.

Because Jesus makes a true difference in every individual whom He redeems, this Scripture can say with 100% truthfulness and seriousness: “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

God redeem us, and adopt us, and send forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, that we may be engaged on the right side of this battle!

Against which sins in this list have you been doing battle? Which, if any, have you been coddling?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”

2020.01.09 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:16-18

Read Galatians 5:16-18

Questions from the Scripture text: Looking back at Galatians 5:15, what would be the outcome of walking according to the flesh? By what (Whom!), instead (Galatians 5:16), does the apostle urge them to walk? What would they then not fulfill? Against what does the flesh set its desire (Galatians 5:17)? Against what does the Spirit set His desire? What is the relationship between the flesh and the Spirit? What does the believer end up not doing? What are believers not under, if they are led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18)?

Coming out of Galatians 5:15, we are determined not to fulfill the desires of the flesh—otherwise we will be devoured! But, that presents the question: how does one keep from fulfilling the desires of the flesh? After all, our experience (end of Galatians 5:17, cf. Romans 7:15-23) is that we keep failing to do the good that we desire.

The answer is to walk by the Spirit. It is in this way that we will gain ground in the battle against the flesh. The word “flesh” here does not mean our physical nature but rather the remaining sin from our fallen nature. And the apostle tells us that the Spirit and the flesh have declared war upon each other.

The question for us is: which of the two will we side with in the battle? Or, if we are already determined against sin, then there is a great comfort for us here: we have an almighty Ally who has committed Himself to be the mortal enemy of our opponent! The battle against our sin may be frustrating, and it may be drawn out over the rest of our lives, but its end result is sure and certain victory. Hallelujah!

Furthermore, if the Spirit is leading us in this battle against sin (Galatians 5:18a), then we will know ourselves to be sons of God (cf. Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:13-17), whom the law has no more authority to condemn (Galatians 5:18b, cf. Romans 8:1). Just as in the transition from Romans 7 to Romans 8, so also here, the apostle presents to us the fact that we are in the battle for Father’s sake and for Christ’s sake, by the help of the Spirit, as evidence that we are justified.

This is great news for those who are battle-weary. And it is also an important reminder that only God’s own means can win, since He must win the battle. And He will!

Against what sins are you battling? Why are you battling—Who is leading you? Will you win?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH51C “God, Be Merciful to Me”

2020.01.02 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:13-15

Read Galatians 5:13-15

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostle call them in Galatians 5:13? To what does he say they have been called? What does he warn them against using their liberty as? For what should they use their liberty? Through what may we serve one another? Does Galatians 5:14 argue for disregarding the law? How does it say to fulfill the law? What does he warn them against doing to one another in Galatians 5:15? What does he warn them will happen if they do this?

One of the great treasures of the book of Galatians for us is how its teaching absolutely frees us from others’ (and our own!) additions to what God has commanded in His Word. What liberty!

But that’s the question—to what end have we been given this liberty? The answer of our passage is: we have been freed in order to love and serve. The apostle himself is an example of this. He is free from all of the inventions of the Judaizers, but what is he using his freedom to do? To serve, by writing, those whom he lovingly calls “brethren” in Galatians 5:13.

Christian freedom is not the throwing off of all outward restraint. It is a freedom from what comes from us (after all—our sin and death came from us too!), in order to be controlled by that life and love that comes from Christ. So, it does not result in the rejection of God’s law, but in finally keeping it well for the first time. Jesus summarized the “ten words” into “two words,” love of God and love of neighbor. And ultimately, that’s one word: love.

Love embraces the law in order to do good to its object. “Through love, serve one another.” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Who can tell us what it looks like to love? What can define “doing good” to others? God’s law! So liberty is not lawlessness. It is not giving in to the hatefulness to which we had been enslaved, which the Judaizers ironically were doing. Liberty translates into law-keeping, because we have been freed to love!

What’s a situation in which your flesh feels like doing wrong, but you can do right if freed by love?

Suggested songs: ARP135 “Your Name, Lord, Endures Forever” or TPH16A “Preserve Me, O My God”

2019.12.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:13-15

Read Galatians 5:13-15

Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostle call them in Galatians 5:13? To what does he say they have been called? What does he warn them against using their liberty as? For what should they use their liberty? Through what may we serve one another? Does Galatians 5:14 argue for disregarding the law? How does it say to fulfill the law? What does he warn them against doing to one another in Galatians 5:15? What does he warn them will happen if they do this?

One of the great treasures of the book of Galatians for us is how its teaching absolutely frees us from others’ (and our own!) additions to what God has commanded in His Word. What liberty!

But that’s the question—to what end have we been given this liberty? The answer of our passage is: we have been freed in order to love and serve. The apostle himself is an example of this. He is free from all of the inventions of the Judaizers, but what is he using his freedom to do? To serve, by writing, those whom he lovingly calls “brethren” in Galatians 5:13.

Christian freedom is not the throwing off of all outward restraint. It is a freedom from what comes from us (after all—our sin and death came from us too!), in order to be controlled by that life and love that comes from Christ. So, it does not result in the rejection of God’s law, but in finally keeping it well for the first time. Jesus summarized the “ten words” into “two words,” love of God and love of neighbor. And ultimately, that’s one word: love.

Love embraces the law in order to do good to its object. “Through love, serve one another.” “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Who can tell us what it looks like to love? What can define “doing good” to others? God’s law! So liberty is not lawlessness. It is not giving in to the hatefulness to which we had been enslaved, which the Judaizers ironically were doing. Liberty translates into law-keeping, because we have been freed to love!

What’s a situation in which your flesh feels like doing wrong, but you can do right if freed by love?

Suggested songs: ARP135 “Your Name, Lord, Endures Forever” or TPH16A “Preserve Me, O My God”

2019.12.19 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:7-12

Read Galatians 5:7-12

Questions from the Scripture text: How does the apostle describe their former Christian walk in Galatians 5:7? What question does he now ask? From whom does the apostle say that their new ideas have not come (Galatians 5:8)? What does Galatians 5:9 call additions to the Christian religion that do not come from God? What do such additions do to the rest of one’s Christianity? What does the apostle have confidence will be their response to his letter (Galatians 5:10a)? But what does the apostle say will happen to the one who holds to these additions? What have some, apparently, been saying that Paul still teaches (Galatians 5:11a)? But what is he suffering for preaching as sufficient without circumcision? To what does the apostle equate the idea that circumcision has spiritual value (Galatians 5:12)? 

Paul had heard that the Galatian church had begun observing days and months and seasons and years (Galatians 4:10) and hoping that circumcision would grow them in their Christianity (5:6). So he puts the question to them: who hindered you from obeying the truth (Galatians 5:7)? That is to say, “from whom did these ideas come?”

That’s a question that we should ask ourselves about everything that we think belongs to the Christian religion. And there’s only one good answer. In fact, Galatians 5:8 suggests another way that we could ask this question, “Does this idea come from Him who called me?” For us even to make a beginning in Christianity, God had to effectually call us; He had to give us life by His Word. So, as we go forward in our Christian walk, only that which God has commanded can have spiritual value to grow us. You can’t have a religion that is wholly dependent upon God’s grace and also includes manmade ideas of how to get grace—“a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). That is to say: a little manmade religion turns the whole thing into manmade religion.

As in other places (Hebrews 6:4-9; Hebrews 10:26-39) where believers had fallen into something potentially spiritually fatal, the apostle expresses confidence (not in them but in the Lord!) that the Galatians will end up rejecting the manmade teaching (Galatians 5:10a)—noting that those who brought it to Galatia are coming under a judgment in which they do not want to share (verse 10b)! So, we do see that it is possible for true believers to stumble into manmade additions to Christianity. Let us, therefore, be all the more watchful of ourselves, knowing that we are susceptible to it. But, let this watchfulness be with a clinging to Christ, and asking Him that if we stumble, He would turn us back to His mind in the Scripture.

Of course, there was a proper understanding of circumcision—that it had been something that looked forward to Christ. So, Paul’s opponents claimed that he too was preaching circumcision as they were. But the apostle points to the fact that he was being persecuted for refusing to add anything to Christ and His cross. When he preached that their manmade ideas would diminish the cross of Christ, they were offended (Galatians 5:11).

The apostle then uses a vivid comparison to show the folly of their misuse of circumcision: it was as bad as making themselves eunuchs (a part of pagan religions, but never commanded by God, and would have disqualified them from the assembly of God’s people in the time of circumcision, cf. Deuteronomy 23:1). Manmade additions to Christianity can seem innocent, but this is not the Holy Spirit’s view of it!

What are some things about which you might need to ask about from whom they came?

Suggested songs: ARP135 “Your Name, Lord, Endures Forever” or TPH16A “Preserve Me, O My God”

2019.12.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 5:1-6

Read Galatians 5:1-6

Questions from the Scripture text: In what does the apostle command them to stand fast (Galatians 5:1)? Who has given us our freedom? What does the apostle again call submission to the Jewish church calendar and ceremonies? What are they considering doing, according to Galatians 5:2? How much will Christ profit them, if they seek spiritual value in circumcision? And if a man is circumcised because he feels a religious obligation to, what else is he indebted to do (Galatians 5:3)? What two things does Galatians 5:4 say have happened to those who attempt to be justified by law? Through Whose power did we come to faith (Galatians 5:5)? What do we eagerly expect to receive by this faith? What two things avail nothing, according to Galatians 5:6? What, in Christ Jesus, is effective?

The freedom that is being described here comes in the context of having made our transition from being under the guardian to having come into our inheritance (cf. Galatians 4:1-4, Galatians 4:9). The apostle’s point is twofold.

First, we should be embracing and celebrating the change that Christ brought from the slavery of outward forms to the sonship of simpler but fuller and more direct knowledge of God in Christ. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free!”

Second, if instead of embracing the change that Christ brought, we begin again to add external forms, we will be bringing ourselves back under that former slavery. The word translated “be entangled” has the sense “come under the control of.” We are easily entangled, easily controlled, by forms and patterns and practices in religion—and even the ones that point us to Christ quite easily take Christ’s place.

This is why the apostle warns them, “if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.” Why? Is uncircumcision a superior condition? Galatians 5:6 says that uncircumcision avails nothing! The problem is that it is the living Christ Whom we are to know and interact with in all our religion, which means that those things in which He has not currently appointed to give Himself become worse than worthless—they become competition to Christ and enslaving. Therefore, “If you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.”

The time had passed for circumcision (and other things, cf. Galatians 4:10-11) to keep God’s people focused upon the Christ to come. Attaching any religious value to circumcision would be to try to go back to that law as if it were possible to be saved by the forms that had been given by Moses—something that was never possible even at the time of Moses. This is what the apostle means when he says that becoming circumcised would obligate them to keep the whole law (Galatians 5:3), and that seeking standing before God in this way is to become “estranged from Christ” (Galatians 5:4).

Are we already what we ought to be? No! There is that holiness without which we will not see the Lord (cf. Hebrews 12:14). When we see Him, we will be like Him, and when that is our hope, we are devoted to purifying ourselves as He is pure (cf. 1 John 3:1-3). The question here is not whether or not there should be effort or growth in the Christian life.

The question is: how does that happen? If it’s not by circumcision, then is it by uncircumcision? Galatians 5:5-6 answers that it is neither of these things, but that the faith by which we have received righteous standing in Christ also depends upon the Spirit to give us the righteous character of Christ—something that is energized (made effective, “working” in verse 6) not by law but by love.

What are some things that man has added to “Christianity” that Christ hasn’t? What do Galatians 5:2 and Galatians 5:4 warn us will be the effect of practicing such things in addition to the current means by which Christ gives Himself to us and works in us? What place does love of Christ have in your own daily Christian walk? Where does Scripture say it comes from? What does Scripture say it does?

Suggested songs: ARP87 “The Lord’s Foundation” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place”

2019.12.05 Hopewell @Home ▫ Galatians 4:21-31

Read Galatians 4:21-31

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Paul call those whom he is correcting in Galatians 4:21? What does Galatians 4:22 call the mothers of Abraham’s two sons? According to what was one of them born (Galatians 4:23)? Through what was the other one born? With what does the apostle draw an analogy to these two sons (Galatians 4:24)? Which way of salvation does he compare to the son of the bondwoman? What two mountains are emblematic of trying to be right with God through this covenant (Galatians 4:26)? What mountain is emblematic of being right with God only through the promise (verse 26)? What promise is quoted in Galatians 4:27 (cf. Isaiah 54:1; Genesis 17:15-17)? Whom does the apostle say are children of promise like Isaac (Galatians 4:28)? What does he say they can expect from those who choose the way of fleshly effort instead of gracious promise (Galatians 4:29)? But what happens to those who choose the way of fleshly effort (Galatians 4:30)? In which group does the apostle place himself and his readers (Galatians 4:31)?

Many have misunderstood this passage, but Galatians 4:24-26 is the key. This passage isn’t about two sons (Ishmael and Isaac). Rather, it’s about two covenants—or, better put, about two Jerusalems.
How are the Jerusalems like the sons?

Well, one son was born as the result of human initiative—“according to the flesh” (Galatians 4:23). We recall how Sarai convinced Abram to take the initiative for producing a seed and try by way of Hagar.

The other son was born as the result of the divine initiative—“through the promise” (verse 23). We remember also how God announced the Isaac plan to Abraham in Genesis 17.

At the time that the apostle writes Galatians, there is a city called Jerusalem halfway between the north end of the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. There, there were people zealously trying to be the children of Abraham by the outward actions of the Mosaic administration. But this was like Hagar plan (Galatians 4:25)—based upon the initiative of the flesh.

However, the apostle is writing to the Galatians after Christ has taken His seat in glory. There was another barren woman who had been promised a Son—in the servant songs at the end of Isaiah, God had promised that the forever-King, the Redeemer, would come from Israel, atone for sin by His blood, and gather in a chosen people unto God from all the nations!

This is exactly what Christ has done, and there He is—seated in glory! There are not two ways to God, just as there could not be two ways to be Abraham’s heir (Galatians 4:30). The only way to be a child of God is to be born according to the Spirit, at God’s initiative, through the promised Christ, who sits enthroned among redeemed people from every nation.

Do you wish to be a child of Abraham? Believe in Christ like Abraham did! Do you wish to respond rightly to the law given at Sinai? Hope in the Christ whom that law demanded that God’s people look forward to! Do you wish to be a citizen of God’s chosen city? It cannot come by keeping the ceremonial code on earth, but only by the new administration of the enthroned King in heaven.

In whose performance do you hope? Where is He? What does He use to work in us?

Suggested songs: ARP87 “The Lord’s Foundation” or TPH425 “How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place”