1. One Gospel: Different CulturesGalatians 2:9a) Gospel of Grace- Jewish Peopleb) Gospel of Grace- Gentilesc) Gospel = A new creation- Canada: One gospel for different cultures2. One Gospel: Freedom not SlaveryGalatians 2:4-5a) Truth and Falsehood- Grace and religionb) Freedom or Slavery- Add things to Jesus?c) Paul's authority confirmed- Same gospel as Peter, James and John3. One Gospel: Remember the PoorGalatians 2:10a) The Theme of Scripture- Old and New Testamentsb) Jesus' example- A poor man helping the poorc) Remembering the Poor today- Personal and as a church

1. The Gospel: Revelation!Galatians 1: 11b-12a) This Gospel is not man made- For humanity but initiated by Godb) Paul called by God- Paul uses himself as an example of God revealingc) A revelation of Jesus Christ- Always includes Jesus, not just mysterious2. The Gospel: Truth!Galatians 1: 12b-13a) Sincerity is not enough- Sincere yet wrongb) Zeal is not enough- Zealous about the True Gospelc) Today... Truth is still a BIG issue- What we believe about Jesus is life and death3. The Gospel: Transformation!Galatians 1:23-24a) The Gospel brings change- Past life now new lifeb) From persecuting to preaching- The Gospel Message is for all peoplec) The Gospel glorifies God- A new purpose... to praise God!

Galatians IntroductionGalatians 1:1-11 Written by Paul to the Galatians, likely prior to the Jerusalem Council (where it was decided that Gentile Christians did not need to be circumcised).Geographically, Galatia was in modern day TurkeyGalatians was written as a reaction to Jewish Christians adding the Law to the requirements of salvation. These (largely well intentioned) Christians would discredit Paul by speaking of his history as Paul, and how he didn’t walk with Jesus like the Twelve; they feared that the message of grace would result in people taking license to sin.Paul skipped the customary form of a letter, writing with passion, sarcasm, and anger. Why would the Galatians be susceptible to this “new gospel” (not the Gospel at all)? They were new to the faith, they didn’t want to be wrong, and it is easier to follow rules than build relationship.There are three parts to Galatians: ch. 1-2 lay a history of the Gospel Paul has preached, ch. 3-4 focus on the theology of the fulfillment of Old Testament promises in Jesus, and ch. 5-6 talk about ethics, how we live out our freedom in the Gospel.The Gospel is a Gospel of GraceGalatians 1:1 Verse 1 has an implied Trinitarian view: “by the Father, through the Son, [in the Spirit]”It is because of God’s love that the Cross is providedWe experience salvation through the empathy and sympathy of God2. The Gospel is a Gospel of PeaceGalatians 1:3 Jesus is peace to usPeace is the wholeness and security we get from graceThe war between men and God needed drastic measures to bring peace to - Jesus had to dieIn Christ we are freed from the condemnation of God, the compulsion of sin, and the conscience of other people3. The Gospel is about Jesus’ LordshipGalatians 1:6 Paul was against legalism, the creation of new “divine laws” and judgement of others for not following them. Legalists confuse obedience with trying to serve God on their own strength, think that others’ sins are worse than their own, and ask others to live up to standards that they themselves can’t meet.Paul also speaks against taking license based on God’s grace - freedom in Christ is about being free to follow God and live in righteousness. Our relationship with the Father is Jesus’ relationship with the Father

Good or Evil:- Nurture or nature?- World, flesh, DevilThe Devil:- Not all powerful- Not powerless, he does exist- The same as germsPut on the armour- It is our responsibility to do itThree schemes of the Devil and the armour to counter them1. Deception- Devil is the father of liesBelt of Truth:- Rest of the armour wouldn't fit without truth- Worldview suggests there is no absolute truthSword of the Spirit:- The Bible- God knows what is true, and writes it down on the Bible- You don't study a counterfeit to know what the real think looks like, instead, learn the truth from the Bible2. Accusation- Devil does it day and night- If you feel worthless/hopeless, you'll act worthless/hopelessBreastplate of Righteousness:- Protects our heart- Imputed righteousness - Jesus' righteousness is transferred to usShoes of Readiness:- Readiness of the gospel of peace: readiness to share it with others- Making yourself ready makes the gospel more real to you- Protects you from 'wild-goose chases', not making second things first3. Temptation- Devil uses this to distract us from happiness in God- Sin is a false promiseHelmet of Salvation:- Protects the way we think by thinking about our salvationShield of Faith:- Faith is a choice, it is our choice to hold up the shield to protect us from arrows of temptation- Childlike faith that encourages you to believe peopleWhose armour is this?- Jesus- All six pieces describe Jesus- Romans 16

1. In the Beginning... God!John 1:1-3 - Father/Son/Holy Spirit- Perfect Relationship: Unity, joy, worship, love, power, righteousness- Love: God is Love- Identity: I AM + Father- Security: The God whi was, is, is to come, God's presence- Purpose: To glorify and enjoy God2. The First Adam: God's Image BearerGenesis 1:27 - Adam & Eve: Made in the likeness and image of God- Walked with God... Relationship, oneness between husband and wife- Love: Created by love, for love, receive love, give love (intimacy*)* intimacy is a willingness to know and be known by others- Identity: Called by God, rooted in God- Secuity: no shame provision, protection, trust, belonging- Purpose: To steward God's creation, obey and glorify God3. The Effects of Sin: Paradise LostGenesis 3:9-10 - Adam and Eve: Spiritual and physical death- Relationship with God broken... cursed, pain, oneness fractured- Love: Perverted, shame, abuse, absent, lust, power- Identity: Confusion, pride, possessions, position, independence- Security: Rejection, fear, anxiety, performance, control (walls)- Purpose: Self-preservation, bitterness, other passions, inward motivation?4. The Second Adam: The God Man JesusLuke 3:22 - Jesus: Fully God/fully human, the "image" of God- Anointed with the Holy Spirit, obeyed, cross, defeated Satan- Love: "... my beloved Son"- Identity: "You are my beloved son..."- Security : "... with you I am well pleased"- Purpose: to glorify his father and do his father's will5. In Christ: Paradise RestoredGalatians 4:6-7 - Jesus: Access to our Father in Heaven- God lives with us by His Spirit and helps us love others- Love: Loved by the Father as Jesus is loved... Healed!- Identity: In Christ, adopted, chosen, accepted- Security: Sovereign Lord, good Father, family, eternity in Heaven- Purpose: To glorify God, love Jesus, enjoy God, obey and serve God6. Our Heart Issues?Galatians 4:4-5 - What do you know about Jesus? Yourself?- Love: Looking for Love in all the Wrong Places?- Identity: Unsure? Confused? Trying to fit in? Who/what defines you?- Security: Trusting yourself? Money? Job? Health? Family?- Purpose: To glorify yourself? Trying to be good? Different?- Receive the Father's love!

1. God is indeed wise!Imagine:- An all powerful God without wisdom.- An all loving God without wisdom.2. Definition what the wisdom of God is, and how it differs from His knowledge.- "The wisdom of God is that God always chooses the best goals, and the best means to those goals!"- God's Knowledge: God knows all things actual and possible in one single act.- God's Wisdom: Infinite and beyond our understanding.3. Three ways God displays His wisdom.a) Through His creation- Psalm 104:24-25 b) As displayed is our salvation- Ephesians 1:3-4 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 c) Through the church- Ephesians 3:8-10