Galatians-Week 1-The problem

Keeping up with the Q&A format (until I can't do it easily and then I'll drop it like one hot potato)...
3. What's the deal? Why did Paul write the letter?
Most of the time, Paul wrote letters to address questions or problems in the churches. The Galatian churches had been invaded by Judaizers, Jews who made a profession of Christianity but wanted to add a legal requirement to salvation. They added circumcision and other requirements under Mosaic law. They rejected Paul's message: salvation comes through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. Alone. There is no other requirement, even for Gentiles like the Galatians.

And they attacked Paul personally to cast doubt on his authority and further challenge his message.

4. What's Paul's message? Ephesians 2:8-9 says it pretty clearly. Here's Paul's version of the gospel, in a nutshell:

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

Do you ever question how easily we come to God? Shouldn't salvation be more difficult? Maybe more like Survivor with challenges to over come or some other reality show where you are judged critically and eliminated, leaving only the best standing? Definitely there should be a long list of rules to follow. Right?

Paul's going to answer that question for the Galatians, the Judaizers, and for us. It's simple because it has to be. There's no other way. We've had a chance to try it by performing rituals and ceremonies and following the rules and we couldn't do it. But Jesus could. And did. Now we have to understand what that means.

Galatians-Week 1-The history

I decided to post a little of what we talk about in our weekly Bible study here. Maybe it will help me remember as we go along what we've talked about. I'm an optimist.

Here are a couple of questions that I had to answer for myself first:
1. Where or what is a Galatia? (I like to start with the basics, you know.)
Galatia is a region in Turkey, settled by Celtic tribes who migrated due to conflict with the Romans at home. The Galatian churches, recipients of the letter, were established during a missionary trip by Paul.

2. And so then...who is Paul?
Paul was the author of this letter and many others which make up books in the New Testament. And he was a very big deal, a Pharisee, committed to destroying the early Christian church. Here's what he has to say about himself:

Phillipians 3:5-6
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

And this is part of that question...how did Paul make it from "Hebrew of Hebrews" to the author of critical Christian doctrine? Here's the story of his conversion, along the road to Damascus:

Acts 9-Saul's Conversion
1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
5"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6"Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

7The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!"
"Yes, Lord," he answered.

11The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

13"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

15But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."

17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

The past

Faith looks back upon the past, for her battles have strengthened her and her victories have given her courage. She remembers that God never has failed her.

This is a quote that a friend sent me yesterday. Remembering that God never has failed her...this is an excellent thing to remember.


Happy Friday.

Unplugged

I've been telling my friends that I'm getting ready to do an "unplugged" Bible study at work. And it is...normally I have lots of help in the form of an expert, someone who gets paid to write and/or video enlightening studies that I then buy at my neighborhood LifeWay store. It's a system. It works. It works for lots and lots of people.

This time, I just wanted to go to the Bible. So we're going to study Galatians. Unplugged. Everyone will read the same chapter and we'll talk. Since I'm no scholar, I've been scrambling ever since I decided to try this. I have 2 commentaries and a study Bible in addition to a small workbook. And I read and I compare and I think and I decide and I write.

And I believe I am more plugged in than ever. For the first time in a long time, learning is exciting and I anticipate God's work with excitement. I added another Bible study this week, a Beth Moore study that I hope turns out to be as fabulous as she promised. And I'm still reading Self Talk Soul Talk about Psalms to replace the negative things I say to myself.

All in all, I'm experiencing God right now. And the more I have, the more I want. Until this morning...when I face the day with dread...dread because something bad might happen in my brand new study like I'll say something stupid or people will fight or because work is still work and the pressure never seems to let up and I just want a little rest or because I'm me and Satan knows my weakness, the places to hit me to rob me of the joy that comes from finding some of my purpose.

So...from one study I say:

I lift my eyes up to the mountains, where does my help come from?
It comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

From the next I say:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the world.

And from the book I have learned to say:

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

You would really think that would be enough, right? Maybe. I'll get there.

Growth

Acts 10: Cornelius' House
27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

30Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.' 33So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us."

34Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.

Did you notice that Cornelius, even though he feared God, prayed to Him, and did good things, wasn't saved until Peter visited? Peter shared the message of Jesus Christ and the Gentiles were saved in a bright, amazing, undeniable way. The angel didn't do it, Cornelius didn't do it, Peter did it with a little help. And the message: everyone who believed in Him received forgiveness of his sins through his name. Everyone.

Peter is still Peter. I think even with the vision, God had to show Peter that even a centurion and his family can be saved. Every person, regardless of race or status or birth, can be saved. God doesn't show favoritism. Everyone of us Gentiles should say "Thank you, Cornelius. Thank you, God" because God showed in a clear, amazing way that this message was for the world, not just the people of Israel. The God of Abraham and Isaac became the God of Cheryl, thanks to Jesus. And thanks to God, that message is crystal clear to Peter and the apostles.

Good job, Cornelius.

Peter's dream

Acts 10
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."

21Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?"

22The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Contrast Peter's vision to Cornelius' dream...an angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter, and he does it. Immediately. What does Peter do? Peter sees the vision, hears the voice...and says No. Peter had baggage that Cornelius didn't, a lifetime of rules about what he could eat and what he couldn't, an understanding of Israel as God's chosen people. What does God do? He says yes. 3 times he says yes. I think 3 is Peter's magic number because that's what it took...well, that and the spirit and the "coincidental" arrival of Cornelius' men.

God is awesome, right? And merciful. Peter's vision was just the beginning. He was going to be doing some growing along with Cornelius. Peter had to spread the gospel to the Jews...and someone else was going to reach the rest of us. And Peter's face to face with Cornelius and his family...just the beginning.

The centurion Cornelius

I'm going to be leading another Bible study beginning Thursday this week. And for some crazy reason, I decided to try something I've never done before. I'm not using a study guide...well, other than the Bible. And that's the ultimate study guide, right?

Luckily, my Sunday school lesson is helping me out a little. We're studying Acts, which is kinda the history that Paul is talking about in Galatians...the book I picked to teach. In order not to lose any of my fascinating plans for the Bible study, I'm doing my best to stay away from Paul. He's a big deal for Galatians, being the writer and all.

Our lesson this week was on...Peter, my favorite, specifically Cornelius and Peter. In Acts, we see Peter growing...and in Galatians, Paul showed that Peter had a whole lot more to do.

Here's where Cornelius comes in:

Acts 10
Cornelius Calls for Peter
1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
4Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea."

7When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

What do we know about Cornelius?
1. He was important, a leader, a Roman
2. He was devout, feared God, prayed to Him. Cornelius was a good person.
3. Cornelius couldn't save himself. And neither could the angel. God had a plan for Peter.
4. Cornelius was obedient. Immediately.

For some reason, this time, the more we study Acts, the more I understand what amazing things the early church accomplished. I've heard this before, but now it's real. I think it comes from studying Galatians at the same time. I understand Paul better and I see the church at work. Jesus brought the message, but these men did the work. And Satan helped. By persecuting these men and scattering them, Satan caused the spread of Christianity beyond Jerusalem, beyond Judea.