Galatians 5. 1-12
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
Sermon Outline I.
The “Trouble” of False Teaching
A. The trouble of (v7)
B. The trouble of (v9)
C. The trouble of coming (v10)
II. The Faithfulness of God (v10)
“I have confidence in the Lord ..”
III. The Offense of the Cross (v11)
What is the fruit of embracing the offense of the cross?
A. A firm _________ in the Lord
B. A growing desire to help others _________ well
C. An active rejection of _________ & _________
Sermon Quotes & References
“Paul’s sentiment sounds, to our ears, both coarse & malicious. We may be quite sure, however, that it was due neither to an intemperate spirit, nor a thirst for revenge, but to his deep love for the people of God and the gospel of God. I venture to say that if we were as concerned for God’s church & God’s Word as Paul was, we too would wish that false teachers might cease from the land.” –Philip Ryken, Notes on Galatians
“Paul sets himself and the false teachers in stark contrast. They were preaching circumcision; he was preaching Christ and the cross. To preach circumcision is to tell sinners that they can save themselves by their own good works; to preach Christ crucified is to tell them that they cannot and that only Christ can save them through the cross. The message of circumcision is quite inoffensive, popular because it is flattering; the message of Christ crucified is, however, offensive to human pride, unpopular because it is unflattering. So to preach circumcision is to avoid persecution; to preach Christ crucified is to invite it. People hate to be told that they can be saved only at the foot of the cross, and they oppose the preacher who tells them so. The good news of Christ crucified is still a scandal, grievously offensive to the pride of men. It tells them they are sinners & rebels, under the wrath and condemnation of God, and that they can do nothing to save themselves or secure their salvation. That only through Christ crucified can they be saved. Circumcision stands for a religion of human achievement, of what man can do by his own good works; Christ stands for a religion of divine achievement, of what God has done through the finished work of Christ. ‘Circumcision’ and ‘Christ’ are mutually exclusive. And behind our choice lurks our motive. It is when we are bent on flattering ourselves & others that we choose circumcision. Before the cross we have to humble ourselves.” –John Stott, The Message of Galatians