GALATIANS

Paul’s letter to the fellowship he had started at in Galatia was to find out why a church that had started so well, and now been blown off course? These gentile believers had received the gospel, and believed, solely on the basis of grace. There was nothing that could be added to the completed work of Christ. However, there had arisen a problem regarding the Law of Moses, and now many in the church were trying to keep the Law. Paul systematically shows them that the Law is perfect, it states God’s righteous standard – a standard that none can meet! The Law shows us our true nature before a holy God, our desperate condition, and so it becomes a school master to lead us (lit. forces us to flee) to Christ (3:24) as the only means whereby we can be saved. The Law could not save us, it simply condemns us. To desire to keep the Law, to be back under the Law, is to be back under condemnation, seeking to be righteous by your own efforts, where Christ can profit you nothing (5:4). The question is then asked, by what rule shall we live? By walking in the Spirit (5:16-26).

EPHESIANS

Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians is a declaration of God’s ultimate plan and purpose, the revelation of His ‘manifold wisdom’ – the church. ”Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (1:9-10)

The first three chapters deal with our wealth in Christ; the last three our walk in Christ. A further breakdown is as follows:

Ch 1 – Who we are – God’s chosen, to the praise of His glory (1:5,12).

Ch 2 – Where we’ve come from – Dead in sin, hopeless, helpless, outcasts (2:1).

Ch 3 – Where we’re going – Eternal destiny as one body united in Christ (3:11).

Ch 4 – What we should be doing – Walking worthy of our calling, renewed in our minds (4:1).

Ch 5 – Why we should be doing it – Because of the promise of our inheritance, and the reality of the coming Judgment (5:1).

Chapter 6 – How we are to do it – In the power of His might (6:10).

May this overview prompt you to undertake your own study of these divinely inspired books.

The PDF slides are from the PowerPoint presentation used during the teaching session.
You can listen to the audio on this web page, or save it for later listening.

The post Session 40 – Galatians & Ephesians first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In chapter 6  Paul continues to look at the contrasts between a flesh-led life and a spirit led life. To begin with Paul shows that if we are walking with the Spirit, we will put others first, not out of compulsion, but out of love. This will be seen our desire to restore each other if and when we stumble, the desire to bear each other’s burdens, the desire to financially contribute to the work of the fellowship, and in particular looking to support those whom God has called to teach.

In closing Paul gives a brief summary of the key points he has raised, in particular the foundational point that we are saved by grace alone, and are therefore now living  to please God out of the deep love His Spirit has shed abroad in our hearts.

May you be blessed and challenged as you listen to this study.

You can listen to the audio on this web page, or save it for later listening. The PowerPoint slides in PDF format are also available for download.

Pastor Barry.

The post Galatians Chapter 6 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In chapter 5 verse 13 Paul addresses the question, “If Christ has paid for all our sin, past present and future…and if we have now been adopted as Son’s , what’s to stop us living however we please?”

The answer is simple: LOVE! We have been constrained by the love of Christ. Yes, we have this wonderful liberty now that we are saved by the Grace of God, and are no longer bound by the Law but Paul urges us not to use this liberty as an opportunity to indulge in the ‘works’ of the flesh, but rather, because Christ loved us and we now love Him in return, we should walk with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to lead and guide us. He then explains to us that if we do, the wonderful fruit of the Spirit will be produced in our lives.

Paul also reminds us that there are eternal consequences for our decisions, not in regard to our salvation – that was signed and sealed at Calvary – but in regard to our inheritance & rewards.

This is a hugely important topic that sadly many Christians do not understand, and so continue striving to ‘get it right’ by their own efforts, not realising that the work has already been done, it is just up to us to walk victoriously!

May you be blessed and challenged as you listen to this study.

You can listen to the audio on this web page, or save it for later listening. The PowerPoint slides in PDF format are also available for download.

Pastor Barry.

The post Galatians Chapter 5: 14-26 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In chapter 5 Paul urges the Galatian believers to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage”. This immediately highlights that we are in a battle, we need to hold the line, because it is all too easy to drawn away from the simplicity of the Gospel of Grace. Too often we allow our own efforts, or a particular doctrine, or an ordinance or ritual that we have become accustomed to through tradition to remove us from the simple fact that Christ has done it all. There is nothing you can do that is of greater value than the blood of Jesus. None of your efforts can make you more righteous or more holy; nothing you do can improve your standing with God, for (if you are a born again believer) you are already a ‘son and heir’, adopted by God into His family – and it doesn’t get better than that! Your sins are forgiven, past, present and future, you have been clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ!

Paul reminds his hearers that the moment you become legalistic and try to insist on something else that a person must do to be saved, you are placing yourself and those foolish enough to follow you under the bondage of the Law once again, and if you try to get to God that way, you have to keep ALL the commandments, for every minute of every day for every year of your life! The Law of Moses and any of the systems of this world are based on self sufficiency, i.e. your own ability, and your simply cannot attain to God’s standard that way.

The only solution is to come empty handed and fall at the feet of God’s mercy and (undeservedly) receive His grace.

Now, of course, there comes a challenge to the simplicity and completeness of the Gospel of Grace which says, IF you have this liberty now, what’s to stop you going out and just doing anything you like? Paul give the answer in verse 13 of Chapter 5. In a word, Love. Love for God and love for the brethren.

At this point I recommend you read 1 John which in many ways is the instruction manual on Grace, and how to live by Grace.

May you be blessed and challenged as you listen to this study.

You can listen to the audio on this web page, or save it for later listening. The PowerPoint slides in PDF format are also available for download.

Pastor Barry.

The post Galatians Chapter 5: 1-14 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In chapter 4 Paul uses three main arguments to try and convince his Galatian converts that thy should refuse to listen to the Judaizers, and not bring themselves back under bondage by trying to keep elements of the Law of Moses. They were saved by God’s grace alone. they could add nothing to the completed work of Christ by keeping the Sabbath or observing feast days.

The first argument is simply to point our that at that time, and in that culture, a child was no better than a servant until he came of age. But at the time appointed by his father, he became as ‘son’ and heir of all his father had. Jesus had come at the time appointed by His Father, and Paul points out that now they had been adopted as sons and heirs. Why would they therefore want to go and put themselves back in a position where they had no inheritance?

The second argument is a sentimental one where Paul reminds them of their joy at his coming and preaching the gospel of grace to them, how they had received him and loved him. So he now asked quite bluntly, “do you now hate me because I speak the truth to you?”

Thirdly Paul draws an analogy for the historical account of Abraham, with Hagar and Sarah, Ishmael and Isaac, and the earhtly Jerusalem and the Heavenly Jerusalem. Hagar was a slave, Sarah was free. Ishmael was ‘a work of the flesh’, Isaac was a miracle of Grace, the earhtly Jerusalem was (and still is) in bondage, the New Jerusalem is free and eternal. All the former speak of the Law of Moses, in that those under the Law are slaves to it, and have to depend upon their own works, yet will never be free from it. The latter all speak of the wonderful liberty of the Gospel of Grace!

May you be blessed and challenged as you listen to this study.

You can listen to the audio on this web page, or save it for later listening. The PowerPoint slides in PDF format are also available for download.

Pastor Barry.

The post Galatians Chapter 4 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In this study we see Paul  continuing his defense of the gospel of Grace, and bringing a challenge to any who would try to add to the simplicity of the gospel.

We also look at a common error that is made concerning the length of time the Children of Israel spent in Egypt, and which Paul in this chapter helps to unlock. (See also Pastors Blog: https://www.calvaryportsmouth.co.uk/2015/11/the-430-year-conundrum/)

May you be blessed and challenged as you listen to this study.

You can listen to the audio on this web page, or save it for later listening. The PowerPoint slides in PDF format are also available for download.

Pastor Barry.

The post Galatians Chapter 3 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In this study we look at events following Paul’s conversion in the summer of A.D. 32, which eventually led to him, 17 years later, going up to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Titus to formally meet the Apostles and to discuss the gospel he had been preaching. The main topic of conversation was the question over what part the Law of Moses now played, and should the Gentiles be expected to keep the Law? Of course Paul made it clear that the Gospel (good news) given to him by revelation from Jesus was that you cannot be saved by keeping the Law, and the Law, because it is holy and sets forth the righteous standard of God, cannot be kept by a sinful man; therefore the Gospel (good news) is that Christ has done it ALL! There is nothing to add to the completed work of Christ, and all we have to do is simply believe! In a word, GRACE!

We also see Paul mention an event that happened shortly afterward, when he had to confront Peter face to face in Antioch on this very subject. Rather than a trivial dispute, the outcome would have huge consequences one way or another!

May you be blessed and challenged as you listen to this study.

You can listen to the audio on this web page, or save it for later listening. The PowerPoint slides in PDF format are also available for download.

Pastor Barry.

The post Galatians Chapter 2 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.

In this study we look at the background to the letter in order to understand Paul’s reason for writing. Of all of Paul’s letters, this is the most stern as Paul sets out to defend the truth of the gospel, that Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone.

Speaking of this book, Dr Merrill Tenney made the following claim:

• “Few books have had a more profound influence on the history of mankind than has this small tract, for such it should be called. “Christianity might have been just one more Jewish sect, and the thought of the Western world might have been entirely pagan had it never been written”.

William Ramsay commented:

• “It is a unique and marvelous letter, which embraces in its six short chapters such a variety of vehement and intense emotion as could probably not be paralleled in any other work.”

And in his commentary on Galatians (available from www.khouse.org) Dr Chuck Missler says:

• “It was on the masthead of the Reformation. It has been called the Magna Carta of the early church. It is the manifesto of Christian liberty, the impregnable citadel, and a veritable Gibraltar against any attack on the heart of the gospel”

May you be blessed and challenged as you listen to this study.

You can listen to the audio on this web page, or save it for later listening. The PowerPoint slides in PDF format are also available for download.

Pastor Barry.

The post Galatians Chapter 1 first appeared on Calvary Chapel Portsmouth.