The Importance of Christ and His Redemptive Sacrifice on the Cross

Historical Background:

P

aul wrote this letter to his converts in Galatia probably while he was in Ephesus around 54-55 AD. The Galatians were most likely descendants of Celts who had invaded Asia Minor and had settled in what is now modern Ankara, Turkey.

These new Christians were converts from paganism, and who were now being enticed by other missionaries to add the observances of Jewish law (including the rite of circumcision) to the cross of Christ as a means of salvation. These other missionaries were undermining Paul’s authority, especially asserting that Paul kept from his converts in Galatia the necessity of accepting circumcision and other key obligations of the Jewish law in order to more easily win them to Christ. They also claimed that Paul “was not a true Apostle” as he was not trained by Jesus himself.

Paul defended his apostolic authority, his correct understanding of the faith, and these Galatians and others of his converts who were not Jewish, at the Council of Jerusalem. He successfully convinced James, Peter, and John that Gentile Christians need not become Jews first (through circumcision and observance of the Mosaic law) in order to become Christians. But the issue of table fellowship between Jewish Christians who possibly still kept kosher food regulations, and Gentile believers was not yet settled. At first Peter ate with the non-Jews, but pressure from persons arriving later from Jerusalem made him draw back; and Paul publicly rebuked Peter’s inconsistency with the gospel (2,14). What ensued is a summary of basic Pauline theology:

·  The importance of Christ and his redemptive sacrifice on the cross,

·  The freedom that Christians enjoy from the old burdens of the law,

·  The total sufficiency of Christ and of faith in Christ as the way to God and to eternal life, The beauty of the new life of the Spirit.

Reference: New American Bible

INSPIRATIONAL VERSES

1:3-5“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins that he might rescue us from the present evil in accord with the will of our God and Father to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

1:15-16 “But when (God) who from my mother’s womb had set me apart and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me so that I might proclaim him to the Gentiles…”

2:14-16 “But when I saw that they were not on the right road in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Kephas in front of all, “If you, though a Jew, are living like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews. We, who are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles, (yet) who knows that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

2:21 “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification comes thru the law, then Christ died for nothing.”

3:27-29 “For all of you who were baptized into Christ clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise.”

4:3-7 “In the same way we also, when we were not of age, were enslaved to the elemental powers of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.”

5:5 “For through the Spirit, by faith, we await the hope of righteousness.”

5:13-14 “For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Group of Galatians

Linda Hoshizaki

Yosh Hoshizaki

Alex Alzona

Curie dela Rama

Rose Yap (not in picture)

Facilitators:

Catalina Cruz & Tina Sagato (not in picture)

5:22-23 “In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

5:25-26 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit. Let us not be conceited, provoking one another, envious of one another.”

6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

6:9-10 “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, but especially to those who belong to the family of the faith.”

6:15-16 “For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does un-circumcision, but only a new creation. Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule and to the Israel of God.”

Prayers:

O most Holy Spirit, we thank you for the gift of faith and your inspiration in guiding us as we study the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians. We see ourselves as among the Galatians who heard and prayed with Paul and his disciples. We are as newborn children of God who are so hungry for the word of God, and could be somewhat led astray by overzealous missionaries who may not recognize the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Guided by our faith, however, we continue to be strengthened by the teachings and examples of St. Paul.

With your blessings and the intercessions of the apostles and saints, we pray that we do not lose sight of the total sufficiency of our faith and good works as the way to God and eternal life. We humbly ask this, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Galatians Page 36