1.4 Rooted in Freedom: Galatians

Why am I reading this now? The early Christians came from many different ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds. One of the most divisive issues in the early church was that some Jewish Christians were putting pressure on non-Jewish (“Gentile”) Christians to conform to their religious and cultural practices – in order to be a “good” Christian, everyone had to look and act exactly like them. The letter of Galatians is a scathing response to this mindset. Paul wrote that a message of ethnic and cultural superiority violates the gospel, for the gospel promises that Jesus saves all kinds of people.  

Trying to earn salvation through conformity to the outward standards of others is called legalism and it is spiritually deadly because it denies that it is Jesus who saves us. While Christians are to respect the convictions of others, Christians are set free by the gospel of Christ to live according to the law of love through the power of the Spirit within them.

Questions while you read:

• 1:6-2:10: Paul refers to the gospel of legalism as “another gospel”. How does Paul defend himself against the criticism that it was his gospel that was false?
• 2:11-16: How did Peter’s actions undermine the promise in the gospel that Gentile’s would be justified by faith?
• 2:15-3:9: How does legalism nullify the work of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life? 
• 5:13-25: How does the Spirit enable us to serve others in a way that does not rob us of our freedom in Christ?
•  6:1-10: What are some of the ways that we can serve our brothers and sisters by the leading of the Spirit?

Other Key Passages:

In addition to the book of Galatians, the New Testament teaches about Christian freedom in these other key passages:

• Romans 14 
• 1 Corinthians 8-9

Compare and contrast the teaching on Christian freedom found in Galatians and the above chapters.

• What principles should guide the exercise of our freedom in Christ?
• What part does the Bible and my church play in shaping my personal convictions? 

Additional Resources

• Rooted Sermon #1 on Galatians 1-2 (text)
• Rooted Sermon #2 on Galatians 3 (text)
• Rooted Sermon #3 on Galatians 5-6 (text)
• Rooted Sermon #4 on Romans 14 (text)