by Lane Rogers
There are several key words and expressions used in the books of Galatians and Romans that need to be understood before a study of these books is engaged. This is a brief description of some of the key terms.
1. Righteousness: There are several aspects of the concept of righteousness that are found in the book of Romans and Galatians. (1) Righteousness is needed by all mankind, because all mankind is sinful (Romans 1-3:20). (2) Righteousness is provided to us by a loving God (Romans 3: 21-26). Therefore, righteousness cannot be obtained by any means of our own efforts but rather it is provided to us by God. (3) Righteousness is received by men/women who believe (Romans 3:37-4:25). The only requirement to receive righteousness is belief. Man reaches out by faith to receive this gift from God. (4) Righteousness is experienced in the soul of man. It is not experienced by the outer man but in the real man that dwells inside (Romans 5:1-8: 17). (5) This righteousness is guaranteed by God's eternal purpose ( Romans 8: 18-39). Thus, righteousness is not temporary or conceived on the spur of the moment, because God planned it in the eternal. (6) Righteousness was rejected by the Jewish nation (Romans 9-11). They wanted a system of righteousness that might be obtained by a system of works. They wanted to contribute to their own righteousness by purchasing or earning it. (7) The manifestation of righteousness is expressed by righteous living. By the life we live we make it known that God was right in what He did. Thus, righteousness is what was needed, provided, received, experienced, and guaranteed; it was rejected and is manifested.
2. Law: Paul uses the term 'law' in two different ways. When Paul speaks about “the law” he is making a reference to the Law of Moses. When Paul speaks about “law” he means any law.
The definition of law is "a legal system of regulations demanding obedience or demanding observance, where one violation condemns." Here is an example; The speed limit is 30 MPH or 40 kilometers an hour. I exceed that speed limit and a representative of the law catches me and issues me a citation. He gives me a ticket and I am now declared to be a violator of the law. I must now appear before a judge of the law. If he declares also that I am a violator of the law then I must pay the penalty that the law system demands.
This also applies to spiritual law. In Galatians 3:10 Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 27:26 which states that the law of God demanded absolute observance and pronounced a curse on the first violation. A man is cursed if he does not observe everything that is written in the book of the law. Law is a system that demands observance and condemns the violator at the first offense.
In Romans 10:5 Paul states that the law only promises life based on the keeping of its regulations. In Galatians 3:13 Paul writes: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Galatians 3:13-14 and Romans 10 say the same thing that Paul is saying in Galatians 3:10, that being, the law is a system that demands total obedience and punishes any disobedience to it.
In Galatians 2: 15-16 Paul repeats the same phrase three times to emphasize that because the law condemns at the first offense, no one can be justified by observing the law. Paul writes, "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified (first use of the phrase) by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified (second use of the phrase) by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified " (third use of the phrase).
In Romans 3:19-20 Paul writes that no one is justified by the works of the law because the law only makes people aware of their sin. In Romans 3:23 he says, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God....." "Fall short" is in the prefect tense (Greek) and means that all stand short of. Why do all stand short of? Because all have sinned. Without faith in Christ we will always "stand short of" God's glory. So, in this study when we use the word "law" we will attempt to use it as Paul used it. That is, a legal system where one violation condemns the offender.
3. Legalism: This word is not found in the Bible but it comes out of the concept of law. In the New Testament, particularly the book of Galatians the word used instead is Judaiser.
The definition of legalism is, "a code of deeds and observances as a means of justification." Legalism then is not just trying to be right but a belief that because I am right I am justified. That is, because of what I do I am justified before God. In the book of Micah we read: "With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?" The legalists will not stop with this question. To understand this we need to see the questions raised in the rest of the verse. In Micah 6:8a, God tells us what He requires. "He has showed you O man what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?" Thus in reality, the Lord requires three things: "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly before your God" (Micah 6:8b). What does this mean to us? We are to live according to the Word of God. In regard to others, I am to live according to Mercy. In regard to God, I am to walk according to humility. This is all that God requires. To live righteously, to act mercifully, and to walk with humility.
4. Justification :The word justification simply means "to vindicate." Paul uses this word over and over in the book of Romans and Galatians. In Romans 3:12 Paul writes that there is now a righteousness that is completely separate from the Law. This righteousness was discussed in the Law and in the Prophets and is achieved by the believer through faith in Christ. Thus, faith in Christ results in justification (vindication) of the believer (cf. Romans 3:22-25b).
These words tell us that we are not only vindicated but how we are vindicated. All of this is accomplished through the grace of God. But there was a cost. In Romans 3:25 Paul writes that Christ paid for our sins as well as those of the previous generation. The sacrifice of Christ and his atonement was God's way of showing his justice. In short, to be justified by faith in Christ is to be counted righteous.
5. Grace χάρίζ charis or charity. Grace is misunderstood and a misused word. Grace is a "free gift." However, in the Bible grace is described as God's system of salvation by faith in Christ.
In Romans 6:23 we read that because of sin, death is what we have earned, but life is what we have received because of the grace (free gift) of God. (The free gift of God was God's plan of salvation).
6. Faith and Belief: The two words literally mean “to trust, to rely, to commit.” Faith and trust are the means by which the grace of God is obtained. It is because I believe on what Jesus did at Calvary that I am justified by Faith, I am saved by faith, and I am saved unto faith.
7. Freedom/Liberty: Freedom and Liberty in the book of Romans/Galatians finds a relationship to three things: (1) law (2) sin (3) death. As long as one is under the law where one offense condemns then a person is under the mastery of sin. Because I am under grace, I am not condemned by sin. This does not mean that I can freely sin but it does mean that we are free from a system where one violation condemns.
Concluding Remarks
In conclusion there are ten words that are discussed in the book of Romans and many of the same words in Galatians. Sin, guilt, and condemnation are discussed in Romans 1:8-3:20. This is man's condition. He is lost. Atonement, grace, faith, and justification are God's activity. Sanctification is man's separate state. Glorification is man's present glory. Vindication shows that God has proven to be righteous in all of His acts.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE
EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS
I, TO WHOM WRITTEN, This is a unique epistle in that it is written to a group of churches. It is not to a single congregation, nor to a city people, but to the churches of a district: Galatia.
A. The Location.
1. It was in central Asia Minor.
2, The province was one part of the district.
B. The History Before Paul.
1.The Territory.
a.
It originally belonged to the Phrygians.
b. Certain tribes of Gauls (French) in their restless conquest-loving spirit invaded the land. These
tribes tried to overrun Greece, but were repulsed and settled in this area, which bore their name
eventually.
2. The Dates of Important Events.
a. They originally settled about 279 B.C.
b. In 189 B.C., they were conquered by the Romans, but allowed to keep their own king.
c. In 25 B.C. their self-government was taken away.
3. The Division of the Galatians.
a. They were divided into three tribes, each occupying sub-districts.
b. The cities of Tavium Persinus and Anarya (now Ankara) were their capitals.
C. The People.
1.The Race.
a. The majority were of the Celtic race, ancestors of the modern French, Welch, Irish, and Scotch.
b. Phrygians, Greeks, Jews and Romans also settled there.
2. Language.
a. The main language was Greek, the universal language.
b. They also retained the Gallic tongue until the fourth century, when, according to Jerome, they could converse with the French.
3. Character.
a. Julius Caesar says, “The infirmity of the Gauls is that they are fickle in their resolves and fond of
change, and not to be trusted.”
b. Thierry says, “Frank, impetuous, impressible, eminently intelligent, but at the same time xtremely
changeable, inconsistent, fond of show, perpetually quarreling, the fruit of excessive vanity.”
c. Paul says, “I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel . . . 0 foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?” (Galatians 1:6,3: 1)
D. Paul’s Experience With The Galatians.
1. Paul and company set sail to Perga in Pamphylia Acts 13:13.
a. Lycaonia, Pisidia, Pamphlia, and a large part of Phrygia were in Galatia.
b. The letter here may have been to the northern Galatians.
c. Probably Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe were the churches, for these were in Paul’s journey on his first visit.
2. Paul’s visit among them is recorded in detail in Acts 14.
3. His journey through Phrygia and Galatia is recounted in Acts 16:6 and 18:23..
11. THE PAULINE AUTHORSHIP.
A. Stated, Galatians 1:l.
B.Indicated, Galatians 6: 11.
111. THE DATE.
A. The dating is not scientifically accurate as yet.
B. It was written after his visit of Acts 18:23, which occurred about 54-58A.D.; therefore, 57 A.D. is about right.
IV, THE PLACE OF WRITING.
A. Macedonia is a possibility,
B, Corinth is a possibility,
V. THE PURPOSE OF WRITING.
A, To Overcome the Influence of Judaizing Teachers,
B,To Establish His Apostleship,
1.The Judaizers felt the necessity of destroying Paul’s influence.
2. They sought to do this by denying that he was an apostle of Christ.
VI. THE RELATION OF THE EPISTLES OF GALATIANS AND ROMANS.
A, The relation of the Law to the Gospel is discussed in both.
B. Justification by obedience to God by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law is discussed in both.
INTRODUCTION
THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER: Paul's subject in this epistle is justification by faith in Christ. The Galatians knew this, of course; they had to in order to become Christians (3:26-27). But, false teachers from among unbelieving Jews had duped some among the churches of Galatia into believing that keeping the law of Moses was also essential to salvation. Inasmuch as legal systems of law cannot justify lawbreakers, but can only condemn them (Gal. 2: 16). This addition of the law of Moses to Christianity would obviously cancel out justification which comes by grace through faith in Christ (Gal. 2:21).
While believing in Christ, these Christians did not fully understand the justifying principle of faith nor the inherent condemnation of the law of Moses. This simplicity made them vulnerable to the particular brand of false doctrine which encouraged Paul to write and challenge.
OUR NEED TO STUDY GALATIANS: This same problem exists in the church today, and for the same reason- failure to understand just why and how faith justifies, and why the law of Moses is condemned. Therefore, grappling with the problem as revealed in the Galatian epistle is as needful now as it was then, and for the same reasons.
1. The Historical Argument, Chs. 1-2.
2. The Scriptural Argument, Chs. 3-4.
3. The Practical Argument, Chs. 5-6.
The letter opens with strong assertions (claims) of apostolic authority and divine power to save (1:1-5), and a warning challenge not to move away from the truth of the gospel (1:6-10).
AIM OF THIS LESSON: To show that Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves.