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Galatians 4

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Review 1-8

Salvation is by faith, not by works
We can not achieve salvation, its a bar too high
We can only gain salvation by trusting God to “credit” righteousness to us in spite of our sinfulness

What is Circumcision and Why was it given?

Circumcision was a sign of membership into the Jewish nation of Israel. (vs 11)
It had spiritual and cultural significance and meant that you belonged to God and stood with the Jewish people.
It marked you as one set apart, and acted as a “seal”

Orders of Operations

When did Abraham receive the sign of Circumcision from God?
If Abraham received the sign before he was circumcised, then what does that mean?
What things does Christianity use as a “seal” and a “sign” of a christian’s faith?

If baptism shares a similar purpose to circumcision, does that mean they are the same thing?

Abraham received the sign/sea of circumcision after he had been reckoned righteous, and obviously before he had been circumcised. This means that circumcision could not have been a part of the salvific process. That which made him righteous could not involve the “sign” of his righteousness.

http://www.gty.org/resources/bible-qna/BQ072513/how-is-abraham-the-father-of-us-all
The significance of this is huge, because it means that no action you take, outside of faith, can confer any kind of salvation or grace. The catholic understanding of sacraments, and the jewish understanding of circumcision in modern times both teach the idea that participation in the ceremonies of the religious order are what confer grace/salvation, but this is false for both christianity and the jewish law under moses as shown by Paul’s exegesis of the example of Abraham.

Abraham: the Father of all them that Believe

Vs 11 declares Abraham the “Father” of all them that believe. What does that mean to you?

Abraham: An example of Faith

vs 16-21 speak of Abraham’s faith
Abraham’s legacy of faith paved the way for the gentile nations to receive salvation by faith (this is part of what makes him the father of many nations) vs 16-17
What does vs 17 tell us about how to encourage faith?
Paul describes faith as Hope against hope (vs 18-19). What does this phrase mean?

Jesus, the source of our Salvation

Paul ends the chapter by bringing the argument full circle. The purpose of Chapter 4 was to show that engaging in salvation by Faith was not new, God had established the pattern with Abraham, providing us with an example to follow.
In this time, Jesus is the source of our salvation, but like Abraham, in order to enter into it, we must “believe”.