עברית

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1 Cor. 15:1-4

Studies in the letter to the Galatians

By: Dov Avnon ( https://www.facebook.com/GraceGospelEurope)

I am writing those studies on Paul letters to the Galatians, so we will have a good picture on the words that Christ gave to Paul for us members of the church the body of Christ under the dispensation of grace. My teaching base on the truth that only in Paul letters Romans till Philemon's we are finding the doctrine for the present dispensation of Grace and that the letter to the Galatians is the first letter that we must study if we want to know, how and where Paul receive his gospel. I am NOT into the two bodies teaching as if Paul had two ministries or was talking to a two different groups of believers.  There is a great teaching in this letters for us today so my prayers are like Paul said:

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Eph 1

Chapter 1: vers 1 - 2

If you heard about the dispensation of Grace then you probably knows that only Paul’s letter Romans till Philemon’s are written directly to the churches of this dispensation. Paul letters are starting with the letter to the Romans so if you want to be established in the gospel of God’s grace you should first study Paul letters to the Romans. The very beginning of the gospel of God’s grace is written in his letter to the Galatians. If you want to know and understand why God changed from Law to grace and what is the different between the gospel that Paul was preaching and the gospel that Peter James and John were preaching you should start reading the letter to the Gelatins.

5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matt 5

MATTHEW 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in moses' seat

Many see contradictions between the words of Christ on earth and the words that He gave from heaven to the apostle Paul. If you never heard about the term the dispensation of grace it will be difficult for you to understand that there was changing in Gods program with the nation Israel. It is  almost 2000 years that you and me are living under the dispensation of grace of God.

Circumcised after the manner of Moses

 1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Acts 15

Paul letter to the Galatians and for us contain the teaching that show us that under the dispensation of Grace, God save Jews and Gentiles in the same manner only by grace through faith without that any one should be  circumcised after the manner of Moses.

It is crystal clear to anyone who knows his Bible that God said at certain time:

17:13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. Genesis 17

So you see those “certain men which came down from Judaea” acts 15. Where NOT totally wrong in their teaching like many today. They just did not listen to what the same God (Christ is God) telling them now NOT THROUGH MOSES but THROUGH PAUL.

So the rest of the detail about circumcision under the dispensation of grace we will find in this letter. It is this letter that dealing with the questions around the covenant and the promises that God made to Abraham  and the different working of Gods Spirit under Law and Grace.

 In the mean time anyone who live in 2012 whether he is a Jew or a Gentile and believe that Christ is God who on the cross died for his sins ( Rom. 10:8-12, 1 Cor. 15:1-4) should also know the following verse:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ Col. 2:11

 Any one should also know that Paul words in his letters to the Colossians for us under the dispensation of Grace are NOT in any contradiction to the words that God first gave to Abraham or Moses for the nation Israel. It is the same God who revealed those things. It is the same God (Christ is God) that now through Paul give us the full meaning of the circumcision.

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Paul is the apostle that Christ saved especially to tell the world about the gospel of the cross or as it is called the gospel of God’s grace. After God put Israel as a nation temporary aside, Christ choose Paul and revealed him the new purpose as we know today as:

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Rom 16

When we are talking about the differences between Law and grace, we should first understand that there is great different between the gospel that Christ gave to the apostle Paul and the gospel that he gave to Peter James and John the apostles from Jerusalem.

2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory forever and ever. Amen

Paul was not alone. While he receive the revelations (2 cor. 12:1-2) Paul was surrounding with faithful brethren. We will read often in his letters the word BRETHREN. Those are the brethren who should keep the faith. It is the man that should keep teaching the church the truth of the gospel as Christ gave to Paul. While Paul was the one to receive the revelations. Christ used other apostles and prophets to make it known.

Studies that i am publishing on my FB page will be added to this studies.

Any comments or additional light is always Welkom use ( https://www.facebook.com/GraceGospelEurope ) or directly to my mail box avnon@planet.nl 

22-04-2012