Men's Group Study Guide
NIV Notes by Kelly Link
Introduction
This week we will look at faith and how departing from faith can bring death and destruction to our lives. Continuing in faith is something all believers struggle with because it is contrary to our sinful nature (flesh). In these five verses, Paul uncovers one of Satan’s best strategies for shipwrecking our faith. Please open in prayer and let’s dig right in.
STUDY NOTES: verses 1-5
V.1 You foolish Galatians!The Greek word here for foolish is aonetos (an-o-ay-tos). Paul is not saying that they are mentally stupid. This word means these people can think but they failed to come to the right conclusion because they were carnally minded. The Galatians were using their senses to drive their thinking rather than following the Spirit. (Romans 8: 5), (Ephesians 2: 3)
Who has bewitched you? Bewitched in the Greek language is ‘baskaino’ (bas-kah’ ee-no). It means to fascinate by false misrepresentations. It was as if the Galatians were put under a spell. Paul questioned the Galatians about who was leading them astray from faith in Christ to the works of the flesh (law). (Romans 16: 17), (Ephesians 4: 13-14)
Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.Paul had given the Galatians a clear picture of Jesus Christ crucified. He wondered how they could have missed the message. (Romans 6:6), (2 Corinthians 13: 4)
V. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?By asking this question Paul was leading the Galatians back to what it was that actually brought them into a right relationship with God. The Galatians had already received the Holy Spirit by simply believing what they had heard. They didn’t receive the Spirit as compensation for their works of their flesh. (Romans 4:14)
V. 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?After starting with simple faith and abiding in Jesus, the Galatians were deceived into thinking that spiritual growth would take place by the works of the flesh. (Acts 26: 17,18), (Romans 1: 17)
V. 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing- if it really was for nothing?Apparently the Galatians had suffered for their faith. Most likely it was at the hands of the Judaizers. Just like Paul who was vigorously persecuted by the Jews in Galatia (Acts 14), so too were the Galatian converts. Paul wondered if their suffering was for nothing. A better translation would be “Did all your wonderful spiritual experiences serve no purpose”? Paul said this because they were walking by the works of the flesh and not faith. (Acts 14:22)
Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the Law, or because you believe what you have heard?Paul was asking the Galatians if real spiritual gifts are acquired by having a works relationship with God or by responding to God by faith. We are saved by grace through faith and we experience and mature in Christ by the same method. (Acts 10: 43-47)
TRUTH APPLIED:
Q. 1 Define the difference between being carnally minded and spiritually minded. Why is it imperative that we are spiritually minded?
Q. 2 What is the result of being carnally minded?
Q. 3 What is the significance of seeing and understanding Jesus Christ crucified?
Q. 4 Please share a testimony or two from someone in the group about their departure from faith to the works of the flesh.
Q. 5 One of Satan’s best strategies is to get and keep a Christian’s walk off track so that we are ineffective. Please define this strategy and discuss ways we can prevent it from happening to us.
Q. 6 When the works of the flesh are substituted for faith what characteristics are the driving forces in a believer’s life?
Q. 7 Are you spiritually dry? Just like Paul asked the Galatians to examine their walk we need to examine our own. Did you receive the Holy Spirit because of something you did or because you believed God? What is the source of your life?
CONCLUSION:
It is obvious that we received the Holy Spirit by believing what we heard and not by fulfilling a set of rules. So it is in our daily lives as we continue to mature as followers of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately spiritual maturity takes time. Please pray for one another for God to give us grace to allow us to grow up into what He has purposed for our lives.
In Him,
Kelly Link