Galatians 5

• Galatians 3:23
• Colossians 2:14 – The Old Law has been put away.
• Galatians 5:1 – See John 8:32-40.
  • “Stand fast” – Ephesians 3:17; Jeremiah 2:8
  • “again” – some were previously entangled in paganism.
  • I Corinthians 15:58; 16:13; Ephesians 6; Philippians 1:27
• Galatians 5:5 – See Titus 2:13; II Timothy 4:8; Philippians 3:8-11

Introduction

• Numbers 20:1-13

Review: Moses

• Exodus 1:15-2:4
• Exodus 2:5-6
• Exodus 2:11-15; Acts 7:23
• Acts 7:30-36
• Exodus 31:18; 34:27-28
• Deuteronomy 34:7
• Matthew 17:1-8

Previously on…

• God delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Exodus 1-14)
• God provides manna and water from a rock (Exodus 16-17)
• Moses receives the law at Mr. Sinai and the people worship an idol (Exodus 19-32)
• Spies sent into Canaan and the people rebel (Numbers 13-14)
  • God pronounces judgment on the Israelites – death and wilderness wandering
• Numbers 20:1 – Miriam dies

People’s behavior affects us

• Numbers 20:2-5
• Recall that Moses is called “very meek” (Numbers 12:3)
• Notice some interactions between God and Moses:
  • Exodus 33:17
  • Numbers 14:20
  • Deuteronomy 34:10
• But even he was not immune to the effects of other people’s behavior.
• Moses behaved admirably on several occasions when he faced difficult circumstances.
  • Exodus 17:4
  • Numbers 12:13
  • Exodus 32:11-14; Numbers 14:13-19
• Consider how Jesus behaved when He was mistreated (Matthew 27:24-50).
• Moses is not alone in being influenced by others’ bad behavior.
  • Galatians 2:11-14
  • III John 1:9-11
• Moses’ anger problem
  • Exodus 2:11-13
  • Exodus 11:8
  • Exodus 32:19
  • Psalms 106:32-33; 78:38-41
  • Galatians 5:20
• How we react, when mistreated, must be governed by God’s word.
  • Matthew 5:11-12
  • II Timothy 2:24-25

Partial obedience isn’t enough

• Numbers 20:9-11
• Exodus 17:1-7
• The difference between the last time God commanded Moses to provide water and this time is one word: “strike” vs. “tell”
• When Got issues a command or authorizes a work, it must be done fully and completely.
  • Partial obedience = rebellion

Sin has consequences

• Numbers 20:12, 24
• Moses asks God to reconsider his punishment.
  • Deuteronomy 3:26
  • Deuteronomy 32:48-52
• This moment of rash behavior at Meribah was a short one in light of Moses’ long life, but it had a lasting impact.
• Sin’s earthly consequences may be short-lived or permanent.
• Sin’s spiritual consequences may be short-lived or permanent.
• Romans 6:23; James 1:15
• II Corinthians 7:10-11 – One who fears the earthly consequences of sin more than spiritual consequences will never be saved.

Conclusion

• Moses, like us, was not immune to temptation.
• His actions at Meribah remind us that …
  • Others’ behavior affects us
  • Partial obedience is unacceptable
  • Sin has lasting consequences
• But, thanks to God, we can respond appropriately to negative behavior, please God with our service, and avoid eternal condemnation!

I Corinthians 7

I Corinthians 7:1-5 – The marriage bed

• I Corinthians 7:1 – Some translations add quotes here to indicate this is something written to Paul. This is not a general rule that sexual relations are wrong.
• I Corinthians 7:2 – God created mankind with a sexual appetite, which should be fulfilled within marriage as God designed it. See Proverbs 5:19-20 and Song of Solomon.
• I Corinthians 7:3 – The responsibility here is mutual. It is the same for both husband and wife.
• I Corinthians 7:4 – This must be done in love. Sex should never be used as a weapon or a bargaining chip in marriage. This verse is not a license for abuse.
• I Corinthians 7:5 – The marriage bed is a blessing. Sex should not be withheld. Self-control is still required.

I Corinthians 7:6-16 – Instructions to the married and unmarried

• I Corinthians 7:6-9 – Paul is not saying marriage in general is bad. He’s giving specific directions for the present time.
• I Corinthians 7:10-13 – Jesus had already taught against divorce (Matthew 19:6). Jesus had not specifically addressed the case in I Corinthians 7:12-13 about Christians married to non-Christians. See I John 2:1. I Corinthians 7:11 is not implying that divorce is okay.
• I Corinthians 7:14 – “Sanctified” or “made holy” here means the marriage and children are legitimate. This is different than how the Old Covenant worked for Jews in that Jews could not marry Gentiles.

Introduction

• Matthew 22:39
• Clique: “a small, exclusive, group of people”

ALL Christians should love ALL people.

• Luke 6:31 – Love your neighbor as yourself.
• Luke 10:27-37 – Parable of the good Samaritan.
  • The Samaritan was used as the good example!
  • Love expresses itself in action.
  • Love other people. Don’t limit it to a particular group!
• James 2:1-4, 8-9 – The “royal law.”
• Ephesians 4:31-32
• Colossians 3:12-13
• Romans 12:9, 16-18 – We should not look down on others. We should be kind to others.

Just being part of a group is not sinful.

• Psalms 135:4 – God created the “group” of Israel. This was clearly not a sin. But when they started thinking they were better than others, He corrected them.
• Mark 3:13
• Matthew 10:5-6
• I Corinthians 13:4-5
• I Corinthians 4:11-13 – Despite bad treatment, we must show love.

Let’s learn to appreciate other people and learn from our differences.

• Acts 11:19-26 – Different cultures came together!
• Matthew 13:53-58 – Jesus was rejected by those who had the most in common with Him!
• Acts 2:9-11, 46

Galatians 4, continued

• Galatians 4:28
• Galatians 4:1-7 – God purchased us so that He could adopt us as sons.
• Galatians 4:9 – Knowing God and being known by God
  • Galatians 3:27, 13, 14, 22, 26, 28, 29; 4:7, 15, 28
  • God knows and loves each one of us personally. His attention to us is not diluted in the least by our numbers.
  • Galatians 4:3, 8
  • They wanted to bring back parts of the Old Law!
• Galatians 4:12-15 – Paul was in Galatia because of his ailments. We are not told specifically what his ailment was.
  • II Corinthians 12:7-10
  • Paul bore the marks of the things he had gone through (stoning, beating, starvation, etc.).
• Galatians 4:21-31
  • Romans 4:13-25