How Amazing Grace Changes Everything | Galatians 1:11-24

How Amazing Grace Changes Everything | Galatians 1:11-24

Galatians is saying we have 3 choices in living our lives. The Law. License or Liberty.

1. Law: Legalism is a lie about God, us and the greatness of his love and amazing grace.
2. License: Anything goes; It ignores God and makes us god. The height of idolatry/slavery.
3. Liberty: True freedom in Christ under unmerited, unobligated favor (Grace).

The Judaizers two-pronged approach: Attack the legitimacy of the message and the message giver. Gal. 1:11-14 Paul defends his authority, message and his ministry through his testimony.

1. Elements of an testimony: Acts 22:1-10

a. v.1-2 Empathy: He makes himself relatable and he uses language they would understand. He varies the content based on the audience. I like to ask permission to share “my story”.

b. v.3-5 Share before: What your life was like. Emphasize the emptiness or struggles without glorifying the sin.

c. v.6-7 The encounter(s): the but God moment. Often, it’s the point where you realize your path in life isn’t what you expected in your own efforts. V.8– a testimony always answers the “Who are you Lord” question that confronts who or what is Lord of my life. In Gal. 1:14 Paul says his trust was in Traditions of his ancestors and his ability to live it out better than the others.

V.10 The Change: Once Paul responds, the second most important question in life is “What would you have me do”. It’s the submission to the new Lordship and the fruit that came from the decision.

Homework: Practice this week!

Gal 1:15 He now focuses on defending his authority by showing that his conversion, his calling and his message is all by grace.

2. Our in Amazing Grace. It’s an account about God’s sovereignty AND Man’s freewill. We have a response of obedience to God’s sovereign call.

Grow Group Questions:

1. Personal Testimony: Think about the 3 points of a testimony: Before, the Encounter, and the Change. Now practice with someone in the group (maybe break off into groups of 2).
2. Freedom in Christ: Paul contrasts the law, license, and liberty. Where do you find yourself today? Are you more prone to legalism, relying on rules and traditions, or to license, ignoring God’s commands? How can you embrace true liberty in Christ and experience the joy and purpose of His grace?
3. Defending the Message of Grace: Paul was passionate about defending the gospel of grace, even when it meant confronting false teaching. What are some ways that legalism or “works-based” traditions still sneak into modern-day faith? How can you guard yourself and others from falling into this trap?
4. Sovereignty and Free Will: Paul’s life was shaped by God’s sovereign call, yet he also responded with obedience. How do you see the balance between God’s sovereignty and your responsibility in your own spiritual journey? What steps can you take to ensure that you are actively seeking God and being usable for His purposes?
5. Evidence of Transformation: Paul says in Galatians 1:10-24 that his life was dramatically transformed by the gospel. What evidence of change in your life reflects the work of the Holy Spirit? If someone asked you, “Is there enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?” how would you respond?

Notes- For further study

Am I really saved? Top 3 of the tests of faith below, click on link to see my top 7!

https://feathersoundchurch.com/blog/2024/09/03/how-do-i-know-that-i-am-a-christian

1. Increasing love for fellow believers:
• 1 John 3:14: “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other.”
• 1 John 4:7-8: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
2. Increasing obedience to God’s commands:
• 1 John 2:3-5: “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”
3. A pattern of rejection of worldly values:
• 1 John 2:15: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”

Great short article on the balance between God’s sovereignty and Man’s free will. 3 min. read. https://calvarychapelmagazine.org/articles/pastor-chuck-smith