Galatians 1 Bible Study

In Galatians 1, Paul introduces himself as an apostle appointed by God. In 1 Corinthians 12:7 - 11, every one of us has a gift from God. There are several types of spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit bestow on us including message of wisdom, message of knowledge, gift of faith, gift of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in different tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

In 1 Peter 4:10 - 11, we should use the spiritual gift we receive from God to serve others. We should use our gifts to serve God in the strength he provides so that his name can be glorified. In Romans 12:6 - 8, whatever gift God gives you, you must use it to serve him. For example, if you are rich, you should generously help the people who are needy. If you have the gift of teaching, you can become a teacher of the word of God. If you have the gift of leadership, you should become a leader and lead diligently. If you have the gift of encouraging people, you should encourage people. If you have the gift of compassion, you should have mercy on people cheerfully.

Jesus Christ was dead after being crucified by the Roman soldiers. However, God raised him from the dead. God loved the people in the world so much that he sent his begotten son, Jesus Christ to come to earth and die for our sins (John 3:16). Jesus Christ died for us while we are still sinners (Romans 5:8). Jesus was righteous and without sin but he was crucified on the cross on behalf of our sins.

Once you have accepted Jesus Christ, your old self is crucified to the cross with him. By crucifying your old self onto the cross, you will no longer obey your sinful fleshly nature (Romans 6:6). Christians must experience a change in their lives after accepting Jesus so that they will become a living testimony. If you really die to your old self and stop sinning, you will be able to have a new life in Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ will wash away your sins and you will be righteous in the eyes of God (1 Peter 2:24).

Paul rebuked the Galatian Christians from deserting away from the gospel of Christ. He said that there are people that preach a different gospel, which confusion in them and become led away from Christ. Paul said that the person who preach a different gospel should be condemned. We must not cause other people to stumble by the message we preach. As servants of God, we must do things that edify others and please God.

If you cause a brother or sister to stumble by the message you preach, you are sinning. In the end time, there will be a lot of false prophets preaching a gospel that deviates away from the word of God in the Bible. Before accepting any gospel, we should examine it to see if it meets the standard of the Bible (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Peter 2:1; Revelations 2:2).

Paul said that the gospel he preached is a revelation from Jesus Christ. Paul originally was a Pharisee who used to persecute the Christians. He was converted after a bright light from heaven shone on him while he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christians there. He had obtained letters from the high priest to the synagogues in Damascus.

Paul became blind and couldn't see after seeing the bright light. Later, Ananias laid hand and prayed for him so that he was able to see again. Immediately after that, he started his ministry. He started preaching the gospel in Arabia. After that, he returned to Damascus. Paul went to Jerusalem and stayed with Peter for 15 days after three years. The apostles in Jerusalem thought Paul was the bad person who used to persecute Christians but Barnabas spoke for him to the disciples (Acts 9).

Romans 5 Bible Study

Before accepting Jesus Christ, we are sinful and helpless. Even though we are sinful, God sent his son to become an atonement for our sins by dying on the cross. Without Christ, our eternal destiny will be Hell. Because Christ is willing to die for us on the cross, we can receive salvation and live with him in heaven. Jesus Christ acts as an mediator between men and God. He often intercede on our behalf to the Father God. When we suffer for Jesus, it will help us to build up Christ like character. If we persevere for Jesus to the end, we will surely be rewarded. We must trust in God's promises.

Sin separates us from God because God is holy. Sinners are enemies of God. However, Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we are now at peace with God. Jesus Christ's death is an atonement of sin for the people around the world including the Jews and Gentiles. If Jesus Christ did not die for us, we will not have access to the grace of God. After you have accepted Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will work and carry out changes in you so that all your bad habits will be removed. When Jesus Christ come for a second time to the earth, we will be able to see his glory in the heaven.

Christ's death is a plan for God. The death of Christ is already predicted in the Old Testament by many prophets. He died at the right time set by God. Everything that happen is part of God's plan. Jesus Christ did not die for the good people but he died for the ungodly. There is nothing worthy about us when we are sinners that brought God's attention. Christ did not die for us after we have changed our sinful ways, but while we are still sinners. To the foolish, the message of gospel is foolishness. To the saved, the message of the gospel if the power of God. Anyone who did not repent will experience God's wrath. The barrier of sin that separates us between God and men will be eliminated once we are reconciled to God through putting faith in Christ.

Adam is the person responsible for bringing sin into mankind. He ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge Between Good and Evil and sinned against God. From that time onward, sin is in the genes of men. The wages of sin is death. Adam was made to become immortal but his life was cut short through death because he sinned. There is judgment and condemnation because of the sin of Adam. The disobedience of Adam causes us to become sinners. We are not saved because of good works but we are saved because Christ offers his life and blood for us on the cross.

Adam's sin is credited to the whole population of mankind while Christ's righteousness is credited to anyone who believes in him. Adam is like Christ because he is the head of a race of human. In addition, the action of Adam had consequence on the whole human race. Paul is making a contrast between the disobedience of Adam and the obedience of Christ. Jesus Christ's death removed the effect caused by Adam's sin. Through Christ's death, we can receive, the gift of righteousness, which is justification from sin.