Christ Covenant Church

Summary of points 1 through 4 (from last week): Paul writes to the Galatian churches for the purpose of steering them away from the damning gospel of the “circumcision party” (2:12) who were preaching observance of the OC cleans laws (otherwise known as the “works of the law” or “law”) as necessary to salvation (justification). Gaining justification (a spiritually clean/right standing w/God) under the NC, is secured by faith in Jesus Christ for Jew and Gentile alike apart from any observance of the prior covenant’s clean laws. As such, what Paul is not condemning in this letter is observance of God’s OC moral commands, though how we understand them must be according to their new application in Christ (the “law of Christ”). 5. Why Paul took such a condemning position against the OC clean laws for NC salvation: to preserve God’s previous: 5.1. command (Deu 12:32 w/2:21-3:1 and 5:1-4 = The Law is a closed system)5.2. promise (of Gentiles remaining Gentiles and yet being grafted into/adopted into Abraham’s family