Gary Gleans

                                                                                  Ephesians 1:1-2 Paul,   an apostle of Christ Jesus   by the will of God. To the saints who are in Ephesus, and   are faithful in Christ Jesus:   Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings are an important part of any letter as they let us know important information about the author, recipients, and the content of the book.  We know that this letter was written by Paul to the believers of the church in Ephesus.  Paul has spent over two years in this city and saw God move in astounding ways.  The city was a hub for commerce in Asia Minor so many people traveled to and from this port city and as a result of Paul’s time in this place the Gospel spread throughout the entire region (Acts 19:10).  This letter is a vital message to a strategic and influential church.   PAUL WAS SENT: Paul was chosen by God to be sent as an apostle to the Gentiles.  God’s will in the life of a

                                                                                  Galatians 6:11-18 See with what large letters I am writing to you   with my own hand.    It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh   who would force you to be circumcised, and only   in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.    For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.    But far be it from me to boast   except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world   has been crucified to me, and I to the world.    For   neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but   a new creation.    And as for all who walk by this rule,   peace and mercy be upon them, and upon   the Israel of God.     From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be   with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

                                                                                  Galatians 6:6-10 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.    Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for   whatever one sows, that will he also reap.    For   the one who sows to his own flesh   will from the flesh reap corruption, but   the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.    And   let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap,   if we do not give up.    So then,   as we have opportunity, let us   do good to everyone, and especially to those who are   of the household of faith.   There are some basic principles that believers should always be intentional about following.  Too often, when people, groups or churches get off track, it is because they fail to do the very basic things outlined in Scripture.  Paul points to three basic truths all believers would do well to follow.  These disciplines will help us ho

                                                                                       Galatians 6:1-5 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression,   you who are spiritual should restore him in   a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.    Bear one another's burdens, and   so fulfill   the law of Christ.  For   if anyone thinks he is something,   when he is nothing, he deceives himself.    But let each one   test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.    For   each will have to bear his own load.   It is not easy to deal with sin and its effects.  Our fallen hearts are drawn to this sin that Satan and society constantly tempts us to practice.  Even believers will struggle and fall in this area.  How do we deal with a brother in Christ who has been overcome by sin?  How do we avoid this kind of pitfall?  These are the questions Paul seeks to answer in this passage.   PRACTICE RESTORATION: As

                                                                                       Galatians 5:24-26 And those who belong to Christ Jesus   have crucified the flesh with its   passions and desires.    If we live by the Spirit,   let us also keep in step with the Spirit.    Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. It is helpful to understand the identity as well as the activity of true believers.  Every believer belongs to Christ.  Belonging to Christ implies that many things are true about our lives.  Certainly, the most impactful of those truths is that the Spirit of God lives in us.  This chapter concludes with Paul three implications of belonging to Christ and being indwelt by the Spirit.   BELIEVERS HAVE CURCIFIED THE FLESH: Paul does not say that some who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh; he indicates that all have done so.  The flesh is marked by passions and desires, but these too have been crucified by virtue of our belonging to Chri

                                                                                  Galatians 5:19-23 Now   the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,   idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,   divisions,   envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that   those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.    But   the fruit of the Spirit is   love, joy, peace, patience,   kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,   self-control;   against such things there is no law.    The contrast between the flesh and the Spirit could not be more stark.  Both the practice and destiny are antonymous of one another.  The works of the flesh are marked by every sin imaginable and leads to death.  The fruit of the Spirit are virtues that lead to a full and rich life.  We must never imagine that life will come from our flesh.  Our assurance of spiritual life stems from ob

                                                                                       Galatians 5:16-18 But I say,   walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify   the desires of the flesh.    For   the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,   to keep you from doing the things you want to do.    But if you are   led by the Spirit,   you are not under the law.     Man is both physical and non-physical.  Sometimes the non-physical part of man is called the spirit (small “s”), soul, heart, or mind.  This passage talks about the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the relationship between Him and the flesh.  When Paul speaks of the flesh in this passage, he in referring to our humanity as a whole and not just he physical part.  This text teaches us at least three truths about the ministry of the Holy Spirit to believers.   THE SPIRIT DEFEATS THE FLESH: It is important to understand that in the batt

                                                                                       Galatians 5:13-15 For you were called to freedom, brothers.   Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love   serve one another.    For   the whole law is fulfilled in one word:   “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”    But if you   bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.   Love is the basic value of the Christian life.  We are called to a life where we prioritize the well-being of others over our own.  Freedom in Christ means to have freedom from sin not freedom to sin.  Clearly loving others does not mean that we just passively accept the false teachers this passage warns us about.  However, we are not to allow our confrontation of false teachers become our standard operating procedure.   IN CHRIST WE ARE FREE TO LOVE: Freedom is truly one of the greatest gifts of Salvation.  However, we must be assured that our freedo

                                                                                  Galatians 5:7-12 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying   the truth?    This persuasion is not from   him who calls you.    A little leaven leavens the whole lump.    I have confidence in the Lord that you will   take no other view, and   the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.    But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision,   why am I still being persecuted? In that case   the offense of the cross has been removed.    I wish   those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!   There are consequences to every type of teaching.  The difference is usually between who suffers the consequences and for what reason.  False teachings cause immediate damage to the hearer because they believe a lie.  True teachings cause immediate damage to the teacher because the truth is almost always persecuted.  However, from eternity’s perspective it is the opposite because false

                                                                                       Galatians 5:1-6 For   freedom Christ has   set us free;   stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to   a yoke of   slavery.  Look: I, Paul, say to you that   if you accept circumcision,   Christ will be of no advantage to you.    I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that   he is obligated to keep the whole law.    You are   severed from Christ,   you who would be justified by the law;   you have fallen away from grace.    For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly   wait for the hope of righteousness.    For in Christ Jesus   neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but   only faith working through love. Our lives and standing are dependent upon Christ.  What we do with Christ will determine every aspect of our present and future.  Since Christ is so vital, this is where false teachers will take aim.  They will do all they can to diminish the wor