inductive bible studies on the letter to the galatians · web view(do not print out the answers in...

The Letter to GalatiansInductive Bible Studies

Leader’s Guide

Greg ChaoSept. 4, 2014

Inductive Bible Studies on the Letter to the Galatians

Table of Contents

Purpose...................................................................................3Guidelines and Tips.................................................................3Background to the Letter to Galatians.....................................6Galatians 1:1-10 – What is the Gospel?...................................7Galatians 1:11-2:10 – Contrasting Systems in Paul’s Life..........8Galatians 2:11-21 – Collateral Damage with Justification by Good Deeds............................................................................9Galatians 3:1-25 – Gospel, not an Event but Lifelong.............10Galatians 3:26-4:7 – The Gospel causes Identity Change........11Galatians 4:8-31 – Two Masters............................................12Galatians 5:1-15 – Freedom In Christ.....................................13Galatians 5:16-21 – Living in the Spirit...................................14Galatians 6:1-18 – Practical Matters......................................15Appendix – Insights & Comments for Leaders........................16

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Purpose: What should motivate Christians? These studies were created to help the seeker and the believer alike answer that question. The Apostle Paul shares how “hope” in Christ affects our perspectives on life and gives some practical tips on “joyful” living.

The recommended format provides in a low commitment, low pressure environment where questions can be freely explored. This guide provides material and tips to help you assist others to go directly to the source, the Bible, and draw their own conclusions. The studies use the method of “inductive” questioning utilizing questions to bring out observations, meaning, and applications from the text itself.

In any growing church, the Bible should be read and studied and held in the highest esteem. Those who have been touched by God will be excited to share their faith with others characterized by being:

“Organic or spontaneous, outside of church’s organized programs

Relational, in the context of informal personal relationships Word deployed, bringing the Bible and gospel into

connection with people’s lives Active, not passive where each person assumes personal

responsibility for being a producer rather than being a consumer of ministry”1

Guidelines and Tips: Here are some tips as you prepare and conduct the Bible study. The inductive questions for each passage in Philippians are versatile enough to work with in a one-on-one or group format. They can be used for Bible studies for Christians, seekers, or a mixture of the two.

Place – Find a quiet place where you can talk without being interrupted or distracted.

1 Keller, Timothy, Center Church, p. 280

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Bible/Material – Make sure there is a Bible for each of you. Try to get the same version if possible. Print out the questions for each of you beforehand. (Do not print out the answers in the Appendix since you are trying to encourage discussion.)

Number of meetings – There are 8 studies provided intended for 8 weeks. Agree on the amount of time together (1-1 ½ hours should be sufficient).

Set Expectations – The time you spend together will be informal where all questions are welcome. You may not have the answers to them on the spot but you can research and try to provide answers during the next meeting. No homework should be required.

Read the Passage First – Make sure and read the passage entirely. For flow and clarity, it is better for one person to read the entire passage.

Sharing Question (for small groups only) - A sharing question is provided for each study that is related to the passage. Go around in a circle and share (make sure you give the option of “passing” if someone does not want to share).

Work through the Study Questions –The study questions are meant to bring out the meaning of the passage through discussion. Although you will find some answers/insights to the questions in the appendix, don’t just blurt out the answers. Allow the group/individual to get at the answers through observing the passage. There is usually an application question at the end.

Conversation – Don’t do all the talking. Listen a lot. Be interested in what the other person has to say. Allowing the conversation to drift for a time can be beneficial. Bring it back by using the questions. Don’t feel obligated to correct; each individual in the group can decide for themselves whether they agree. You can bring in other opinions by saying, “what do the rest of you think?” or “here is another way to look at it.” Always be gracious.

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Becoming a Christian – After each study, determine if you would like to invite the seeker to become a Christian. If so, here are two examples of a simple prayer of invitation. Either could be used.“Father, I’ve always believed in you and Jesus Christ, but my heart’s most fundamental trust was elsewhere---in my own competency and decency. This has only gotten me into trouble. As far as I know my own heart, today I give it to you, I transfer my trust to you, and ask that you would receive and accept me not for anything I have done but because of everything Christ has done for me.”2

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen.”3

Note that each prayer had an element of 1) acknowledgement of one’s personal sins and a desire to change, 2) asking for forgiveness from God, 3) acknowledging the work of Christ as Savior and 4) transferring trust in God (giving over control of one's life).

2 The Reason for God, Timothy Keller, p. 2453 http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/PGView.aspx?pid=13

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http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/PGView.aspx?pid=13


Background to the Letter to Galatians

Galatians dynamically explains the “gospel” or good news and the ramifications of our standing before God not based on good deeds (following the Law) but based on accepting (faith) God’s act of sacrificial love through Jesus Christ.

This gospel is “not the “ABC” but rather it is the A to Z of Christian life. It is not only the way to enter the kingdom; it is the way to live as part of the kingdom. It is the way Christ transforms people, churches and communities. We are going to see Paul showing young Christians in Galatia that their spiritual problem is not only caused by failing to live in obedience to God, but also by relying on obedience to Him. We’re going to see him telling them that all they need --- all they could ever need --- is the gospel of God’s unmerited favor to them through Christ’s life, death and resurrection. We’re going to hear him solving their issues not through telling them to “be better Christians”, but by calling them to live out the implications of the gospel.”4

This is one of Paul’s earliest letters written around 50AD, only 15-20 years after the death of Christ. After Paul initially proclaims the Gospel to the area, a church fledgling was formed. “A group of teachers were now insisting that the Gentile Christians practice all the traditional ceremonial customs of the law of Moses, as the Jewish Christians did. They taught that the Gentiles had to observe all the dietary laws and be circumcised for full acceptance to be completely pleasing to God.”5

What is remarkable is that we are still struggling with the same issues today. Is our status with God based on our good deeds? What is the role of standards/laws? If our status is not based on good deeds, what prevents us from behaving poorly?

4 Tim Keller, Galatians for You, p. 95 Ibid.

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Galatians 1:1-10 – What is the Gospel?Study 1

Sharing Question: Share about the first time you were interested in knowing more about God.

1. What is the meaning of the word “gospel?” In verse 4, how is it related to us being “rescued from this present age?” How is it related to Christ “giving himself for our sins?” In verse 6, in the phrase “grace of Christ,” how is the gospel related to “grace?”

2. If you had a system of feeling good about yourself (justification) that is based not on grace but on meeting standards (laws), how would you be motivated? If you felt like you were meeting the standard, how would you treat others who you felt did not? If you felt like you failed the standard, how would you behave?

3. In contrast, what attitude results from understanding that the gospel is about what has been “done for you” (grace of Christ) rather than “what we must do” to earn it? From outward appearances, how would each behave?

4. In verse 6, why do you think Paul is so adamant to condemn those who proclaim another gospel? (need to know a little background on Paul)

5. In the world, how are we taught to feel good about ourselves? How is the gospel different? How do we keep the gospel “front and center” in our lives?

6.

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Galatians 1:11-2:10 – Contrasting Systems in Paul’s LifeStudy 2

Sharing Question: Share about a turning point in your life.

1. Why do you think it is so hard for Paul’s opponent to accept that our standing before God is not based on our good deeds? From verse 11, we can reasonably derive that Paul’s opponent accused him of fabricating his message. How does he refute them?

2. In verse 13 & 14, Paul is arguing that he previously excelled in the system of justifying himself through following standards. Why is this argument a powerful refutation of his critics?

3. When Paul states in verse 15, “God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me,” what does he credit his salvation to? How is this a radically different perspective?

4. How does Paul continue to assert that the gospel message was not obtained through people but directly from God? How did Paul get validation from James, Peter, and John that his understanding of the gospel was correct? Why is it important that his message is confirmed by them?

5. In verse 2:4, how does a system of justification by good deeds create “slavery?” How does the gospel of Christ create “freedom?”

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Galatians 2:11-21 – Collateral Damage with Justification by Good Deeds

Study 3

Sharing Question: Share a time when someone protected or stuck up for you.

1. By withdrawing from the Gentiles, what was Peter communicating? How do you think this custom came about and what was fundamentally wrong with it?

2. Why do you think Paul took such strong actions to directly confront Peter? What would have happened if he did not do it?

3. How is this an example of the collateral consequences of thinking that “justification comes from following the law?”

4. By stating that “Jews by birth” and “Gentile sinners” are not justified by observing the law (standards) but by faith in Jesus Christ, how does this change the hierarchy?

5. In verse 19, what does it mean that “through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God?” What does it mean “I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me?”

6. What does it mean “for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing?” How does thinking we are justified by good deeds actually diminish God’s act of love through Jesus Christ?

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Galatians 3:1-25 – Gospel, not an Event but LifelongStudy 4

Sharing Question: Share about an accomplishment in your life.

1. You can derive from this section that Paul’s opposition is claiming that believing in the gospel applies to salvation but to really grow you must now work at applying the law. What do you think Paul means by saying, “after beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

2. When Paul says, “Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness,” what is the meaning of “righteousness?” What is the meaning of “credited to him?” What is the meaning of “believing?”

3. In verse 10, why does Paul say that “all who rely on observing the law are under a curse?” How does Christ redeem us from the curse of the law? What does it mean that Christ “became the curse for us?”

4. What is the purpose of laws like the 10 commandments in the Old Testament (Deut. 5)? How difficult are they to follow? How are they helpful in defining sin? What does it mean that the whole world is “prisoner to sin” in verse 22? In verse 24, how does the law “lead us to Christ?”

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Galatians 3:26-4:7 – The Gospel causes Identity ChangeStudy 5

Sharing Question: When was a time where you felt like your faith in God changed you in some way?

1. How does being a “son or daughter” of God radically change the way we see ourselves? What aspects of an earthly father-son relationship are we to relate to our new relationship with God? What do you think it means to “cloth ourselves with Christ?”

2. What does it mean that “there is neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female [culture, class, gender] for you are all one in Christ?” Why does being a “son or daughter” of God cause us to discard our established categories of thinking about ourselves? How radical is this idea? How would this change the way we treat others? How does this make us “one in Christ?”

3. Why is it so significant that God sent the “Spirit of his Son into our hearts?” What is so special about “Abba, Father?” How does the Spirit make our “sonship/daughtership” real and practical?

4. Why is it important that we are not “slaves” but “sons/daughters?” What does it mean that we are “heirs?” What are we inheriting?

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Galatians 4:8-31 – Two MastersStudy 6

Sharing Question: When was a time that you felt close to God?

1. How were the Galatians formerly slaves to “those by nature are not gods?” How is their new life characterized by “knowing” or “being known” by God? How is embracing Paul’s opponent’s teaching turning back to those “miserable principles?”

2. Why does Paul want them to separate zealousness from truth? How does Paul try to remind them of his motives?

3. In the comparison between Hagar and Sarah, Paul is figuratively using an analogy. Paul points out that Sarah was barren and persecuted while Hagar was a slave and earthly. How is this similar to the two systems of thinking?

Sarah HagarLove-grace system Law-obedience systemHeaven/Jerusalem EarthlyChristian mother False mother

Free SlaveGrace for the barren Outwardly fertile

persecuted PersecutorsPower of the Spirit

inheritance

4. How could “knowing” and “being known” by God radically change your outlook on life? What areas would it touch?

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Galatians 5:1-15 – Freedom In ChristStudy 7

Sharing Question: Share a time when you felt a great relief about something.

1. What does mean “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free?” What are we freed from? How is this freedom tied to our relationship with God? How does this “freedom” change that way we think and act in life?

2. Why would circumcision be an example of returning to slavery according to verses 2-6? What does he mean when he says that one will be obligated to obey the “whole law?” Why does he say that one who follows that system, “Christ will be of no value?”

3. In verse 5, what is Paul eager and hopeful about concerning righteousness?

4. What does Paul mean by “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love?” Why is it so important that our freedom be guided by love? How does being guided by love prevent us from “indulging the sinful nature?” How does being guided by love still preserve freedom?

5. How do we prevent ourselves from falling back to life of rules? How can we better experience the freedom of Christ?

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Galatians 5:16-21 – Living in the SpiritStudy 8

Sharing Question: Share a time where you experienced God guiding you or teaching you something.

1. How does “living by the Spirit” prevent us from “gratifying the desires of the sinful nature?” What does it mean “if you are led by the Spirit” you are not under the law?

2. Looking over the list of the acts of the sinful nature, which of these stand out to you? Why? Do you see any natural groupings? Notice the phrase “and the like” which signifies that the list is not complete.

3. What is “obviously” wrong about the acts of the sinful nature? How is it that “those who live by” the sinful nature will not inherit the kingdom of God?

4. By using the analogy of fruit, Paul implies that growth is gradual, inevitable, internal, and symmetrical. Looking over the list of fruit (singular) of the Spirit, which of these stand out to you? Why does Paul say, “against such things” there is no law?

5. What practices do you have to help you to “pay attention” to the Holy Spirit?

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Galatians 6:1-18 – Practical MattersStudy 9

Sharing Question: Share a time where you appreciated someone pointing out something that you could improve.

1. How is “restoring a brother caught in sin gently” a difficult thing to do both from the willingness to confront and from the restraint to criticize? What does it mean to “watch yourself or you also may be tempted?”

2. What does it mean to “carry each other’s burdens?” How does this relate with “each one should carry his own load” in verse 5?

3. From the teaching in verses 3-5, how should one look at him/herself? Why is it dangerous to compare with others?

4. What is Paul trying to teach when he says, “a man reaps what he sows?” Why does he encourage them not to grow weary in doing good?

5. How does Paul see circumcision? Instead of boasting about things like circumcision (practices, good works), what should we be boasting about? What really matters according to Paul?

6. How does leading a life according the gospel lead to peace and mercy?

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Appendix – Insights & Comments for LeadersGalatians 1:1-10 – What is the Gospel?What is the Gospel? - The meaning of the word “gospel” is “good news.” First of all, we are trapped in our own self-absorbed, selfish life that creates a dead end. We are unable to will our way to goodness. We fall short. This is called “sin.” Sin is not only purposeful evil but not doing what is right when we ought to. It is also making ourselves god causing harm to ourselves and others. God is the powerful Creator, good (just, holy), and loving. He reached out to us in love by coming on earth in the form of a human, Jesus Christ. Jesus also fulfilled God’s justice by paying the penalty (or debt) of sin so that we can become children of God. When we rejected God, we were distant from Him, even enemies. When we accept Him and turn over control of our lives to God, we become his children. This is something that Christ has done for us. The offer to be God’s child is the good news. It is not earned but given to all those who accept it. This is an act of grace from Christ. The gospel will bring joy to the believer not obligation or feeling trapped. The gospel has everything to do with what Christ has done for us. Grace is God doing what we do not deserve.System of Good Works - The system of justification by standards is one where we are motivated by fear of consequences or punishment. We can never quite feel secure because one slip and we can be on the wrong side of the law. God becomes a taskmaster. There are two scenarios when we use the system of standards. If we feel like we are meeting the standard, we feel good about ourselves but we also are arrogant judging those who do not and then we slip into another sin, self-righteousness. If we feel like we are not meeting the standard, we feel despair and we will tend to give up and sin without restraint. We are trapped in sin either way.

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Results of True Gospel - In contrast, understanding that we are justified by simply accepting God’s offer of grace is freeing. We know that we do not deserve God’s goodness to us and we are amazed that He wants us to be his children. Since it is God’s initiation and God’s work, we cannot lose our salvation. God is now and forever our Father and this fact is transforming. We are motivated by gratitude for the rest of our lives.It is interesting that outwardly, two people sitting at church, one motivated by fear and the other motivated by gratitude, might look the same. Yet, inwardly, there is a world of difference and, in the long run, it makes a huge difference.Paul understood this difference because he had been brought up in a standards-based culture and exceeded most others in trying to meet the standards. He, in the end, understood that it breeds self-righteousness and that it was a dead end. He wanted the Galatians to understand the “grace of Christ” and experience the “freedom” of the gospel, that we are forever children of God, righteous (in right standing) forever because of what Christ has done for us.It takes a lifetime to really deeply learn this truth because of our pride even after we become Christians. Whenever we try to take back control of our lives and start to feel good about ourselves because of our accomplishments, race, or status, we will fall back into the subtle trap of self-righteousness. Remembering who we are (sinners saved by grace) and who God is (our gracious Father) will help us stay centered.Galatians 1:11-2:10 – Paul answers his OpponentsThe Gospel is difficult to accept because it requires humility. There is a certain comfort in rules, a certain safety in that you are in control. The gospel that Paul is preaching is unnerving since it is based on a dynamic relationship with God and not on safe understandable rules.Paul refutes his opponents by pointing out that he knows that rule-based system (Judaism) well and even excelled in it. He learned by firsthand experience that it was a dead end.

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He attributes his salvation to God who set him apart from birth and saved him by grace (unmerited favor). His posture is one of gratitude.In addition, Paul points out that he learned the gospel message directly from God through years of personal time with God. He validated the gospel message with the leaders of the church, Peter, James and John.Although there is a certain amount of safety in rules/standards, it ends up enslaving us because we can never truly satisfy the standards. If we try to convince ourselves that we are meeting the standard, we either lower our standards so that it is easy to meet or we turn a blind eye our own transgression and become hypocrites.On the other hand, the true gospel is more about what God has done for us and initiates a dynamic love relationship with God in which we proactively please God out of gratefulness. There is a freedom in the knowledge that our standing before God is secure and that God is forever on our side.Galatians 2:11-3:5 – Collateral Damage with Justification by Good DeedsPeter, by withdrawing (and others followed his example), denied the truth of the gospel that our position before God is not based on good deeds/heritage such as circumcision or following laws/customs or being born Jewish. Rather, it is based on the grace of God through the work of Jesus Christ.The custom of separation may have stemmed from a misunderstanding of being “holy” but ended up being a vehicle for arrogance and hypocrisy.This being the case, there is no hierarchy. The gospel puts us all on equal footing, sinners that need God’s grace and mercy. Jews are no better than Gentiles and eating in separate tables makes no sense. If Paul did not rebuke Peter, the implied hierarchy would not have been questioned and propagated.

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Since justification by following standards (laws) is a dead end, Paul says we need to get rid of that system of thinking or die to it and take on a new way of thinking; that is, “living by faith.” Living by faith has the idea of trusting in Jesus Christ on a continual basis.Paul points out that if it is possible to get right with God through good deeds then we would not need Christ’s sacrifice. We actually diminish God’s act of love through Jesus Christ if we insist that we can do it on our own.Galatians 3:1-25 – Gospel, not an Event but Lifelong When they first believed in the gospel, they understood that it was dynamic relationship with God yet they are going to a system of works based on their own human effort.Righteous has the idea of right relationship with God. Even though we are not holy in practice, God sees us or credits us with holiness because of Christ’s sacrifice. We are forever in right relationship or righteous because of Christ. We need to accept God’s gift and this is “believing.”To go back to a system of works brings an impossible situation or dilemma and is therefore a “curse.” The criteria for success is perfection. We will always fall short. Christ, however, was perfectly sinless and therefore his sacrifice had meaning. In that sense, he took the punishment we deserved, death, and became the curse for our benefit.The purpose of the law is to show us that we fall short. They accelerate our desperation for an alternative and leads us to the solution Christ gives.They crystalize a standard that is impossible to follow perfectly. We all fall short of it. They help us to understand what sin is. The Ten Commandments and other laws do not give us a sense of right and wrong but rather crystallizes the standard. Our sense of right and wrong is already present in us as part of the “image of God.” Without the Law, we would still have a moral sense and longing for meaning. Without the Law as the

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standard, we would still have some kind of standard and know that we are not meeting it. Because we cannot follow the standard set before us, the resulting guilt and shame feels like we are in a prison. We are trapped without a way out. We are distant from God because we do not follow his ways. We are stubborn, selfish, and self-absorbed wanting to go without God. Galatians 3:26-4:7 – The Gospel causes Identity ChangeWhen we become children of God, our relationship with God dramatically changes. Since our standing before God is no longer dependent on our behavior but rather on our acceptance of his love for us through Christ's death on the cross, it is secure and therefore we feel relieved, safe, and at peace. Our relationship with God is characterized by love. God loves us and we love God in return. A relationship based on love is not obligation oriented, marked by gratefulness and selfless sacrifice. Clothing is the most physically intimate thing that we have. We are to keep Christ near to us in the same way.Our identity is so transformed that we no longer need to see ourselves through the old lens of culture, position, or gender but rather as "sons and daughters" of Christ. This means that we have nothing to be arrogant about. We are not better than others but rather at the same level, sinners who have received God’s grace and mercy. This reality will break down barriers and hatred between peoples. The Holy Spirit brings the reality of God into our everyday lives. God interacts with us constantly. “Abba” is an endearing form of Father equivalent to “daddy.”As his children, we are no longer slaves. We are not treated as property but as heirs. This means we have a special relationship with God marked by intimacy and we also have a rich future with God in heaven.

Galatians 4:8-31 – Two Masters

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The Galatians, before converting to Christianity, had systems of belief that were based on the merit of their deeds. The new life of the gospel is characterized by “knowing” God and “being known” by Him. Now they are returning to a different merit based system that is Jewish.Paul does not want them to base their beliefs on the zealousness of his opponent. Sincerity should be separated from truth. Paul also reminds them that he is also just as zealous.Comparing his Jewish teachers to Hagar would really cause a stir. He is using this story figuratively so it doesn’t have to be exactly historically correct. He says that the gospel is heaven-base and leads to freedom. The persecution they are experiencing is to be expected.To understand that we get to “know” God and “be known” by Him is very radical especially when you realize that God is the creator of the universe. It will completely transform life from boring to exciting.Galatians 5: 1-15 – Freedom In ChristWhat is this freedom? - “Our conscience is free and quiet because it no longer has to fear the wrath of God. This is real freedom…Who can adequately express the blessing that comes to a person when he has the heart-assurance that God will nevermore be angry with him, but will forever be merciful to him for Christ's sake? This is indeed a marvelous freedom, to have the sovereign God for our Friend and Father who will defend, maintain, and save us in this life and in the life to come.” --- Martin Luther, Commentary on GalatiansCircumcision puts in place a system of meeting requirements to be right with God. The focus is on earning the right to be with God. Rather, our salvation is not based on meeting requirements but rather on make the decision to trust in God and accept his offer of friendship. This is very hard to accept and we often slip back into an earning mode. Once we do this, our lives with God become an activity of frustration because we

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will never be able to meet God's standards. It will feel like slavery.Paul is excited about the prospect of appearing before God in good standing (righteous) because of the work of Christ.Love describes the foundational relationship that God wishes to have with us. A relationship guided by love will prevent us from "indulging in sin" for it will disappoint the one we love. We then act rightly out of willingness.Galatians 5:16-21 – Living in the SpiritThe Bible speaks of a freedom to do what is right, something that we can get through the power of God in the form of the Holy Spirit. This freedom is marked by selflessness expressing itself in love. If we are under the law of love, we follow the law voluntarily and willingly. Motivation by fear of punishment works but it is short term and people will only comply to meet the minimum requirement. Motivation by love is active and will seek to do over and above what is required. Motivation by fear does not require relationship. Motivation by love is all about relationship. It is marked by gratitude and intimacy.If we live by the Spirit, we will tend to follow His lead in our lives. The Spirit will work on various parts of our lives and “clean us up.” The Holy Spirit is the key to actually have power in our lives to overcome our weakness. The Bible speaks of being “transformed” in Romans 12:2. We are not left along to “suck it up” and perform once we become Christians.The list of acts of the sinful nature is grouped as sins against ourselves, sins against God, and sins against others.Sin is subtle because we can take good desires such as love or sex and corrupt them or over-indulge in them and they become our “gods.” This is the sin of idolatry. For example, food, in and of itself, is not sin but gluttony is. Sex, in and of itself, is not sin but unrestrained sex is. Money, in and of itself, is not sin but the “love of money” (making it the priority in our lives) is. These are only a few examples.

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By using the illustration of fruit, Paul is implying that our growth is gradual like plants growing. It is inevitable in that it will be visible. It is internal in that it is not just traits but real life from the vine. It is symmetrical in that all the qualities appear as one fruit. The qualities that flourish are not because of following standard but because of our dynamic relationship with God.Paul encourages us to “pay attention” to the Holy Spirit. We need to follow His lead in our lives.Galatians 6:1-18 – Practical MattersWe need to care enough to be willing to confront a brother/sister when they are sinning but we must do it gently. If we set ourselves up as superior, we are in danger of falling into sin as they have.We ought to support our brothers/sisters when they are in need. However, there is a balance between helping and helping too much. Each should carry his own load but may need help from time to time.We should see ourselves truthfully, neither too high or too low. Comparing with others is a trap because you will always find people that are lower than you (arrogance) and higher than you (jealousy).We should understand that a general principle is that if we do good, it will be rewarded. We should not get discouraged.Those who focus on circumcision (good works) are focused on the wrong thing. It is nothing to boast about. If we do any boasting, it should be on the mercy of Christ (which is not boasting at all). What really matters is that we are now a new creation (children of God).Through this, we can have security (peace) and give mercy to others.

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