Christians in a World of Conflict_4
Stacy Ikard & Karl Slaikeu

Christians in a World of Conflict_4

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Christians in a World of Conflict_4 - the Text

       Christians in A World of Conflict 4 – the Text

Paul Moves Into the Heart of His Letter

Heart of his argument – the new teaching perverts the cornerstone of the Gospel – salvation not by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.

His is an ultimate thing – a hill to “die” upon for Paul

This is a truth so important, everything else takes a back seat at this moment.

Paul’s metaphors here:

  Abraham was righteous before there was law

 Children having a guardian and then coming into their inheritance

  Children being naturally born into a family and being adopted into a family

Galatians 3:1-14  - How are you saved?

3 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4 Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing. 5 Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard? 6 Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” 7 so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would reckon as righteous the gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the gentiles shall be blessed in you.” 9 For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed. 10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is reckoned as righteous before God by the law, for “the one who is righteous will live by faith.” 12 But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, “Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

References From Scripture?

Genesis 15:6 6 And he believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Genesis 12:2   2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Deuteronomy 27:26  26 “ ‘Cursed be anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by observing them.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen!’

Habakkuk 2:4    4 Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faithfulness.

Abraham – Saved by Faith 430 years Before the Law – A Promise

5 Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will[ has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, “And to offsprings,” as of many, but it says, “And to your offspring,” that is, to one person, who is Christ. 17 My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise, but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

What is the Law For?

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring[a] would come to whom the promise had been made, and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. 20 Now a mediator involves more than one party, but God is one. 21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. 22 But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through the faith of Jesus Christ[b] might be given to those who believe. 23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be reckoned as righteous[c] by faith.

Influential Passage in Modern Times

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring,[a] heirs according to the promise.

Galatians Chapter 4

4 My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than those who are enslaved, though they are the owners of all the property, 2 but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental principles of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God.

Beyond Circumcision …

How do you really belong to God?

Who really belongs in the Kingdom of God?

How do we treat one another in light of this?

What happens when we disagree?

Where is our peace?

Lesson 4 – February 1, 2026

Today

Review

Conflict Resolution According to Paul in Galatians

Elsewhere in the New Testament

Communication Skills that Support Biblical Guidance

Conflict Resolution in the New Testament

The Book of Galatians

Content

Process

Other References

Paul

Romans 8: 26-27

I Corinthians 6: 1-8

I Corinthians 13

Philippians 2: 4

Philippians 4: 2-3; 6-7

Jesus

Matthew 5: 9; 23-24

Matthew 18: 15-17

Conflict Grid

*Consider also standard solutions: acknowledgement/apology/repentance, restitution/punishment, plan for the future [corrective action], forgiveness.

Communication Skills

Level 1

Active Listening

Questioning

Self-Disclosing

Level 2

Reframing

Confronting

Brainstorming