Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Paul  seeks to stir up the Galatians emotional and spiritual sensitivities so that they remember their conversion to Christ. Chapter three begins with three words: "O foolish Galatians" and these words express Paul's anguish because they were swayed by Judaizers presenting a false gospel. The law of God is holy and good but it is powerless to save anyone. Romans 7:7-14  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.   8)  But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.  9)  For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.  10)  And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.  11)  For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.  12)...

The Galatians started well but were in danger of denying faith in Christ. Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  The Holy Spirit guided Paul to confront Christians in Galatia for being fooled by the lies and deception of Judaizers. They were adding works to salvation saying that one cannot be saved without circumcision and law keeping. Yet, God makes it clear we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and specifically are not saved by our works (See Ephesians 2:5-10). Do we receive the Spirit of God by the law or by faith in Christ? Galatians 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  This question reminded the Galatians that they received the indwelling Spirit of God through faith in Christ.  Paul asks the Galatian believers: " Did you receive t...

  Here is a note about an index containing all Bible lessons posted on this blog since its inception in 2019.   An index for  all lessons  posted from 2019 through 2021, was published on  September 7, 2022. An index for all lessons posted in 2022, was published  J anuary 24, 2023. An index for all lessons posted in 2023 was posted on  February 28, 2024.  The index for all lessons posted in 2024 was published on January 21,2025.  Below is the link to the YouTube channel of my church.  In this lesson from Nehemiah chapter 9, we see that joyous celebrations gave way to sober repentance.  We saw how Israel's problems began when they yielded up pursuit of holiness. We were reminded that obedience to God's Word is always the path to blessing and happiness, but disobedience is the path to misery and hardship. We saw that reading the law of God produced the fruit of repentance.  The people heard the word of God because faith comes by h...

Led astray by false teachers who corrupted the gospel of Christ. Galatians 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  The main theme of salvation by faith versus Judaizers false teaching of salvation by works continues. Paul said the Galatians who followed after false teachers were "foolish". The word "foolish" is a very strong word in the Greek language.  It means Galatians who fell into error were inconsiderate of Christ and His gospel, and they were unintelligent in believing false teaching. Paul demanded to know the persons who "bewitched" Christians in Galatia.  This word literally means using persuasive speech that fascinate others in order to gain influence over them.   This word also implies that someone or something is slandered in the process. It was the apostle Paul's character and the glorious gospel of Christ that...

Our Father's glorious work of justification of all who turn to Christ. Galatians 2:15-16  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,  16)  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  We spent more time in our last post exploring the glorious matter of a repentant sinner being born again and justified by faith in Christ. This topic is one that each Christian should vigorously study because it fills our heart with great awe and joy. Those who impose circumcision and law keeping are found to be sinners. Galatians 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.    A main point in this chapter is that Peter made an er...

Paul wrote this letter to all of the churches in the province of Galatia.  He quickly rebuked them for falling under the influence of Judaizers who said they must be circumcised and keep the law or they could not be saved. Justification by faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Galatians 2:15-16  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,  16)  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.  Paul even had to confront Peter for separating from Gentile Christians when he visited Antioch.  Initially, Peter ate with the Gentiles, but when Jews from Jerusalem arrived, he moved to a separate table because he feared what they would think. Paul rebuked him for giving into the fear of man and Jewish prejudice...