1. Pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you might behold wondrous things out of his Word (Ps. 119:18). 

2. Read Sunday's passage. Feel free to read it more than once, or in another translation.

3. Review the sermon outline. Try to see how the points came out of the text.

4. Answer the questions below. Focus on personal application.

5. Pray. Praise and thank the Lord, then ask him to work in mighty ways. 

Remember, we live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4).

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Intro: Is your Christian life a heavy burden full of obligations, rules, and requirements? Or is it a life of freedom, joy, and rich blessing in Christ? How you understand justification (being counted righteous before God), and its relationship to God's Law, makes all the difference. 

I. Life under the law is restrictive bondage (v. 23–24). The Law imprisons, holds captive, and subjects to a "guardian" (tutor or governess), because no one can be justified by works of the Law (see Galatians 2:16). The Law makes us aware of how far we fall short, and for those lacking faith, it feels restrictive, spurring rebellion against God. Don't rest your standing before God in your ability to keep the Law! Because of sin, no one will be counted righteous based on his or her Law-keeping.

II. Life in Christ is rich blessing! (v. 25–29). Now that Christ has come and fufilled the Law for us, those who have faith are set free from bondage into freedom and joy in Christ. By believing in the Lord Jesus, we receive the rich blessings of (1) Adoption by God (v. 26), (2) Union with Christ (v. 27), (3) Unity with one another (v. 28), and (4) Inheritance as heirs (v. 29). These do not come by our obedience, but by Christ's obedience. We receive all of his blessings through our union with him, which comes by faith. 

Conclusion: Remember, all who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ! Let your newfound identity in Christ drive how you live and how you relate to God. Our justification does not depend upon our ability to keep God's Law, but on Christ's complete fulfillment of God's Law. Our relationship with God should not be merely rules, regulations, or obligations, but freedom and joy in Christ. And finally, if you haven't publically declared your new identity in Christ through baptism, consider doing so!

1. No one will be justified by works of the Law.

- Do you ever feel like you are relating to God via rules and regulations? Why is that? 

- Why will no one be justified by their own obedience?

- Why does Paul react so strongly to the Judaizers' teaching that Gentile converts needed to be circumcised? 

- This specific teaching is not an issue in our church today, but there could be modern-day issues that are. What are we tempted to add on top of faith in Christ? Or, to put it another way, fill in the blank with what you might hear today: "It's great that you believe in Jesus, but if you really want to be right with God, you need to _________________."  

- In the examples you gave, explain how these added "requirements" are direct threats to the true Gospel. (see Galatians 2:21). 

- What is the true Gospel? How would you explain it to a friend who isn't familiar with the Bible? 

2. When we trust in Jesus, we receive incredible blessings through our union with him. 

- Why can those who believe in Jesus be considered sons and daughters of God? 

- Why can those who believe in Jesus say they are "in Christ"? 

- Why are social distinctions broken down in Christ? 

- Why do those who believe in Christ receive the blessings promised to Abraham?

- Why shouldn't our relationship with God be based in rules and requirements? What should characterize it instead?

- Does being set free from the Law mean that we have license to sin, or live as we please? (See Romans 6).

- So, how do we rightly understand our obedience to God? What should inspire our obedience? 

- What needs to change in the way you think about obeying God? 

- Lastly, faith in Christ changes everything, and gives you a new identity in him. Have you shown the world that you belong to Christ through baptism? If not, why not? 

1. Praise God for sending the Son to fulfill the Law on our behalf, so that we could be justified by faith in him!

2. Confess your sins, asking for forgiveness, and resting in the finished work of Christ on the cross. 

3. Thank God for the rich blessings of Adoption, Union, Unity, and Inheritance. 

4. Ask God to help you live in the new freedom and joy of Christ. Ask his help to obey not because you are earning something, but because Christ is in your new heart, and now it's a joy to live with and for him. 

Thanks for reading the Bible Study Guide! I pray it helps us "continue to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ" (Eph. 4:15).

Sincerely, your brother in Christ,

Tom Hansen, Senior Pastor