It is an exciting truth in the Bible that God gives new life to those who put their trust in Jesus. God does a heart transplant in the hearts of his followers. This new life flows from the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul knew that this new life would change not only our souls but also how we live. There will always be pressure to live in our former ways but the real treasure is letting Jesus live through us.
Memory Verses: Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
Big Idea: Accept new life in Christ. Express new life through Christ!
I. Peer pressure is the enemy of His life being expressed.
Fearing- “fear made Peter act against his own better convictions. Fear causes us to think largely of only ourselves.” Lenski (see Acts 11:2-3 for past experiences with this group).
Realign me Lord if my thoughts or actions are out of line with your heart!
II. Remember how God brings His life to all who call on Him.
Galatians 2:15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Christ’s very life comes to those who trust in Him for salvation!
III. Live the exchanged life: Let the life of Christ be expressed.
Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
I Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
I Peter 4:2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
D. Keep focusing on this Jesus great love and sacrifice for you!
Accept new life in Christ. Express new life through Christ!
Icebreaker: When you first started attending church, what was one of your favorite memories?
1. Read Galatians 2:11-20. Describe in your own words what is happening here. Why is this important?
2. Read Galatians 2:11-15. What was Peter doing that wasn’t in line with the gospel? Do you see areas in your life where you have been walking in line with the gospel? What does it look like for you?
3. Are there people in your church you have not been “eating with” because they are not “like you”? What self-righteousness lies beneath this attitude?
4. Read Galatians 2:16-18, Acts 15:7-11. What principles do you see Paul and Peter using to motivate the Galatian and Jerusalem churches to apply the gospel to all of their relationships? How could you motivate yourself and other Christians less with guilt, and more with the gospel? Give specific examples.
5. Read Romans 6:14, I Peter 2:24, 2 Cor. 5:15 and I Peter 4:2. What do these verses teach us we should die to and live for? What from your old life keeps you from expressing new life?
6. Read Galatians 2:20. What does the apostle Paul mean by this phrase “to be crucified with Christ?” What difference should the death of Christ make in your love for Him and actions in life? What exchanges do you see happening in this verse?
7. How would explain “justification by faith” to someone who has never been to church before?
8. Read Galatians 2:21. How would you explain the difference between being moral and being a Christian to someone who thinks being good makes them acceptable to God?
Spend time praying for each other!Pray for those who need to hear the incredible truths of this passage!Pray for opportunities to share.