May I have a WORD with you?

References:

• Can you believe these stats?!?
  • Over 11,000 downloads (listens?) as far as I can tell
    • 6 of the 7 Continents!!
    • From 58 different countries.
    • What!?!
  • First podcast published on Substack on Aug 17, 2023
  • Podcast platform went live on Nov 10, 2023
    • Learning curve with RSS feeds, etc.
    • Setting up a Domain (johnbromhal.com)
    • Distribution began beyond Substack to
      • The BIG five (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon M...

References:

• Review A Jesus Parable and Romans 12:1-2
  • Don’t be “conformed”
  • But be “transformed”
• Review Matthew 25:31-46
  • Separating - aphorisms - from Merriam-Webster Online
    • a concise statement of a principle
    • a terse formulation of a truth or sentiment
      • "Let us value the quality of life, not the quantity."
      • Compare with a proverb (check out last week’s episode).
  • Sheep vs Goat...

References:

• A Jesus Parable and Romans 12:1-2
  • Conformed - συσχηματίζω (soos-khay-mat-id'-zo)
    • BLB - to conform one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to another's pattern, (fashion one's self according to)
    • 1 Peter 1:14
  • Transformed - μεταμορφόω (met-am-or-fo'-o) as in Christ’s transfiguration
    • BLB - to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure
    • 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
• Matthew 25:31-46 - the S...

References:

• Labor Day Weekend - back to עָבַד
  • Labor - עָבַד (aw-vad')
    • Work - as in till or cultivate
      • Gen 2:5, 15 - part of the 1st command of God, a blessing
      • Gen 3:23 - a part of the curse in the fall story 
    • Serve, slave - a prophetic word to Abram
      • Gen 15:13 - God describes the time of Israel in Egypt after Joseph has died and been forgotten
      • Gen 15:14 - God’s judgement upon the Egyptians who will enslave...

References:

• The Gospel: it is not ours to adapt to our comfort or liking
  • What is a “false” Gospel? - deliberately twisting the truth concerning Christ - 1:7
    • Wanting the Gospel to align with my life choices - 2 Tim 4:3-4
    • What might equate with circumcision today? (compare Col 2:13-23)
      • Denominations? Or doctrinal convictions. (we are the “right” ones)
      • Outward appearance? (black vehicles at church)
      • Pol...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 5:16-26
    • The Spirit is our new guardian, not the Law
    • The desires of the sinful nature
    • The fruit of the Spirit
    • Stay in ranks and march with the Spirit
  • What’s Next?
• Gal 6:1-18
  • Vss 1-3
    • Restoration in meekness - πραότης (prah-ot'-ace)
      • Fruit - Gal 5:23; 1 Cor 4:21; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12
        • Adjective two forms- meek: πρᾶος, πραΰς
        • Mt 5:5; 11:29; 21:5; 1 Pt 3:4
      • Wisdom: see BLB on πραΰ...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 5:1-15
    • Paul is turning from doctrinal arguments to ethical ones. True freedom in Christ, from the law, is not license to sin
    • Imagery
      • The race
      • Assiduously waiting
      • A little yeast
      • Castration
      • Biting and destruction
• Galatians 5:16-26
  • Vss 16-18
    • The new guardian - not the law any longer, but the Spirit
    • Walk by the Spirit - περιπατέω (per-ee-pat-eh'-o)
      • Rom 6:4; 8:4; 1 Cor 3:3
      • Not the...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 4:21-31
    • Lesson from the Torah in allegory
      • Sarah, the mother of the promise, heavenly Jerusalem
      • Hagar, the mother of slavery, Mt Sinai, the Law
    • Being children of the promise, of freedom, of the power of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
    • Remember the limits of allegory
  • What’s next?
• Gal 5:1-15
  • Vs 1 - for freedom Christ has set us free
    • Freedom from slavery to the law does n...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 4:1-20
    • Being on guard against the elemental principles that reduce us to children of the universe rather than living in the power of the Spirit as children of God.
    • The true powerlessness and poverty that leads us to humbly receive the truth
    • The travail of childbirth that brings forth new children of promise
  • What’s next?
• Galatians 4:21-31
  • Vss 21-23
    • Genesis 15 through 18
      • Ch 1...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 3:15-29
    • Seed vs seeds
    • Abraham vs Moses (heir vs slave)
    • Jesus our mediator & the law our tutor
    • Promise vs keeping the law
  • What’s next?
• Galatians 4:1-20
  • Vss 1-7
    • Heir, child, slave, guardian, manager
      • Remember the vineyard and tenants (Mt 21; Mk 12; Lk 20)
      • Consider 1 Cor 13:11 - gives new meaning
      • δοῦλος - servant, slave - very common in NT
      • Guardian = steward
    • Basic spiritual...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 3:1-14
    • Vss 1c-4 - the picture of the Gospel and question - προγράφω (prog-raf'-o) - recall Rd to Emmaus
    • Vss 5-9 - faith before works, (promise before law)
    • Vss 10-14 - the curse and the removal of the curse
  • What’s next? The basis of Paul’s argument.
• Galatians 3:15-29
  • Vss 15-18 -  an example of a “last will and testament”
    • Vs 16 - σπέρμασιν vs σπέρματί
      • P...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 2:11-21
    • Confrontation
      • Clarifying and righting the Gospel
      • Spiritual battle for the Body of Christ (including Peter and Barnabas)
    • Justification by faith
      • Mnemonic - justified = “just as if I’d” never sinned.
      • By grace through trusting God’s Word of promise
  • Going forward - hang on
• Gal 3:1-14
  • Vs 1a&b - “You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a s...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Gal 2:1-10
    • The question?
    • The ill-intentioned skeptics who want others to miss the goal (see Phil 3:14)
    • The right hand of fellowship
  • Recalling Acts 10
• Gal 2:11-21 - the core and foundation of the Gospel
  • 2:11-15 - Paul fights for Peter. (?)
    • Opposing him to his face - ἀνθίστημι (anth-is'-tay-mee)
      • This was the fourth of the five smooth stones series. 
        • (Ep 055 (S3E11) Five Smooth ...

References:

• Quick Review
  • Former Saul - Gal 1:13-14
    • See Acts 7:57-8:1
    • See Acts 26:9-11
  • Redeemed and restored Paul - vss 15-16a
    • See Eph 1:3-14
    • Compare 1:Pet 1:18-20
  • The Christians in Judea praised God because of Paul (1:22-24)
• Paul receives acceptance and recognition 2:1-10
  • Pre-2:1-10 background
    • Saul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-25)
    • Saul sent to Tarsus (9:26-31)
    • Barnabas and Saul team up (Acts 11:19-30)
  • ...

References:

• Quick Review
  • The churches of Galatia to whom Paul was writing are the subject of Luke’s telling of Acts 13 & 14
    • Antioch of Pisidia - near modern day Yalvaç, Turkey
    • Iconium & Lystra - near Konya, Turkey
    • Derbe - near Karaman, Turkey
  • Paul starts the letter with both barrels blazing
    • I’m shocked! You are abandoning the true Gospel
    • for a twisted one, a false Gospel
    • Curses! Anathema!
• 1:...

References:

• Geographical and Ethno-Historical Context
  • Who were the Galatians?
    • The cities of Galatia
      • Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, etc.
      • Modern day Turkey
    • The people of Galatia
      • Stereotyped as brave, impulsive and superstitious
      • Foolish - ἀνόητος (an-o'-ay-tos) 3:1
  • Acts 13-15 - a new world for God’s Chosen people.
    • 13: Consider Saul’s (Paul’s, vs 9) command of the Scriptures
      • Acts ...

References:

• Romans 1:16-17
  • Gospel - εὐαγγέλιον (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on)
    • A reward for good tidings - see 2 Samuel 4
    • Good tidings - 2 Samuel 18
    • Mark 1:14-15 - the good news about
    • Philippians 1:5-27 - 7X in 22 vss
  • Not Ashamed - ἐπαισχύνομαι (ep-ahee-skhoo'-nom-ahee)
    • The world’s opposition to the Gospel
    • Unashamedness
• Galatians 1-2
  • Another Gospel?
  • False Gospel μεταστρέφω (met-as-tref'-o)
    • turning 2X - Acts 2 ...

References:

• The Command - Isaiah 55:6-7
  • Seek - imperative (command)
  • Call - also imperative
  • Steps of repentance
    • The urgency of “while you can find Him,” and “while He is near.”
      • If you feel far from God, who moved?
      • He will never leave or forsake
    • Forsaking of wicked ways - see ESV
    • Banishing of evil thoughts - see NLT
    • Receiving the abundantly generous forgiveness
• Our Transcendant God - Isa 55...

References:

• Grief, suffering, hardship, pain… These are not signs of God’s abandonment or condemnation.
  • Romans 8:35, 37-39
    • Counter cultural 
    • The promise that allows people of faith to grieve differently
  • Paul’s last letter, near the end of his life (martyrdom)
• 2 Timothy 2:1-14
  • The reality of discipleship
    • What witness do you bear when you are suffering?
    • Endurance - κακοπαθέω (kak-op-ath-eh...