But one of the elders said, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and loose its seven seals." - Revelations 5:5

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GALATIANS SUMMARY: How Do the Keys Connect?

Through the past month or so I have taken you on a journey through the book of Galatians "revealing" how it ties back to the book of Acts, line by line verse by verse. We have already learned how there are hidden keys that tie the epistles, which were written later, directly back to the writings in the book of Acts. Remember Paul's epistles all tie back to the "first epistle" found in Acts 15:19-29. This is what unveils the mystery found in the New Covenant. The Jerusalem council and the decrees that the Holy Spirit chose for us to follow as Gentiles are extremely important for us to remember when reading the New Covenant.

I am mindful of Eph.3:1-3 where the great apostle, Paul said, "And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations has been hidden (not made known) to the sons of men, as it has now has been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit. And by referring to this WHEN YOU READ you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. My question is: referring to what? What do we refer to, that when reading we will be able to understand the mystery of the New Covenant? The answer is found in Acts 15: the first epistle and the decrees that were decided on by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, in Galatians, how many times Paul refers to circumcision, the customs of Moses, and the Law. These are the exact issues on which they had to decide in Acts 15 at the Great Jerusalem Council. It is a beautiful picture to see once the New Covenant is unveiled to you. Remember, the Jews thought that God was restoring the Kingdom to them (Acts 1:6-8). We know this was not and is not true. Instead, He opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles, a whole new dispensation. This was revealed to Peter through the Great Sheet Revelation found in Acts 10 & 11. This is the first time in History that the Gentiles believed and then received the Holy Spirit.

This was a problem for the early church as it still is to some today. The big question that they had to answer was this---What were we (Jews) to do with these Gentile believers? Were they (Gentiles) to circumcise their children and were we (Jews) to direct them to observe the customs of Moses?

This is what the New Covenant is all about--- getting the lost saved, bringing them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Then disciplining them into mature men and women of God. The epistles fit together in such a beautiful fashion. It is like a love story that unveils itself to you.

Do not ever forget that the reason Paul traveled through the cities was to deliver the decrees (Acts 16:4-6). Therefore, in each epistle that was written later, we can see keys that tie these epistles back to "the epistle" and the journeys written in the book of Acts.

Following is a list of these keys that connect, made by Elaine Johns from one of my sermons titled " GALATIANS SUMMARY" How Do the Keys Connect? You can find this teaching under that title on the website under "Pastor Ron's Messages".

These are just a few of the points from Galatians which refer DIRECTLY back to the book of ACTS, tying them together. The topic of the Law of Moses and circumcision was still a troublesome issue even after the Four Decrees had been delivered by Paul to the Galatians region. This is how Paul addressed what was troubling the Galatians Churches.

1.         Gal 1:6 "a different gospel" What other gospel was there? ACTS 15:1&5, 15:19-29 were Jews/gentiles under New Covenant to view the Old Covenant differently? Yes!

2.        Gal 1:7 "disturbing you" ACTS 15:24/ why? Acts 15:1& 5 were Gentiles to follow the Old Covenant? NO

3.        Gal 1:8 "A gospel contrary to that which we have preached" ACTS 15:19-30 the first epistle

4.        Gal 1:11-12 "the gospel which is preached by me is not according to man”,” a revelation of Jesus Christ" ACTS 9:15 chosen to go to the GENTILES.

5.        Gal 1: 15-16 "Called me through His grace" "To reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles" ACTS 9:15

6.        Gal 1:18 "stayed with (Cephus) Peter 15 days" By this time, Peter had the Great Sheet Revelation...ACTS 10-11

7.        Gal 1:21 "...regions of Syria and Cilicia" ACTS 15:23; 15:41

8.        Gal 1:23 "...he who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy" ACTS 9:1-15, the connection is always found in the book of Acts.

9.        Gal 2:1 "...after an interval of fourteen years I went up AGAIN to Jerusalem with Barnabus, taking Titus along..." Acts 12:25; 15:2 Acts 15:36-39 Paul and Barnabus had a "sharp disagreement" regarding John Mark. Barnabus is never mentioned again with Paul after Acts 15:37-16:4.

10.    Gal 2:2 "I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles..." Acts 15: 19-30 & 16:1-5

11.      Gal 2:6 "of high reputation" Acts 15:1, 5; 16:3

12.    Gal 2:7 "...entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised" Acts 15 Jews and Gentiles were viewed differently under the New Covenant.

13.    Gal 2:9 James (Acts 15:13), Cephus (15:7), John (15:37), Barnabus (Acts 15:2) "reputed to be pillars"

14.    Gal 2:11 "when Cephus came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned" Peter had accepted the Gentiles and then withdrew, fearing the circumcision. He knew they (Gentiles) were a part of the church, but he and other Jews were being hypocrites. Peter knew better because of Acts 10 and 11 and Acts 15.

15.    Gal 2:13 "that even Barnabus was carried away by their hypocrisy." Because of Acts 15 and 16, Barnabus knew better, as well. Paul's indictment of them was sound.

16.    Gal 2:14 "were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel..." The truth of the gospel, the gospel of Paul to the Gentiles---Acts 15:19-30, 16:1-6

17.    Gal 2:16-21 "not justified by the works of the law, but by faith" Acts 15:1, 5, 19-29

18.    Gal 2:21 "if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died needlessly." Acts 15:1&5

19.    Gal 3:1 "You foolish Galatians!" Where did Paul meet them before that he could be so bold to call them foolish? Acts 16:4&6

20.   Gal 3:2 "...did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law?" Acts 10; Acts 15:1, 5, 8; Acts 16:5

21.    Gal 3:5 "provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law or by hearing with faith?" Acts 15:1, 5, 8

22.   Gal 3:7 "...it is those who are of faith that are the Sons of Abraham." Acts 15:8

23.   Gal 3:8 THIS IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF PAUL'S GOSPEL "And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, PREACHED THE GOSPEL to Abraham saying, ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOU." Acts 14:21-28/Acts 15:1, 5, 8

24.   Gal 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us..." Acts 15:1 & 5

25.   Gal 3:14 "...in order than in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Acts 10 Great sheet revelation, Acts 15:1, 5, 8,

26.   Gal 3:15-17 The covenant, the seed---v 17"What I am saying is this: The Law, which came 430 years later, (430 years AFTER ABRAHAM'S PROMISE)does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise." Acts 15:1, 5, 8, and 15:19-30 the Epistle

27.   Gal 3:18-19 "For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a PROMISE. Why the Law, then? It was ADDED BECAUSE OF TRANSGRESSIONS, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. Acts 15--the Gentiles were the "seed" that "should come to whom the promise had been made."

28.   Gal 3:23-24 "but before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ that we may be justified by faith." Acts 15

29.   Gal 3:29 "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise."  Acts 15:5-12 for the first time they realized it was a Gentiles also.

30.   Gal 4:4-6 Adoption Acts 10; 11; 15

31.    Gal 4:21 "Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?" Acts 15:1, 5, 8,

32.   Gal 4:23-31 The two covenants- Hagar and Sarai. We are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. Acts 15.

33.   Gal 5:2 "...if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you." Acts 15:1, 5 specifically question the Gentiles position regarding circumcision, the everlasting promise made to the Jews

34.   Gal 5:3-5 "...to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under an obligation to keep THE WHOLE LAW. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness." Acts 10; 11; 15. Gentiles were not the ones commanded to circumcise their children, the Jews were, there is a difference

35.   Gal 5: 7 "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?" The TRUTH? Acts 15:1, 5, 8 & 15:19-30 the truth Gentiles were told to follow the 4 decrees not the commandments of Moses and circumcision.

36.   Gal 5:10 "...that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is." Acts 15:24 the same words...

37.   Gal 5:11 "...if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished." Paul still preached circumcision---to the JEWS. There IS A DIFFERENCE between Jews and Gentiles, even as believers in Jesus Christ... Acts 15

38.   Gal 5:12 "Would that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves." Acts 15:1, 5 notice how the great Apostle views circumcision, mutilation. He was trying to reveal the differences between the Jews and gentiles under the New Covenant.

39.   Gal 6:12-17 The Jews were still suggesting the Gentiles should be circumcised so they could boast about it. "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And to those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." Acts 15---the Four Decrees.