Lesson 4:Alarming Reasons Some Fall Away (Galatians)

Based on two books by Tom Holland

Alarming Reason Some Fall:Turn Away from Truth

• Some “turn away” from the gospel to man-made doctrine – 1:6-12• Some “turn again” to that which is “worthless” – 4:9• Some hear, know, and then reject truth – 4:16; 5:7• Some entangle themselves again in their old religion – 5:1

Alarming Reason Some Fall:Turned Away from Truth

• Someone actively seeking to hinder away from truth – 5:7• Someone actively seeking to bewitch away from truth –

3:1• Someone actively seeking to court away from truth – 4:19• Someone actively seeking to trouble away from truth –

1:7; 5:10, 12

Alarming Reason Some Fall:Consumed By Another

• A brother might “use” another for selfish satisfaction – 5:13• A brother might continually “bite and devour” another –

5:15• A brother might cause one to be “consumed” or

destroyed – 5:15• Rather than agape love for one another—critical &

ruthless treatment

Alarming Reason Some Fall:Consumed By Flesh

• The flesh is in constant struggle with and is opposed to the Spirit – 5:17• The flesh makes it easy to “not do the things that you

wish” – 5:17• The flesh leads one to abandon the spiritual for the carnal

– 3:3• Some grow weary in endless battle against works of the

flesh – 5:19-21• “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap

corruption” – 6:8

Alarming Reason Some Fall:Consumed In Self

• Some fall because he “thinks himself to be something” – 6:3• Dangerous to think self “to be something, when…

nothing” – 6:3• Some deceive themselves into thinking “they can handle

sin/flesh” or that “sin is not a big deal”• Forgetting, “whatever a man sows, he will reap” – 6:7

Alarming Reason Some Fall:Neglect Spiritual Growth

• Neglect upward growth – 5:22– Love, joy, peace

• Neglect outward growth – 5:22– Longsuffering, kindness, goodness

• Neglect inward growth – 5:22-23– Faithfulness, meekness, self-control

Alarming Reason Some Fall:Neglect Spiritual Service

• Sometimes serving others can be wearying and discouraging – 6:9• Easy to focus on the regrets and not on the reward – 6:9• Must not turn so far inward and neglect opportunities to

serve – 6:10

Alarming Reason Some Fall:Crushed By Burdens

• Burdens, disappointments and heartaches of life can crush – 6:2• Burdens make serious demands on one’s spiritual

strength• When one’s strength is exhausted, burdens weigh down

and defeat