i. to have the right knowledge of how Christians should please God rather than men and
ii. to discuss what to do when human authority clashes with God's authority
Passion for seeking human acceptance is the state whereby people choose to please people for one reason or the other at the detriment of godliness. In our text, we discovered how some Galatian believers defected from the original gospel preached by Apostle Paul because they were threatened by the zealous Jewish Christians that were teaching that the Old Testament practices such as circumcision and dietary restrictions, were required for salvation; and thereby fall into doctrinal errors so as to please fellow brethren.
1. From the Bible passage today, explain what you understand by passion for human satisfaction and compare with John 12:42-43 and Gal 2:11-12.
2. Why did Jesus say to his disciples: ‘Do not fear those who can kill the body and cannot kill the souls in Matt. 10:28? Read 1Pet 3:14.
3. What should be the stance of a Christian whenever there is a clash between human authority and divine authority? Exod 1:17; Acts 5:29; Rom. 13:7.
4. What are the dangers associated with pleasing men rather than God? Gen. 3:17; Gal 1:6; 2:13.
Living according to the Gospel truth should be our aim as Christians and not pleasing men at the expense of the truth of God’s word. Whatever you achieve through pleasing men does not last and do not have eternal value.
When you please man, you lose your peace; please God and have your peace.
Gal. 2:10 "For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision".