Title: Spying Out Freedom: What Drives False Teaching
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00:23 - What Were the Motives of Those Causing Discord?
03:52 - An Expanding Kingdom of Slavery
05:23 - Good Works Getting in the Way of the Gospel
07:36 - Why Was Paul So Harsh?
13:48 - What's next?
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* **Galatians 2:4** — “Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—”
* **Galatians 2:5** — “to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.”
* **Galatians 2:11** — “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.”
* **Galatians 2:12** — “For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.”
* **Galatians 2:13** — “And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.”
* **Galatians 2:14** — “But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?’”
* **Galatians 4:16** — “Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?”
* **Galatians 4:17** — “They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.”
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This episode looks at why some in Galatia “spied out” Christian freedom and pushed believers back into slavery. Drawing on Galatians 2 and 4, the conversation traces motives of status and control: “making much of you” so that others will “make much of them.” Self-righteousness needs validation, so it presses rules on others and builds an inner circle that excludes. Paul responds sharply because these were teachers distorting the core of the gospel, not confused new believers. The team contrasts appeasing God through performance with resting in grace that produces confession, unity, and joy. Good works have a place, but never as currency to earn favor. Grace gives rest; performance builds an empire of bondage.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.
