Galatians addresses the sensitive and complex issue of the role Old Testament Law plays in salvation, specifically regarding circumcision. Paul's main goal in his letter to the Galatians is to defend salvation by faith in Jesus, not by works of the Law. But in order to follow his argument and understand the good news he is sharing, we must grasp the true purpose of circumcision.
This sign was given to point to Abraham's future descendent who would be a blessing to all nations. That sign was fulfilled in Jesus. Therefore, faith in Jesus is the fulfillment of the command to be circumcised. As you meditate on this truth, along with its wider implications, we pray that the free and finished gift of the Gospel becomes more and more beautiful to you.
I.
The Authority Of Paul’s Apostleship And Gospel,
1:1-2:21
A.
Opening
Salutation,
1:1-5
Synopsis:
Paul introduced himself as an
apostle sent from Jesus and God, not from men. He wrote to all
the churches of Galatia. Paul asked blessings upon the churches
from God the Father and Jesus who gave himself for men’s sins that
they might be delivered from sin which is the will of God. To God be
the glory forever.
1
Paul, an apostle (not from men, but through Jesus Christ, and God the
Father, who raised him from the dead),
It
was the custom in the first century for the writer of a letter to
identify himself at the beginning of the letter. This Paul did
not only as himself, but as Paul an apostle. He was an
apostle in the fullest and deepest sense. His apostleship was
equal to that of the twelve apostles. Paul was not made an apostle by
men. He was an apostle through Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)
and God the Father. The authority of his apostleship was
divine. There could be no question concerning Paul’s
apostleship. Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by his
resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4). After Jesus’
resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to Paul and called him to
be an apostle (Acts 9:1-5; 22:1-9).
2
and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Paul
mentions the brethren with him. He did not mention any of them
by name as he did in the letters to the Thessalonians and
Corinthians. He did let the Galatians know he had talked it
over with the brethren with him. They were in agreement
concerning what he wrote. Paul addressed the letter to the
churches of Galatia. In the introduction, it has been shown
that Galatia was the name of the Roman province. Paul was
better acquainted in the southern part of the province. Paul
did not speak of any church individually, nor did he praise any of
them. It is not known how many churches there were in the
province of Galatia.
3
Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus
Christ,
Paul
wished them grace and peace. Grace was the unmerited
favor of God. Therefore, Paul said that may the undeserved love of
God continue to be upon them and that their lives be lovely.
Peace was similar to the Hebrew term “shalom.” God’s
grace brings peace. It was the peace when one has the right
relationship with God and all was well with one’s soul. The
contentment, which comes from knowing God, will be with Christians
and will take care of them in every crisis of life. This grace
and peace comes from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
God is the spiritual Father of Christians. When one believes in
Jesus and obeys the gospel, he is added to the family of God, the
church. Jesus Christ is Lord. He is to be Lord of the
Christian’s life. One acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus by
obeying him (Matthew 7:21). The name “Lord” denotes the divinity
of Jesus.
4
who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this
present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:
Jesus
gave himself for the sins of mankind. He rescued sinners from
this present evil world by his death upon the cross. The evil
world was those opposed to God. Therefore, they were in sin and
darkness. When one obeyed the gospel, he was translated from
the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son (Colossians
1:13). It was God’s will for Jesus to die for the sins of the world
(Romans 8:32). Paul taught salvation was through Jesus Christ and not
through the law of Moses. To turn from the gospel back to the
law was inconceivable in the mind of Paul.
5
to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Let there be glory given to
God for the great things he has done through Jesus for mankind.
Amen
means let it come to pass.
B.
The Only
Gospel,
1:6-10
Synopsis:
Paul was amazed the Galatians
were so quickly moving from the gospel to another gospel. There
was only one true gospel. Let him be accursed who preaches
another gospel. Paul was seeking to please God, not men.
6
I marvel that you are so quickly removing from him that called you in
the grace of God unto a different gospel;
This
was the place in Paul’s letters where thanksgiving was usually
found; however, thanksgiving was absent in this letter. Paul
was shocked the Galatians had so quickly turned away from God to
another gospel. This was present tense; they are still moving
away. It was God who had called them through the gospel, not
Paul (II Thessalonians 2:14). There was only one gospel.
Paul explained this. They were turning away from the one
gospel. In doing this, the Galatians were turning away from
God.
7
which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you and
would pervert the gospel of Christ.
There
are not two gospels. There is only one gospel. There are
teachers who are troubling them and presenting to them a perverted
gospel. A perverted gospel will not save.
8
But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any
gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be
anathema.
There
was only one gospel. Paul preached the gospel when he came to
Galatia. It must not be perverted. If Paul or an angel
from heaven came and preached different from what Paul had preached
to them, the message was false and the proclaimer would be doomed to
destruction.
Anathema
meant under the curse or under
the wrath of God. This meant the false teachers were under the
severest condemnation of God. They condemned themselves and those who
heard and believed their teaching. The one gospel was the one
faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3). Everyone
can and must compare what they hear with the New Testament, as it is
the only truth from God.
9
As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto
you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be
anathema.
Paul
emphasized what he has said. There was one gospel. Paul
preached the one gospel when he first came to them. If anyone
preached anything different, the teaching was false and not to be
received. The one who taught a perverted gospel would be
punished by God.
10
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I
striving to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should
not be a servant of Christ.
The
charge must have been made against Paul that he was seeking to please
men. Paul tried to become all things to all men so he could
save some; however, he never did this to the compromise of the truth.
Paul preached the one gospel to all. He both lived and taught
that one must please God, not men (Ephesians 6:6; Colossians 3:22).
Paul knew full well that when one was a servant of Christ, he could
not seek to please men. Since his conversion, Paul sought only
to please Christ and bring glory to God. Christians must have
this attitude today.
OPEN:
- In high school, how loyal were your friends? How loyal were you to them?
DIG:
- What, according to Paul's claim in Galatians 1:1, gives him the right to be heard?
- What kind of contrary "gospel" was being preached that led the Galatians astray? How does Paul feel about the Judaizers' message?
- What does Paul say will happen to anyone who promotes a "gospel" other than that which he preached the good news of grace (Galatians 1:8-9)?
- What accusation is Paul refuting in Galatians 1:10? How does this reflect Jesus' life? How true would this accusation be of you?
REFLECT:
- Who has been an "apostle Paul" in your life, contributing to your spiritual growth?
Don’t Be Snookered
Snooker is a type of billiard game, said to have been invented by British troops serving in India in the late 1800’s. The term ‘snooker’ apparently originated from this game due to the fact that a novice player can be easily cheated. To be snookered is to be fooled, and snookering did not begin with a billiard game.
The devil has sought to snooker the Lord’s people ever since the Garden of Eden, which of course, is where snookering got its start on the planet, 1 Timothy 2:12-14.
In fact, one of the first things Jesus taught was to be careful of being deceived by false prophets, Matthew 7:15-20. He said that they were like sheep on the outside, but that they were really ravenous wolves. They are identifiable by their fruits.
Jesus’ apostles took His warnings to heart and continued to caution others about the potentially dangerous effects that false teachers could have on the church. Paul himself warned the shepherds of the church at Ephesus that even from among their own number, some would arise, perverting the truth and leading followers away, Acts 20:28-31.
Really? Would the Lord’s elders lead the Lord’s sheep astray? Paul said that some of them would, and it continues to happen to this day.
Paul wrote to the Galatian Christians, who were being led away from the truth. Those responsible were warned twice, with being cursed for their evil influence, Galatians 1:6-9.
The apostle Peter also gave a stern warning about false teachers, cautioning the brethren to be wary of them whose sensuality would lead many astray. He foretold that because of them, the way of truth will be maligned, 2 Peter 2:1-3.
The apostle John wrote similar warnings. He told the church not to believe every spirit but to try the spirits to see whether they are of God, 1 John 4:1. How do you try a spirit? You match it against the word of God, which is what Jesus said sets us apart from the world (John 17:17). If the teaching of the ‘new spirit’ isn’t there, beware. He also said that some would go too far, not abiding in the teaching of Christ, 2 John 9.
Finally, consider Jude, who was compelled to write to the church and appeal to them to contend earnestly for the faith that had been delivered to them, Jude 3-4. Why contend for the faith? There were those who had crept into the church unnoticed who would lead the Lord’s people astray. Even after 2,000 years, these things haven’t changed at all.
Don’t be snookered.
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