Galatians

Hello everyone. This week we are reading through a majority of the Pauline Epistles. With the exception of Romans and 1&2 Corinthians, Paul's epistles are rather short. So we start with the first of his shorter one, Galatians. Paul and Barnabas set off from Syrian Antioch on their missionary journey and made their way through the Roman territory of Galatia (modern day Turkey). The letter to the Galatians was written to not just one church, but several. Of these include the churches at the villages and cities of: Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.

Paul wrote Galatians to address issues that the churches in that region were facing. A radical group of called the "Judaizers" were traveling from church to church teaching false doctrine. The Judaizers taught that in order to receive salvation, one must not only accept Christ as Savoir, but also submit and adhere to Jewish Law and it's man made customs, with special attention given to the practice of circumcision. This is salvation by grace and works, and not by grace alone like Paul was teaching. As you read through Galatians, you will see Paul touching on this theme repetitively. Paul gets so worked up about it he makes a surprising statement in 5:12. Paul isn't angry that the Galatian churches aren't listening to him. He's angry because he cares for them and doesn't want them to be lead astray.

^1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

 Remember that gospel means "good news." If we have to put constant work into our salvation, how is that good news? I don't have the strength or endurance to earn my own salvation. I need grace. We all need grace. That's why Ephesians 2:8-9 says: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Salvation is a gift of God. All we have to do is accept His gift. That's good news. Not that I'm lazy, I just recognize the fact that I couldn't be saved otherwise. That's why it's called "Amazing Grace."

^2:15 “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ ¹⁶ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Justice is a term that most of us are familiar with. Based on what a person has done, they are treated likewise. Whether it be good or bad, that person receives treatment equal to their actions. If God was to bring justice on us, we'd be in trouble. Being justified is to be declared "not guilty." Are we guilty? Yes. Are we guilty in the eyes of God? No, because we've been justified by faith. When we put our faith in God, our price being paid for by the blood of Christ, we are declared not guilty. That's the only way to be justified.

When we focus on following the Law, we have to obey each law to a tee. We can't do that. No matter how hard we try, we will eventually mess up. Who tries their hardest to obey the Law anyway? There is always one law we feel isn't as important and we fudge on it don't we? The Law was brought forth to show us how sinful we are, to show how much we need grace. I'm happy to accept. Praise God!!!

 ^3:23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

The Law was given to show us our sinfulness. Sin takes advantage of the Law and creates in us every evil desire. Therefore the Law holds us prisoner. That is, until Christ came. It is because of Christ that we have this faith that Paul speaks of. We believe in God, we trust in God. Grace has taken the place of the Law. The Law still exists to show us our sin and need of a Savior. But where the Law fails to to save, through Christ, grace does. That's why Ephesians 2:8-9 says: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

^4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
 ^5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I put these together because they work together to form one thought. We have to understand that we are a slave to one master or another. Where the Bible says servant in reference to God or Christ, it is the Greek word doulos, meaning slave. If that's the case how are we free in Christ? We have freedom from slavery to sin, who is an evil slave master. All slaves inherit the reward of the master. Being a slave to sin grants the same reward sin gains. It will be thrown into the fire. So too will those be if they are slaves to sin.

Not so with Christians, who are no longer slaves to sin, but are slaves of God. Remember, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. What Jesus was telling us is that though we are slaves to Him, we really aren't slaves in the way the world thinks of slavery. We do have to obey God and become new creations. We have to serve. But in the words of John MacArther, "We are slaves that become sons, sons who become joint heirs." We are joint heirs with Christ. The Kingdom of Heaven is His. That's the Son's inheritance. We too will inherit heaven. If I get heaven, then I happily accept my servitude under God.

^5:5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 

By faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the future for which we hope. We are waiting for God to do mighty things in our lives. These mighty things that bring Him glory and show the world that He is!!! Circumcision or uncircumcision mean nothing. What matters is faith expressing itself through love. While we wait on the Lord, let us obey Him and work to do as He commands. That is, to love all. Love is what matters. God loves, so too should we.


I want to stop here today because I don't want to get ahead of myself. I know there is still two chapters left, but I intend to preach from this section in the near future. This last tidbit is only the tip of the iceberg. Let me just say that it would be a good idea to pray and meditate on Galatians 5-6 and seek to understand what it means to be a New Creation in Christ. Until next time...

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.