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Galatians 1
Galatians
Gal.1
[1] Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)[2] And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
[3] Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
[4] Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
[5] To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
In these opening verses we are aware that something is wrong. Paul does not open with his customary praise to God for them or prayer for the Saints. Paul is about to engage in a battle for the gospel and for the liberty that Christians have in Christ.
We can see in Romans Chapter 1 that Paul thanks God for the church at Rome and prays for them. This evidently is missing in Galatians Chapter 1.
[7] To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[8] First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Romans 1:7, 8
False teachers (Judaizers) had been following Paul from town to town and were spreading a false gospel which was a mixture of Law and Grace. Paul was not going to stand for this- he was determined to communicate the truth to these believers.
Paul sets out his authority in v1. He was called by the Lord as we know on the road to Damascus. Acts 9: 3-15.
9:3And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: 9:4and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 9:5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: 9:6but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 9:7And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man. 9:8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9:9And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink. 9:10Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 9:11And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth; 9:12and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. 9:13But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem: 9:14and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name. 9:15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:But Paul also had a second reason for his authority. He had founded the churches in Galatia. He was their spiritual father and, therefore, had the authority to bring them back to the truth.
The false teachers were not ministering to these believers to bring glory to God but it was for their own glory. They wanted a following. They were not winning souls to Christ. Rather they were ‘sheep stealing’, - taking Paul’s converts and bragging about their statistics. Paul’s motive, however, was pure. His desire was to bring men and women to Christ and to bring glory to God.
Paul’s Anxiety [6] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:[7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Paul was amazed that these believers were deserting the grace of God. (Here the verb removed, has the meaning in the Greek of being in the process of moving. They had not fully rejected God’s grace but were on their way to doing so.)
Paul acts quickly – he ‘cuts to the chase’. God had saved them without law and without works. Yet they were moving from Liberty to Legalism; from grace to Law.
They had become infatuated with the religion of the Jadaizers. But be aware, such is the nature of Christianity today. Many have moved from God’s grace to legalism. They desire to obey law. The sad thing here is that no believer can grow in the Lord under law. It is only by faith and by the grace of God that we grow. Yet religion can entice believers because it does allow for performance. The flesh can remain alive, and hidden, while the veneer of Christianity is promoted. Adam and Eve made a covering from leaves; Cain brought the works of his own hands. The flesh always wants to be told what to do to be made righteous. However, you and I know that the flesh has been totally and absolutely rejected by God. We are saved by grace and we must walk by faith and grow in grace. We must put the flesh to death daily.
The word another used in v6 is not the same Greek word as used in v7.
V6 heteros - which means another of a different kind.
V7 allos – which means another of exactly the same kind.
The Judaizes were presenting a gospel of a different kind to the Galatians. It was a gospel of law and works not of grace. They taught that to be saved one had to become a Jew first and then a Christian. The person had to obey the Law of Moses to remain a Christian. This is recorded in Acts 15.
They troubled the Galatians. They confused them. Such is the case with those who are not grounded in the word of God. They are easily troubled. It is absolutely vital that every believer is discipled in the word of God immediately after conversion. These Galatian believers could have asked Paul – their spiritual father for help, but they did not. They were beguiled by the Judaizers words.
15:1And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, saying, except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 15:2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, the brethren appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 15:3They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 15:4And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them. 15:5But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses. 15:6And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter. 15:7And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 15:8And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us; 15:9and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 15:10Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 15:11But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they. 15:12And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them. 15:13And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me: 15:14Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15:15And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 15:16After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: 15:17That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, 15:18Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old. 15:19Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God; 15:20but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.Note that James did not bring the Gentiles under any Law. Certainly they had to abstain from meat offered to idols, etc. But as we learned in our study of Romans 14 this was to allow the immature Jews time to grow so that they would not act against their consciences.
[8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.[9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
[10] For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
We have a very serious warning here in v8. Those who preach any other gospel that is not based on the grace of God separate from law and works will be cursed (Greek: anathema – which literally means to be dedicated to destruction.). Yet I have heard false gospels in so many churches. Some examples:
- Turn away from your sins and be saved.
- Keep the commandments and be saved.
- Let the Lord clean you heart.
- Give your heart to Jesus.
- Let the Lord turn your black heart white.
- Turn over your life to Jesus.
What is the gospel? Well, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4 gives us a good idea of what it is:
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: and that he was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4Please note here that Paul received the gospel directly from Christ – he did not invent it. In fact a Pharisee would have been repulsed by the teaching of salvation by grace through faith. The gospel that Christ preached and that the apostles preached was one in the same.
We are saved by believing (by agreeing with God – repentance) that we are sinners and that only Christ could pay the price for our sins. This is what the scriptures tell us. We are taking God at His word and believing all that He has said to us. It is not by keeping rules, laws, doing things, not doing things. It is simply trusting in Christ alone for salvation.
In the Chronological teaching we discovered that the common thread that runs through scripture is that the sinner had to come to God in God’s way. This may have been to sacrifice a lamb or another acceptable creature; however, it was always by believing what God had said. The sinner always came by faith to God.
The Judaizers were putting doubts into the minds of the Galatian believers. You see young believers seek security and the enemy will try to get us to doubt God’s word so that we place our faith in something else or someone else. In the Garden of Eden, Eve was tempted of the Devil. His first tactic was to get her to disbelieve God’s word. ‘Has not God said that you can eat of every tree of the garden? Our faith must be in God’s word not in the doctrines of men.[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
[13] For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:[14] And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
[15] But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
[16] To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul received the gospel directly from Christ. He formerly persecuted the church and now he is promoting it. Is this the work of a man who is interested in promoting himself? Paul was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He was well educated and had a great future in Israel; however, he found the truth and had totally rejected the possibility of salvation by any other means than Christ.
We too, need to be convinced of the roots of our salvation and the means of growth. If we are unstable we will be drawn away by modern day Judaizers.
Acts.21:40 - Acts.22:1-3
[40] And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying, [1] Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.[2] (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
[3] I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. Acts.26:24 [24] And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
[17] Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
[18] Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
[19] But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
[20] Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
[21] Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
[22] And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
[23] But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
[24] And they glorified God in me.
Paul was taught by the Lord in Arabia. He spent upwards on three years in spiritual development. It is important for us to note this. Christian growth is not an overnight experience. It is separation onto Lord and involves prayer, worship, study and fellowship. Remember the two enemies to our growth are ignorance and unbelief. We need to get to know the Lord better and take Him at His word.
Later Paul went up to Jerusalem and spent fifteen days with Peter and also fellowshiped with James.
“Modern day Judaizers, just like their ancient counterparts, reject the teaching of Paul and try to undermine the gospel that he preached.” W.Wiersbe
In Paul’s day it was the gospel plus the Law of Moses. In or day it is it is the gospel plus any number of religious leaders, religious books, or religious organisations. “You can’t be saved unless…” and that unless usually means you can’t be saved unless you join their club or society, obey their rules, wear their style of clothing, perform to suit them. But Paul warned these people in v8-9 they are in grave danger of God’s judgement.
The gospel message is simple. You and I can do nothing to save ourselves. It is by faith in Christ alone that we are saved. He lives in us. Our Christian growth comes by trusting in Him moment by moment.
In Romans 14 I gave a list of some things the Judaizers of today try to force upon us in order to be saved.
- Head covering
- Dress code
- Attendance at meetings
- Versions of the Bible
- Political affiliations
- No Alcohol
- No smoking
Certainly over indulgence in anything is not good for your body. However, God will save smokers, alcoholics, homosexuals, adulterers, murderers etc. He will deliver them from their sins and create a new person. We must believe God to do this.
A young pupil asked me in school recently: “How bad do you have to be to go to Hell?” My answer was simple. No one will go to Hell because of their badness and no one will go to Heaven for their goodness. Men and women will go to Hell because of their unbelief. Men and women will go to Heaven because of their belief in Christ alone. Remember, Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world. No one will go to Hell because of sin. This is clear in Revelation chapter 20 v12. Men and women, great and small will be judged according to their works.
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:12, 15.You see if a person does not trust in Christ alone for salvation then he is trusting in some work. But works will never bridge the gap between man and God. Man is too proud to accept that he can do nothing to save himself. He will endeavour to help God save him. Such is all religion. Mans last attempt to save himself.
It is Christ plus nothing for salvation and Christ plus nothing for our Christian walk.
Learn this and live this!