Grip on Grace
Studies in Galatians Lesson 1: Paul Writes to the Galatian Churches Galatians 1:1-10 1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Paul’s Greeting to the Galatians ▲Paul’s God and Governor Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— ▲Paul’s greeting to the Galatians Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia:
►Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul from Antioch, Syria (Acts 14:26-28), circa 49AD, just after the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15. ►The churches of Galatia were planted by Paul and Barnabas during Paul’s first missionary journey (48-49AD); those churches included––– ● Antioch in Pisidia –– Acts 13:13-52 –– many Gentile converts –– Jews became jealous –– apostles expelled from town ● Iconium –– Acts 14:1-7 –– many Jewish and Gentile converts –– murderous plot by the Jews –– apostles fled town ● Lystra –– Acts 14:6-20 –– a lame man healed –– crowds worshiped the apostles –– Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived –– Paul was stoned ● Derbe –– Acts 14:20-21 –– the apostles won a large number of disciples –– then backtracked through the other towns ►Paul wrote Galatians to confront and correct false doctrine that had corrupted the year-old churches, a doctrine that required Gentiles to keep the Jewish law. ►Promoters of this false doctrine became known as Judaizers (from Galatians 2:14), that is, they compelled the Gentiles to live like Jews. ►Thus, these false teachers were not trusting the grace of Christ fully for their own salvation, and they preached that perversion to the Gentiles as well. ● In Galatians, Paul defends his apostleship against attacks and declares that his apostleship came directly from Jesus, not from men. ● In Galatians, Paul declares that justification comes by faith in Christ alone, and that faith plus anything else as a requirement for salvation is heresy. ● In Galatians, Paul declares that Christian liberty (salvation by grace) does not lead to immorality as the Judaizers charged, but rather to godliness. ● In Galatians, Paul declares that his own room for boasting is only “in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” ▲Paul’s glorious gospel Galatians 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
►This is a gospel of glorious grace ––– this is a gospel of remarkable rescue ––– this is a gospel of powerful peace ––– this is a gospel of divine design! ▲Paul’s glorifying God Galatians 1:5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. The Poisoned Gospel in Galatia ▲The provision of grace Galatians 1:6 the one who called you by the grace of Christ ▲The persuasion of the Galatians Galatians 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.
Galatians 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Galatians 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? ▲The perpetrators and their perversion of the gospel Galatians 1:7 Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 4:17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. Galatians 5:10 The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Galatians 5:12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. ▲The pronouncement of punishment upon the guilty Galatians 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! ▲The priority of the preacher of the gospel Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
►We must please God ––– we must preach grace ––– we must practice godliness ––– we must protect and preserve the gospel!