GALATIANS

GALATIANS 1

PAUL PROCLAIMS THE ONE TRUE GOSPEL 

Writing to the church in Galatia, Paul expresses concern for how quickly the people have abandoned the message of the gospel. Paul clarifies that there is no other gospel, any other source of salvation is false or distorted. Questions the believers in Galatia, Paul asks if they are aiming to please God or man. Paul warns against seeking the approval of others over the approval of God, boldly claiming that if he were still trying to please man, he would not be a servant of God.

Defending the authority of his message, Paul records that he did not hear the gospel from another man, but directly from Jesus who appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). Through his transformative experience with Jesus, Paul was transformed from a prosecutor of Christians to a messenger of the gospel. News spread that Paul was preaching the faith he once wanted to destroy, and God was glorified through his conversion.

GALATIANS 2

BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE, IN CHRIST ALONE

As Paul continued to preach the gospel, he was welcomed among the apostles who followed Jesus. Titus, a Greek man accompanied Paul and was not circumcised. Paul included Titus as an example of a previously non-Jewish person, or Gentile, who became a believer of Jesus without first adopting Jewish customs. Paul spoke primarily to Gentile audiences, while Peter, also called Cephas, spoke to primarily Jewish audiences.

Influenced by the Jewish people and reverting to his old ways, Peter avoided the uncircumcised and did not eat with those who did not adhere to the Jewish practices. Paul confronted Peter and accused him of hypocrisy, reminding him there was no purpose in forcing the Gentiles to live like the Jewish people.

Paul reminds Peter that their heritage or nationality is not what defines them as believers, only their faith in Jesus. Paul writes that people are not justified or made righteous by following the law and are only justified through their belief in Jesus as the Savior. Paul, arguing that if righteousness could come from following the law, there was no reason for Jesus to die. Because following the law does not make one righteous, the sacrifice of Christ was necessary. Paul explains that through the Holy Spirit, Christ lives within believers and he claims to have been crucified with Christ, trusting in Jesus for salvation and renewal.

Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

GALATIANS 3

ALL BELIEVERS ARE ADOPTED INTO GOD’S FAMILY

Paul questions the people of Galatia, asking them how they received the presence of the Holy Spirit. Knowing that they received God’s Spirit through faith alone, Paul emphasizes that they cannot earn God’s nearness through works of the law. Paul reflects on Abraham, whom God made righteous because of his faith alone. Abraham’s faith, not his actions, is what God used as the means to bless all nations through the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 12).

Paul references Deuteronomy 21:23, which says that anyone who is put to death by being hung on a tree is cursed by God. Paul acknowledges that Jesus took the curse for humanity to make atonement for the sins of those who love God. Jesus was the blessing that came from the lineage of Abraham, who offers eternal life to all who believe.

Explaining the purpose of the law, Paul shows how the law has exposed the sin of the Israelite people. Throughout history, the people vowed to follow God, but were unable to keep their promises. Before faith in Jesus, the people were burdened by the law as their only means for righteousness. Now that Jesus has fulfilled the law, salvation is available through faith in Jesus alone.

Paul proclaims that all people are unified by Jesus and there is no division among heritage, gender, or status. Whoever believes in Christ has been adopted into the family of Abraham and given the inheritance of eternal life.

GALATIANS 4

BELIEVERS ARE CHILDREN OF GOD’S PROMISES

Paul teaches that through Christ, believers are no longer slaves to the law, but have been adopted as God’s children. As God’s sons and daughters, believers are redeemed through Jesus and given the inheritance of eternal life. Warning the Galatians not to revert back to their simple, legalistic ways, Paul encourages believers to trust that their righteousness is secured through Christ.

Referencing Genesis 16-21, Paul illustrates his message through the story of Abraham’s sons. Because Abraham and his wife Sarah were old, they doubted God’s promise that they would have a son. Taking matters into their own hands, Abraham had a son with his servant, Hagar. Despite Abraham and Sarah’s wrongdoing, God kept His promises and provided Abraham a son through Sarah. Paul describes the two sons as the son of the slave woman (Ishmael) and the son of God’s promise (Isaac).

Paul uses these two sons to contrast the two relationships available with God, one based on human striving and the other based on trusting God’s promises. Believers are not slaves to the law, but children of God.

GALATIANS 5

THE HOLY SPIRIT CULTIVATES RIGHTEOUS QUALITIES IN BELIEVERS

Because of Christ, believers have been set free from the burden of the law. Keeping the law is not morally wrong, but cannot lead to righteousness or salvation outside of Christ. Because of Jesus, tradition and circumcision does not count for anything, but all that matters is faith expressed through love.

Paul specifies that the freedom given through Christ is not an opportunity to serve oneself, but to serve and love one another. Encouraging the believers to follow the Holy Spirit instead of their flesh, Paul teaches that the Spirit and flesh are in opposition to one another.

Following the natural desires of the flesh will lead to sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, envy, drunkenness, anger, and other destructive habits. In contrast, following the Holy Spirit leads to a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Those who have allowed their selfish desires to die on the cross with Jesus are invited into a life accompanied by the Spirit.

GALATIANS 6

BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO LIVE AS NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST

Paul challenges believers to respond to sin with gentleness and forgiveness. Desiring for Christ followers to live in unity, Paul encourages the believers in Galatia to bear one another's burdens. Although believers should help each other, every person will be individually responsible for the reaping and sowing of their lives. Wanting to cultivate righteousness, God shapes followers into more loving and generous people.

Paul encourages believers not to grow weary in doing good, for they will gain eternal life through their faith in the Holy Spirit. He desires for believers to take advantage of every opportunity to do good.

Paul teaches believers that if they are to boast in anything, they should boast in the completed work of Jesus on the cross. Restating his overarching message, Paul reminds believers that circumcision no longer matters, but only becoming a new creation through faith in Jesus.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.