Study of Galatians

Scripture: Galatians 1:1-10

What is the point of Galatians?

If someone asked you what was the book of Galatians about, what would you say off the top of your head?

Perhaps you would focus on a verse or section that you may remember from reading your Bible, or from a previous teaching. There are many popular verses regularly referenced that come from the book of Galatians.

The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)

“Walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16)

“I am Crucified With Christ” (Galatians 2:20)

You Reap What you Sow (Galatians 6:7-9)

Bear one Another’s Burdens (Galatians 6:2)

Christian Liberty (Galatians 5:1)

The Flesh and the Spirit (Galatians 5:17)

The Ground is Level at the Cross (Galatians 3:28)

If we think about the book of Galatians in this topical way we may miss the big picture that Paul was trying to convey when he wrote this letter to the churches at Galatia.

What is Paul’s Style

So what was Paul’s intention when he wrote this letter? It will be helpful to first consider the style of the letter, or the tone of Paul’s writing.

Who understands that tone matters?

Ill. Think of all the ways to say the word “Great”. Just the tone conveys more of the message than the words themselves. We obviously can’t hear the intonation of Paul’s voice as he writes, but if we look at the words he chooses, we should be able to pick up his tone.

Can you take a guess what the style of this letter is? Is Paul thankful, agreeable, happy, mad, confused, etc?

1. Paul Combative.

The term for combative and defensive literature is Polemical.

In contrast, Paul’s letter’s written to other churches have large sections of encouragement, thanksgiving, and other forms of edification. He builds them up before dealing with problems that need to be addressed.

We don’t see this in the book of Galatians. He is quickly on the attack. There is something happening in the church of Galatia that Paul knows needs to be dealt with. It needs to be fought against and quickly.

ill. This is not like online trolls who fight in an online chat just to pass the time. It’s not like one of us when we just happen to be in a combative mood. When our spirit turns defiant. Elsie our youngest daughter does this often. “I Don’t want Ice cream”

Some people like to stand against something for no real reason other than the thrill of the defiance. Some people like to stir up strife unnecessarily. This was not how Paul was nor is it prescribed to us as Christians, in fact the Bible tells us be peacemakers wherever possible. So why is he so combative.

2. Paul is Concerned.

Paul cares about what is happening. He has concern. That is to say he is passionate about what is happening there. This is very serious to him.

3. Paul is Careful.

Paul hasn’t lost control. He isn’t so worked up that he can’t think straight or see straight. He very practically lays out the major issue of focus. He gives some of the clearest teaching on salvation in the whole of scripture.

So what is his style, he is willing to polemically, Passionately, and Practically write unto the church of Galatia.

Expose the False Gospel

Something happened to the Gospel. The churches of Galatia stopped preaching the true Gospel. At first many people in Galatia began to trust in Christ alone for Salvation and churches began to form in the area. It wasn’t long before nearby Jews heard about all the people who were placing their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. These Jews went to Galatia in order to convince these Newborn Christians that they also needed to keep the Law in order to be saved and to have a relationship with God.

They taught that in order for a gentile to become a Christian, they also need to observe the Old testament Law, and become a Jew in order to be saved.

Galatians 1:6–7 KJV 1900

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 declared the addition of the Gospel, not a gospel at all. It was a counterfeit good for nothing.

Ill. Working in retail we had to reject bills that were counterfeit. It happened rarely but on one occasion there was a bill that we determined was not real and were required to reject the form of payment. The customer declared that it couldn’t be fake, that they got it from another person, and that it wasn’t fair. They may have been tricked or duped, and it may have been unfair, but it didn’t change that the value of the bill was nothing.

The people that had come into the church had twisted the gospel from something that was true, and that was able to save, into something that was no longer valid, no longer right, no longer accepted by God, that could no longer save anyone. Please listen, It wasn’t just that they had transformed the Gospel into another version that was good enough. They had destroyed the Gospel of God, making it of no effect, by adding works to it.

Ill. I love coffee. My wife often makes me a coffee in the morning. When my wife makes me a coffee it is delicious. It’s piping hot, it’s smooth and flavorful. It’s the best part of waking up. Sometimes my 3 year old daughter makes me a coffee. When Elsie make’s me a coffee, it comes in a little plastic toy cup, with nothing but air,. She pretends that she made me a coffee. I gladly play along, and am so thankful to her, but the reality is that I have consumed no coffee when she makes it. The gospel cannot be treated like this, where we think of it like a game we play along with brings us a counterfeit or a pretend version. With Coffee there may be many places in it can be purchased, different ingredients may go into it, different sizes, different temperatures, but there is no other Gospel than the found in the Bible that can save a person from the penalty of their sins.

Galatians 1:8–9 KJV 1900

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.

Galatians 5:3 KJV 1900

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Romans 4:14 KJV 1900

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Paul Devotes 4 Chapters to expose the false Gospel presented to the churches of Galatia.

Expound the True Gospel

He clearly teaches the Gospel. (Galatians 2:16)

He Clearly Validates the Gospel (Galatians 2:7-9)

One of my favorite things about Galatians is how clear he makes the Gospel.

Galatians 2:16 KJV 1900

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Any person who is saved is only saved through one means, Can you say what it is? “FAITH”

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.]

Salvation is a gift. It cannot be worked for, it cannot be purchased by any currency we own, it cannot be earned based on our of our merit, we can’t build a resume that gets us into heaven.

ill. Think of what a gift is? If i give you my phone and tell you it is yours, it is a free gift, but you just need to observe a few laws that I will put in place, is that a gift? What if I say it’s yours, but it will cost 5 dollars? That’s a deal, not a gift. What if I say church is important, so if you come every week this year, I will let you have this phone as a “Free Gift”.

What is a gift, it is something purchased by the owner, and given freely to another.

What are the options for a gift? We can either receive it or reject it.

God does not force his gift upon us, he says we can take it freely.

How would we do this? The Bible says it is by faith. It is when we place all of our hope in Christ.

Ill. Wheelbarrow on a tightrope

What should define us as a Christian? I might say I am a Baptist by conviction, But I am a Christian by Conversion.

What is the most important foundation we can build upon, it is the message of the Gospel of Christ. What we understand of the Gospel is of the utmost importance. The message supersedes any messenger.

Galatians 1:8 KJV 1900

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.

None of us are many more righteous than another person. We are only righteous if we are covered by the righteousness of Christ.

Explain how to respond to those that compromise the true Gospel

Peter

Galatians 5:13 KJV 1900

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Explain the right use of the Law of Liberty Galatians 5

How are we supposed to relate to the law. If the Law doesn’t save us than what is it’s purpose.