Don't Go Backward to Legalism

Galatians 1:10 KJV 1900

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.

Introduction

We often feel like we have to earn God’s love or do something that makes us deserve what Jesus went through on the cross.

Yet these feelings contradict the clear teaching of the Bible that God’s love is unconditional and that our salvation is free.

But we sure struggle with that, don’t we?

The apostle Paul penned his letter to the churches in Galatia to correct their misunderstanding of grace.

A group of Jewish Christians whom Paul refers to as the “circumcision group” (2:12 NIV) has somehow convinced the Gentile Christians in Galatia that they have to both believe in Christ and practice Jewish laws and traditions in order for God to be happy with them.

So Paul writes to them a stern letter of rebuke not to accept any other gospel than that which he has preached to them, because any other gospel is no gospel at all (1:6–7 NIV). What makes salvation good news is that it is free.

Herein lies the Big Idea that runs throughout the book of Galatians: God’s love is unconditional, and salvation is a free gift from God that can only be received by faith and responded to with love.

But that truth is a tough pill to swallow, even for us today, because we have been so conditioned to believe that nothing is free.

We have to do something, we have to perform in some way and earn what we get.

Phillip Yancey says: As early as preschool and kindergarten we are tested and evaluated before being slotted into an “advanced, normal, or slow academic track.”

From then on we receive grades denoting our performance in math, science, reading and even social skills and citizenship.

Test papers come back with errors in red, not correct answers highlighted. All this helps prepare us for the real world with its relentless ranking. (What’s So Amazing About Grace, 36) The truth is that God’s grace and love being free and unconditional seems just too good to be true. Because of our conditioning, we feel compelled to do something to earn them.

There are no spiritual hoops to jump through, no list of rules and regulations that need to be obeyed, no amount of biblical knowledge or helping the poor or going on some crusade for a righteous cause—there is nothing you can do to earn salvation or to make God love you any more than He does right this minute.

His salvation is free, and His love is unconditional.

But still, with all that being said, there is something inside us as human beings that makes us reluctant to accept God’s love as it is freely given.

For centuries people have tried to make themselves deserving of God’s love.

Even today we find Christian groups sending the message to new believers, “Great! Now that you believe in Christ and are saved, here’s a list of things you need to start doing to make God (and us) happy.

Dress this way

Don’t do this

Do that

even though we may not tie it to salvation we connect it to Christianity it becomes a burden.

through, no list of rules and regulations that need to be obeyed, no amount of biblical knowledge or helping the poor or going on some crusade for a righteous cause—there is nothing you can do to earn salvation or to make God love you any more than He does right this minute. His salvation is free, and His love is unconditional. But still, with all that being said, there is something inside us as human beings that makes us reluctant to accept God’s love as it is freely given. For centuries people have tried to make themselves deserving of God’s love. Even today we find Christian groups sending the message to new believers, “Great! Now that you believe in Christ and are saved, here’s a list of things you need to start doing to make God (and us) happy. And here’s another list of things you need to stop doing in order to be acceptable in our fellowship.” It seems like trying to earn God’s favor is a persistent struggle for God’s people.

And here’s another list of things you need to stop doing in order to be acceptable in our fellowship.” It seems like trying to earn God’s favor is a persistent struggle for God’s people.

True salvation is free of works and totally dependent upon God’s grace. And once you get this, once you allow the truth of the real gospel to penetrate your heart, you begin to live in freedom.

Freedom from fear of losing God’s love, freedom from guilt, shame, and condemnation when you do something that doesn’t measure up, freedom from the frantic urge to perform for God so He will love you more.

The gospel is the good news, and the good news is that God is for you, not against you, that God loves you right now as much as He will ever love you, and that salvation is a free gift that He makes available to anyone who will receive it by faith.

Galatians is a dangerous book. It exposes the most popular substitute for spiritual living that we have in our churches today—legalism.

Millions of believers think they are “spiritual” because of what they don’t do—or because of the leader they follow—or because of the group they belong to.

The Lord shows us in Galatians how wrong we are—and how right we can be if only we would let the Holy Spirit take over.

When the Holy Spirit does take over, there will be liberty, not bondage—cooperation, not competition—glory to God, not praise to man. The world will see true Christianity, and sinners will come to know the Savior. There is an old-fashioned word for this: revival.

I Paul Explains His Authority

Galatians 1:1–5 KJV 1900

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.

He has three sources of authority.

(1) His ministry (vv. 1–2).

Galatians 1:1–2 KJV 1900

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:

“Paul, an apostle.” In the early days of the church, God called special men to do special tasks. Among them were the apostles.

The word means “one who is sent with a commission.” While He was ministering on earth, Jesus had many disciples (“learners”), and from these He selected twelve apostles ().

Later, one of the requirements for an apostle was that he had to have witnessed the resurrection (; ; ).

Of course, Paul himself was neither a disciple nor an apostle during Christ’s earthly ministry, but he had seen the risen Lord and been commissioned by Him (; ).

Paul’s miraculous conversion and call to apostleship created some problems.

From the very beginning, he was apart from the original apostles.

His enemies said that he was not a true apostle for this reason.

Paul is careful to point out that he had been made an apostle by Jesus Christ just as much as had the original Twelve.

His apostleship was not from human selection and approval, but by divine appointment. Therefore, he had the authority to deal with the problems in the Galatian churches.

Paul had a second basis for authority: He had founded the churches in Galatia. He was not writing to them as a stranger, but as the one who had brought them the message of life in the beginning!

This letter reveals Paul’s affection for these believers (see ).

Galatians 4:12–19 KJV 1900

12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. 18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

gal 4.12-19

When Paul heard that false teachers had begun to capture his converts and lead them astray, he was greatly concerned—and rightly so.

After all, teaching new Christians how to live for Christ is as much a part of Christ’s commission as winning them ().

Sad to say, many of the Galatian Christians had turned away from Paul, their “spiritual father” in the Lord, and were now following legalistic teachers who were mixing Old Testament law with the gospel of God’s grace.

(We call these false teachers “Judaizers” because they were trying to entice Christians back into the Jewish religious system.) So, Paul had a ministry as an apostle and specifically as the founder of the Galatian churches.

As such, he had the authority to deal with the problems in the churches. But there was a second source of authority.

(2) His message (vv. 3–4).

Galatians 1:3–4 KJV 1900

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:

gal 1.

From the very beginning, Paul clearly stated the message of the gospel because it was this message that the Judaizers were changing.

The gospel centers in a Person—Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This Person paid a price—He gave Himself to die on the cross.

(You will discover that the cross is important in the Galatian letter, see 2:19–21; 3:1, 13; 4:5; 5:11, 24; 6:12–14.)

Martian Loyd Jones - preached an entire year on the cross from Galatians

Christ paid the price that He might achieve a purpose—delivering sinners from bondage. “Liberty in Christ” is the dominant theme of Galatians. (Check the word bondage in 2:4; 4:3, 9, 24–25; 5:1.)

The Judaizers wanted to lead the Christians out of the liberty of grace and into the bondage of law. Paul knew that bondage was not a part of the message of the gospel, for Christ had died to set men free.

Paul’s ministry and message were sources of spiritual authority.

(3) His motive (v. 5).

Galatians 1:5 KJV 1900

5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(3) His motive (v. 5). “To whom be glory forever and ever!” The false teachers were not ministering for the glory of Christ, but for their own glory (see ). Like false teachers today, the Judaizers were not busy winning lost people to Christ. Rather, they were stealing other men’s converts and bragging about their statistics. But Paul’s motive was pure and godly: He wanted to glorify Jesus Christ (see ; ). Paul has now explained his authority. He is ready for a second step as he begins this battle for the liberty of the Christian.

“To whom be glory forever and ever!” The false teachers were not ministering for the glory of Christ, but for their own glory (see ).

“To whom be glory forever and ever!” The false teachers were not ministering for the glory of Christ, but for their own glory (see ). Like false teachers today, the Judaizers were not busy winning lost people to Christ. Rather, they were stealing other men’s converts and bragging about their statistics. But Paul’s motive was pure and godly: He wanted to glorify Jesus Christ (see ; ). Paul has now explained his authority. He is ready for a second step as he begins this battle for the liberty of the Christian.

Like false teachers today, the Judaizers were not busy winning lost people to Christ. Rather, they were stealing other men’s converts and bragging about their statistics.

But Paul’s motive was pure and godly: He wanted to glorify Jesus Christ (see ; ).

Paul has now explained his authority. He is ready for a second step as he begins this battle for the liberty of the Christian.

II HE EXPRESSES HIS ANXIETY (1:6–7)

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.

“I am amazed that you are so quickly moving away!”

“I am amazed that you are so quickly moving away!” This was the first reason for Paul’s anxiety: The Galatians were deserting the grace of God. (The verb indicates they were in the process of deserting and had not fully turned away.) Paul struck while the iron was hot. God had called them in His grace and saved them from their sins. Now they were moving from grace back into law. They were abandoning liberty for legalism! And they were doing it so quickly, without consulting Paul, their “spiritual father,” or giving time for the Holy Spirit to teach them. They had become infatuated with the religion of the Judaizers, just the way little children follow a stranger because he offers them candy. “The grace of God” is a basic theme in this letter (, , ; , ; ; ). Grace is simply God’s favor to undeserving sinners. The words grace and gift go together, because salvation is the gift of God through His grace (). The Galatian believers were not simply “changing religions” or “changing churches” but were actually abandoning the very grace of God! To make matters worse, they were deserting the very God of grace! God had called them and saved them; now they were deserting Him for human leaders who would bring them into bondage. We must never forget that the Christian life is a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ. A man does not become a Christian merely

This was the first reason for Paul’s anxiety: The Galatians were deserting the grace of God. (The verb indicates they were in the process of deserting and had not fully turned away.)

Paul struck while the iron was hot. God had called them in His grace and saved them from their sins.

Now they were moving from grace back into law.

They were abandoning liberty for legalism!

And they were doing it so quickly, without consulting Paul, their “spiritual father,” or giving time for the Holy Spirit to teach them.

They had become infatuated with the religion of the Judaizers, just the way little children follow a stranger because he offers them candy.

“The grace of God” is a basic theme in this letter (, , ; , ; ; ).

Grace is simply God’s favor to undeserving sinners. The words grace and gift go together, because salvation is the gift of God through His grace ().

The Galatian believers were not simply “changing religions” or “changing churches” but were actually abandoning the very grace of God!

To make matters worse, they were deserting the very God of grace!

God had called them and saved them; now they were deserting Him for human leaders who would bring them into bondage. We must never forget that the Christian life is a living relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

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You cannot mix grace and works, because the one excludes the other.

Salvation is the gift of God’s grace, purchased for us by Jesus Christ on the cross. To turn from grace to law is to desert the God who saved us.

But they were guilty of another sin that gave Paul great anxiety: They were perverting the gospel of God.

by agreeing to a set of doctrines; he becomes a Christian by submitting to Christ and trusting Him (). You cannot mix grace and works, because the one excludes the other. Salvation is the gift of God’s grace, purchased for us by Jesus Christ on the cross. To turn from grace to law is to desert the God who saved us. But they were guilty of another sin that gave Paul great anxiety: They were perverting the gospel of God. The Judaizers claimed to be preaching “the gospel,” but there cannot be two gospels, one centered in works and the other centered in grace. “They are not preaching another gospel,” wrote Paul, “but a different message—one so different from the true gospel that it is no gospel at all.” Like the cultists today, the Judaizers would say, “We believe in Jesus Christ—but we have something wonderful to add to what you already believe.” As if any man could “add” something better to the grace of God! The word translated “pervert” in is also used in . It means “to turn about, to change into an opposite character.” The word could be translated “to reverse.” In other words, the Judaizers had reversed the gospel—they had turned it around and taken it back into the law! Later in this letter, Paul explains how the law was preparation for the coming of Christ, but the Judaizers had a different interpretation. To them, the law and the gospel went together. “Except ye be circumcised after the manner [law] of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (). What was this “deserting and perverting” doing to the Galatian Christians? It was troubling them (). This verb “trouble” carries with it the idea of perplexity, confusion, and unrest. You get some idea of the force of this word when you see how it is used in other places. “Trouble” describes the feelings of the disciples in the ship during the storm (). It also describes the feelings of King Herod when he heard that a new King had been born (). No wonder Paul was anxious for his converts: They were going through great agitation because of the false doctrines that had been brought to the churches. Grace always leads to peace (see ), but the believers had deserted grace and therefore had no peace in their hearts. Keep in mind that God’s grace involves something more than man’s salvation. We not only are saved by grace, but we are to also live by grace (). We stand in grace; it is the foundation for the Christian life (). Grace gives us the strength we need to be victorious soldiers (). Grace enables us to suffer without complaining, and even to use that suffering for God’s glory (). When a Christian turns away from living by God’s grace, he must depend on his own power. This

The Judaizers claimed to be preaching “the gospel,” but there cannot be two gospels, one centered in works and the other centered in grace.

“They are not preaching another gospel,” wrote Paul, “but a different message—one so different from the true gospel that it is no gospel at all.”

Like the cultists today, the Judaizers would say, “We believe in Jesus Christ—but we have something wonderful to add to what you already believe.” As if any man could “add” something better to the grace of God!

The word translated “pervert” in is also used in .

It means “to turn about, to change into an opposite character.”

The word could be translated “to reverse.” In other words, the Judaizers had reversed the gospel—they had turned it around and taken it back into the law!

It was troubling them (). This verb “trouble” carries with it the idea of perplexity, confusion, and unrest. You get some idea of the force of this word when you see how it is used in other places.

“Trouble” describes the feelings of the disciples in the ship during the storm (). It also describes the feelings of King Herod when he heard that a new King had been born ().

No wonder Paul was anxious for his converts: They were going through great agitation because of the false doctrines that had been brought to the churches.

Grace always leads to peace (see ), but the believers had deserted grace and therefore had no peace in their hearts.

Keep in mind that God’s grace involves something more than man’s salvation.

We not only are saved by grace, but we are to also live by grace ().

We stand in grace; it is the foundation for the Christian life ().

Grace gives us the strength we need to be victorious soldiers ().

Grace enables us to suffer without complaining, and even to use that suffering for God’s glory (). When a Christian turns away from living by God’s grace, he must depend on his own power.

III HE EXPOSES HIS ADVERSARIES (1:8–10)

Galatians 1:8–10 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. 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.

gal 1.

. HE EXPOSES HIS ADVERSARIES (1:8–10) “Make love, not war!” may have been a popular slogan, but it is not always feasible. Doctors must make war against disease and death; sanitary engineers must war against filth and pollution; legislators must war against

“Ye that love the LORD, hate evil” (). “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” ().

Paul waged war against the false teachers because he loved the truth and because he loved those whom he had led to Christ.

Like a loving father who guards his daughter until she is married, Paul watched over his converts lest they be seduced into sin ().

The Judaizers were identified by the false gospel that they preached.

The test of a man’s ministry is not popularity () or miraculous signs and wonders (vv. 23–24), but his faithfulness to the Word of God (see ; ; ; that warns us not to encourage those who bring false doctrine).

that warns us not to encourage those who bring false doctrine).

Christ had committed the gospel to Paul (), and he, in turn, had committed it to other faithful servants (; ; ; ).

But the Judaizers had come along and substituted their false gospel for the true gospel, and for this sin, Paul pronounced them accursed.

The word he used is anathema, which means “dedicated to destruction.” (Read for a forceful illustration of the meaning of this word.) No matter who the preacher may be—an angel from heaven or even Paul himself—if he preaches any other gospel, he is accursed!

But there is a second characteristic of Paul’s adversaries: the false motives that they practiced. His enemies accused Paul of being a compromiser and “adjusting” the gospel to fit the Gentiles.

illustration here

Perhaps they twisted the meaning of Paul’s statement, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” ().

They said, “When Paul is with the Jews, he lives like a Jew; but when he is with the Gentiles, he lives like the Gentiles.

He is a man pleaser, and therefore you cannot trust him!”

Why should he seek to please men? His heart’s desire was to please Christ.

When Verdi produced his first opera in Florence, the composer stood by himself in the shadows and kept his eye on the face of one man in the audience—the great Rossini.

It mattered not to Verdi whether the people in the hall were cheering him or jeering him; all he wanted was a smile of approval from the master musician.

So it was with Paul. He knew what it was to suffer for the gospel, but the approval or disapproval of men did not move him. “Therefore also we have as our ambition … to be pleasing to Him” (…

The servant of God is constantly tempted to compromise in order to attract and please men.

When D. L. Moody was preaching in England, a worker came to him on the platform and told him that a very important nobleman had come into the hall. “May the meeting be a blessing to him!” was Moody’s reply, and he preached just as before, without trying to impress anybody.

Paul was not a politician; he was an ambassador. His task was not to “play politics” but to proclaim a message. These Judaizers, on the other hand, were cowardly compromisers who mixed law and grace, hoping to please both Jews and Gentiles but never asking whether they were pleasing God.

What Am I asking you to know ?

True salvation is free of works and totally dependent upon God’s grace. And once you get this, once you allow the truth of the real gospel to penetrate your heart, you begin to live in freedom.