Galatians: In Christ Alone

Introduction

I think at bottom, we are all alike, and struggle with the same things, in different ways. So, I am going to assume that the problems that I am facing will apply to you in one way or another, directly or indirectly.

So, in light of this, can I confess something to you? I have been struggling with an addiction. It may not look very bad on the outside, for the most part, and many can’t see it. In fact, it can often lead me to worldly success. And so, some say it is good and just needs to be controlled. But the reality is that it is like a cancer on the inside and eventually will have disastrous results both on the inside and outside.

What is it? It is an addiction to achievement, to success through works. I like, no, I love, to see results. I love to see success. Because I have such an inordinate love for it, I must have it. If I don’t get it, or at least see it somewhere in the near future, I break down. It is an idol.

Recently, three things have compounded to drive me to seek achievement in easy places. First, COVID-19 has been a very challenging thing as it has slowed down meeting with people and getting quick feedback as I see them grow as a result of the gospel. Second, church planting has been slow, and the results have been more intangible then tangible. Third, my full-time work has been tricky and a project I am working on has been slower than I would like. So, in short, I haven’t been seeing results. I haven’t been achieving.

So, what do I do to get achievement since I need it so bad? Well, that’s easy, I play a video game where there are clearly defined tasks, checkpoints, and level-ups. This pseudo achievement seems to temporarily satisfy my inordinate craving for achievement. But what happens? Eventually my relationship with God suffers. Why? Because I am walking in idolatry. I am not trusting in God for everything.

So, here is the million-dollar question, “How do I get help?” And really I must ask the question, “What is the root of this idolatry?”

It seems to me that the root of this idolatry is a dependence upon self. It is an inadequate view of what defines me and gives or makes me valuable. I want to achieve because I think that in achieving I will be something or somebody important. And ultimately, it seems that this comes from the fall of man into sin and rebellion against God.

We don’t want to be defined by what God says we are. We don’t want to do what God says. We want to be our own gods. And thus, as Christians, with indwelling sin, we can quickly lose the reality of what God says of us and how God views us.

We feel like being helpless before and dependent upon God is not enough. We feel that God will not be pleased with us unless we do something. Can it all be grace from first to last? This is why Galatians is so important!

Galatians shows us that our acceptance before God is not based upon anything that we do or accomplish, but is based solely upon Jesus. In fact, Galatians teaches us that Jesus plus anything is not salvation, but separation from God. Salvation is through Christ alone apart from any works.

This is why Martin Luther in his commentary on Galatians said this (bear with this long quote, it is worth it), “But this righteousness is heavenly and passive: which we have not of ourselves, but receive it from heaven: which we work not, but apprehend it by faith; whereby we mount up above all laws and works. Wherefore like as we have borne (as St. Paul saith) the image of the earthly Adam, so let us bear the image of the heavenly (1 Cor. 15:49), which is the new man in a new world, where is no law, no sin, no sting of conscience, no death, but perfect joy, righteousness, grace, peace, life, salvation and glory. Why, do we then nothing? Do we work nothing for the obtaining of this righteousness? I answer: Nothing at all. For the nature of this righteousness is, to do nothing, to hear nothing, to know nothing whatsoever of the law or of works, but to know and to believe this only, that Christ is gone to the Father and is not now seen: that he sitteth in heaven at the right hand of his Father, not as a judge, but made unto us of God, wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption: briefly, that he is our high-priest intreating for us, and reigning over us and in us by grace. Seeing then that sin hath here no place, there can be no anguish of conscience, no fear, no heaviness. Therefore St. John saith: “He that is born of God cannot sin” (1 John 3:9). But if there be any fear or grief of conscience, it is a token that this righteousness is withdrawn, that grace is hidden, and that Christ is darkened and out of sight.”

And so, when I get into places like I am, Christ is probably out of view to me. I must get him back into plain sight. The book of Galatians is a great place to do this, for in it we will see that it is Christ alone apart from the works of the law that we find peace in our souls. So, let’s look at Galatians over the next 22 weeks or so and feed on Christ alone.

Background

Let’s start by looking at the background and reason for this letter.

Recipients and Date

Galatia was a part of central Asia Minor. Today we know it as the central region of Turkey. At the time of this writing, it was a Roman province made up of mostly Gentiles.

The real question that scholars debate over, and quite frankly, there is not unanimous consensus, is whether it was written to the northern Galatian churches or the southern. Why does this matter?

Well, if it was written to the southern Galatians, the churches in Antioch in Pisidia, Lystra, Iconium, and Derbe, then it was probably written around 49-50, right after Paul’s first missionary journey, before the Jerusalem council, probably from Antioch to address a controversy not yet settled for Gentile Christians. And the Jerusalem council is more than likely a direct result of the need to settle this controversy. What is this controversy? Do Gentiles need to follow the Jewish customs as outlined in the ceremonial laws of the OT?

But, if it was written to northern Galatians, then it was probably written to the churches in Ancyra, Tavium, and Pessinus, that Paul founded on his 2nd or 3rd missionary journey. In this case, the letter would be in the middle of his ministry, and it would be written to clarify to the Galatians that the decision of the apostles were binding and they need not follow the Jewish customs.

Does it matter? Well, probably not too much. However, the whole debate hinges over whether Galatians 2:1-10 happened during Acts 11:29-30 or Acts 15. The reason many people think this was Paul’s first letter was because it seems that Paul would have used the Jerusalem council in his argument and the content of 2:1-10 seems to point to early in his ministry. This is my belief; you must decide on your own.

So, I will assume it was written around 48-49 AD, before the Jerusalem council, but I will try as I expound this book to not make this the center of any argument or point that I make.

The problem

So, what was the problem? Why did Paul write this? There was a crisis in the churches of Galatia. Though the churches were founded by the Holy Spirit through the proclamation of the gospel through Paul, in a very short period of time, after Paul left, false teachers visited or infiltrated the churches. They taught the Galatian Christians a false gospel. They have taught them that it is not just Christ alone, but Christ plus the OT law, namely circumcision.

The problem is these “missionaries” of works came and told them their “good news”. They believed and taught that though Jesus was the promised Messiah, God’s people were still Jews and so had to follow God’s will which was the Mosaic law. To them, believing in Jesus was only the first step in salvation. The next step was to be circumcised and follow the law of Moses.

Paul saw this as a departure from the Good News of Jesus Christ. He saw this as an affront to Jesus. Salvation is Christ alone plus nothing. The law is a tutor to show the need for Christ, for no one could fulfill the law perfectly but Christ. Christ then is the complete fulfillment of the law. If you add anything to Christ then you no longer have Christ, you have a man-made, man-centered “gospel”, no gospel at all.

Paul saw these men as rivals to Christ and ultimately as those who should be dedicated to destruction and fall under the judgment of God. Why? They were perverting the only way to redemption, Christ alone.

Exposition

Paul’s argument

So, Paul argues very forcefully that Jesus reconciled us to God. This frees us from having to keep the OT law (2:19-21). Basically, every Christian, really every person, has a choice: live by the law or live by faith in Christ (3:10-14). The only problem is that if you live by the law, then you can’t and won’t be saved. In fact, to require these ceremonial laws was really to deny the heart of the gospel, “Justification by faith apart from the works of the law in Christ alone.”

Is the law bad then? No, it guarded God’s people until Christ came (3:24-25). But now we have the Holy Spirit who allows us to live in love toward others and fulfill the law as it was designed, from the heart (5:22-6:10). And so, we live by the guidance and power of the Spirit.

High-level structure

The high-level structure of the book is like this.

The Gospel’s origin (1-2)

First, chapters 1 and 2 speak of the Gospel’s origin. It is not of human origin, but divine. It is independent of man. There is nothing that man can do to merit or provide salvation for himself or others. It is all of God, through Christ alone.

The Gospel’s vindication (3-4)

Second, chapters 3 and 4 speak of the Gospel’s vindication. Both Scripture, the Old Testament, and life, bear testimony to the truth and reality of salvation through Christ alone by faith, apart from the works of the law.

The Gospel’s application (5-6)

Third, chapters 5 and 6 speak of the Gospel’s application. The Gospel, by the power and enablement of the Holy Spirit, produces true liberty. This liberty tends toward love and is the true fulfillment of the very law they are trying to follow in their own power. Because of this, the Galatians should look to Christ alone and stand firm in glorying only in the cross of Christ.

The Gospel

What better way, I think to see that Salvation is by faith in Christ alone apart from the works of the law then by reading excerpts of Galatians. Listen for the themes and concepts that I have spoken about.

Galatians 1:1-10

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 2:15-21

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 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. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Galatians 3:1-6

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?

Galatians 3:10-14

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:21-22

Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Galatians 4:1-7

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Galatians 5:1-6

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6:14-16

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.