Galatians 1:1-5

Galatians 1:1-5 Cecil Thorn / General Part 1 / Galatians / Galatians 1:1-5 Problems in Galatia King James Version Chapter 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. Galatians (Introduction / 1:1-5) The year was probably A.D. 49. Paul and Barnabas had just completed their first missionary journey (Acts 13:2-14:28 Acts 13:2-14:28 ). By their standards, it must have been a whirlwind adventure. Following a brief stay on the island of Cyprus, they had visited Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, cities in the Roman province of Galatia (present-day Turkey). In their travels they had met with both wholehearted response and deep-seated resistance.Usually Paul and Barnabas would introduce the gospel in a new area by starting in the local Jewish synagogue, demonstrating from the Scriptures that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. But they would venture beyond the Jewish community to offer the promise of forgiveness and eternal life to the Gentiles. And that would get them in trouble. Declaring that God wanted to save Gentiles placed Paul and Barnabas under a cloud of suspicion by Jews and Jewish Christians. As a result of their preaching, however, many Jews and Gentiles converted to Christ. The success of Christianity also created deep resentment in those holding positions of leadership in society and in religious circles. The work of Paul and Barnabas threatened their standing.Thrilled by the number of persons who accepted their message, upon arriving back in Antioch, Paul and Barnabas "gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27 NIV).Shortly after their return to Antioch, some Jewish Christians arrived from Judea. These Judeans claimed that the Antioch church and its missionaries were diluting Christianity to make it more appealing to Gentiles, and they challenged Paul's authority as an apostle. They disagreed with Paul's teaching that Gentiles did not have to follow many of the religious laws that the Jews had obeyed for centuries. The resultant heated debate touched almost every church in the first century. The issue: how to maintain a proper place for the Jewish root from which the vine of Christianity was flourishing. King James Version (Chapter 13) 13 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. Galatians (Introduction / 1:1-5) LEGALISM AND LABELISM Paul encountered two forms of Jewish attitudes toward the law. Modern forms of these same attitudes can be found in Christianity today. "Legalism" is attempting to win God's favor by our own determined efforts of dedication and obedience. "Labelism" is pride of ownership for having the "right" religion. Then In Paul's time, Jews and many Jewish Christians believed that by faithful adherence to the law they could win God's approval. By strict and rigid adherence to the Mosaic code, they could earn righteous standing with God. Then Jews saw their commitment to the law (primarily the Jewish food laws and circumcision) as a badge of ownership, a symbol of their performance of the historic covenant between them and God. They felt superior for their religious correctness and for upholding the "right" religion. Too often this adherence to the law was in name only Now Often without realizing it, we try to live up to God's and other people's expectations of how Christians should be-all this as a means of winning God's approval. We do this by our efforts at obedience, dedication, full-time Christian service, academic study, and volunteer work. Some people try to be saved by working their way into heaven; more often, however, Christians find themselves trying to win God's love or approval through perfectionistic duty. Now Some Christians display this same love for having the "right" label, identifying with the right church, pastor, denomination, or religious viewpoint. Often their only identity as believers is a stance taken quite proudly over a single issue. By comparing themselves spiritually, they demean others who don't hold their view. Result Frustration, bitterness, or resentment over our failure to live up to the standards. Result Pride, smugness, self-righteousness. Lesson We must obey and serve freely out of love and gratitude to Christ. The Holy Spirit must empower us. Our dedicated service cannot remove sin or obtain saving grace. Lesson Only Christ's faithful work on the cross, that enables us to respond in faith, can save us. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:55 PM May 21, 2022.