Paul's Desire for the Galatians

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Galatians 1:1-9 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

6 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— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 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. 9 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.

Opening Prayer

Recap

Last week we looked at:

Who this letter is written to.

What the word “Apostle” means.

The distinction between being an Apostle of man or an Apostle of JC.

What the requirements were to be an Apostle of JC.

Who it was that was calling Paul’s Apostleship into question.

Why they were calling Paul’s Apostleship into question.

How that would impact the message of the gospel that Paul preached.

And, why it all matters.

This morning I want us to see...

Paul’s Desire for the Galatians

First, let’s remember the Apostle Paul’s heart is sold out for the Lord...

And, the ramifications of that spill over into a heart that loves the people of the Lord.

That’s what the word church means…ekklesia

God’s people … the people of God assembled

So, the Church is the People of God assembled/gathered.

Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (Matt. 18:20)

So, Paul has a heart for the people of God...

Because he has a heart for the Lord.

And, they go hand in hand.

If you love the Lord, you will have a love & concern for His people.

Listen to Paul’s heart for God’s people...

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (ESV)

23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

Why go through all of this external suffering?

Why go through all of the internal suffering?

Because of an ultimate love for God...

That spills over in love & concern for the Lord’s people.

But, Paul has a love, not only for the known people of God...

But, also for the unknown people of God.

What do I mean by that?

Romans 9:1–3 (ESV)

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Paul wanted to see everyone converted to faith in JC.

And, not only was his great list of suffering for the existing churches and people of God...

But, much of it was because he was going into places where no foundation was laid...

In order to lay the foundation of JC...

And, establish churches with new converts.

Paul had an insatiable desire for people to experience God through a reconciled relationship with God.

He words it like this in v.3

Galatians 1:3 (ESV)

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Paul’s desire for the Galatians is that they enjoy grace & peace from God.

Paul is telling them of his desire for them to experience the grace & peace that only comes from God.

But, the implication of Paul’s following statement in verse 4-5...

Galatians 1:4–5 (ESV)

4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul is reminding them of something they need to remember...

Something critical, lest they cut themselves off from such beautiful and comforting experiences.

Although verse 3 is a common greeting from the Apostle Paul...

Verse 4-5 is pointing back to verse 3...

For the purpose of detailing how grace & peace can be experienced.

Here’s why this is important...

What the Judaizers are introducing and coercing the Galatians with is called, theologically as Legalism.

And, let me tell you what legalism does.

It kills joy!

Legalism is the death nail to Christian joy!

And, so Paul is writing to stop this movement by the Judaizers...

In order to restore the joy that the Christian life gives...

When we are free to enjoy the grace & peace of God...

And Paul understands that they are on a trajectory that will kill their joy in Christ.

They need to understand that joy comes through understanding the Christian truths of the gospel.

Understanding our deliverance is exclusively through the One who delivered us...

Clinging solely to His work, which delivered us...

Trusting in the plan of God, which delivered us...

And, understanding Who gets the glory for delivering us.

Now, we’ll dig more deeply into these truths in upcoming weeks...

But, I want us to see...

Another implication in this statement by the Apostle Paul is this...

Paul also knows that it will take the grace of God for the Galatians to receive the message Paul is sending them...

In other words, Paul knows that something must work in us for us to believe...

Or to repent and be restored...

And, that something is the grace of God.

Listen to what the Apostle Paul tells the Philippians about this working of God’s grace in us...

Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV)

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

To enjoy grace & peace from God...

It will take the grace of God working in them...

For them to believe the message from God...

Or to be restored to it through repentance & faith.

So, Paul is wanting the grace of God to work in them...

In order for them to enjoy the grace and peace of God...

And, that can only be done if they cling to the gospel of JC.

So, let us remember in our prayers, each other...

And, understand that the lure of sin seeks to devour us all...

And, let us lift one another up to the Lord to keep us from falling into the temptation...

To keep us from giving into sinful desires...

But, also, and just as important is for us to pray that when we do fall...

That God will grant us the willingness to receive correction...

And, to be restored through repentance and faith.

Now, in v.4-5. which we will dig deeper into...

Let us as the people of God, the Church...

Let us cling to this as if our life depended on it.

It does. It is our anthem. It is our story. It is our song

It is our message of salvation.

And, it points us to the only One who can deliver us.

It shows us our Hope. Our willing & conquering Lord and Savior...

Galatians 1:4–5 (ESV)

4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The gospel of Jesus Christ...

This is the message that must be preached.

This is the message that must be heard.

This is the message that must be taught.

This is the message that must be believed.

This is the message that points us to Jesus.

Now, I don’t want to pass over this wonderful & very important truth...

And, we’ll get to that truth by asking a question...

Is the Will of God Always Comfortable?

A wrong answer to this question has caused many religious people to walk away from the Christian faith.

A false understanding to this question has cause many Christians to fall into despair.

An incorrect conclusion will lead you to depression when the struggles of life come your way.

Galatians 1:3–5 (ESV)

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

So, the whole mission of Christ was the will of God.

The condescension of the eternal Son of God was the will of the Father.

That mission included taking the form of a creature a servant of God...

Living a perfect life, while being tempted in every point as we are yet without sin...

Being tempted with such intensity and agony that He sweat drops of blood.

Doing all of that…living a life of perfect obedience...

In order for Him to be able to walk to the cross...

And suffer the wrath of God for all the sins of His people.

The suffering that was endured on the cross is utterly inconceivable by the human mind...

And all of that was the will of the triune God...

The will of the Father for His Son

Was that comfortable?

No. Never.

So, if Christ was willing and did indeed suffer so much on our behalf...

What makes us think that the will of God for our life will be comfortable?

Listen, clinging to the gospel will cause you to suffer.

Defending the gospel against legalism will cause you to suffer.

Resisting the temptation to find justification in peer opinion will cause you to suffer.

Dyeing to self each day will cause you to suffer.

Standing for the Bible will cause you to suffer.

But, rejoice!

Because when you endure suffering for the name of Christ...

It is proof that you are indeed clinging to the gospel of JC...

And, clinging to the person and finished work of the only one that can save...

And, His name is Jesus.

Application

So, what about you?

Where are you in all of this?

What is your daily routine?

Are you allowing yourself to fall prey to legalism?

Are you giving in to the temptation to think that you need more than Christ?

Are you willing to suffer for the Lord?

Or do you you see yourself gradually clinging to temporal comforts over the only One who can comfort you?

These are questions that we should not only ask today...

But, every day.

These are truths that we should not only cling to on Sunday.

But, we should be clinging to them every day.

Let it be said of us that...

We will cling daily to the Old Rugged Cross.

By clinging to the one who conquered the Cross...

And the grave that tried to hold Him.

Closing Prayer