GOD'S GRACE
    AND GOD'S LAW

    * GALATIANS One

    * Another Gospel is threatening the

    Galatian Church
    What is this other Gospel?
    What are the issues dealt with?
    Why did Paul write this letter?
    What does it mean to us today?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bible Studies --Galatians Chapter One
1.1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
1.2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
  		Paul first establishes his calling. Never having been an actual disciple of Jesus during Christ's three and half years of ministry on this earth, Paul's authenticity was often questioned.
God Himself, chose Paul to preach the gospel.

The letter is addressed to the Galatians, a primarily Gentile group of new Christians.

1.3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
1.4 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:
1.5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.


 

These introductory verses contain the whole gospel.
 --Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins
--God the Father raised Him from the dead
-- that Jesus might deliver us from the present evil age
--To God and Christ be all the glory forever!

 Grace and peace-- these are the gifts God the Father and Son bestow.
To save mankind through Jesus Christ IS THE WILL OF GOD!
1.6 I am astonished that you are so quickly desert him who called you into the grace of Christ and turn unto another gospel:
1.7 not that it is not another gospel; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
1.8 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.
1.9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than what you have received, let him be accursed.


 

Paul says they accepted another gospel. How many gospels are there? Revelation 14:6 refers to it as the everlasting Gospel that is preached to every nation and kindred, tongue and people.

There is only one gospel, but these false teachers are teaching not a variation of Paul's gospel, BUT ANOTHER different gospel, which is not the gospel.

Only God has the right to pronounce a curse on those who reject Christ and His gift of salvation. And indeed that rejection IS the curse-- for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." (Romans 6:23) Later in this epistle, Paul speaks more of "the curse". (3:10) Sinners are all under the curse of death. To reject Christ and try to offer our own righteousness to justify our sins, is totally ineffective in removing the curse from ourselves, for just one offense puts us under the curse. Only by accepting Christ who took upon Himself our curse are we delivered from it.

The law shows us what sin is, but the law cannot forgive. No person can find salvation through obedience to the law.

Without Christ's justification, there is no salvation.

The false teachers who were coming to Galatia, were the Jewish party who taught that Gentiles first had to become "Jews" in order to be accepted into "God's elect" people. Circumcision was the "passport" to being accepted as a member of the Jewish economy. These teachers were promoting the ceremonial "cleansing" rituals and laws and sacrifices usually imposed on Gentiles who wanted to belong to "God's people". (For a good example of this see Acts 21 where Paul actually accepts the challenge to show the Jewish party that he's "authentic" and engages in a cleansing ritual complete with sacrifices.)

1.10 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.

1.11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.


 

The false "gospel" is based on PLEASING MEN!

Jesus rebuked those who put on a religious "show", "to be seen of men" yet will receive no heavenly reward. (Matt. 6:1-6)


Christ rebuked those who
"outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matt.23:28)
"Blind leaders, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel. (Matt. 23:24)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. (23.25)

The true gospel results in yielding up our pride, our love of the approbation of an unbelieving world. The true gospel is not about loving to have men speak well of us, but knowing that God speaks well of us, and that we are His servants.

1.12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
  		Paul's religion came from God, and no power on earth could extinguish the light of Heaven.

His accusers seem to be questioning his right to teach, but Paul, in 2 Corin. 3 says, the evidence that His gospel is true is seen in the fact that God's Ways are written on the hearts of His listeners, and they serve God with the mind and heart, not by the "letter" or mere outward compliance.

1.13 For you have heard of my former life in the Jews' religion, how I excessively persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
1.14 And I advanced in the Jewish religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
  		Paul tells his story.

Notice what Paul was zealous for:
“Zealous for the traditions of my fathers.”
All this violent zeal for the traditions of the fathers, Paul thought was “being zealous for God,” Acts 22:3
But Judaism was not the religion of God and Jesus Christ! The Old Testament does NOT teach Judaism! Had Paul believed the Old Testament, which he read and listened to every day, he would have believed on Christ!
“For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew Him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning Him.” Acts 13:27

The traditions of the fathers, far from “keeping the commandments of God” led to the breaking of those commandments. (see Matthew 15:3-9)


1.15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
1.16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
1.17 Neither went I to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
1.18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days.
1.19 But other of the apostles saw I none, exceot James, the Lord's brother.
1.20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I am not lying.
1.21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
1.22 Yet was still not recognized on sight by the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
1.23 They only heard about me, that he which persecuted us in times past now preaches the faith which once he destroyed.
1.24 And they glorified God in me.
 

But God changed Paul's life, and revealed to Him the gospel truths, calling him to teach others.

It was God Who changed His life. It was God Who revealed to him truth.

When people saw the dramatic change in the life of Paul, they knew something greater that human effort had been at work. For this marvelous change in Paul, THEY GLORIFIED GOD.
The true gospel reveals itself in the effect it has upon the life. Paul's life, is a testimony to the amazing power of the gospel!

Galatians 2

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