©2003 Pastor Tom Miles

The subject of Galatians seems to be parallel to that of Romans in the aspect of justification by faith alone.  Paul directs special attention to the fact that men are justified by faith not by the Law of Moses.  This of course was something quite different for the Jews to hear.  The Jewish people had after all been brought out of the wilderness by Moses; now Christ is becoming the authority for people to stand on.

The concept of Galatians is one that deals with how people can come to God being of a sinful nature while God is of a holy nature.  How does a sinful person stand in the presence of a Holy God?  Paul gives the answer to this problem by saying there is one way only, through the salvation of God’s grace which comes from the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  In other words, Paul says that one must receive Jesus Christ as savior to come before God.  Paul says no longer do we need to pay attention to the “good point or good works” salvation of Moses law, but instead we simply need to follow the salvation plan of God through His Son Christ Jesus.  The main theme of Galatians is justification by faith.  This concept is explained, defended and applied.  Paul also talks of his three years in Arabia, the fruits of the Spirit and his correction of Peter.

An Outline to the book of Galatians:

Introduction to the book 1:1-10
A.      Paul talks about his apostleship and states it did not come from man, but instead was ordained by Christ Jesus.  Jesus Christ appointed Paul as an Apostle
B.      Paul tells the people they were falling away from God
C.      Paul talks about the grace of Jesus Christ and His Gospel
D.      Paul says he is a bond-servant of Christ
Faith and Justification 1:11-2:21
A.      Paul says that the Gospel he preaches comes from the anointing of God not man
B.      Paul is defending his authority as an apostle
C.      Paul says that he is an apostle just as John, Peter and James
D.      Paul says also that the church in Jerusalem approves him
E.      Paul rebukes Peter
Paul explains Justification by faith 3:1- 4:31
A.      Faith and works and the argument for and against
B.      Abraham’s stand
C.      The point of Law
D.      Paul shows the law as bringing a curse and states the righteous man shall live by faith
E.      Paul speaks of the baptism into Christ, not by water but instead by the Spirit of Christ
F.      Paul speaks from personal testimony
G.      Paul gives an allegory of Ishmael and Isaac (Genesis 16:15; 21:3)
The application of faith by justification 5:1-6:10
A.      Grace and law do not mix
B.      If we walk in Christ we will not walk desiring fleshly things
C.      We should desire to assist all people and to give of self
Paul’s concluding words 6:11-18
A.      A solemn blessing given from Paul
B.      Paul asks the people to walk by the rule he has given
Chapter one
Paul states at the beginning of this Epistle that his calling as an apostle comes directly from God not from any man.  Jesus Christ is the one that called Paul not man.  This one verse is the basis for the first two chapters of Galatians.  Paul is trying to set straight his position and authority as an apostle.  There was much false teaching around the church of Galatia and much of it was to the discredit of Paul.  Going on in verse two Paul includes all the brothers that were with him as testimony of his writing.  The use of the word "all" signifies that many were with him most likely Titus, Silas, Timothy, and Luke were amongst that number with him.  Verses three to five summarizes Paul’s gospel message.  Paul was chosen to be an apostle commissioned to preach the gospel by Jesus Christ!  Paul prayed for spiritual blessings and extended his greatest wishes for grace and peace to the people.  “Who gave himself for our sins” is Paul’s way of saying that he recognizes the giving of Christ for our sins because it was the will of the Father in whom all glory should be given to “Deliver us from this present evil world” which means to be delivered both from it’s dishonesty and its wretchedness.  Paul says that Christ does this by making us partakers of a better world, partakers of Christ’s divine nature which enables us to live in Him!  And Paul goes on to say that because of this we should give Him all honor and praise.  Paul’s greatest desire was to see God glorified through Christ.

Verse six has Paul saying that we desert God for the law!  We backslide forsaking the grace of God to have the law.  Paul says, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed!”  How quickly they diverted from God who called them.  “Into the grace of Christ” they swayed from falling into “another gospel” one that was not worthy of the name given it for it was a falsehood.  There is only one way, Paul states in verse seven, and that way is Jesus Christ.  Any other way is false teaching and distorted.   The only way to God is through Christ!  Verses eight and nine give very stern consequences for preaching a gospel not of Christ.  Paul says if anyone is found preaching a gospel contrary to the Gospel of Christ they should be cursed and he says even if an angel were to preach contrary to Christ the angel would be cursed also.  In 2nd Corinthians 11:14-15 Paul warned that Satan would masquerade as an angel of light.  Paul repeats this same thought to stress its importance.  Verse 10 says that anytime we water down the message of Christ we are going after the wrong thing.  Watering down the Gospel of Christ pleases man only.  We are not to worry about pleasing man we are to only worry about pleasing God!  Keep me dear Lord from falling into false teaching!

In verses 11 to 12 Paul begins his defense of his ministry.  He says it's not by human intervention that he preaches but instead it is by revelation through Christ Jesus.  His message has divine origin.  Paul says he neither received it from man nor was he taught it.  It came to him by divine authority.  Verses 13 to 14 give us a description of who Paul once was  at one time he was a very religious Jew!  He kept the law and seemed to have a great love of persecuting Christians.  Paul was excellent in what he did also.  Even though it was wrong he flourished in persecuting Christians until he met Jesus.  When he met Jesus it changed his life.  And he then applied all that same zeal for persecution to the preaching of the Gospel of Christ.  Continuing on in verses 15-17 Paul says he was set aside from birth to answer the call of God.  His call was revealed to him by his seeing Christ and Christ being revealed in him.  It is Christ in us that makes the difference not the amount of law in us!  Verse 18 refers to the visit spoken of in Acts 9:26-30 concerning Paul’s visit to Jerusalem about three years after becoming a Christian.  Paul says in 19 that he saw only Cephas (Peter) and James the brother of the Lord.  This could mean that Peter and James were the more prominent apostles at that time or simply that the others were out amongst the other churches.  In verses 20-24 Paul states that he tells the truth and hides nothing from them.  There is nothing hidden in Paul’s teaching and preaching of the Gospel--it is only the truth that he tells.  Paul explains that it was because of opposition in Jerusalem that he first went to the other areas.  He was still not well known by many but those that saw him saw Christ in him and those that knew him before noticed a change had taken place in his life!
Father, let everyone that sees me see a change in me!  Let them see Christ in me in all that I do in Jesus name I pray. Amen

Where Jesus is Lord!
Living Vine Ministries
Pastor Thomas Miles

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