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Galatians
Chapter 1 – Paul’s First Defense: Against the Accusation That His Gospel Was Inadequate
Galatians 1:1-9
In Galatians, Paul battles the legalistic mindset that often infiltrates a church, emphasizing some work or ritual as a prerequisite to acceptance and status within the church.
We tend to be proud of what we have earned. Earning allows us to take some pride in whatever we receive. Receiving what you have not earned is not a source of pride for most people and, to the contrary, is often a source of embarrassment. Our reaction to those who receive what they have not earned is often negative.
As a former legalist, Paul knew the gospel of Christian freedom needed to be defended early and often…otherwise these legalists would gain inroads that would be difficult to take back from them. The challenge presented by the legalist was how to answer the question, “Is the gospel based upon grace alone?” The brand of legalism Paul was contending with was Jewish legalism. We can get a better understanding of the times by looking at Acts 15:
The Council at Jerusalem
Acts 15: 1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3 The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 5 Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses."
Imagine how many Jewish converts to Christianity must have felt. They knocked themselves out learning the rules and regulations of God’s law. They worried about every little jot and tittle of His written word, and they constantly obsessed over whether they met the standards of God’s holiness. And now suddenly everything is about undeserved favor?
Paul’s counterattacks on the legalists in the churches of Galatia were meant to remind everyone that no one can merit unmerited favor. As a former legalist, Paul knew the gospel of Christian freedom needed to be defended early and often…otherwise these legalists would gain inroads that would be difficult to take back. The challenge presented by the legalist was how to answer the question, “Is the gospel based upon grace alone?”
In Acts 15 the Council at Jerusalem addressed the question of whether circumcision was a requirement of salvation. It was decided that circumcision was not a requirement of salvation. If the Jewish legalists had prevailed circumcision would have become a precondition to salvation and legalistic obedience would have become the standard rule of life among Christians.
This new gospel of grace was now in a fight for its life, or it would be quashed by the legalists. Fights are never fun, but they are sometimes important. Without question, there are many times when a fight is simply not worth it. This is not one of those times so Paul does not agree to be agreeably disagreeable on the subject and he starts this epistle in a no-nonsense fashion, getting quickly to the point!
Galatians 1:1 - 2a
1 Paul, an apostle — sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — 2a and all the brothers with me …
If this is Paul’s first epistle as most believe it to be, his opening claim of apostleship was unexpectedly authoritative and felt presumptuous to his readers. Paul referring to himself as an “Apostle” hardly takes us by surprise, but to the recipients of this letter, it was quite a shock to learn that Paul would consider himself an equal to the eleven that had been with Jesus during His earthly ministry. Nonetheless, if what Paul has to say is to be taken seriously then his apostleship must be taken seriously.
In verse one, Paul establishes at the very beginning that his apostleship did not originate with men meaning he was not appointed an apostle by any official church body or any so-called higher-ranking apostle like Peter. Rather, his call was of heavenly origin, directly from God the Father and the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
However, just so it does not appear that Paul stands alone in his theology of grace he mentions his co-laborers (“the brothers with me”) to stress the fact that the teachings of this epistle were not peculiar to him but were held in common with others.
Galatians 1:2b - 5
2… to the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul concluded his salutation with a statement that one purpose of Christ’s death is to rescue us from the present evil age. In other words, it delivers believers from the controlling power of sin in the present world system through the power of the indwelling Christ.
The Bible refers to our salvation in three different ways. We were saved from the penalty of sin in the past (Justification). We are also being saved in the here and now from the power of sin (Sanctification). We will be saved in the future from the presence of sin when we are in heaven (Glorification). However, most of the time we think about our salvation, it is mostly in the first and third sense (Justification and Glorification). We do not have a great understanding of how we are being saved in the second sense (Sanctification). Our confusion regarding sanctification makes us vulnerable to the idea that we are responsible for our own sanctification. In practical terms this works out to a belief system that although we were saved by grace we are sanctified through works.
Paul’s main emphasis in Galatians is that sanctification like justification is by grace through faith. In other words, the same grace that justifies also sanctifies.
Therefore, Paul had already subtly addressed two vital concerns. He had affirmed his apostleship and declared that the basis of man’s salvation lies solely in the work of Christ and not in any human works.
In Paul’s other epistles, we find after the salutation a word of thanksgiving or encouragement. No such luck for the Galatians. Instead, Paul begins with a rebuke for the issue at stake is so important there is no time for diplomacy or even subtlety.
Galatians 1:6 - 7a
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel — 7a which is really no gospel at all…
Paul states he is astonished at two things:
First, he is astonished they are in the process of deserting the one true gospel by turning to a different gospel and, secondly, he is astonished that it happened so quickly. The one who called is God the Father. God the Father calls and we come to Him through Christ.
He quickly points out there is no other gospel. There is no opposition gospel against the true gospel (in other words, there is no other gospel of a different kind) nor is there an additional gospel to the true gospel (in other words, there is no continuing gospel of the same kind). You can neither add another gospel nor add to the gospel already in existence. By adding to the gospel, the Galatians were nullifying grace altogether for a supplemented Christ is a supplanted Christ.
Galatians 1:7b
7b Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
The “some people” Paul has in mind are what we call Judaizers (i.e., Jewish legalists trying to mix law and grace). Paul says these folks were throwing the church into confusion and he uses a word which means “to shake vigorously.” In other words, these Judaizers were “agitators” attempting to shake up the Galatian church to turn them from the true gospel.
Here is the problem with the Galatian church. The people did not have a settled belief in the grace of the gospel and the sufficiency of Christ, so the Judaizers were able to shake up their unsettled belief to turn them from the true gospel. When we are confused, we are unsettled and when we are unsettled, we are open to suggestions.
Galatians 1:8 - 9
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one, we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
Paul says the gospel is so unalterable neither apostles nor angels could change it. Furthermore, anyone who tries to change it can go to hell. Here we see Paul did not agree to disagree agreeably on this issue. Why is Paul so worked up? Because he kno...
In Galatians 1:1-9, Paul states that “his” gospel is “the” gospel for there is no other gospel. The Judaizers believed Paul’s emphasis on grace compromised the gospel. In our present age we may not have Judaizers, but we do have legalists.
Why do some people choose legalism over grace?
- Some people choose legalism over grace because they like to make comparisons.
The best way to make comparisons is to have a measurable standard. Legalism allows us to not only keep track of where we are but also helps us keep score concerning how we compare with others. Legalism provides us with a set of measurable dos and don’ts. As such, legalism is direct and to the point, with well-defined duties and prohibitions. Grace is more difficult to measure and compare. Grace is vague. It is not well-defined.
Legalism gives us specific instructions about what we can and cannot do. Grace exhorts us to “walk in the Spirit” and “live by faith.” We wonder what it means “to walk in the Spirit” or “live by faith.” It is hard to measure, and because it is hard to measure it is more difficult to make comparisons.
When we first become serious about behaving like a real Christian, our first inclination is often toward legalism. We track how much time we spend in Bible study and prayer. We commit to memorizing verses. This usually creates a feeling of superiority over those who seem less committed. Feeling superior is a good feeling to the natural self. Paul asks us to consider that these outward regulations may not be assisting us in developing an inward relationship empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Legalism feeds our pride. Ironically, we are becoming less spiritual in our attempts to become more spiritual. How do we know? Galatians tells us spirituality is not measured in things like the number of Bible verses memorized or the number of hours spent in prayer. Instead, true spirituality is measured in another way…a way we will discover later in this series.
One of the things Galatians will force us to confront is how we define and determine spirituality. In any event, there is no such thing as a do-it-yourself spirituality.
- Some people choose legalism over grace because merited favor feels more natural to them than unmerited favor.
The merited favor of legalism will always feel more natural and make more sense to us. Most human experiences have taught us that we get what we work for or earn. Most of us have discovered in life that nothing is ever truly offered for free.
We all know that many so-called “free offers” cost us something. Sometimes, we must “buy one” to “get one free.” Try telling the seller you just want the “free one” and do not want the “buy one” and see what happens. Sometimes, we must sit and listen to a boring sales presentation before we can walk away with our “free” gift. If anyone ever combines “free” with “absolutely no obligation,” we know we better get a firm grip on our wallets. Free “for a fee” is usually how it works.
Given our society’s loose interpretation of free, is it any wonder that some have trouble accepting the proclamation of the free grace of the gospel? The habit of legalism is so deeply hardwired, rekindled, and irreparable it is difficult to overcome. The book of Galatians will tell us why it is essential that we do so. Grace is “counter-intuitive” because it goes against the grain of our natural inclination and as such it is not as easy to understand or accept.
- Some people choose legalism over grace because legalism feels safer.
Freedom is dangerous. If we leave matters up to the individual’s conscience, how long will it be before everyone merely does what’s right in their own eyes? Freedom can be abused and there is no way to guarantee that anyone will use their freedom with responsibility. Typically, we judge the way others choose by whatever standards we have set for ourselves.
If someone has different preferences and makes different choices than we would make, don’t we find ourselves making assumptions about their spirituality? Doesn’t it feel uncomfortable to be around people who have chosen differently regarding their freedom in Christ? For example, if we have chosen to be a teetotaler and we are hanging around some Christians who believe alcoholic drinks in moderation are okay…doesn’t it make us a little uncomfortable?
We all like certain predictability in our lives, so we are drawn to people who think and act like we do. It is easier to have a good relationship with people who cross the same “t” and dot the same “i,” especially if we all agree those are exactly the “t’s” that need to be crossed and the “i’s” that need to be dotted.
In Galatians, we learn we cannot add other requirements to the free grace of the gospel…no matter how tempting it may be… we cannot add baptism, good works, church attendance, giving, Bible study, praying, or anything else that may be good in and of itself. We also cannot finish by works what was started by grace. God does not save us by grace and then sanctify us by works. Our focus on our “doing” will always lead to our “undoing.”
What is the Sanctification Gospel?
In many churches, every sermon is evangelistic, with an invitation given. The problem with this approach is the target of every sermon is the unbeliever because the relevance of the gospel message is believed to apply to them mostly. This suggests that such churches see the gospel in terms of justification. Is the gospel something we hear at the beginning of faith and then abandon for something else to become sanctified?
How does the gospel message apply to those who already believe? The same grace that justifies also sanctifies. The gospel of grace is not something we face once at our justification and then leave behind as we enter the sanctification process. We start with grace, we continue with grace, and we end with grace! This will become clearer as we proceed through the Book of Galatians.
Immoral heretics are not the only kind of heretics (nor the worst)
We tend to look for the heretic only among those who openly advocate loose living and who do not accept the authority of the Word of God. The question asked in Galatians is could there be a heretic who lives by strict standards of moral conduct? And is it possible that this kind of heretic may be the deadliest of all?
What Paul is trying to say to the Galatian church is Jesus either makes all the difference or what difference does he make? Because if we add anything to the gospel, Jesus plus something else, we are saying Jesus was not enough, He had to be supplemented somehow, someway. Paul says if Jesus is supplemented in any way, He is supplanted in every way.
Jesus is the sort of person who is either all or nothing. He either handles everything or He handles nothing. It is not some of Jesus, some of you…it is not even more of Jesus, less of you…it is only always all of Jesus, none of you. And because it is all about Jesus it is not about trying harder, it is about trusting more.