Introduction

It is an all-too-common story.  Jesus calls sinners to Himself and sets them free from their bondage to sin.  With joy, they begin to worship with fellow believers.  Then somewhere along the way, other Christians send out the message that it is not enough to be saved.  The former slaves to sin must do something to show that they are “real” Christians.  They must somehow earn the right to keep their salvation.  The signal is given both overtly and subtly that the freed slaves must earn God’s approval.  They must do certain religious duties in order to maintain their standing with God and fellow believers.  The original message of joy becomes a burden of duties and doubts.  Some of these struggling believers spend all their lives under the weight of trying to win God’s approval.  Others give up and go back to their former lives of indulging appetite and self.  This was the issue that Paul was addressing in his letter to the Galatian churches.

Dates of the Epistle

Paul had visited the area of Galatia in his first three missionary journeys.  Opinion is divided as to whether Paul was addressing issues in churches in the southern area of Galatia or the northern area. If he was speaking to the southern churches, then the letter to the Galatians may have been written as early as A.D. 45.  A later date of the winter of A.D. 57-58 is necessary if he was writing to churches in north Galatia.

Author

The letter to the Galatians provides a lot of biographical information about Paul that is not found anywhere else.  Paul’s credibility was being attacked by Judaizers, so it was necessary for him to re-establish his authority by providing details of his calling.  In Galatians 1:12-13, Paul reminds his readers that he already had a depth of knowledge of the scriptures even before his conversion.  He had been an expert on Judaism and zealous to protect it at all costs.  Then Jesus revealed Himself to Paul, which sent Paul off to Arabia to study and relearn the scriptures through the knowledge that Jesus was the Messiah.  Paul explains that he did not gain his knowledge from the eleven apostles in Jerusalem or any other Jewish source.  Instead, he was taught directly by Jesus.  Later, he returned to Damascus.  It was only after three years had passed that Paul finally made the journey to Jerusalem, where he spent fifteen days.  During this time, the only apostles that he interacted with were Peter and James (Jesus’ brother).  Paul’s point is that while they did not teach him the gospel, they approved of his teachings.  Next, Paul went to the areas of Syria and Cilicia.  In Galatians 2:1, Paul informs his readers that it would be fourteen more years before he returned to Jerusalem and interacted with the church leaders there.  This was the Jerusalem council described in Acts 15.  Paul emphasizes that he and his teachings were confirmed by Peter, John, and James (Jesus’ brother) at this time.  They gave him their approval for his mission to the Gentiles.  Next, Paul informs his readers of an incident where it was necessary for him to rebuke Peter.  The point is that even with his strong words to Peter, his authority was still accepted by the apostle.  These details of the past are all given to clearly confirm Paul’s position as the apostle to the Gentiles, which was first established by Jesus and secondarily approved by other leaders in the church.

Theme and Background

Paul had brought the gospel to the Galatians himself, visiting them at least two times.  They had received Jesus as their Savior with joy, and their acceptance with God had been confirmed by signs from the Holy Spirit.  However, sometime after Paul had left the last time, Jewish Christians had started pushing the Gentile Christians into becoming Jews, i.e., they needed to be circumcised and keep the festivals in order to truly be followers of Jesus.  These Judaizers had made converts to Judaism from Paul’s converts to Jesus. It was necessary for Paul to remind the Christian Galatians that they had already been saved without the need to become Jews.  Paul was anxious because he was afraid that his beloved children in Christ were in danger of losing their salvation by depending upon works of the law rather than the sacrifice of Jesus.  He calls them “foolish Galatians” and accuses them of being “bewitched” by these false teachers.  Then he reminds them of what the gospel truly means.

Organization

1:1-5  Salutations

1:6-10  Purpose of the letter

1:11-2:14  Paul defends his authority and legitimacy as the apostle to the Gentiles

2:15-3:29  Paul outlines the only method of salvation—faith—while exposing the dangers of legalism.

4:1-31  Paul explains the role of the law and the freedom of Christ

5:1-6:10  Paul clarifies that freedom from the bondage of legalism does not mean returning to the bondage of sin.  Neither their former way of life nor the way of life that the Judaizers preached led to salvation.  Freedom is only achieved through walking in the Spirit’s guidance and in brotherly love. 

6:11-18  Paul’s concluding remarks include a final warning against the circumcision message, an  exhortation to let God make them new creations, and a reminder of what Paul had suffered to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.

Conclusion

Paul’s messages to the Galatians are timely for modern Christians.  We must not allow God’s love and mercy to be obscured by Christian “duties” and religious requirements.  On the other hand, we must obey God’s rules.  Where is the balance?  We must always remember that we are not saved by anything that we do.  Instead, we do “right actions” because we are saved and love Jesus.  Jesus said that if we loved Him, we would obey Him.  This is the only motivation that pleases God.  The letter to the Galatians warns us that sometimes the worst enemies of the gospel are other Christians.  As such, we need to be on guard so that we do not let the true messages of the scriptures be corrupted by well-meaning modern “Judaizers” who leave us feeling like we have to do more in order to be pleasing to God.  The true message of Galatians is that it is about who is living in you, not about becoming better religious people.  “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”  (Galatians 2:20).