Galatians - Part 1 - No Other Gospel

Paul had visited cities in Galatia - a Roman province in modern central Turkey on his first missionary journey. 46-48 a.d. with Barnabas (initially John Mark). In Acts 13-14. (Map) sent from Syrian Antioch through Cyprus into Galatia. The church was almost exclusively made of a Jewish converts. Peter had led Cornelius, a Roman centurion to faith. Paul and Barnabas led primarily Gentiles to Christ. Some Jews were jealous and conspired against them - even followed them from city to city to oppose them. Paul was even stoned in Lystra, but may have been brought back to life when believers surrounded his body.

Scholars think Galatians was written by Paul either right after he returned to Syrian Antioch around 49 a.d. Or in the mid-50s a.d. While he was in Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey.

Regardless, the issues that Paul deals with have to do with what is happening in the church at he time. They did not understand how Gentiles could be part of the kingdom of God. There are Jews who have come after Paul who are telling Christian Gentiles that they have to become Jews - especially be circumcised.

This letter answers the question How does the OT Law apply to Christians? It is also a letter focusing on the freedom that we have in Christ. The letter to the Galatians has been called the charter of Christian freedom. Paul will declare that Christians have been set free from the OT law and the power of sin. Theme of Galatians: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (5:1a)

Galatians 1:1-2 Paul immediately says he was sent to them by God, not men. Paul has to defend himself as some people were saying he was not a legitimate apostle, did not present a legitimate teaching.

The greeting is unusual. In other letters, Paul usually calls his recipients "saints". Here, he just says, "to the churches."

Galatians 1:3-5 Grace and peace - a beautiful greeting - that is what we received in Jesus.

Jesus gave himself - stresses Jesus sacrificing himself - later Paul will say, you are alienating yourself from Jesus - the one who sacrificed himself for you.

Galatians 1:6-10

Paul's letters then usually included a thanksgiving for his recipients. Not to the Galatians, but a rebuke.

I am astonished you are deserting (the word was used for military desertion) the one who called you. You cannot walk away from Jesus. There are two ways to walk away from Jesus: in sin or in legalism. You cannot take the free gift he gave you and say, "I need to do more to be saved. I need to do more to gain God's favor. I need to add to this grace I received to be acceptable to God."

Paul says, "NO!" There is no other gospel - this is the only one. You are saved by the grace of God simply through faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus + nothing = EVERYTHING

They were twisting the gospel into a religion. They said you need Jesus plus circumcision, plus Jewish law.

v. 6. Back at v. 6 - Paul says, you're not just guilty of some intellectual desertion from theology. Their action is intensely personal: they are abandoning the one who graciously called them to himself.

They were separating themselves from both grace and from the person of Jesus.

v. 7. Paul says, "that's not the gospel, not at all.

vv. 8-9. Eternal condemnation - a cures for anyone who preaches a false gospel.