Galatians, Chapter 1
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
Galatians 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and
God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of
Paul started life as a Jew named Saul. Saul
was also the name of the first King of Israel.
What does Paul mean?
The late A. E. Knoch, in his booklet "The
Address on the letter" available through the Concordant Publishing
Concern, says, Paul’s name may have come from the Greek pauoo-pauw meaning to cease, halt, or pause.
Paul’s ministry marks a pause in God’s
historical work with
Through Paul the gospel was opened to the Gentiles.
That is underscored by Paul’s name change. To
mark this change, Saul’s name was changed to a Gentile name--Paul.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians begins with a
declaration that he is an Apostle.
At the time of this letter, Paul was not
universally accepted as an Apostle.
Many in that day disagreed with the doctrine
of salvation by grace. Many today give only lip service to salvation by
grace.
Paul tells us that he did not become an
Apostle through hard work, or human appointment.
This letter is not to a single Church, but to
the Churches in
Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace
from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul uses his standard greeting, grace to you
and peace. Grace (Gr. charis-cariV) from God
the Father is the foundation of salvation.
Grace comes not only from the Father, but
also from the Son, and is currently administered by the Holy Spirit.
Grace is the result of God's love for
mankind.
How important is grace?
The grace of God the Son, our Lord and Savior
Christ Jesus is sufficient to meet all our needs!
“My grace is sufficient for you!” (2 Cor
12:9)
That assurance is found only in Paul’s
writings!
Without grace we are as lost and without hope
of reconciliation to God the Father.
Eph
2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
We are saved “by grace---through faith” plus
nothing!
Grace and salvation come to us through Christ
Jesus.
John
14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Everlasting life is what our Lord Jesus
Christ purchased for us at the expense of His human life.
The gift of everlasting life is freely
bestowed on all that simply acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
All of Satan’s demons know that Jesus is the
Son of God, but they will not acknowledge Him as Lord!
Peace <v. 3> (Gr. eireenee-eirhnh) is not the absence of
open conflict.
The peace of Jesus Christ is God’s power at work
in our lives to gain and maintain His salvation.
Peace runs in tandem with grace throughout
Paul’s letters.
Peace may be thought of as being a result of
grace. God’s peace is true serenity.
Galatians 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:
Christ Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for
our sins.
Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with
blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
Christ went to the cross to deliver/rescue us
out of our sins!
It was by the will of the Father that Christ Jesus,
the Son, die for our sins!
Christ Jesus is the lamb slain from the
foundation of the world (Rev 13:8)!
The most important phrase in this verse is, “according to the will of God and our
Father.”
That points to our
relationship with Him.
The Bible was
written to be read by two classes of people, the saved and the lost.
To the saved, the
elect, the chosen of God, He is the Father.
When we pray, we
say, “Our Father, in heaven.”
But, when the lost
talk to Him, they say, “Dear God,” because their relationship is not one of
intimacy.
When Christ taught
the model prayer, he said, “Our Father, which art in heaven.”
But at a certain
point on the cross, He cried out. “My God, My God. Why have you forsaken
me?”
The relationship
had changed!
Jesus was covered
with our sins, and was not clothed in righteousness.
For me to address
your father as if he was my father is incorrect.
For a lost person
to address God as if He was their Father is also incorrect.
God is the Creator
of the lost, as He is everything, but he is not their Father!
That is a
relationship term!
Galatians 1:5 To whom be glory for ever
and ever. Amen.
“For ever” does not refer to eternity.
"For ever and ever" (Gr. eis tous
aioonas toon aioonoon-eiV
tous aiwnaV twn aiwnwn) should be translated "for/to/into the ages of
the ages."
Amen (Gr. amen-amen) mean truthfully.
It means that what has gone before it is
absolutely true and accurate!
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon
removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
"I marvel" means I am amazed.
The Galatians’ departure from the teaching of
grace was amazing to Paul.
How many of our Churches have departed from
the teaching of grace?
Many, if not most Churches have now departed
from the teaching of pure grace.
Ephesians
2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Those verses cannot be overemphasized.
Both grace and faith are gifts.
Through Christ, we have been given grace!
That is obvious!
But, we have also been given the faith the
trust in Christ Jesus!
Without God’s grace through Christ Jesus and
the faith that He gives to us for the purpose trusting in Him, believing in
Him, we could not be saved!
Galatians
2:16 “Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we
might be justified by the faith of
Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law
shall no flesh be justified.”
Revelation
14:12b “here are they [the saints]
that keep the commandments of God, and the
faith of Jesus.”
Romans
3:22a “Even the righteousness of God
which is by faith of Jesus Christ
unto all and upon all them that believe,”
Human faith is useless in spiritual
matters.
We cannot appropriate salvation!
God chooses!
We are the chosen!
The word "another" indicates an
illegal gospel.
The Greek word used here indicates a
qualitative difference.
Abandoning grace leads us to another gospel,
and that leads us into falling from grace.
Galatians 5:3-4
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to
do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the
law; ye are fallen from grace.
What had the Galatians done?
Due to their immaturity, they were at least
temporarily deceived by those who taught legalism.
They left grace and adhered to Law.
Either we rely on grace in Christ, or we rely
on the old dead Law.
There is no middle ground.
But, law (rules and regulations of any kind)
will not bring salvation!
How many Church attendees have believed
“another gospel?”
Is the grace of crucified and resurrected
Christ at the heart of what you believe?
Is His grace truly sufficient for you? (2
Cor. 12:9)
Is His grace through faith as the only avenue
to salvation taught in the Church you attend?
Is the Church you attend entertainment
based?
Is it works based?
Does anyone in your Church teach that you are
saved by grace, but now that you are saved you must do this or that to maintain
your salvation?
If so, they teach a false gospel…“another
gospel!”
Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but
there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
At the time Paul wrote the letter to the
Galatians, their loyalty seems to be centered on "another gospel".
By following "another" gospel, the
Galatians had placed themselves under condemnation.
Salvation is not found in rejecting the
Gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ.
Grace-bound salvation is not lawless or
license!
Romans
8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
The Law of the Spirit, grace supersedes the
law of sin and death.
Galatians
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.
This verse is a "just in case"
statement.
“Just in case” an angel from heaven, any
other entity brings another gospel—don’t believe it.
Those who seek to lead people away from the
gospel of grace do not need others to pronounce curses upon them.
By their words and deeds they proclaim
themselves to be objects of God's wrath.
The Bible teaches God’s love, mercy and
grace, and His wrath.
God’s wrath is directed toward sin.
His love, mercy and grace are directed toward
the victims of sin.
It is our good fortune that while God's anger
is strong His love is stronger.
There is a verse that is often abused to show
God’s anger.
James 2:13a says, “Judgment without mercy,”
and it does indeed say that.
HOWEVER, that verse does not end there.
It goes on to tell us that mercy “rejoiceth
against,” or supersedes judgment.
And yet, men with vengeance in their hearts
give us only half of the truth, so they can place undue emphasis on God’s
wrath.
In Psalm 103:9, the psalmist says that God
will not always chide, and will not maintain His anger forever.
That is true!
Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any
other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Paul adds emphasis to his earlier statement
by repeating the essence of that statement.
In the ancient world repetition was the
method by which emphasis was given.
Galatians 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.
“Persuade” speaks of conciliation or
pacification.
Evangelism and salesmanship are not
synonyms!
Some evangelism efforts are based on
salesmanship, and that is sad.
In true evangelism, we tell our personal
story and the Holy Spirit convicts the lost of their sin.
We do not convict sinners of their misdeeds!
The Holy Spirit does that!
John
16:8 “And when he is come, he will
reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
True evangelism is a less traveled road.
But, if it is done biblically it is not
difficult.
Many “one on one” evangelistic efforts begin
with a question.
Some ask, “In your opinion, what does it take
to get to heaven?”
Or, a person may give out a gospel tract, and
let that be the starting point.
Gospel means “good news!”
Gospel is a Christian word.
Think about it.
No other “religion” offers people “good
news.”
Some feel that “God is going to burn you in a
lake of fire forever and ever, amen is “good news.”
Personally, that does not sound too good to
me.
Does Judaism offer “good news?”
No!
Consider this Jewish evangelism effort.
“If you become a Jew, you can follow the Ten
Commandments to the best of your ability, and still end up in hell!”
Golly, that does not sound like good news,
because it isn’t!
What is Islam’s good news?
If you blow yourself up on the streets of
Strangely enough, to the barbaric, satanic,
corrupted, deluded minds of many, that sounds good.
But, if they start handing out suicide belts,
notice that the ones handing them out NEVER
put one on and pull the pin.
Every Muslim cleric knows that Islam is a
lie, but they make their money and gain their prestige by telling others to
kill themselves.
If the Muslim reward is so wonderful, why
don’t the head clerics put on those suicide belts.
Christianity tells us that God the Father
loves you so much that He gave His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus to pay the
full and complete price for our sins.
Christ offered His own blood as a
substitutionary sacrifice for our sins.
Whoever trusts in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting
life.
That is “good news!”
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you,
brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
The phrase, "I certify" means
"I make known."
Through evangelism, we proclaim, or make
known the gospel!
We make known Christ Jesus!
We do not proclaim ourselves or a social agenda!
We proclaim Christ Jesus.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it
of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul received the gospel by revelation.
Christ is NOT received through the process of
acquired knowledge, or rote learning.
Intimacy with Christ is by virtue of
revelation!
The Church is built on the solid rock (Gr.
petra-petra) of
the revelation of Christ---not the small pebble of Peter (Gr. petros-petroV).
Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the
Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and
wasted it:
Paul now attaches the gospel of grace to his
experience on the road to
He told the Galatians, "You have heard
of my conversation or change of life-style from Judaism to Christ."
Paul's experience on the road to
It was also a turning point in the life of
the Church.
In human history, few events could eclipse
Paul's vision of Christ in importance to mankind.
That vision was the beginning of the gospel
of grace being made know to mankind.
Prior to his vision of Christ, Paul did great
damage to the Church.
As he said, he “wasted it.”
Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews'
religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly
zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
Paul quickly advanced in the studies and
legalistic practices of Judaism.
His progress through the ranks of Judaism was
faster than most of his contemporaries.
Paul was an extreme zealot in the traditions
of the Judaism.
Some incorrectly
teach that Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin.
Paul was and intern with, or employee of the
Sanhedrin, but he was not a member of either the Great (71 members) or two
Lessor (23 members each) Sanhedrins.
The teaching of his membership in the
Sanhedrin is used as a false proof that he was married.
There is no evidence of that aside from a
false assumption.
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God,
who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Paul was "separated", or appointed
to the ministry at or prior to his birth.
This confirms the brutality of modern
abortion.
It is my opinion that abortionists are
murders.
No Christian can support abortion!
Those that do support abortion are not
Christians!
Please notice Who separated Paul and called him in His grace.
It was not an act of free will.
It was an act of God!
Galatians 1:16 To reveal his Son in me,
that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood:
God separated Paul, and called him in order
to reveal Christ Jesus to him.
Notice that none of that was done through the
power of the flesh.
It was all done by the power of God!
Paul was appointed to preach among the
"heathen" or Gentiles.
Today, others have been set aside to follow
Paul in his mission to the Gentiles of our age.
Heathen may be found in all social, national,
and racial strata.
Galatians 1:17 Neither went I up to
God chose Paul before he was born.
According to Ephesians 1:4, He also chose us
prior to our birth.
Eph
1:4 According as he hath chosen us in
him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before him in love:
The Greek text proclaims that we were chosen
before the conception of the universe!
We who trust in Christ were chosen to do so,
in order to be holy (Gr. hagious-agiouV) and without blame (Gr. amoomous-amwmouV), or unblemished
before Him in love!
As a follower of Christ, a saint (Gr. hagios-agioV), you are NOW holy, pure and blamless
before God!
Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I
went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
It was three years after Paul began preaching
the gospel of grace that he went to
Galatians 1:19 But other of the apostles
saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
In this verse, Paul is making the case for
the revelation of the gospel of grace.
The gospel of grace was not the result of a
committee meeting in
The gospel of grace is the result of
revelation.
20 Now the things which I write unto you,
behold, before God, I lie not.
It is difficult for us to understand that the
gospel of grace has been misrepresented, denied and abused.
Galatians 1:21 Afterwards I came into the
regions of
After visiting with Peter and James, Paul
went to
Why would Paul be sent to
It is my opinion that is was for his
protection and growth.
Paul deserted Orthodox Judaism and needed
someplace to study in relative safety.
To this day hatred for Paul is pervasive
among Orthodox Jews.
One of the cities located in Cilicia was
That was Paul's hometown.
In
Galatians 1:22 And was unknown by face
unto the churches of
At that time, Paul was not personally known
among the Churches in
He had a reputation among other Christians,
but it was not good.
Galatians 1:23 But they had heard only,
That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he
destroyed.
The Churches heard that the cruelly zealous
man, named Saul, who had been persecuting the Church, but was now proclaiming
the gospel.
They were naturally suspicious, but later
rejoiced in the message of salvation by grace.
Galatians 1:24 And they glorified God in
me.
When the Christians heard of Paul’s
conversion, they praised God for His conversion.