Summary Of Pauls Epistle to the Galatian Church
A brief introduction and overview of the Epistle of Paul written to the early church at Galatia. As recorded in ‘The Bible Brief’ (with all permissions).
The Bible Brief’s Galatians Summary:
When:
Around A.D. 50.
Who:
The Apostle Paul. (Ch.1:1)
People & Places:
Christ; Paul; Peter (Cephas)
Galatia; Jerusalem
Sound-Bites:
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7. which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Ch.1:6-7)
“Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus…” (Ch.2:16)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ” (Ch.5:22-23)
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” (Ch.6:7)
The Messianic Link:
He is the One Who Rescues us (Ch.1:3-4)
Galations Summary:
In this letter to the Galatian church, Paul is up against the ‘Judaizers’; that is to say Jews who have converted to Christianity but still place value in the old laws of The Torah—particularly circumcision.
In the first chapter he expresses amazement that they have so easily reverted back to the ‘old ways’ a system of salvation through the keeping of the law.
From verse 11 of the first chapter he goes on to defend his Ministry and his calling, taught to him by direct revelation from Jesus Christ (Ch.1:12). He condemns even Peter and Barnabas for being hypocrites and siding with the Jewish faction (Ch.2:11-14), and continues in the following chapters to emphasize with great earnestness the salvation they have received.
It is a salvation based on grace and faith (Ch.3 onwards), and has no connection to the works of the law to which they were once subject.
He finishes his letter by encouraging them to ‘bear one another’s burdens’ and in this way alone ‘fulfill the law of Christ’. (Ch.6)
Notes & Quotes:
The Galatian church had fallen into the old trap of trying hard to earn their salvation—which is basically what following the old law was all about.
Even today, however, individuals can be sucked into the whole idea that they have to earn what The Lord has freely given them. It is in our nature to expect to ‘pay’ for something, and so easy for us to fall into the trap that God expects payment in some manner or other.
It was easy for the Jewish contingent of the Galatian church to insist that they must follow certain laws—such as circumcision for men—because the people had not truly grasped the idea of salvation through faith in Christ alone.
We must always be on our guard against individuals who may insist on us following certain diets, or dress codes, or even performing certain duties in order to appropriate what God has already given us through faith in Christ. (Ch.3:11)
Book of Galations In A Nutshell:
Written by Paul around 50 AD to the Roman churches in Galatia. This letter to the Galations highlights the difference between the ‘Law’ and the new Gospel of ‘Grace’. Living by the’Law’ means “falling from Grace” and ultimate condemnation. Salvation is through Christ alone by Grace, through Faith.
The fact is that many ‘modern day’ Christians inadvertantly fall into the very same trap that the Galatian Church found themselves in.
From the pulpit itself I have often found the same ‘salvation through works’ message preached – albeit couched in different terms.
Most evangelical churches will correctly stick by the ‘gospel of grace’ that Jesus brought us. But then they may tag on the ‘extras’ such as giving to the poor, helping the homeless, and general charity works.
All these things are commendable in themselves, of course they are – but they have no impact on whether or not a believer is going to heaven.
In other words these ‘works of the flesh’ do not determine your state or standing before a Holy God.
Paul roundly condemns the Galation Church because they had resorted back to the old religious ways and ceremonies, believing that this made them more acceptable to God.
It is in fact exactly the opposite.
The Lord God loves us just as we are, and could not love us any more no matter what we do. This is called GRACE, or ‘unmerited favour’ to think that we can please God by our own works is to say that Jesus sacrifice was not good enough – so we have to add to it!
Perish the thought! A line from that old hymn comes to mind here “Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.”
That’s the Gospel.