Galatians
Paul Exposes His Adversaries
The Galatian Christians were told by false legalistic teachers that salvation was grace, “plus” works. The Judaizers claimed to be preaching “the Gospel” but like certain groups today they were saying “We believe in Jesus Christ, but we have something won …
The Difference Between Law (slave) and Grace (free)
Paul addresses those who want to be under the law (v. 21) and there are many who appear to want this. In his argument he takes the Galatians back to events in the Old Testament that actually happened but he uses them as an allegory. He takes them back to the life of Abraham and h …
Paul Goes to Jerusalem to Meet With Church Leaders
False teachers seemed to follow Paul everywhere he went. No sooner had he given out the gospel and people believed, than false teachers tried to discredit Paul’s message and challenge his authority. Paul’s co-workers in the Gospel were Barnabas, a circumcised Jew who was a …
Paul’s Personal Testimony
It seems that the Judaizers had called into question Paul’s authority to teach spiritual truths. Paul begins with a testimony of his past conduct as an unconverted Jewish rabbi (vv. 13-17). He tells how he loved reli?gion but hated Christians and persecuted them. In fact it w …
Paul Explaines His Authority
Paul was accused by some Jewish Christians of diluting Christianity to make it more appealing to the Gentiles. In this passage he explains his authority. Paul states that it is from the following sources:His ministry (vv. 1-2) False teachers around Galatia were saying that Paul w …
Paul Glories in The Cross
In closing out his letter to the Galatians Paul pats the believers on the head and tells them he knows they meant well but instead restates the issues and gives strong reproof. In this passage Paul presents three “marked men; “the legalist (vv. 12-13), the Lord Je …
Be Generous And do Good
This portion of scripture is often referred to as “the law of the harvestâ€, “the law of cause and effect†or “the sowing and reaping principle.†If certain things are done, other things will occur.He starts off by saying that just as the teacher shar …
Why Go Back Into Slavery?
The way of the Galatian Christians was not much different than many Christians today who get involved in various legalistic movements hoping to achieve certain goals. Children who are under age are no better off than slaves, even though everything their parents own will someday b …
Bearing And Sharing The Burdens
Paul uses a hypothetical case of a believer who falls into sin. Instead of trying to restore this person the Legalists will condemn him and try to make himself look good by making this person look bad. He seems to rejoice when this brother falls and often gives the matter w …
The Changeless Promise
The Judaizers thought they had Paul backed into a cor?ner. If salvation does not involve the law, then why was the law given in the first place. Our faith is a logical faith and can be defended on rational grounds. Paul uses a logical argument that the law cannot change the p …