Galatians: Chapter 1

1:1-2

Paul identified himself as an apostle, sent by Jesus Christ Himself, not by any man or men. Paul clearly identifies Jesus as the Messiah whom God the Father raised from the dead. Paul deliberately emphasizes Jesus’ resurrection as this Truth is crucial to the message of the Gospel. Jesus’ victory over death itself is our True Hope. (2.) Paul includes all those who work with him in sharing this message to the churches of Galatia.

1:3

Paul asks for, and assures them, of God’s Grace being to and for them; as well as Peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice all the action verbs for Grace and Peace being sent to them to be received by the churches. Grace alone brings God’s True Peace. If we do not have peace in our lives, could it be that we have ignored or rejected God’s Grace? No one can have True Peach without God’s Grace. If you really know the Grace of Jesus, you will know Peace. No Grace = No Peace. We must incorporate God’s Grace in our lives, every day; this enables us to experience the peace of God.

1:4-5

Jesus willingly gave Himself up to atone, pay the price of death, for our sins – to save and sanctify us. Here we see Paul’s careful presentation of Christ’s work on our behalf. Notice Save and Sanctify are separate works! Why did Jesus do this? In order to rescue and deliver us from this present evil and wicked age and world order – all this is in accordance with the will and purpose of God our Father. Jesus is the channel of God’s Grace. The purpose of Grace: to deliver us from evil. The source of God’s Grace: The perfect will of God our Father. (5.) To whom be Glory for all Eternity! This is the reason for God’s Grace, to bring Glory to God forever! Grace excludes all human effort (II Timothy 1:9 & Rom. 11:6)

1:6

Paul is shocked and astonished that they are so quickly removing themselves, turning renegade and deserting Him who called them into the Grace, the unmerited, unearned favor, of Jesus Christ the Messiah, and that they are transferring their belief and allegiance to a false gospel. Yielding themselves to lies and abandoning Truth.

1:7

Another gospel is really a perverted lying ‘gospel’ those who lie to you are troubling and confusing and bewildering you with lies. They are distorting the Truth of the True Gospel of Jesus our Messiah. The Truth of the Gospel is based on God’s Grace, NOT works – or “earning” salvation. That insidious lie denies the NEED of Christ’s death on the cross! These people are master deceivers, clever, bewitchers. False teachers always advocate “something else” besides Jesus’ death on the cross. Special rules, laws, requirements, etc. Beware of any such false teachers, pastors, or whatever they claim to be. How can you be sure you have accepted God’s Grace? True Grace means the death of SELF PRIDE. Is pride dead in you? Are you prideful in ANY area of your life? Do you take credit or “glory” for what God has done? Be careful and be honest – your Sanctification requires you to die to self (pride) and live in Christ’s Grace. There will be no boasting in Heaven – the only man-made things in Heaven are the scars on Jesus. All through the bible from Genesis to Revelation, there is ONLY one True Gospel.

1:8

WARNING! If anyone, even an angel from Heaven, would preach any other gospel than the Truth of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection, all for our sins, let that person or angel be accursed. The Greek is anathema, meaning to be doomed to eternal destruction and punishment – the lake of fire! Remember, Jesus Himself warns us that Satan will disguise himself as an “angel of light” performing “miracles” in order to deceive us. Today there are thousands who try to deceive us. Beware of those who claim special powers from God such as a “prophetic word of God” etc.

1:9-12

Paul repeats his curse of eternal damnation on anyone who would dare teach or claim a gospel contrary to God’s gift of Grace through Jesus. Remember the acronym for GRACE: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Our salvation and sanctification are only through God’s Grace. Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. (10.) Paul assures them that he does not try to win the favor of men, but only to obey God. He does not try to please men, only God. He confirms that he is a bondservant of Jesus the Messiah; never seeking popularity with men. These claims assure them of his sincerity and truthfulness. Paul points out that seeking or needing human approval is unbalanced behavior and will quench the Holy Spirit. Trying to please people and God results in disaster. (11. & 12.) Paul affirms that the Gospel he taught to them is NOT a human invention but came directly from Jesus the Messiah. Paul was chosen and ordained directly by Jesus (Acts 9:1-22).

1:13-14

Paul continues, telling us: You have heard of my conversion from being a dedicated, even fanatical Jew. How I persecuted and wasted the church, furiously and extensively doing everything with fanatical zeal to destroy and kill all who followed Christ. (Note the term WASTED is back in use today meaning to kill someone to get rid of them; in the drug culture it means to destroy self). (14.) Paul reminds them that he was the most strict Jew and was more zealous than any other Jew.

1:15-16

Yet God chose Paul and set him apart, even before he was born, and called him by His Grace. Paul acknowledges that before he was born, God had selected him. His background as a well-educated Jew, a Roman citizen and his Greek culture – all these were to be used by God for God’s purposes. God also has a plan for your life, all your background, training, education, everything about you will be used by God for His perfect plan for your life. All God’s purposes will be fulfilled ONLY when you are serving Jesus according to His Plan for your life. God’s wonderful Grace is His favor and blessing for you. Are you missing it? (16.) God was pleased to reveal His Son in Paul, so that Paul might preach Jesus to the Gentiles. Paul did not discuss his calling with men but realized in his soul and spirit that God had revealed His only Son as the Messiah, the one true Son of God. (Note that it was not until Paul’s conversion that Jesus was preached as the Son of God) God revealed to Paul that Jesus was His Son! Why? So Paul would proclaim Jesus to the non-Jewish world – showing Paul he was to preach Jesus to the Gentiles. Remember, Paul wanted to preach to the Jews, not the Gentiles.

1:17

Paul did not go to Jerusalem to the Apostles before him, but went instead to Arabia and then returned to Damascus. Why? Why didn’t he join the other Apostles? (II Corth. 12) We must assume that God directed him to Arabia. Then, when Paul obeyed, God caught him up (Raptured) Paul into Heaven, where he heard and saw things beyond his human ability to convey them, or was simply not permitted to tell anyone of the specifics. To constantly remind Paul that God had given him this experience, he did nothing to deserve it, God gave him a thorn in the flesh. Paul would never, ever again boast.

1:18

Then after staying in Damascus (3 years) Paul did go to Jerusalem and met and stayed with Peter 15 days. We might wonder why God is giving us these time frames. (19.) Paul did not see any of the other Apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. Notice that James is here called an Apostle, yet we know he was not a believer until after Jesus died and rose from the dead. Why did Paul meet with James? Perhaps for further assurance for James? Or? We do know that James wrote the Epistle of James.

1:20-22

Now Paul emphasizes the Truth of his testimony by stating that they, his readers, (including us), should carefully note and take heed of his words as Paul states he is writing as if he were standing before the bar of God! (21.) Paul tells his readers that he then went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. (22.) Paul says he was still unknown by sight to the churches, believers, in Judea, the country surrounding Jerusalem.

1:23-24

The believers in those areas had heard of Paul, but only that “he who persecuted us in the past is now preaching the same Faith in Jesus that he once tried to destroy.” This fact alone should convince anyone of his conversion. (24.) And they, the believers, Glorified God because of Paul. They were all amazed and knew this change in Paul was a direct miracle from God Himself. Is there a change in you that causes others to Glorify God because they realize God has changed you?

You and I are strongly warned to beware of those who teach anything that is contrary to the Word of God. So how would we know if anything was false teaching? ONLY by being a diligent student of the Word of God yourself. You must NEVER just believe what anyone is teaching without carefully checking what they teach against the Word of God. We are responsible for knowing the Truth and Obeying the Truth; God’s eternal Word. As you carefully study, and apply, these Truths; and future Truth the Holy Spirit reveals to you, you will be able to discern false teaching from God’s Truth. God always wants what is BEST for you. To get His Best, you MUST know His Word, and apply it to your life! Remember, your Eternal Rewards all depend on knowing and obeying the Truth of God’s Eternal Word.

Suggest reading: Acts 15 before we begin Galatians 2.