The Work of Jesus Christ
Galatians 1:1-5
Today we begin a short study into the Book of Galatians.
We already know that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
In the accepted canon of the Bible, we know that there are 13 Epistles that bear the name of the Apostle Paul.
The birth place of Paul was the city of Tarsus which still exist in modern Turkey on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Paul says he was of the tribe of Benjamin and therefore a Jew but being free born in Tarsus a Roman province and circumstances that are not explained Paul was also a Roman citizen.
Paul was well trained in His Jewish heritage and at a young age he was sent to study at the feet of Gamaliel who was a high ranking Pharisee, a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin court and a celebrated Doctor of the Jewish Law, the Laws of Moses.
He was The Authority in his day of the Jewish Talmud which was a collection of the Jewish traditions and explanations of the accepted Scriptures of the Old Testament.
The Talmud was in two parts.
1) The Mishna was the written law the Laws of Moses.
2) The Gemara was the oral interpretations and comments of the Jewish, Doctors of those Laws.
The Apostle Paul was well educated in Jewish Law and all Jewish traditions and was very zealous in his beliefs.
Act 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
When Paul totally surrendered himself to the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul then began to learn the truth of those same Scriptures he had known since he was a child.
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
In this epistle written to the Galatians we will see the Apostle Paul defend the truth of Christianity as we must all do.
From the beginning of the early Church there have only been a few that questioned the authorship of the Book of Galatians.
The date this wonderful book was written may not ever be exact but it was definitely written between 48-60 A.D.
Paul had a great purpose for writing this wonderful book of the Bible.
The Apostleship of Paul came under question by certain men and that accusation had to be answered and answered firmly or the "Gospel of Grace" would forever be called into question.
The Apostle Paul was not only under attack but the Gospel of Jesus Christ was also under attack as it still is today.
There were certain professing to be Christian Jews (Judaizers) who were teaching a double error.
1) They taught that salvation came partly by faith and partly by works.
2) They also taught that upon this salvation a person could only grow in Christ partly by faith and partly by their own good works.
In other words, each person had to believe on Christ but that person still had to undertake the rituals of Judaism beginning with circumcision.
How does that transpire in our days?
In many places of worship, not only must one accept the Lord Jesus as Savior but they are not saved until they are baptized, or become a member of the church, or many other things such as speak in tongues.
They then had to observe all the rituals and traditions of that false religion.
There are many places today that observe rituals and traditions that have absolutely nothing to do with salvation and are even deceiving and sinful.
***There are only two ordinances that are to be observed by the child of God and neither have anything to do with salvation.
1) There is the Lord's Supper:
1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
a) This is done to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ and by His command.
b) This is done to connect each of us in a personal connection with the Lord.
c) This done to connect each believer to each other.
2) Then there is Baptism:
Baptism is an ordinance commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ just as the Lord's Supper.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
This Baptism must reflect the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In other words baptism must be by a full immersion of that person who has already surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
3) If there was a third ordinance it would be that of being a servant as demonstrated when our Lord Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.
We are never to reach a point in in our saved life that we are not willing to take on the lowest act of a servant!
***The teaching of the Apostle Paul differed from those who were called Judaizers.
The truth of the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ" is this.
Each individual can only be saved by Jesus Christ and He alone!
We can only be saved by the "Grace of God"!
There is not one person who will ever enter into Heaven who has won, or earned, or merited salvation by something they have done themselves!
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Of course, the Apostle Paul was charged with deceit by these Judaizers and these Galatians were told that Paul was not even an actual Apostle.
We know that there can be no more actual apostles because an apostle had to meet certain qualifications that cannot be met today.
The term Apostle means "one sent forth".
To be an Apostle meant each man was hand selected by Jesus Christ and was sent forth to preach the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!
Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
The Apostle Peter led this group of the originals, only eleven after the treasonous act and death of Judas Iscariot, to select a twelfth Apostle.
We know that Mathias was chosen and no doubt a good man who also spent a great deal of time with Jesus and was a witness of the resurrection of Our Lord.
Act 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Matthias was not chosen by the Lord to be an Apostle even though he was a good disciple.
The Lord Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would not be sent to preach the Gospel!
Joh 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Judas has fulfilled his purpose and was even offered a chance to repent but just would not do so.
Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
The Lord Jesus chose and sent the Apostle Paul.
Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
**Paul had written many of his Epistles to specific cities and specific Churches but Paul writes this Epistle to all the Christians of Galatia.
Galatia was an area, not a nation and not a city.
Galatia was originally settled by the Gauls.
The Gauls were not Arabians but Gentile descendants of Japheth, a son of Noah.
The area settled by the Gauls was expanded in the time of the Roman domination and much of Galatia became a Roman providence.
These Galatians were an emotional, impulsive, and a changeable people and are much the same even today.
They had a love for the strange, the curious, and the unknown.
They were easily attached to religions that were mainly a worship of nature and these type still exist today.
They were easily caught up in Greek and Roman mythology.
Many of them found it possible to worship as Paul and the Word of God taught them one day and then stone the Apostle Paul the next day in confusion.
From the Book of Acts, the accounts of the Apostles, we can learn that Paul preached and established many of these churches on his first and his third missionary journey's.
Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Galatia on his second mission trip.
Act 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Act 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
Just as every new Christian is, these churches were spiritually immature and easily swayed by false doctrine.
The reason for the Book of Galatians was to deal with the basic doctrine of Christianity.
The Doctrine of Christianity is "Salvation By Grace" and Grace alone!
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The Book of Galatians takes us into the heart of the "Gospel"!
Salvation means that each of us must receive the "Gospel" by faith!
There is no amount of work nor obedience to any law that can bring salvation!
Legalism in any form can neither save a sinner nor perfect the Saint of God!
What we should realize is, that Paul never taught that the Jews were to abandon the Laws of Moses nor their rituals or their traditions.
BUT, they were taught that these things could not bring salvation!
The Gentiles were taught to never get caught up in the Jewish laws and traditions but being free from these things does not give us the freedom to just toss out the commandments of God!
The entire Old Testament is our School Master for what God has already done!
Cultures and practices are different throughout this world we live in but salvation remains the same to all!
The one main point of the letter to these Galatians was and it is the same today, is that none of us can earn, or win, or do anything for salvation beyond trusting on the Lord Jesus Christ!
That includes Jews, Gentiles, and any other name that people use.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Human effort is not spiritual and it is not eternal nor can it ever be!
We will also see that God calls all His ministers but they are not all alike.
The Apostle Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, but the Apostle Peter was the Apostle to the Jews but they were all to have the same message of "Grace".
Another message we should not miss in our studies is that all Christians around the world are to treat each other as brothers and sisters in the same family of Jehovah God.
We should all be able to sit down with each other and fellowship in peace!
Above all we are to be servants to each other and never reach a point where we place ourselves above others.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
The Book of Galatians has been a powerful message throughout the Church Age.
It is the Book of Galatians that brought reformation by Martin Luther and peace to many others.
The truth of the "Gospel" is that we are justified by faith and not by works.
We are saved by "Grace" and we are also kept saved by "Grace"!
So let's begin:
*****Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
In the days of the New Testament, salutations were at the beginning of the letter instead of at the end as it is in our day.
All the letters Paul wrote to the New Testament Churches had certain words in common but they all also were just a little bit different.
The beginning of this letter to the Galatians began significantly different from all the others.
The Apostleship of Paul had come under question and there are even those that still question it today.
There may have been many so-called apostles throughout church history but there have only been 12 Apostles hand picked and sent out with a specific message by the Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time of Judas Iscariot there were 12 men who were said to be disciples. The command to be sent out came from the Lord after the death of Judas.
In the day of these 12 Apostles the term apostle had another meaning than "one who was sent".
The Jews had an officer called "Shaliach". A "Shaliach" could speak and act with the same authority as the One who sent him!
It was those 12 Apostles that were hand selected by the Lord Jesus Christ who carried with them the authority of the "Shaliach".
It is these 12 who went forth with the authority given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Apostle Paul may not have been in that original group but Paul did meet the qualifications of being an Apostle because he was hand selected by the Lord Jesus on the Damascus Road.
Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Many of these Galatians had began to question the ministry of the Apostle Paul which led to them questioning the message of the Apostle Paul.
Paul says:
1) I am a true Apostle.
2) I am a true minister of God and not of men.
3) I am a true messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should be very clear, these Galatians had the right reasons. All those that preach and teach a "Gospel" other than that of the Lord Jesus Christ need to be run out of the Church and their ministry destroyed.
But at this time it was Paul who taught the truth of the Scriptures!
It had been Paul himself who tried to destroy the early church but that was not possible then nor is it now!
Paul certainly had not been sent by the home church at Jerusalem when he began his ministry.
Paul's ministry did not include the rituals and traditions of the home church at Jerusalem.
Paul preached a different message than the home church in Jerusalem.
But the Apostle Paul stood his ground because he preached the entire truth of God!
In all these things Paul did not even try to argue with those that criticized him.
And Paul said, I serve the Living God, the One whom God had raise from the dead!
There is no religion that can teach with these same words.
We must understand the message of salvation we receive is from the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ!
It is our resurrected Savior who only can bring salvation to "all" that call on His name.
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
The Lord Jesus paid the price of our sin, "the wages of death" with His own blood.
But it is our resurrected Savior who justifies all His believers!
It is the brethren, the believers who should understand this truth!
*****Gal 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
There had been many who traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys. To begin with there was Barnabas and John Mark but it was the Holy Spirit that had directed the work of Paul.
Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
We also know of Timothy and Titus among many others including Luke.
Which of these Paul was referring to at this time we may not know but that was not important. The importance came from the fact that everyone who was traveling with the Apostle Paul agreed with everything that Paul was writing in this Epistle to the Galatians.
Paul's group was in one accord and these Galatians were in a state of confusion because they had been led astray by false teaching.
Paul called them brethren because they were much more than friends. They were brothers who served the same Lord and believed the same doctrine, the Doctrine of Grace.
We should then notice that this Epistle was not just written to one church but all the churches of Galatia.
Among those would have been Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, Iconium, Derbe and probably others.
The Apostle Paul had come under attack from all the churches that he had established.
We can see that Satan hates it when the "Gospel of Grace" is preached and then believed.
Here at Gethsemane we have a Pastor who preaches the entire truth of the Word of God, and we cannot call ourselves brethren if we do not stand with him.
It is those who would twist the truth of the Word of God who should be avoided at all cost!
True brothers in Christ will always come to the aid of each other!
Paul knew the doctrine in question so Paul begins with the word "Grace".
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
*****Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
**What is Grace? Grace is the undeserved favor of God! Undeserved means it cost you nothing!
If you had to work for the favor of God then you would be trying to pay a debt that you never had the ability to pay!
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
We simply do not deserve God's favor!
We absolutely cannot win God's approval!
God is too high and man is too low to deserve anything from our Holy God!
The only thing any human being has ever earned is the judgment, condemnation, and punishment of God!
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
**What is peace with God? Peace is to be intertwined and joined in a personal relationship with God and with all others that trust in the same "Grace".
Peace is being secured in the loving hands of God!
This peace can only come by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus said to know Me is to know peace!
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Paul wrote to the Philippians with these words.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
A great lesson to learn here is, that though we can never loose our salvation, we can fall out of the "Grace" of God as a church group and as an individual and when that happens we will not be at peace in this world we live in nor with the God we serve.
Proof:
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
We must guard against falling from "Grace"!
We must guard against trusting in our own works to be saved and our own works to keep us saved because we can do neither one!
So what has Jesus actually done for us?
*****Gal 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:
This verse gives us a brief summary of the "Gospel", the "Good News" of our Savior.
Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins because He knew we were unable to do so!
Jesus Christ died as our substitute.
Jesus Christ took my place and your place in order to pay our wages of death!
Jesus Christ gave His life, no one took His life, nor could they have taken His life!
Jesus Christ offered Himself to a Holy God as a sacrifice for our sin because only He was the sinless Son of God and able to do so!
And for what purpose did the Lord Jesus do this for us?
That He might deliver us from this present evil world!
We must realize the Son of God did this in unison with His Father!
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
But it was the Son, not the Father, who has made us citizens of Heaven and no longer a part of this world!
Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
This was the only point of the death of our Savior on Calvary's cross!
To be delivered means to be "rescued" now while we are still living in this flesh!
To be delivered means to be "plucked out" which will take place at the "Rapture of the Church".
To be delivered means to have abundant life now and eternal life now and forever!
Again Jesus said:
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Why did Jesus do these things? Because it was the will of God, His Father!
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
This was God's method of adoption then and is the same way now!
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And once saved and adopted into the family of God we all need to praise and glorify God!
*****Gal 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
It is now and it has been true from the beginning, it is Jesus Christ who is the glory of the Church!
It is now and it has been true from the beginning, that God the Father who by His own purpose and His own will offered up His only begotten Son, "By His Grace" so that we could be delivered from this present evil world.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All those that discount the "Grace of God" are foolish people, who ignore the truth of God and cling to a world that will one day no longer exist!
We need to praise God continuously for what He has done and we need to make ourselves familiar with the work of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
Galatians 1:1-5
Today we begin a short study into the Book of Galatians.
We already know that all scripture is given by the inspiration of God.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
In the accepted canon of the Bible, we know that there are 13 Epistles that bear the name of the Apostle Paul.
The birth place of Paul was the city of Tarsus which still exist in modern Turkey on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Paul says he was of the tribe of Benjamin and therefore a Jew but being free born in Tarsus a Roman province and circumstances that are not explained Paul was also a Roman citizen.
Paul was well trained in His Jewish heritage and at a young age he was sent to study at the feet of Gamaliel who was a high ranking Pharisee, a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin court and a celebrated Doctor of the Jewish Law, the Laws of Moses.
He was The Authority in his day of the Jewish Talmud which was a collection of the Jewish traditions and explanations of the accepted Scriptures of the Old Testament.
The Talmud was in two parts.
1) The Mishna was the written law the Laws of Moses.
2) The Gemara was the oral interpretations and comments of the Jewish, Doctors of those Laws.
The Apostle Paul was well educated in Jewish Law and all Jewish traditions and was very zealous in his beliefs.
Act 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
When Paul totally surrendered himself to the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul then began to learn the truth of those same Scriptures he had known since he was a child.
Eph 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
In this epistle written to the Galatians we will see the Apostle Paul defend the truth of Christianity as we must all do.
From the beginning of the early Church there have only been a few that questioned the authorship of the Book of Galatians.
The date this wonderful book was written may not ever be exact but it was definitely written between 48-60 A.D.
Paul had a great purpose for writing this wonderful book of the Bible.
The Apostleship of Paul came under question by certain men and that accusation had to be answered and answered firmly or the "Gospel of Grace" would forever be called into question.
The Apostle Paul was not only under attack but the Gospel of Jesus Christ was also under attack as it still is today.
There were certain professing to be Christian Jews (Judaizers) who were teaching a double error.
1) They taught that salvation came partly by faith and partly by works.
2) They also taught that upon this salvation a person could only grow in Christ partly by faith and partly by their own good works.
In other words, each person had to believe on Christ but that person still had to undertake the rituals of Judaism beginning with circumcision.
How does that transpire in our days?
In many places of worship, not only must one accept the Lord Jesus as Savior but they are not saved until they are baptized, or become a member of the church, or many other things such as speak in tongues.
They then had to observe all the rituals and traditions of that false religion.
There are many places today that observe rituals and traditions that have absolutely nothing to do with salvation and are even deceiving and sinful.
***There are only two ordinances that are to be observed by the child of God and neither have anything to do with salvation.
1) There is the Lord's Supper:
1Co 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1Co 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
a) This is done to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ and by His command.
b) This is done to connect each of us in a personal connection with the Lord.
c) This done to connect each believer to each other.
2) Then there is Baptism:
Baptism is an ordinance commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ just as the Lord's Supper.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
This Baptism must reflect the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In other words baptism must be by a full immersion of that person who has already surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
3) If there was a third ordinance it would be that of being a servant as demonstrated when our Lord Jesus washed the feet of the disciples.
We are never to reach a point in in our saved life that we are not willing to take on the lowest act of a servant!
***The teaching of the Apostle Paul differed from those who were called Judaizers.
The truth of the "Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ" is this.
Each individual can only be saved by Jesus Christ and He alone!
We can only be saved by the "Grace of God"!
There is not one person who will ever enter into Heaven who has won, or earned, or merited salvation by something they have done themselves!
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Of course, the Apostle Paul was charged with deceit by these Judaizers and these Galatians were told that Paul was not even an actual Apostle.
We know that there can be no more actual apostles because an apostle had to meet certain qualifications that cannot be met today.
The term Apostle means "one sent forth".
To be an Apostle meant each man was hand selected by Jesus Christ and was sent forth to preach the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!
Act 1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
The Apostle Peter led this group of the originals, only eleven after the treasonous act and death of Judas Iscariot, to select a twelfth Apostle.
We know that Mathias was chosen and no doubt a good man who also spent a great deal of time with Jesus and was a witness of the resurrection of Our Lord.
Act 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Matthias was not chosen by the Lord to be an Apostle even though he was a good disciple.
The Lord Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would not be sent to preach the Gospel!
Joh 6:70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
Judas has fulfilled his purpose and was even offered a chance to repent but just would not do so.
Act 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
The Lord Jesus chose and sent the Apostle Paul.
Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
**Paul had written many of his Epistles to specific cities and specific Churches but Paul writes this Epistle to all the Christians of Galatia.
Galatia was an area, not a nation and not a city.
Galatia was originally settled by the Gauls.
The Gauls were not Arabians but Gentile descendants of Japheth, a son of Noah.
The area settled by the Gauls was expanded in the time of the Roman domination and much of Galatia became a Roman providence.
These Galatians were an emotional, impulsive, and a changeable people and are much the same even today.
They had a love for the strange, the curious, and the unknown.
They were easily attached to religions that were mainly a worship of nature and these type still exist today.
They were easily caught up in Greek and Roman mythology.
Many of them found it possible to worship as Paul and the Word of God taught them one day and then stone the Apostle Paul the next day in confusion.
From the Book of Acts, the accounts of the Apostles, we can learn that Paul preached and established many of these churches on his first and his third missionary journey's.
Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Galatia on his second mission trip.
Act 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
Act 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
Just as every new Christian is, these churches were spiritually immature and easily swayed by false doctrine.
The reason for the Book of Galatians was to deal with the basic doctrine of Christianity.
The Doctrine of Christianity is "Salvation By Grace" and Grace alone!
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The Book of Galatians takes us into the heart of the "Gospel"!
Salvation means that each of us must receive the "Gospel" by faith!
There is no amount of work nor obedience to any law that can bring salvation!
Legalism in any form can neither save a sinner nor perfect the Saint of God!
What we should realize is, that Paul never taught that the Jews were to abandon the Laws of Moses nor their rituals or their traditions.
BUT, they were taught that these things could not bring salvation!
The Gentiles were taught to never get caught up in the Jewish laws and traditions but being free from these things does not give us the freedom to just toss out the commandments of God!
The entire Old Testament is our School Master for what God has already done!
Cultures and practices are different throughout this world we live in but salvation remains the same to all!
The one main point of the letter to these Galatians was and it is the same today, is that none of us can earn, or win, or do anything for salvation beyond trusting on the Lord Jesus Christ!
That includes Jews, Gentiles, and any other name that people use.
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Human effort is not spiritual and it is not eternal nor can it ever be!
We will also see that God calls all His ministers but they are not all alike.
The Apostle Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles, but the Apostle Peter was the Apostle to the Jews but they were all to have the same message of "Grace".
Another message we should not miss in our studies is that all Christians around the world are to treat each other as brothers and sisters in the same family of Jehovah God.
We should all be able to sit down with each other and fellowship in peace!
Above all we are to be servants to each other and never reach a point where we place ourselves above others.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
The Book of Galatians has been a powerful message throughout the Church Age.
It is the Book of Galatians that brought reformation by Martin Luther and peace to many others.
The truth of the "Gospel" is that we are justified by faith and not by works.
We are saved by "Grace" and we are also kept saved by "Grace"!
So let's begin:
*****Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
In the days of the New Testament, salutations were at the beginning of the letter instead of at the end as it is in our day.
All the letters Paul wrote to the New Testament Churches had certain words in common but they all also were just a little bit different.
The beginning of this letter to the Galatians began significantly different from all the others.
The Apostleship of Paul had come under question and there are even those that still question it today.
There may have been many so-called apostles throughout church history but there have only been 12 Apostles hand picked and sent out with a specific message by the Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time of Judas Iscariot there were 12 men who were said to be disciples. The command to be sent out came from the Lord after the death of Judas.
In the day of these 12 Apostles the term apostle had another meaning than "one who was sent".
The Jews had an officer called "Shaliach". A "Shaliach" could speak and act with the same authority as the One who sent him!
It was those 12 Apostles that were hand selected by the Lord Jesus Christ who carried with them the authority of the "Shaliach".
It is these 12 who went forth with the authority given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Apostle Paul may not have been in that original group but Paul did meet the qualifications of being an Apostle because he was hand selected by the Lord Jesus on the Damascus Road.
Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Many of these Galatians had began to question the ministry of the Apostle Paul which led to them questioning the message of the Apostle Paul.
Paul says:
1) I am a true Apostle.
2) I am a true minister of God and not of men.
3) I am a true messenger of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should be very clear, these Galatians had the right reasons. All those that preach and teach a "Gospel" other than that of the Lord Jesus Christ need to be run out of the Church and their ministry destroyed.
But at this time it was Paul who taught the truth of the Scriptures!
It had been Paul himself who tried to destroy the early church but that was not possible then nor is it now!
Paul certainly had not been sent by the home church at Jerusalem when he began his ministry.
Paul's ministry did not include the rituals and traditions of the home church at Jerusalem.
Paul preached a different message than the home church in Jerusalem.
But the Apostle Paul stood his ground because he preached the entire truth of God!
In all these things Paul did not even try to argue with those that criticized him.
And Paul said, I serve the Living God, the One whom God had raise from the dead!
There is no religion that can teach with these same words.
We must understand the message of salvation we receive is from the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ!
It is our resurrected Savior who only can bring salvation to "all" that call on His name.
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
The Lord Jesus paid the price of our sin, "the wages of death" with His own blood.
But it is our resurrected Savior who justifies all His believers!
It is the brethren, the believers who should understand this truth!
*****Gal 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
There had been many who traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys. To begin with there was Barnabas and John Mark but it was the Holy Spirit that had directed the work of Paul.
Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
We also know of Timothy and Titus among many others including Luke.
Which of these Paul was referring to at this time we may not know but that was not important. The importance came from the fact that everyone who was traveling with the Apostle Paul agreed with everything that Paul was writing in this Epistle to the Galatians.
Paul's group was in one accord and these Galatians were in a state of confusion because they had been led astray by false teaching.
Paul called them brethren because they were much more than friends. They were brothers who served the same Lord and believed the same doctrine, the Doctrine of Grace.
We should then notice that this Epistle was not just written to one church but all the churches of Galatia.
Among those would have been Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, Iconium, Derbe and probably others.
The Apostle Paul had come under attack from all the churches that he had established.
We can see that Satan hates it when the "Gospel of Grace" is preached and then believed.
Here at Gethsemane we have a Pastor who preaches the entire truth of the Word of God, and we cannot call ourselves brethren if we do not stand with him.
It is those who would twist the truth of the Word of God who should be avoided at all cost!
True brothers in Christ will always come to the aid of each other!
Paul knew the doctrine in question so Paul begins with the word "Grace".
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
*****Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
**What is Grace? Grace is the undeserved favor of God! Undeserved means it cost you nothing!
If you had to work for the favor of God then you would be trying to pay a debt that you never had the ability to pay!
Rom 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
We simply do not deserve God's favor!
We absolutely cannot win God's approval!
God is too high and man is too low to deserve anything from our Holy God!
The only thing any human being has ever earned is the judgment, condemnation, and punishment of God!
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
**What is peace with God? Peace is to be intertwined and joined in a personal relationship with God and with all others that trust in the same "Grace".
Peace is being secured in the loving hands of God!
This peace can only come by the Lord Jesus Christ!
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus said to know Me is to know peace!
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Paul wrote to the Philippians with these words.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
A great lesson to learn here is, that though we can never loose our salvation, we can fall out of the "Grace" of God as a church group and as an individual and when that happens we will not be at peace in this world we live in nor with the God we serve.
Proof:
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
We must guard against falling from "Grace"!
We must guard against trusting in our own works to be saved and our own works to keep us saved because we can do neither one!
So what has Jesus actually done for us?
*****Gal 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:
This verse gives us a brief summary of the "Gospel", the "Good News" of our Savior.
Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins because He knew we were unable to do so!
Jesus Christ died as our substitute.
Jesus Christ took my place and your place in order to pay our wages of death!
Jesus Christ gave His life, no one took His life, nor could they have taken His life!
Jesus Christ offered Himself to a Holy God as a sacrifice for our sin because only He was the sinless Son of God and able to do so!
And for what purpose did the Lord Jesus do this for us?
That He might deliver us from this present evil world!
We must realize the Son of God did this in unison with His Father!
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
But it was the Son, not the Father, who has made us citizens of Heaven and no longer a part of this world!
Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
This was the only point of the death of our Savior on Calvary's cross!
To be delivered means to be "rescued" now while we are still living in this flesh!
To be delivered means to be "plucked out" which will take place at the "Rapture of the Church".
To be delivered means to have abundant life now and eternal life now and forever!
Again Jesus said:
Joh 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Why did Jesus do these things? Because it was the will of God, His Father!
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
This was God's method of adoption then and is the same way now!
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And once saved and adopted into the family of God we all need to praise and glorify God!
*****Gal 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
It is now and it has been true from the beginning, it is Jesus Christ who is the glory of the Church!
It is now and it has been true from the beginning, that God the Father who by His own purpose and His own will offered up His only begotten Son, "By His Grace" so that we could be delivered from this present evil world.
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
All those that discount the "Grace of God" are foolish people, who ignore the truth of God and cling to a world that will one day no longer exist!
We need to praise God continuously for what He has done and we need to make ourselves familiar with the work of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Questions?
Let's Pray!
