Galatians
Living in Grace
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1). This verse best summarises the message of the whole book of Galatians - in Jesus we have been set free, we are free and God’s heart is that we stay living free.
Galatians was written by Paul, the apostle, to a group of churches in Galatia that biblical scholars tell us he had most likely spearheaded and planted, or else had certainly taught and fathered in their early stages. In the book of Acts we read of Paul travelling throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the churches (Acts 18:23)
After introductions and greetings, Paul gets straight to the point. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel which is really no gospel at all.” (Galatians 1:6-7).
This statement sets the tone for the entire letter. Paul had become greatly concerned that some were distorting the Christian gospel by advocating that Jewish ceremonies and laws should be maintained and that Gentile Christians should in effect become Jews too if they were to receive God’s promise given to Abraham. Paul realised that the message of these Judaizers would undermine the essence of the gospel of grace, the gospel which is not about our own ‘works’ or fulfilling legal and ritualistic requirements but is about God’s love and wonderful gift to us in the person of Jesus Christ.
A Grace Gift - Apostleship
Paul spends the early part of the letter to the Galatians clearly identifying his apostleship. He had been appointed by God, had received his revelation from Jesus Christ and had received the right hand of fellowship from the other apostles. He knew this gave him authority to set right what was going wrong.
As an apostle - a church builder and a pioneer for the gospel - Paul was a grace gift to the church from the ascended Christ. (Ephesians 4:7-11). It was true in Paul’s day and likewise it still is in our own generation. Master builders will always build on a sure foundation and Paul was intent that the Galatian churches must build on a gospel of grace rather than the shaky platform of legalism.
Grace versus the law
Paul never leaves us guessing in comparing grace with the Old Testament Law. There is no contest. Grace has triumphed. His total conviction leads him to challenge legalism at every turn. He challenged Peter because he drew back from eating with the Gentiles in line with the Law (2:12), he calls the Galatians foolish for trying to work out their salvation by human effort (3:3), he is critical of the observing of special days and seasons (4:10) and is vehement in condemning the idea that circumcision was necessary for those Gentiles who come to Christ (5: 2).
Paul is clear that the Old Testament Law was given for a time “because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.” (3:19). In the Old Testament, God’s people were called to live by the Law but when the Seed, Jesus Christ, came there was a new and dynamic freedom. This freedom came because children of God are children of the promise given by God, in is grace, to Abraham – that all nations would be blessed through him. In Jesus, this promise was fulfilled, and what outstanding blessings and a great inheritance we find in Christ. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36).
What a tragedy that we find so often in church history this same desire for legalistic traits that Paul was addressing in the Galatian church - a desire for rules, regulations, structures and systems that are from a bygone era and not in line with the new covenant which we have in Christ. We are in a day when God is restoring his church in line with his Word – a church built according to the plumbline of Scripture and set alight by the blazing fire of the Holy Spirit.
Grace to the end
Paul maintains his message right to the end of the letter. He tells the Galatians that if they are trying to be justified by law, they are alienated from Christ and have fallen away from grace (5: 3). He then describes the true nature of spiritual life - living by the Spirit. There is no other way to live. Being open to, full of and led by the Holy Spirit is the key to a fulfilled Christian life. Accordingly, we are challenged and encouraged to keep in step with the Holy Spirit.
Some of his concluding comments clearly emphasise the theme of the book.. “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.” (6:15) How amazing it is to be a new creation in Christ! The old has gone, the new has come! Glory to God!
This background was written by John Illingsworth who is an elder of The Community Church in Southport and the North West of England