Galatian Information
Galatians 1:1-5
(an introduction to Paul's Epistle to the Galatians)
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Recently, I officiated a funeral for a man who spent most of his life in prison. He would serve his term and be freed, then after a while he would commit another crime and eventually find himself back in custody. From what I understand when he died he was facing charges that would land him back in prison. The odd thing was that prison is where he wanted to be. He told his friend that prison is all that he knew and that he was more comfortable locked up than he was free. He would purposely commit a crime in order to be arrested and sent back to what he knew best. - That mindset may seem strange to us, but it is more common than you would think. Even more confusing is someone who has experienced the freedom that comes through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and then desiring to return to the bondage that they have been delivered from.
Among the Galatian believers were traditional Jews who thought that the Galatians (mostly gentiles) should be circumcised. Instead of basing salvation on faith in Christ alone, they wanted to add works to their salvation. Certain Jewish groups were still trying to convert the Gentiles into the Jewish customs. Though circumcision is not a common point of contention in our day, the mindset of “works+ faith” is still present. We find this in many of the cults that are among us today.
Even more so, there are countless believers who have received the great freedom that comes through Jesus Christ and have willingly returned to the bondage of sin. Tonight I would like to begin to walk through Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians. An “Epistle” is a formal letter, with the intention of providing instruction. The Apostle Paul authored many of the Epistles we have in the Word of God:
Romans
I & II Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
I & II Thessalonians
I & II Timothy
Titus
Philemon
The overriding theme of Galatians is the freedom we possess in Christ. Galatia was the central region of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)Paul and Barnabas traveled there on their first missionary journey. There they preached the Gospel message among the Gentiles. As a result countless souls were saved and churches were established in various towns.
Pisidia - Acts 13
Iconium - Acts 14:1
Lystra - 14:21-23
Derbe - 14:21-23
The Epistle to the Galatians was written to the Jewish & Gentile believers in the churches in those cities. These were some of the first people to trust in Christ as a result of Paul’s ministry. Now, years later some false teachers had begun to lead those believers away from the truth of the Gospel. For the next few weeks I would like to look at this Epistle and see many great facts concerning Christian liberty.
Tonight I would like to look use Paul’s salutation as an introduction to this series and gather some “Important Information”. We will see:
i. Some Important Information Concerning This Letter
ii. Some Important Information Concerning The Lord
Join me as we examine preach on the subject “Galatian Information” Look with me to verses 1-3 as we see:
I. SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS LETTER v1-3
In order to understand the context of Paul’s address to the people of Galatia, we must start at the very beginning. Notice:
A. THE AUTHOR - v1a “Paul, an apostle”
We have already mentioned that Paul is the author of this Epistle. There is some debate as to the exact date of this epistle but it ranges from the years A.D 48- A.D 58. I tend to believe that it was written soon after Paul's second visit to Galatia - (Acts 18:23). I base my opinion on the context of verse 6 “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel”. Regardless of the when, we know the who...The Apostle Paul, the greatest Christian who has ever lived!!
In some Epistles Paul would dictate to an associate, but we find that this letter was written by Paul himself -Galatians 6:11 ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.Paul was a man, chosen by Jesus Christ to accomplish many great things for the sake of the Kingdom. In fact that is something that Paul defends here in his salutation. Notice:
B. THE AUTHORITY- v1b “an apostle not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead”
This is a rare occasion where Paul asserts his “Apostolistic authority”. Apostle - One who is called and commissioned by Jesus Christ. We have record of Paul being called as an Apostle of Jesus Christ in Acts Chapter 9. One common trait of the 12 Apostles is that they all witnessed first hand the resurrected Christ. Paul declares that he was not called by men, but by Jesus Christ!
C. THE ASSOCIATES- v2a “And all the brethren which are with me”
We are not told exactly who were “with him” at this time. But we know from reading his other epistles that he traveled with associates that he often referred to as “fellow-soldiers”, “fellow laborers” and “brethren” Men such as:
Epaphras, Epaphroditus, Tychicus, Archippus, Timothy, Barnabas, Silas, Gaius, John Mark, Luke, Titus, Carpus,Lucius and Aristarchus. Not knowing the exact date of the epistle make is somewhat difficult to guess who was with him at this time. Notice also:
D. THE AUDIENCE- v2b “unto the churches of Galatia”
This was not just one small church that met in someone’s house.Paul had planted several church in this region. This epistle is addressed to all of them. This leads us to believe that the problems that are addressed in this epistle were widespread among all the churches in Galatia. It needs to be stated now that Paul loved the people of Galatia, I say this because the further you read into the epistle the more you may question that fact! As we walk through the 6 chapters of Galatians you will hear some aggressive language and some stout accusations. In fact he plainly asks them “if they were stupid” (Galatians 3:3 GWT) - Though there may be some tough love dolled out, it is love nonetheless. Consider also:
E. THE ASPIRATION- v3 “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ”
Though frustrated with their actions, Paul desired that the brethren continue to experience the grace and peace that only comes through Christ. In fact, his goal in this letter is for them to fully understand that grace, peace and liberty is possible through Christ. In the next few verses he sets the foundation for the things to come in the remainder of the Epistle. Notice:
II. SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE LORD v4-5
Keep in mind, many of the brethren had fallen prey to the Judaizers.They had begun walking in faith in Christ alone, but now were attempting to add works into the equation. From the outset, Paul makes it clear that they were REDEEMED THROUGH CHRIST AND HIM ALONE! He spoke of:
A. THE SACRIFICE INVOLVED- v4a “Who gave himself for our sins”
Jesus became the sin-offering on behalf of mankind. Salvation from sins comes as a result of the price Jesus paid at Calvary.
Jesus faced the rejection of the crowd
He was mocked
He was stripped
He was beaten
He was scourged
He faced the agony and pain of the crucifixion
He hung on that cross and cried “My God why have you forsaken me?”
After all things were accomplished John 19:30 {Jesus} received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.- Everything that He faced… HE FACED FOR US!!
Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
“Jesus paid it all”
“All to Him I owe”
“Sin had left a crimson stain”
“He washed it white as snow”
Not only did Jesus pay the ultimate price to redeem mankind, He did so on his own accord! Consider:
B. THE SUBMISSION INVOLVED- v4c “according to the will of God and our Father”
Jesus was a willing sacrifice for our sins! - 1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: Jesus willingly came into a world that would hate, reject & crucify Him.
“I never could quite understand”
“Why a king would leave His throne”
“To dawn the robe of an earthly man”
“And feel the pain of flesh and bone”
“Then to trod that lonely path”
“That lead to Calvary”
“But those blood red stains broke all my chains”
“So that I could still go free”
No greater love has ever been shown that what Jesus did for you and me! Paul addressed the Submission and the Sacrifice as well as:
C. THE SOVEREIGNTY INVOLVED- “according to the will of God and our Father”
Paul proclaims that all of this was the Father’s will. God the Father placed His only Son on that cross in my place so that we could be free! ------ Jesus explained this in - John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Our own merit is not sufficient... No works will do! In these verses, Paul is paving the way for his argument that will follow in the remainder of this letter. So, a SOVEREIGN God, sent His SUBMISSIVE Son, to be a SACRIFICE for our sins… Why would He do such a thing? - Notice:
D THE SALVATION INVOLVED- v4b “that he might deliver us from this present evil world”
This is why Jesus came… Do deliver us from this evil world. He delivered us from the guilt, the shame, the wickedness and misery of this present life. He also delivered us from the customs, traditions and rituals.
Listen to what David said in:Psalms 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
David realized where his help came from. The Galatian believers initially grasped this as well, but somewhere along the way they began to turn to and trust in the works of man. There is much we can learn from this Galatian information.
Maybe you have not reached a place where you are attempting to add works to you life in order to “remain saved”. But maybe you have turned from the freedom that you possess as a child of God and have retreated into a life of sin. Maybe your life looks more like “the old man” than it does a new creation in Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to regain the proper focus and put Jesus where HE belongs in your life!
