Galatians 1:1-7

Galatians 1:1-7

The Bible says in Galatians chapter 1 verses 1-3, “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ.”

All human beings in the world who have titles, degrees, awards, honors, positions of authority, and leadership; have the recognition that they have attained from other men. But there are also titles, and awards, and honors, and authority that God offers to those who would give their lives over to Him. Such awards and honors and titles and authority are not recognized by the world. Only those who somehow have been touched by the Spirit of God will recognize other individuals upon whom God has placed some authority, title, honor, or work. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away but My words shall never pass away.” If you want the kind of authority, the kind of power and honor, and the recognition that lasts forever, then you must look to the word of God to find it.

Paul had a great opportunity given to him. He was called to be an apostle. We will never know what all Paul accomplished in his life for God. Certainly he accomplished more for Christ than most of us ever will. One particular opportunity God gave Paul was to write part of the Bible. Undoubtedly this is one of the greatest things that Paul did for God. After all, the Bible is the source of all truth that comes from God. If you could look into the heart and the mind of man and know the things that God knows, you would find that every word that has been spoken and every deed that has ever been done according to the will of God had the Word of God as the great contributing factor to those words and deeds being done. Therefore, we know that Paul accomplished a great work for God when he penned the Words of God.

The Bible says in John chapter 3 verse 34, “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” Verse 2 tells us to whom God had Paul write Galatians: all the brethren that were with him and the churches of Galatia. God was emphasizing to the Christians in Galatia that He gave these words specifically to them. He wanted the Christians at Galatia to see the importance of daily meditating on the word of God, and He wanted them to see just how greatly God loved them and was involved in their life daily trying to teach them His truth and build up their faith.

If the great eternal God of the universe reached across the vast expanse of space and time to reveal the marvelous mysteries of who He is to you, how would you react? Would you realize and see the invaluable opportunity and grace of God? Would you greedily and eagerly feast on His word every day? Well, the simple truth is God has done this.

God is no respecter of persons. The Bible says in Romans chapter 15 verse 4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

When you approach the Bible to read it, it is important that you first approach it with faith believing all that it says. Secondly you must be willing to accept all of the shameful things it will reveal to you about yourself. And thirdly you must realize the Bible was written specifically for you. When Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives and spoke to the multitudes He did not speak those words for them only but for you also. We know this because the words are recorded and have been given to us. In Luke chapter 9 during the transfiguration Jesus spoke with Moses and Elias. Verse 31 says that they spoke of His future crucifixion. This is an example where the very words were not given. The important thing to learn here is simple; the words that God wants us to know have been given to us. If it is not in the Word of God then it is not that important. God spent thousands of years preparing and putting together His truth into this wonderful book called the Bible, and when He did so, He did so with you in mind hoping and desiring that you would see the value and blessing of His word, and that you would realize the Bible is the heart and mind of God handed to you and revealed to you by the Holy Spirit.

Knowing the power of the Word of God and the great involvement it has in all of God’s work in this life, we can catch a glimpse of the great opportunity God gave Paul to accomplish something for Him. Do not underestimate the infinite grace of God. When God gives you an opportunity, He really gives you an opportunity. We will never fathom just what it is that we are accomplishing for God in this life, but the reality is that every time God hands you an opportunity to serve Him, whether it be to give a glass of cold water in His name or to preach forth the truth of His Word, when God gives an opportunity it is like God is handing you the universe and giving you a chance to build upon His creation and add to the size of the Kingdom of God. Think of John 3:16, probably one of the most well known verses in the Bible, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God gave John the opportunity to pen a few words for Him. How many souls have been saved by these few words of God? How many lives have been strengthened in their faith and discovered the great and eternal riches of God’s grace from this one verse? Next time God gives you a few words to say or a simple task to perform He may very well be handing you all the stars that shine brightly in the heavens.

Galatians chapter 1 verses 4-5 says, “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: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”

Why can the Bible so boldly repeat and emphasize as verse 3 says that the grace and peace of God the Father will saturate each moment of the lives of those who trust in Jesus Christ? Because Jesus died for our sins. There is no limit to the grace of God. There is power in the blood. The guilt of sin, the suffering, the death that sin causes in our lives, and the evil forces of this world that seek to gnaw away our joy and peace and drag our souls to hell: all of these terrible things are no threat to the believer in Jesus Christ.

Why Did Jesus die for us? Because God so loved the world. He also died for us, as verse 4 says, to deliver us from this present evil world. Any normal and compassionate human being who, while walking down the street, sees a child lost and helpless in the middle of the street and in immanent danger of being run over by a car, would not hesitate to deliver that child from such a dangerous situation. How much more will Jesus Christ, whose love and desire to draw us close to him is so great that his eyes burn as a flame of fire, how much more will He swiftly deliver us, who are like a helpless child, from being lost and stranded in the middle of this crazy and evil world? And all because He died for us. Don’t underestimate the power of God that is revealed in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. If you want to conquer sin, if you want to battle the devil and win, if you want to take on the world and defeat its darkness, all you need is faith in God and His word. It’s no wonder that verse 5 goes on to say, “To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” If you want to understand why we should praise God, if you want to understand why God deserves all the credit then look to the cross. Jesus did all the work. He is the one who really fights all the spiritual battles in your life. It’s not you: it’s Jesus. Any moment you are victorious it is Jesus and His grace and strength, not you. I John 2:12 says “Your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” It’s all to the glory of God. No wonder such wonderful things can be experienced in this life and especially in the next, because God is very gracious, and in His grace and good pleasure He allows us to share in His glory.

The Bible goes on to say in verses 6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

One of the reasons that the book of Galatians was written by Paul is because the church of Galatia had fallen from grace, and returned to legalism and the law. I say returned because: those who are not saved are all legalistic in different ways, and to different degrees; and those who are saved, who rely upon themselves and their own work; instead of Christ and His work, are also legalistic.

The word Gospel means good news. The gospel is such wonderful and good news; because Jesus died for our sins, and the forgiveness and eternal life that He offers us is free. That is what is so great about it: it’s free. There are two kinds of people in this world: those who are led by the Spirit of God, and live and preach the gospel of Christ; and those who are not led by the Spirit of God, and instead pervert the gospel of Christ in their words and deeds.

The Book of Galatians is a book that explains in depth the difference between law and grace. This truth is a very important truth to understand. If you do not understand the difference between law and grace: then; you do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ to the depth that God would have you know it, and you will not experience the wonderful freedom found in Christ as you should. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Verses 8-9 goes on to say, “But though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you that that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

The most important thing in the world is truth. And the most important truth in the world is the good news that: Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross and rose again. Whenever the Bible repeats something, God is emphasizing something, just as if you or I repeated something twice. Paul was making a very big emphasis here in Galatians chapter 1 verses 8 and 9. If the gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important truth in the world then sharing your faith with those in the world around you is the greatest way to partake of the blessings of God. What then of those who do not teach the gospel of Christ? They will partake of the greatest and most horrible curses and punishment that God has waiting for them in hell. In Matthew chapter 21, verse 19; Jesus cursed the fig tree and it withered away, because it was not bearing fruit. If you do not have Jesus in your heart, then you are just like that fig tree; you are not bearing any fruit, and the time will come; when you too will be cursed of God, and will wither away eternally in the fires of Hell.

The Bible says that we must all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ. We will be judged by what we did with the opportunities that God gave us. The primary opportunity that God has given us is to partake of His grace, by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. Every soul in the world, saved and lost, will be held accountable for what they did, could have done, and did not do with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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