Galatians

Paul addresses the issue of whether converts to Christianity had to submit to the Mosaic law. The Jewish Christians (aka Judaisers) argued that they did. Paul passionately disagrees.

1

Paul is an apostle by the authority of Jesus Christ. Christ gave himself for our sins, and to deliver us from this present evil age. The Galatians are turning to a different gospel. A curse be on any who preaches a false gospel – whether it is Paul or even an angel from heaven. The true gospel is not of men, but through the revelation of Jesus Christ. Paul gives a potted autobiography, emphasising that he was separated from his mother’s womb and called to grace, and how he experienced divine revelation.


2

Paul recounts a later visit to Jerusalem. The Jerusalem leadership accepted Titus, even though he was a Greek, and uncircumcised. God shows favouritism to noone. The leaders of the Jerusalem church – James, Cephas and John – accepted Paul’s ministry to the gentiles. In Antioch Paul publically rebuked Peter, because he separated himself from gentile Christians. Paul reminds Peter that they are justified before God by the work of Jesus, not by their keeping of the law. Paul has been crucified with Christ; it is no longer Paul who lives, but Christ who lives in him. Righteousness does not come about from the law.


3

Did you receive the Holy Spirit through the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Abraham’s archetypal act of faith is cited. Those who are of faith are the sons of Abraham. (Compare with ther idea of spiritual Israel in Romans.) In the Old Testament, those who fail to obey the law are cursed. Habbakuk 2:4: the just shall live by faith. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. God’s covenant to Abraham is unchanging – unlike the Mosaic one, which was conditional. The law was given to restrain transgression, and reveals our sinful nature. Before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law. The law was a tutor which was is now no longer necessary. You become sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. You are all one in Jesus Christ, and heirs to the promise made to Abraham.


4

Children, like slaves, are under guardians until they mature. We, like children, were in bondage to the elements of the world. In due time, Christ redeemed us from the law, and we were adopted as God’s sons – an heir to God through Christ. Why turn back to living again in bondage? Paul urges the Galatians to be like him. He recalls the very positive way they reacted to him in the past. He bids the Galatians to be wary of the affection that the legalists show them. Paul describes himself using a maternal image – he labours for them all over again, that he may give spiritual birth to them. Ishmael (born of the flesh) was the son of a bondwoman, and Isaac (born of the Spirit) was the son of a freewoman. Ishmael corresponds to those under the old covenant, Isaac to those under the new. Those born of the flesh shall not inherit, like Ishmael.


5

Stand in the liberty of Christ, not in bondage. Those who are circumcised are debtors to all of the law. The opnly thing that is important is faith working through love. A little leaven (ie doctrines like legalism) leavens the whole lump. Love each other in the liberty of Jesus. If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The flesh and Spirit pull in opposite directions. The works of the flesh are adultery, fornication, sorcery, hatred and other sins. The fruit of the Spirit, in contrast, is love, joy, peace and so on. The law has no power over these things. Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh. Let us not become conceited.


6

Someone overtaken in sin but be restored for the good of the whole community. Bear one another’s burdens, and do not be conceited. Whatever a man sows, that shall be also reap. The flesh reaps corruption, the Spirit reaps everlasting life. The legalists wish to make a good showing in the flesh. We are made a new creation through Christ – and not by circumcision.