NO OTHER GOSPEL. Galatians 1:1-10 Introduction: 1-9. Greeting, 1-5; Reproof, 6-9 Paul had been ill on his first missionary journey [4:13]; perhaps that was why he stayed in Galatia for quite some time. During that period, the Gospel was preached in Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, and souls were saved. New assemblies of Christians gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The focus of the preaching was on "Christ and Him crucified [3:1]." Paul was regarded as a messenger from heaven. He was an apostle with divinely appointed authority to address issues. Those who were saved poured out their love on him. Lois and Eunice had come to faith in Christ at that time, and later Timothy, Eunice's son, also became a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Her husband apparently was not saved, at least then. The Gospel in that region, which we now call Turkey, was freeing as salvation by grace alone was preached. But something that had started from the beginning cast a shadow over the entire work. It may have been the fickle temperament of people who liked novelty and change and were easily influenced, but for some reason, after Paul and those with him moved on, taking the Gospel to other places, the Galatian believers fell for the teaching of legalists who moved in on the work. They taught that law-keeping was necessary as an addition to the work of grace Christ did for us when He gave Himself for our sins on the cross. Paul had learned about what had happened in Galatia, and either an amanuensis was not available, or he felt his own written words might carry more weight, so Paul wrote this letter himself to be circulated among those assemblies. The opening words of this letter are not words of thanks or praise. There was no request for prayer but rather an affirmation of his authority as an apostle. He had the God-given right to address spiritual issues like those that had arisen in the churches of Galatia. Those who are distant from God cannot effectively pray for others. It was foolish to doubt his apostleship because it came directly from Jesus Christ and God the Father. In just a few words of introduction, he clearly states that the message of the Gospel of God’s grace cannot be watered down in any way. “Grace” (charis) was a common Greek greeting, and “peace” (shalom) was the word Jews used when greeting people. The straightforward introduction differs from those of other epistles, which usually proceed directly to the core of the issue he intended to address. They had been misled by false teachers who promoted a different Gospel. His abrupt greeting underscored the gravity of the problem and how seriously he regarded it. Loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ compelled Paul to speak strongly. To belittle the sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ made on the cross is an insult to God's grace of the worst kind. “He gave Himself” refers to His redemptive work and the sanctification of believers to live in this fallen world and overcome the power of moral and spiritual darkness. Galatians explain the truth and expose religious forms and external displays of religion for what they are. Outward shows of spirituality threaten the freedom and faith of the Gospel. The book of Galatians played a significant role in the Reformation. Martin Luther considered this his favorite epistle. Romans teaches the Gospel systematically; Galatians reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Deliverer from the controversy Paul faced in Galatia. The doctrine of justification by faith is emphasized, highlighting the inward and spiritual nature of Christianity. This contrasts with external forms of counterfeit religion [1:16; 2:20; 4:6,19]. “Removed:” Deserted the Lord; shifted to another message of works. “Perverted:” Turned around; changed to be opposite. “Another gospel:” A different message entirely from the Gospel of the grace of God. It inserted the sin-polluted works of people into the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. The exclusive nature of the Gospel cannot be diluted and still be the Gospel. Adding human works to Christ's finished work perverts, debases, corrupts, degrades, distorts, and defiles the Gospel. Under the immense stress of addressing a fundamental error, Paul does not offer the typical thanksgiving to the saints for their faith or faithfulness to God. He also does not indicate that he is praying for them. Instead, he immediately emphasizes his authority as an apostle. This was challenged by those Judaizers who followed him and questioned his apostleship as they inserted themselves into the work in Galatia. Their main point appeared to be that Paul was not one of "the twelve." Without delay, Paul asserted that his apostleship was equal to that of the other apostles in the church's foundation by stating that Jesus Christ and God the Father had appointed him as an apostle. This vested him with the highest authority. Men driven by personal ambition and a desire to be recognized as leaders of the people often seek a place among God's followers. When such men attempt to assert themselves and take authority in an assembly, it is important to review their past. How has God used them in His work? What credibility do they have in spiritual matters? What proof exists of their leadership qualities? Where are their spiritual children or those whose lives have been positively impacted by their mentoring? Today, there is a clear ordination of God. The Holy Spirit raises up "faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Their faithfulness is what comes first, not the ability to teach. God is the source of grace and peace, and He is the one who grants eternal salvation. He alone can deliver His people from being “troubled.” The word “trouble” signifies that the hearers were mentally disturbed, caused by confusion, uncertainty, unrest, agitation, and the unsettling effects of listening to conflicting messages. To suggest that our Lord Jesus did not accomplish everything needed to save us is to insult and diminish Him, attempting to elevate the depraved nature of sinners into something with spiritual worth. A person's character is defined not by what they do but by who they are. Be cautious if someone joins us and claims to have many answers to every problem. Those we trust because of their reputation or advice from reliable sources have credibility beyond just themselves. Education adds to their knowledge, but it doesn't necessarily shape their character. We observe how they use their training to determine whether God has raised them up or if they seek to elevate themselves or attract followers. Humility remains an essential trait for leaders, especially those who are not "lords over God's people." Paul's authority came from Divine Persons, the highest Source; those with him were "brethren." They were united with him in fellowship and were working with him in labors in the Gospel. They were not like those who had come into Galatia and taken advantage of the Celtic nature of the Gauls who lived there, who had a curious desire to learn new things rather than a careful concern about things they heard. All Christians are brethren, it is true. But there are also false brethren. They have different motives behind their actions. Some seek to exalt themselves and desire to be leaders to experience the satisfaction of controlling others. Some look for financial support and prey on the generosity of kindhearted Christians willing to support God's work with their finances. Others are sincere in their beliefs and teachings but are sincerely wrong. They are drawn to teachings with strict "do's and don'ts" as laws. They prefer to follow rules so they don't have to study the scriptures themselves. They want page and paragraph numbers and brief, clear statements to guide their lives. They lack the time, prayer, and mental effort needed to compare scripture with scripture and understand God's full truth. To them, the Bible is merely a set of guidelines, not the living words of the Living God. There are also those motivated by Satan to destroy God's work. Deception, doubt, division, and undermining those who spread the Gospel are tactics used to weaken a work of God that has gained ground in Satan's territory. Paul's address of grace and peace suggests that his message is directed more toward individuals within these "called out" groups of believers than toward the local churches themselves. The main issue he focuses on is not how to maintain assemblies as God intended, but a more fundamental question: "How is a person saved?" At the start of his letter, he states his authority, which comes from Jesus Christ and God the Father. He also identifies the source of grace and peace as "God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ." These things do not originate from Paul. Certainly, they do not come from those who sow confusion and preach "another Gospel" among them. To both the Gentiles (grace - Charis, a Greek greeting) and to the Jews (peace - Shalom, a Jewish greeting) gathered in the assemblies in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is one common gathering place—God Himself, in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are not like other groups when we gather to Him alone. What we do, preach, or teach isn't our decision. Everything we do is under divine authority. As individual believers, our common focus and allegiance is to the Lord Jesus Christ. That is what unites us in local fellowship groups, not anything else. The core truth that unites us is the personal experience of forgiveness through the death of Christ alone. "He gave Himself for our sins." That, and nothing else, is the foundational bond for all believers. Paul emphasized this point throughout the epistle with that phrase. Jesus Christ alone provided the full payment for our sins. All that was needed, He supplied when He gave Himself. Any addition to that redemptive work is an insult to divine sovereignty. God forbid that the sins of men, polluted and corrupted, be added in any way to such a complete and perfect price that He paid. Doing so would taint what is absolutely perfect in itself. In that opening statement, one reason why this great gift has been given is explained. It is to help individuals be delivered from "this present evil world," the system of world control under satanic domination. If the enemy of God can cause God's people to blend in with the world, he will effectively halt the work of building the church. It starts with a few individuals who are distant from God in their souls and spirit. The study of scripture has lost its interest. Prayer life has become routine, and the gathering of believers in worship and fellowship has turned dull. They come to "get," not "give," and soon complain that "there is no love here. I am not comfortable here." This discontent begins to spread to others, making the attraction to be more like the worldly religion very tempting. "Look at all the people who go there!" Music, movies, drama, and other forms of entertainment replace Gospel preaching, scriptural teaching, and holy worship. The Gospel message is diluted until it no longer confronts the problem of sin and its eternal consequences. Repentance toward God is rarely mentioned, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is reduced to a simple formula, as people are told to "give your heart to Jesus." It is God's will that people be saved, and therefore the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins. It is God's will that a people be gathered for His name out of this present evil world. To accomplish this, local testimonies have been established, where saved individuals who want to follow the Lord gather. The main focus is on the Person of Christ as the center of gathering, the Word of God as the source of guidance, and the Holy Spirit as the One who oversees the activities and actions of the group. He is the Divine Instructor and the Teacher. God-given gifts can be used by individuals under the control of the Holy Spirit. Individuals become part of a local body of saints and enjoy fellowship with others who share the same mind. All of this has one primary goal: the glory of God. This was at risk in the assemblies of Galatia, and the same is true today in modern assemblies. The message is that we should imitate the religious world around us. To prevent that, believers are encouraged to reflect on what God has done for us from the very beginning of His work of grace in our lives. When we recognize what God’s grace has given us and consider the character and actions of those who came before us, we should pause and understand what we have and what we should do with what has been entrusted to us. Paul was a genuine apostle, not self-appointed, not chosen by men, but appointed by God Himself. He had received divine authority to address issues among God’s people. No authority surpasses our Lord Jesus Christ, who declared that Paul was a “chosen vessel unto me.” He was a man set apart in a way no human ordination or man could make him an apostle. He was set apart from the womb when born and trained as a strict Pharisee, but by God's grace, he was called away from the law and set free to serve as a bondservant of Jesus Christ. He had been set free to become the man he was meant to be by God's grace. He was free to serve God to the best of his ability and to learn from Him during three years of study in Arabia. He was free to obey without considering himself, and free to live solely for the Lord. He was free to preach the Gospel of grace alone and to make the truth God revealed to him clear to others who had been liberated from the law's curse. As a messenger for God, he was not his own but a bondservant for God. The life he lived by God’s grace alone made him the apostle to the Gentiles. He did not doubt in his mind that he served the living Lord he met on the Damascus Road. Through a life of persecution, opposition, and strife, he counted it a privilege to represent Jesus, his Lord. Pause and consider the…
Galatians 1:1–10