No other Gospel
Have you realised that most of what we pursue with all our energy is empty and worthless? Are you tired of that? Jesus, the Son of God, God in the flesh, gave His life to pay the price of our sin and set us free from the power and consequences of our sin. By His grace and by faith in Him, we can have freedom to love and obey God, instead of being enslaved to our own dark and worthless desires. This freedom is the Gospel of Jesus, it’s more powerful than we can imagine and we need to hold tightly to it, because it’s more despised, rejected and opposed than we realise.
Scripture
Galatians 1:1-5 ESV Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Bible Study Questions
Why the letter?
The letter to the Churches of Galatia is different to Paul’s other letters primarily in it’s urgency. He was clearly very concerned for them and got straight to the point. As with many of his letters, he used the introduction to summarise what the letter was about. He was writing to Churches including those at Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. What happened at these Churches and what does that tell us about Paul’s care and concern for these Churches?
Acts 14:19-23 ESV But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
Who’s it from?
Most of us will only heed instructions when they come from someone with authority, and when we know that they are trustworthy. Paul starts his letter giving two reasons for his authority. The Churches of Galatia included those at Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. Who gave Paul the authority to teach, rebuke and correct the Churches of Galatia, and how had that authority been established?
Galatians 1:1-2 ESV Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
1 Corinthians 11:23-24 ESV For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
What’s at stake?
A common greeting for Paul was “grace and peace”. What are grace and peace, where do they come from and where would we be without them?
Galatians 1:3 ESV Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 3:21-24 ESV But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Romans 5:1-2 ESV Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
How was grace and peace achieved?
It’s one thing telling the Church that they have peace with God through His grace, but how is this possible? How did it happen that people who constantly break God’s law, and hurt one another can be reconciled with Him instead of being punished by Him? This incredible plan is called the Gospel. Who chose and executed it?
Galatians 1:4 ESV who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Romans 5:10 ESV For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 ESV For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
What is the motivation?
Paul was clearly highly motivated. The distances he travelled and the opposition and suffering that he endured show that he was motivated by a powerful sense of purpose. What was his purpose, apart from love and compassion for the people of the Churches of Galatia?
Galatians 1:5 ESV to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Isaiah 43:7 ESV everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
What does this mean for us?
Paul spent his life, risked his life and eventually lost his life for the Gospel. The passion and urgency with which he taught and protected the Gospel should cause us to look at our own attitude towards the Gospel. Have we grown cold and calloused towards it’s power? What do we do about it?
Philippians 3:8-9 ESV Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 ESV For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
What are you looking for?
At a time of new beginnings, a new day, a new week, a new year, we get to look forward and prioritise the different elements of our lives. We get review and rethink what we value and pursue. What are our goals, what motivates us, what do we live and die for, what needs to change so that our lives can be focused on what really is important?
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 ESV For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.