By Emily Wooten
Paul wrote thirteen books of the New Testament. Many of these books were written to churches he had ministered to or helped establish on his missionary journeys. He wrote the letter to the Galatians. The purpose was to help the folks of Galatia to understand the gospel of faith.
Paul started the letter with grace and peace, which was a common gracious greeting. Common niceties before getting to the actual reason for the letter.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
He said if anyone should preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. If anyone was aware of the laws of Moses and how to manage the Hebrew acceptable rules, times and holy days, it was Paul. He reminded them he was a devout religious man who observed the traditions of the synagogue and persecuted Christians. Because of meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus he had come to understand the salvation offered through faith in Jesus Christ. One might say he had changed his tune.
Here we see a man who was qualified to teach, educated and observing the customs of men. The good news changed Paul. The revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah brought freedom from the law, traditions of men and acts of obedience. Paul emphasized that Jesus’ sacrifice is the only way to be considered righteous before God, and that salvation comes through faith in Christ, not by following the law.
Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Every day we make choices. Even in the modern church we have to guard against doctrines of men and devils. The enemy of our faith has been working for centuries to confuse, distract and mislead Christians.
The letter continues in Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
The measure of our dedication to God and faithfulness to fulfilling God’s commission depends on the Holy Spirit’s leading and our obedience. Our obedience to answer what God calls us to is the most important thing we will ever do. Comparing our lives to the word of God and not other humans reveals our success or failure.
James 1: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.