Galatians 1:1-24 Bible Study

Galatians is about being Fooled. Being Misled. Misled into thinking Jesus is not enough, and that you need the law too. As we navigate through this book we’re going to see that church had heard the gospel message of Jesus and were saved, through faith, but later pressure sets in from the religious elites and Paul is addressing it. It’s no different today. We go to church, we heard the gospel, we believe and get saved just as we are by faith, and then religion kicks in as people start telling you that you need to do more and try harder so you will be okay with God.

Paul is addressing a form of Legalism. Anything that adds to Christ ALONE perfecting us is a form of legalism.

Galatians Chapter 1

[Galatians 1:1-3] 1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

This describes the true Gospel. Grace & Peace. God likes us and we are okay with Him ALWAYS. Not because of what we do, but because of what His son did. We have grace and we have peace with God.

[Galatians 1:4-5] 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

Here we see God’s will. That you be RESCUED. He’s rescuing us, we’re not rescuing ourselves.

[Galatians 1:6] 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

The religious Jewish people have snuck in with a religious message like “Jesus is great, BUT you also need this and that”. Romans 7 talks about spiritual adultery – mixing law and grace. You only get one. Not both

[Galatians 1:6] 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

So Christ is in this Gospel being preached but it’s distorted and it disturbing them because it’s now about rules and fleshful works and behavior.

You can still get this Gospel today at churches everywhere. It’s the Jesus for salvation then once saved the examine yourself message. Then the do more be more or Gods disappointed with you doctrine. (1 Cor 4:3 Paul says he doesn’t even examine himself)

[Galatians 1:8] 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

Does this sound like a familiar popular (but false) doctrine? Accursed also meaning dammed.

[Galatians 1:9] 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

[Galatians 1:10] 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

The real Gospel often doesn’t please men because it excludes your behavior being a long list of to do’s or paying God back and only looks at our being right with God as a free gift, through faith, not of ourselves, apart from works and apart from the law.

What is UNIQUE about Christianity is Grace lavished upon us for free. Every other religion requires us to earn it, there is always something to DO, not merely believe in order to be right with God.

Next – Paul Defends His Ministry

[Galatians 1:11-12] 11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

In other words, I got my gospel direct from God, and I’m sure I got it right.

[Galatians 1:13-14] 13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.

Paul used to love the law, but now he is preaching against the law and against religious traditions.

 [Galatians 1:15-17] 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.

The point of this is he did not consult with man to get the Gospel. He let God show it to him. Man has a way of distorting the Gospel even today. Jesus said the truth will set you free. My yoke is easy.

[Galatians 1:18-24] 18 Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now in what I am writing to you,  I assure you before God that I am not lying.) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; 23 but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they were glorifying God because of me.

So Paul used to preach works and law and would kill those preaching faith. Now he has done a 180.

This is a great example of God using evil for His Glory!

Related Studies

Galatians 1 - WatchGalatians 2 - WatchGalatians 3 - Watch