Intro to Galatians

Rev. Troy Dennis

Salvation by Faith

It has been said that Paul’s writings in Galatians, along with Romans, are responsible for the Protestant Reformation. By 1517, a young priest and biblical scholar named Martin Luther was deeply disturbed with the state of the church and saw the solution within the pages of these books. Paul defended salvation by faith in Jesus Christ and remained convinced that a person could not be saved through the rituals and ceremonies of Judaism. Luther saw parallels for his own situation in the selling of indulgences to deliver souls into heaven. “Only by faith” became one of the rallying cries of the Reformation.

Just as Galatians was important to Luther, it remains relevant today, for we find in this short letter the basics of the message we proclaim in our churches: salvation is only by faith in Jesus Christ.

Background

Paul addressed the letter to the “churches of Galatia.” Paul visited this area on the first three of his missionary journeys. His home, Tarsus, was not far from the region and so it must have seemed natural for him to travel there. On the first journey (AD 47-48) he travelled with Barnabas through Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and back again (Acts 13-14). On his second journey (AD 49-51) he returned to the cities with news of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) and also travelled northward through the region (Acts 16:1-8). Paul again returned at the beginning of his third missionary journey in 53 or 54 AD (Acts 18:23).

We know from Galatians 1:6 that Paul wrote the letter shortly after one of his journeys: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel.” Scholars are divided, however, about the journey after which Paul wrote. If he wrote after the first journey, he addressed himself to the southern churches at about the time of the Jerusalem council. If after the second or third journeys, then Paul may have written to the northern churches. Complicating the issue is the fact that there were ethnic Galatians (Gauls) living in the northern part of the area, but the Roman government had created a province called Galatia which included the southern area.

The Message of Galatians

The debate makes interesting reading, but ultimately the message of the book remains the same. There were those who came after Paul and introduced a form of legalism based on the Jewish law. The effect was to proclaim another gospel which was not by faith in Jesus, but rather in rituals. Paul wrote using all of his powers of persuasion and argumentation to steer them back to salvation by faith in Jesus.

Responding to those who would discredit him, he reminded the churches that he did not invent his message but received it by direct revelation from Jesus (1:11-12). In addition, he had consulted with Jerusalem leaders like Peter and James, who would have corrected him if necessary (1:18-19; 2:1ff.). Furthermore, Paul himself confronted Peter, who was waffling on the issue by saying one thing and living another (2:11-14).

Paul called them back to the basics of faith, that a person is saved “by faith in Christ and not by observing the law” (2:16). To think otherwise was to be bewitched (3:1), a reference to the witchcraft which was prevalent in the area. The evidence of salvation was the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit and this did not come by works (3:2). Abraham, the father of the Jews, was himself saved by faith (3:6). To go back to the law, then, was to live under the curse (3:10) and return to slavery (4:9; 5:1).  By contrast, to believe in Jesus is to be a full heir as a child of God (3:29; 4:7).

As evidence of the fact that their faith had suffered, Paul asked them where their joy had gone (4:15). There was a time when they would have given him their eyes if it would have helped, but now they had turned against him (4:16) and turned against each other (5:15; 5:26) because of the “judaizers.”  They did not realize the hidden motives of those who stepped in behind Paul (4:17ff.; 6:12-13). Nor did they understand that once they started adding bits and pieces of the law that they were obligated to follow all of it (5:2-4). Those who cut in were really agitators who would pay in the end (5:7-10).

Paul concluded the letter by countering his opponents once again. They accused him of promoting wild living because of freedom in Christ (2:17; 5:13). Nothing could be farther from the truth in Paul’s mind, however. True followers of Jesus Christ put away sinful lifestyle (5:16-21) and display evidence of the Holy Spirit through actions and attitudes which we now call the “Fruit of the Spirit” (5:22-26). In addition, they try to restore gently those who have fallen,  they help carry each others’ burdens, and they do not give up doing good deeds (6:10).

A Relevant Message Today

Galatians carries a powerful message for our 21^st century churches. In a culture where spirituality is popular but anything goes, we are reminded that salvation is only by faith in Jesus Christ.

Legalism continues to be a powerful force in our churches. In almost every Baptist congregation there are those who insist on adding to the gospel. They imply that people who are truly spiritual, or even truly saved, will follow additional requirements. In this way they effectively set up a two-tier system of Christianity. Paul reminds us that salvation is by faith alone. We cannot earn God’s favour for it is free. Therefore, he would say, “let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (5:26)

Finally, we still face the issue of some believers thinking that it is OK to live any way they please. Paul reminds us that we need to give up the acts of the sinful nature (5:19-21) and cultivate instead the traits which reflect Jesus in us (5:22-23).

Copyright Troy Dennis 2006. Rev. Troy Dennis is a pastor and writer. His weekly letter on faith and character can be found at www.onfireletter.com.