The Book of Galatians – Part 1
Chapters 1-2
(Scripture version - New Living translation)
This is Paul's letter to the churches in the province of Galatia where he had been during his first missionary journey. It's a passionate letter from Paul as he desires to show the seriousness of his purpose in writing due to reports that the church had fallen into hard times and fallen into error caused by a group of Judaizers (legalistic Jews) and their misteaching's insisting Christians keep Mosaic law. (Acts 15 and the Jerusalem council is the great discussion about these issues in more detail.) Paul's aggressive tone in the letter shows how important it was to him for the people to get this right: justification comes by faith in Christ alone and NOT by following the law solely. Only in Christ is anyone saved. THEN, a life lived in the Spirit teaches one to follow Him, and that life in the Spirit is where sin is rooted out.
Here at the start with chapters 1 & 2, Paul teaches his readers of the Grace found in Jesus Christ, demonstrates this Grace from his own life, and brings a defense of Grace in his ministry to the church.
“Avoid Fake Good News”
Galatians 1:6-7
Key verses – “'I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.”
Meditation – Paul spends most of chapter one and two defending himself, his ministry, and God’s grace in his life. He does this to present an example of the truths about the gift of Grace and faith in Christ. In that comes his first great concern: that people are turning away from God, away from trusting in the gift of Grace. He’s angry that people are so “easily fooled” by false teachings and mistruths: the big one being that the Mosaic Law must be followed in order to receive salvation. That, my friends, is nonsense… according to Christ’s sacrificial gift.
--> What ways today to people fall for a fake “good news”.?
--> Do you ever feel like you are being good enough to receive God’s gift of heaven & salvation?
--> What circumstances or times do you take God’s gift of Grace in Christ for granted?
“Jesus, Not Rules, Laws, or Legalism.”
Galatians 2:16
Key verses – “ 'Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
Meditation – Singer songwriter Jeremy Camp sings these words in his song titled, “The Answer”:
“So many questions, the world is reaching. So many hurting, so many lost. With all these strivings, who can we lean on? Creations crying out from the dark.
I know the answer to every question. The one selection to every fear. I know my help and where it comes from. Jesus, he is the answer.”
How often do you rest in Jesus, The Answer? There are so many times in life when we are working hard, striving, scratching, and chasing after a good life. We work so hard to be good and good to others and then something devastates our life. We spend days and weeks trying to be righteous, only to fall on our face again with some sort of sin and/or immorality.
Do you know that Jesus was fully human and experienced everything we face? Do you know He understands? Do you know his heart breaks for your pain, your striving, your desires? Do you know he understands so much that He gave his life as a sacrifice in order to save you? He gave you a gift… the gift of life, joy, peace, comfort, and strength.
--> Are you able to live resting in the gift of Grace? Do you have peace? Why or why not?
--> What does it mean to you, to know that Jesus only cares about your freely-given love and your decision to accept His freely-given (Grace) love in return?
“Let The Old Go So The NEW Can Come”
Galatians 2:20-21
Key verses – “'My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.”
Meditation – Paul has the heart of a rabbi, a disciple-er, as he uses himself for an example. He declares that in Christ, the old Paul is gone, and the new Paul is here. That in Christ he is free from the bondage of legalism and rules. Free from the outcome of the race to be the best version of himself. This doesn’t mean he ever stops working to be the best version of himself but rather, he is free from the law-imposed structure TO be. He works at improving himself and yet he is free from the limiting jail cell of “failure”. Christ knows how hard it is and so he simply wants your heart followed by with your willingness to let him help you live. The incredible peace and joy the Apostle Paul lived in was birthed out of his resolute faith in God’s grace through Jesus Christ.
--> When do you feel like a failure in God's eyes?
--> Is there a “bondage” you do not feel free from?
--> Is it freeing for you to know that you cannot achieve the, deserving of God’s gift? That as His child, you already have access to it on a daily basis?
PRAYER – Take time to thank God for His passionate love-gift to you. Realize that He loves you… meditate for a moment in this realization, it is His Gift to you. Them, ask for the Holy Spirit’s daily nudge to help you remember it, to live in it, and THEN for His help following Christ the way Christ wants you live.
Comments