Welcome to our journey through the book of Galatians where we are allowing the scripture to convince us that Jesus plus nothing equals everything!
When studying any book in scripture it is important to ask three simple but key questions-
1. Who wrote it
2. Who did they write it to
3. Why did they write it
1. Who wrote it?
-The apostle Paul penned this 6 chapter letter in AD49, and he had his authority to write such a strong correspondence because he had once been a man who was notorious amongst the early Christians for presiding over the death of followers of Christ. This all changed when he dramatically met Jesus and had his name changed from Saul to Paul, which indicated a change in direction and purpose for his life. Once he was a fierce opponent of the Way, and then from that one encounter he became Christ’s most passionate defender!
2. Who did he write it to?
-Paul wrote this letter to the gentile (non-Jewish Christians) who were living in the Roman province of Galatia at that time, comprising of the cities of Lystra, Derbe, Antioch and Iconium
3. Why did he write it?
-the Galatian church had started off well holding to the simple and beautiful Gospel but once Paul had left, other men pretending to be teachers came among them and started questioning the fullness of the new believers salvation’s. They said, what Paul said was great as a start but it’s not the full picture, they needed to have the Law of Moses as well as Christ, they said. On hearing this Paul was incensed as by adding bondage to the beauty of Christ alone, they were stealing the joy and freedom of the Galatian Christians that they had found in Christ.
In chapter one of this letter, it is quickly clear that Paul isn’t happy with this new half-baked Gospel that the Galatians are wandering into because of this false teaching. In verse 6 he says that he is astonished that they are turning to a different Gospel, which he goes on to say is no gospel at all.
The pure, grace-filled, life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ cannot be added to or taken away from.
The power of the Gospel is that it is not man-made or in need of man’s additions and religious addendums to give it credibility. Paul uses his own radical conversion story to emphasize this point.
And in verse 15 Paul puts this truth into a clear perspective.
He says, “But when God who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, to reveal his son in me, so that I might preach him among the gentiles…”
1. But when God – his story didn’t start with, “but when Paul”. No, salvation is God’s work from start to finish. Your ability to save yourself is the same ability that will help you keep your salvation…you have none apart from “but God!”
2. Who set me apart from my mother’s womb – His story didn’t even start because of his upbringing or even because of the family he was born in. No, God had marked his man for salvation before he had even taken his first breath!
3. And called me by his grace – He was called not because there was something impressive about Paul, or because Paul would make a really good Christian. No, it was pure and simply because of God’s undeserved kindness
4. To reveal his son in me – Why would God do all this? Not to make something great out of Paul, but to bring glory to His son Jesus. To have Christ put on display in and through Paul’s life. To show the world, “but when God”
5. So that I might preach him among the gentiles – finally, we are bought full circle to be shown that this whole thing is not primarily about us. It’s about God’s glory and His love for those who do not know him. The only thing that will reach those far from God, is not a good moral campaign, not kinder people, or better church programs. No, it will only be the pure and simple and powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ alone burning in each of us
IMPLICATIONS FOR YOU AND I
But when God– You’re not too far gone for God to begin his story in you
Who set me apart from my mother’s womb – you are no accident, you have been designed according to a plan. No matter your family line, good or bad, you are made new in Christ!
Called you by his grace – He has pursued you and will always be pursuing you, no matter how far you run, and it will always be his grace that keeps knocking
To reveal his son in you – He wants to take your mess, your inconsistency, your inadequacies, your frustrations and begin to form Christ in you
So that you may preach him to those far from him – you have a purpose! You have a “so that”!
As we go through this series, we are trusting that the pull and temptation to lean into other things besides Christ alone would begin to subside.
The reformers had this statement, “In Christ alone, in scripture alone, through faith alone, by grace alone, for the glory of God alone.”
This book of Galatians emphasizes that our faith equation is Jesus plus nothing equals everything! Refuse the temptation to put anything extra to Jesus to walk as his son or daughter. Jesus’ work is full, it’s complete and it is the only thing that has the power to change our hearts.
Let’s pray
Jesus, would you become the all satisfying treasure to us. Would we forsake any other notion that we gain merit or favour before your throne in any other way except through believing on Christ Jesus. Work in us as we open our hands to receive the fullness of the one true Gospel. In your name alone, Amen
