Imagine this distressing scenario: before he repented, believed the
gospel, and came to Christ, ‘Johnny’ was a smoker, drunkard, fornicator, liar
and cheater. After his conversion, he became as a brand-new person. The old
ways of life were gone completely and he became a new man. Cleansed of his
worldly vices and sins, he became an ardent church-goer and zealous in sharing
the gospel. Johnny had experienced a miracle of healing for himself and seen it
in others, as well as other miracles. He was also filled with the Holy Spirit.
So far, so good.
Some time later false teachers came to the church, saying that if
Johnny wanted to be ‘fully Christian,’ he had to be circumcised (not a pleasant
prospect), keep the Ten Commandments including Saturday Sabbath, other other
Mosaic laws. Because the proponents claimed to be quoting the Bible and spoke
with dogma (don’t confuse this with divine authority - many dogmatic people
only speak for themselves and not God), Johnny believed them. As he endeavored
to keep the law of Moses, Johnny’s love, joy, and peace began to hemorrhage. No
longer was he a pleasure to be around. He even had a critical, judgmental
attitude towards other Christians who did not share his conviction about
keeping the law.
One person aptly said, ‘Moderation is that midway point as we swing
from one extreme to another.’ As with the case of Johnny, like a pendulum from
license (unbridled carnal thinking and action) and loose living to legislation
and legalism. Have you ever known a worldly person who became religious and
thus ‘holier than thou?’
Just like our modern-day ‘Johnny,’ the Apostle Paul faced exactly
this situation. Having planted churches in the Galatia region of Asia Minor
(now modern Turkey), firmly planting them in the gospel of grace and the
dynamics of Spirit-filled living, he was horrified to find out what happened to
these churches after he departed. False teachers, known as Judaizers, came
among the flock, saying that they had to be circumcised (obviously for men
only) and observe all the law of Moses, which amounts to 613 commandments. It
is hard to memorize them all, let alone keep them. Without this, they could not
be truly saved. In essence, these false teachers were saying, ‘In order to be
fully Christian, you have to be fully Jewish - an observant Jew.’
In the midst of this distressing emergency, the Holy Spirit inspired
Paul to write the magnificent Epistle to the Galatians. It’s theme could be
summarized:
Free at Last: How the Gospel of Christ Liberates Us from Legalism
and License.
In short, full and complete salvation in Christ brings liberty.
According to Galatians, this wonderful liberty is available due to four
sources:
1. The cross of Christ is the key for atonement and be dead to the
things of the world;
2. Justification by faith is the only
way to be free and saved;
3. The law is holy and good; it is powerless to save; its purpose is to
outline God’s standards and show us the need for the Saviour;
4. Justification by faith enables us to be sanctified by the Spirit,
that we may live a Spirit-filled life. When we do, we are no longer under the
condemnation and curse of the law.
Note: None of this is possible by doing works of the law. In fact, to rely
on the law means that grace is nullified and the gospel of Christ cannot
benefit you. That is a very serious consequence.
Galatians affirms that the cross of Christ, grace, faith, and the
Holy Spirit are not just the best way, but the only way, to find favour with
God. Religious works and law-keeping cannot do it; never have, never will.
A study of Galatians is an adventure and eye-opener. You will learn that you are truly free at
last.
OUTLINE OF GALATIANS
I. Introduction (1:1-10)
A. Greetings (1:1-5)
B. Alarm expressed (1:6-10)
II. Paul’s Pilgrimage
(1:11-2:14)
A. In Arabia (1:11-24)
B. In Jerusalem (2:1-10)
C. In Antioch with Peter
(2:11-14)
III.
Doctrinal Section (2:15-4:31)
A. Justification by faith
introduced (2:15-21)
B. Justification by faith
experienced in Galatia (3:1-5)
C. Justification by faith
through Abraham (3:6-4:18)
D. Justification by faith
illustrated by Sarah & Hagar (4:19-31)
IV.
Practical Section (5:1-6:10)
A. Law-keeping rather than faith will not profit (5:1-15)
B. Walk in the Spirit (5:16-18)
C. Works of the flesh (5:19-21)
D. Fruit of the Spirit (5:22-26)
E. Spiritual restoration
(6:1-5)
F. Sowing & reaping
(6:6-10)
V.
Conclusion (6:11-18)
Comments
Post a Comment