Ralph Porter

© 2003

    It never ceases to amaze me how something as crucial to everything we believe as the gospel can be so consistently confused by so many of God's people! Why is there so much confusion about such good news? If the good news is really good news, why do so many people who claim to believe in the good news, struggle with discouragement and guilt?

    Paul's letter to the Galatians was written to clarify the essence of the gospel, and to relate it to the basic issue of Christian Liberty. Are we really free? Has our relationship with Christ made us feel free? Are we able to enjoy our freedom in Christ? Or, do we feel guilty when you exercise your freedom?

    One of the major reasons why God's people don't enjoy the freedom God intends for us to enjoy is that we keep trying to bring the law back into the picture. We have the idea that even after we come to God by faith in Christ alone, we must now live by keeping the law--at least by somebody's list of rules for Christians. Paul deals with a church that started out down the road of faith. Now, they want to try to live so as to please God by a rule book. Paul wants us to understand that it's impossible to reconcile salvation by faith with sanctification by law.

    We're free because we're in Christ. We aren't under law--any law! In order to please God, we come to Him by faith in Christ, and continue living every day based on faith; not on obeying someone's rules. He affirms that principle in Colossians 2:6-7:

    "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and 

    built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with

    thankfulness."

    We walk in the same way as we received God's gift of eternal life in the first place: by faith! From beginning to end, our relationship with God is based on the work Christ did on the cross. This principle flies in the face of the struggle most Christians have with guilt. Why do we feel so guilty? Why are we struggling with our past, and the lack of peace and contentment? We're still trying to gain enough points with God (or other people) to make it on our own! We still have to prove to somebody that we're good enough--that we're worth something.

    By doing that, we set up a standard that God never meant for us to keep. We started out by faith--we had to stop trying to do it ourselves, and rest in Him. Now walk that way! Stop trying to do it yourself!

    Throughout Paul's defense of his apostleship and message, Paul warns about the danger of trying to please people--to draw applause of men. Paul is not in this business to please people. His only concern is to please God. You don't do that by keeping a list of rules.

    As is usually the case in Paul's letters, the initial greeting indicates the direction the letter is going to take. He demonstrates from those first words that his apostleship does not come from men, but from God. God is the source of our message (1:1-2). God is the One Who delivers us from sin and from the evil that surrounds us (1:3-4). Therefore, God deserves to receive all the glory (1:5).

    Paul is surprised that the Galatians have so easily moved away from the gospel. He makes clear that he considers how we ought to live today to be an integral part of the gospel. The "gospel" of earn your way by your performance is not "good news!" It just produces greater frustration and failure because we're never good enough!

    The "good news" is that God has provided in Christ what we could never accomplish ourselves! Our salvation never depends on our ability to please God--never has, never will! We're complete because we're in Christ (Col. 2:9-10); not because we always obey the rules. That's an integral part of the good news! Walking by faith enables us to please God! Anyone who would dare change that message ought to be condemned.

    The Judaizers couldn't attack Paul's message while his position was respected. Therefore, they question his authority and calling. Like modern church members who want to oppose a plan or program designed by those in leadership, they have discovered that if they can attack the credibility of their leaders, they can stop the program they are proposing. That's what the Judaizers are attempting to do. They are attacking Paul's authority and his message, in order to stop his progress in the ministry.

    Satan frequently comes after us same way the Judaizers went after Paul. As long as we're grounded in the Word, Satan can't do much to undermine our doctrine. We believe that all who trust Christ have eternal life. "God says it. I believe it. That settles it!"

    Since Satan can't refute what God has promised, he comes after us--with a personal attack. He tempts us to do something we know is wrong, then he attacks us. "How can you call yourself a Christian when you do a thing like that!" If we believe his deception, he has us just where he wants us! Paul answers their attack with a defense of himself and his message.

Paul's content revealed by Christ Himself   1:10-12

    Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please 

    men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. I 

    want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that 

    man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I 

    received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

    The source of Paul's gospel is not human! The source of his gospel is a revelation from Christ Himself. If he were seeking to please people, he would tell us what people like to hear: that we can make it on our own! We like to hear that we can do it! We get frustrated because we believe it's true, but then we don't make it! Paul's message is divinely given and therefore doesn't flatter human abilities.

Paul's commitment to Judaism   1:13-14

    For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I 

    persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in 

    Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for 

    the traditions of my fathers.

    Paul's former zeal in Judaism demonstrates his sincerity in seeking after God. He isn't just putting down Judaism because he wasn't able to measure up to their standard. He was more zealous for it than they are! He isn't speaking from ignorance.

    Paul advanced beyond others of the same age--his classmates in school--because of his zeal. He went farther than any of them in his zeal for the legalistic traditions of the Pharisees! He persecuted the church because they didn't accept that message. He knows all about legalism. He's been there! But he also knows from personal experience that it doesn't work!

    So what was it that opened his eyes? What produced such a radical change in his life? It took supernatural intervention to change his direction. God had to show him the error of the system he was pursuing.

Paul's conversion and preparation   1:15-17

    But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 

    to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not 

    consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before 

    I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

    After his conversion, Paul was not taught by other people. He went off by himself to spends some time alone in Arabia. He was taught by God--not by a theological seminary faculty. No human taught him the gospel. God revealed it to him, while He was alone with God.

    This wasn't a message that was decided on by popular vote. He didn't check it out with anyone. He didn't take a survey to find out what people at church think about his message. God taught it to him. Now he doesn't go back to the applause meter to see if it will fly with other people!

Paul's communion with the saints   1:18-24

    Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter 

    and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles--only James, 

    the Lord's brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 

    Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of 

    Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: "The man who formerly

    persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they 

    praised God because of me.

    When Paul returned to Jerusalem, three years later, he stayed just fifteen days in Jerusalem for fellowship with Peter. They didn't have time to teach him. They barely knew what happened to him! Then he began to visit the churches and to preach the gospel. God received the glory when people realized that God changed him and caused him to understand the truth.

Paul's confirmation by the apostles 2:1-10

It wasn't until fourteen years later that he returned to Jerusalem. Throughout this period he didn't spend enough time anywhere to receive instruction by men. By the time he came back his message was already firmly established. Yet when he returned to Jerusalem, his gospel and practices were approved by the council. They recognized his apostleship and his ministry to the Gentiles and identified with him in that ministry. He presents three evidences of their support for his ministry and his message.

    They accepted Paul's test case, Titus   2:1-5

    Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I 

    took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the 

    gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who 

    seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 

    Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though 

    he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our 

    ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We 

    did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might 

    remain with you.

    Paul wasn't vacillating or uncertain about his message. He wasn't afraid that he would be proven wrong. However, he wanted to be sure that he was in tune with the church, in following what God had spoken. He undoubtedly was concerned that those who were supposed to be the godly leaders of the church might agree with the Judaizers who were hounding Paul. If they joined the Judaizers, they could destroy everything Paul had been working to accomplish.

    They accepted Paul's message   2:6-7

    As for those who seemed to be important--whatever they were makes no 

    difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance--those men 

    added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been 

    entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as 

    Peter had been to the Jews.

    God clearly sent Paul to confer with them. When he presented the gospel message he was proclaiming to the leaders at Jerusalem, the church merely affirmed his message and his ministry. The church recognizes God's hand when they see it!

    They recognized Paul's divine calling   2:8-10

    For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, 

    was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter 

    and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand 

    of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that 

    we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that 

    we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

    When we study this passage, we frequently spend far too much time considering the details of Paul's story and his experiences. We look deeply into their problems and interpret each piece of Paul's story. While Paul's story does confirm the truth of the gospel he preached, we ought to pay more attention to our issues!

    The gospel isn't a human invention! We would never come up with such a scheme! We would force people to do something to qualify!

    In our times, we frequently deal with people from the modern Catholic perspective who seek to demonstrate that the Word isn't the final authority. From their perspective the church is the authority. It was the leadership of the church that wrote and established the Bible. That is precisely what Paul doesn't say! Paul demonstrates that this conclusion isn't true.

    Paul doesn't go to the church to find out whether his message is true. He didn't go to them to find out what the message ought to be. He emphasizes the point that his message didn't come from them. God affirmed it to him and he proclaimed it everywhere before he ever consulted with them about it. He was concerned that he might have to battle with them as he did with the Judaizers in order to convince them that this message wasn't his idea. God had revealed it to him.

    The gospel is from God. Faithful followers merely affirmed that God had spoken as Paul said! They recognized truth when they saw it! Since it isn't our scheme-we have no right to tamper with it!

How do WE try to please people?

    Do we try to soften the gospel for people, to make it more palatable and attractive? Is that what people mean when we talk about making church "seeker friendly?" Are we telling people what they want to hear, or what God has said?

    Do we try to make people look a bit better? Maybe we really can do it ourselves, if we try harder! Are we trying to often the message--at least admit the possibility that we might try to do a little bit?

    We can't get away with it! The gospel either depends on God, or it depends on us! You can't have it both ways! Which would you rather trust? Would you prefer to trust yourself--your ability to be successful at doing what's right--100% of the time!? Or, would you rather trust the promise of a faithful God--that He has provided everything we need to satisfy Him by the death of Christ on the cross? That's the good news! God has already done what we could never do! Will you trust His Son, and receive the gift God wants to give you today?