Galatians 1

Embracing the Gospel of Grace: A Dive into Galatians 1

We’ve just begun our study of Galatians 1, and it feels like we're diving deep right from the start. Paul’s letter is filled with passionate reminders about the true gospel of grace. It's not just about the law, moral behavior, or ritual—it’s about the transformative power of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Today, let’s take a closer look at Paul's message, the background of the letter, and what this means for us today.

The True Gospel: Not Just a Set of Rules

In Galatians 1, we see that Paul is defending the gospel he preached. He’s writing to the churches in Galatia, who are being led astray by false teachers promoting a gospel rooted in Old Testament law and traditions, particularly circumcision. These false teachers are even questioning Paul's authority and legitimacy as an apostle.

But Paul isn't defensive in a personal way; rather, he's defending the true gospel. He emphasizes that the gospel he preached isn’t just a message he invented—it’s a divine revelation from God. In verses 3-4, Paul lays it out clearly: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father." (Galatians 1:3-4)

Here’s the truth we need to remember: the gospel is a gospel of grace. It’s not about following 600+ rules from the Old Testament. It’s about faith in the work Jesus did on the cross. This foundational truth is what we must cling to when the pressures of tradition and legalism try to undermine our confidence in God's grace.

Understanding the Fulfillment of the Old Testament

One of the biggest challenges for the Galatians—and for us today—is understanding the relationship between the Old and New Testament. Some of the Galatians were confused, thinking Paul was introducing a “new gospel” that didn’t align with the Old Testament teachings. But Paul wasn’t abolishing the Old Testament; he was revealing how Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of it.

In fact, Paul reminds the Galatians that Jesus is the promised seed from Genesis who would crush the serpent’s head (see Genesis 3:15). Jesus didn't come to wipe away the Old Testament; He came to complete it. The Old Testament laws, ceremonies, and prophecies all pointed to Christ. What we see in Jesus is not a contradiction to the Law but its fulfillment.

The Core of the Gospel: Grace Alone

At the heart of Paul’s message to the Galatians, and to us today, is the question: How are we saved? If your answer is anything other than “By grace, through faith in Jesus Christ,” then it’s time to revisit the gospel. Whether it’s about being a “good person,” following moral codes, or relying on your upbringing, Paul wants us to see that salvation comes only through Christ's grace.

As Paul writes in verse 10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” The pressure to conform to traditions or human expectations can lead us astray, but we must be rooted in the truth of God’s grace, not in the shifting sands of human approval.

What Does This Mean for Us?

This isn’t just about ancient debates—it’s about our lives today. We often face the same temptation to add rules or traditions to our faith. But the gospel is simple: Jesus died, rose again, and promised to return. He rescued us from the “present evil age,” and through faith in Him, we are free from the need to perform, to be perfect, or to earn our salvation.

The gospel calls us to rest in the grace of God. We are saved because of what Jesus did, not because of what we can do. As we continue through Galatians, let’s remember that no matter what voices may arise in the church or in the world, we must hold fast to the true gospel—the gospel of grace, freely given, and completely sufficient for our salvation.

Grace alone. Faith alone. Christ alone. This is the foundation we build on. Let’s stand firm in this truth, just as Paul urged the Galatians to do.