Galatians 1 | Paul's Battle for the Soul of the Early Church

What is the importance of Paul's testimony in Galatians 1? 
What is the difference between law and grace? 

Welcome to our study of Galatians 1, where we dive deep into Paul’s powerful defense of the gospel against the false teachings infiltrating the early church. In this episode, we begin our journey through the Book of Galatians, a letter penned by Paul around 48 AD during his missionary journeys. Paul is addressing a crisis where a group known as the Judaizers were insisting that new Christians must first adhere to Jewish laws, including circumcision, before they could be truly saved. 

Paul, with his deep understanding of Jewish law and traditions, was uniquely qualified to confront these false teachings. As someone who once zealously persecuted the church, Paul knew the dangers of relying on the law for salvation. He emphasizes his transformation and calling by God, highlighting that his authority and gospel message came directly from a revelation of Jesus Christ, not from human teaching.

The challenges Paul faced in Galatia are still relevant today, as similar false teachings persist, particularly in movements that stress adherence to Old Testament laws as necessary for salvation. Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a clear, firm rejection of these ideas, emphasizing that faith in Christ alone is sufficient for salvation. The modern-day implications are significant, reminding us to be vigilant in guarding the purity of the gospel message.

As we continue our study in Galatians, we will see how Paul systematically dismantles the arguments of the Judaizers, pointing to the freedom that comes from faith in Christ. This freedom does not lead to lawlessness but to a life transformed by the Spirit, where good works naturally flow from a heart changed by grace. The Book of Galatians is a powerful call to resist any teaching that adds to the simple truth of the gospel, urging believers to rest in the completed work of Christ.

In summary, Galatians 1 sets the stage for a profound exploration of the doctrine of justification by faith. Paul’s defense of the gospel against the distortions of the Judaizers is as relevant today as it was in the first century. Join us as we continue to unpack these powerful truths in our upcoming episodes.

#Galatians #BibleStudy #NewTestament #FaithJourney #ChristianPodcast #GospelTruth #PaulTheApostle #JustificationByFaith #BiblicalTeaching #ScriptureStudy

Transcript

 Galatians 1

Galatians 1

[00:00:00] Hey everyone, welcome to God's Plan, Your Part, Year Two, where this year we're reading through and studying the entire New Testament, one chapter at a time. Thanks again for joining us in discovering God's Plan and your part in it. Today we are starting out a whole new book. We are moving into the Book of Galatians.

This is much shorter than the books that we've been reading in 1st and 2nd Corinthians. It was written around the same period of time. It looks like Galatians was written around 48 AD, uh, kind of in that period of time when Paul is moving around in his missionary journeys, but also trying to write to different churches and help them with whatever problems they're dealing with.

And this particular book is going to focus heavily, uh, on this group of people known as the Judaizers, uh, who were essentially trying to convince the church that they had to become Jews first. Before they could be authentic Christians. And the problem with that is it goes against this justification by faith [00:01:00] alone, um, that Jesus taught, but now that Paul is also teaching.

And so Paul is trying to essentially defend these early believers from false teachers coming into the church and trying to convince them specifically that they should be circumcised before they can become authentic believers, but also in the grander narrative that they have to follow the law and come under the law Uh, before they can be justified before God.

I think something important to remember is that Paul is probably one of the most qualified people to understand where these false teachers are coming from and the backgrounds that they have. Uh, if you remember Paul from Acts or even, um, some of the things that he said about himself and he'll talk about himself in this part of Galatians as well.

Well, beyond his years in his ability to be like these Judaizers, he was very well versed in the scriptures. He was on his [00:02:00] way to being like this great, um, Pharisee, this pharisaical, is that a word? Mm hmm. Pharisaical. Sure. Uh, leader. And so he would know a lot about some of these, like, tricks that are going on, but he would In order to undermine what Christ has done and who he was and the power that he has.

Um, so he, I would say, has a really good grasp on who these people are and is an excellent resource for the Galatians as they are being swayed. He actually dives into that point. I know you're alluding to it already, but just to give context. Um, if you look at verse 13, we're in chapter one, verse 13, for you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.

And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people. So extremely zealous was I. For the traditions of my father's, this is not put in here by mistake. [00:03:00] This is him starting to make a case for the fact that he is very well informed for the Jewish traditions. That's what you were just talking about, Jenny.

And he's very well equipped to confront, um, these folks who are trying to convince early Christians that they have to come under the law. And I will add, um, the book of Galatians is really powerful when it comes to some of the modern day, like Jewish tradition driven faith ideas that are out there today.

A couple of years ago, I would not have been as aware of them, but there are still many, many people that believe you cannot be an authentic Christian believer unless you're an authentic Jew first. And that is a false teaching that Paul was confronting in Galatians. That now we continue to need to confront today.

Um, you, I mean, I would advise against digging into these cause I think they are false teachers, but the Hebrew roots movement is a big piece of this. Uh, they would teach you need to be obedient to every point of the law before you can follow [00:04:00] Christ. Uh, and that. Is a false teaching that dishonors Christ because we believe that we are justified by faith alone and that are good works come out of the fact that we are faithful to Christ are good works are evidence of our faith in Christ, um, not securing our faith in Christ.

That makes sense. So you'll see a lot of that here, but I do want you to know up front that the book of Galatians is very strong for confronting some of that law driven stuff that exists even today. Well, I also noticed too, like, after he gives his initial greetings, he does say to them, I mean, after, before he creates his case about how he should be very, I don't know, high on the leaderboard of someone that can be telling them what to do, um, in verse six, he does say that he is astonished of how quickly they've deserted him who called them into grace, the grace of Christ, um, and that they're turning to a different gospel as if there is one.

So, he is I guess just kind of pointing it [00:05:00] out pretty quickly to these like, Hey guys, I can't believe that already you've been distracted and distorted by someone else. I think our study Bible says that um, there are actually like a lot of people that are like false teachers that are coming around just trying to like preach to the Galatians this idea that the Judaizers would have had about essentially like following the law.

To the T being like absolutely perfect in it before you can even consider, um, being, I guess, I don't know if we would say a Christian, but you have to like follow the law period and traditions. But it was interesting that like Paul is doing his work. They're active people who it seems like Paul has gone in, set down like, Hey, the Christ died for you.

This church can, can really grow, continue to grow in your faith, yada, yada. And then. Not too long [00:06:00] after these Judaizers are just kind of like bouncing around like Girl Scouts Trying to like knock on the doors of all these churches in order to sway them Otherwise, well, they're they're false teachers actively trying to destroy the work of Christ, which again Continues in our day today.

This is why we need to watch our doctrines so closely because what we believe Significantly matters because it informs the things that we do and I've been talking on the On the podcast for a while lately about the deterioration of what we know and understand about our faith. And you will see here in Galatians.

That Paul is a firm defender of right doctrine. Uh, I will add some helpful context to what's going to get set up in Galatians would be acts 15, um, acts 15 is the Jerusalem council. And one of the significant problems in the early church was this problem that's being dealt with in Galatians in that many people were confused on if you had to become a Jew first to become a Christian, or [00:07:00] if you could become a Christian and follow Christ just by faith in Christ.

So. All of these problems were popping up in all these different churches, and they convened all these, uh, apostles and, and leaders for the Jerusalem council to make a decision on it. And the Jerusalem council essentially decided like, no, you do not need to follow the law. Specifically, you do not need to be circumcised.

Um, you should just stay away from food sacrifice to idols and stay away from sexual immorality. and come to faith in Christ. So some of this stuff has already been cleared up, even by a first, you know, very early first century church council, uh, to bring clarity to these, clarity to these issues. And now these, these Judaizers are preaching the same false teaching.

In Galatians and Paul's going to confront it, um, in a pretty direct way. Actually, a lot of people point to Galatians as one of the more firm and more direct letters from Paul, uh, which will be interesting for us to dig into coming off of second Corinthians, which also seems very firm [00:08:00] and very direct. So it'll be interesting to dig into this book.

I would say kind of coming back to where I was earlier, something that is catching my attention is. just how quickly this can happen. And I think it also is a really good example of how discipleship is so important to new believers and how Paul is trying to do that. But also it is our responsibility, especially, I don't know, like, Leaders in churches and, uh, people who are mentoring other individuals in their faith, especially new believers, how quickly your faith can be distorted, uh, by, I would say just like evil.

Mm hmm. Like evil, you know. Spirits, evil forces that are trying to move and I guess just like snatch up the joy that people find when they are, uh, in that relationship with Christ. So I think something just to be really aware of is just how quickly this happens and how it still happens today and how discipleship [00:09:00] is really so important so that.

False teachers don't even have a place. I will add that as you're pointing out, how important discipleship is. I will add to that, that Galatians is going to highlight, um, how accessible God is and how, uh, how much God desires relationship with us in that he's trying to, uh, you know, I believe God is making himself as accessible as possible because we don't need to follow all these, uh, laws and ceremonies, uh, and, and sacrifices, all those kinds of things.

Um, because all we are required to do for justification with God is to come to faith in Christ. And so there's this incredible. Radical grace on full display in the book of Galatians. It is like you don't need to check boxes. You don't need to have certain ceremonies. You don't need to look a certain way, talk a certain way.

Um, you just need to come to faith in Christ. And once you come to faith in Christ, then your life should start to reflect the fact that you are following Christ. You commit to this [00:10:00] body of believers and, um, you. You kind of walk through this progressive sanctification to use a churchy word, um, year in, year out, day in and day out.

So there's some pretty cool theology that is opened up in Galatians. There's also just some really good practice and, and really good, sharp things we can, uh, learn about God and, and put into practice in our own lives. And I think a lot of that justification conversation will really unfold. Um, even tomorrow as we move into Galatians two, but overall, I would say this chapter really opens up for us and gives us a really good idea of Paul stating his understanding of why you're confused and is willing to just jump in and give them pointers again, or maybe just like reaffirm their faith that they had once started so joyfully with and have been led astray already.

I will add to this just for like. A little bit of Bible history. I like pointing this out in [00:11:00] Galatians one, that Paul here speaks a little bit to his own personal experience and what his conversion was like, and Galatians one is really helpful in confronting some false understandings about even Paul. Um, you can see in verse let's, if we start in, uh, Let's see.

Verse 15. Uh, but when he who had set me apart before I was born, who had called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his son to me in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me. But I went away into Arabia.

This is important and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years, went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas. That's Peter and remained with him 15 days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. Um, it's very common for people to think that like Paul, you know, Had this vision of Christ.

Paul saw Christ. Um, he, he's just on the Avengers team. Yeah. Like those scales fell out of his eyes. He went from [00:12:00] persecutor to Christian, like basically in an instant, that's not really an accurate understanding of what happened because here in Galatians one, Paul's talking about the fact that he went away to Arabia and Some people believe, uh, that he was actually taught by Christ in the desert for some significant period of time.

Uh, that is not strongly biblically supported. Um, but the, the one thing that is clear is that he was not persecuting the church one day and preaching the gospel immediately following the next day. There is some time in between and it shows the importance of preparation and understanding and sound doctrine, which Paul is out of, out of, out of Many people Paul is very passionate about sound doctrine and sometimes we don't do ourselves any favors When we allow people that are recent converts to go around Speaking and leading churches and Bible studies and all those kinds of things I was just gonna add to that we were having a conversation the other day about when God speaks to someone [00:13:00] Oftentimes, like, when we have experienced situations where people have told us that God has spoken to them, um, and it, and it's, like, believable, like, I don't feel like I'm, like, mm, I'm not really sure of you, is oftentimes when people have, like, Um, you know, they say, well, about three years ago or such and such a time ago, I felt like God really revealed this to me.

And it's obvious then in their life and like what actually happened or what is happening to them. Um, or like, they're not, they're not like ready to just fool out on display. Guess what God did to me just a minute ago. Um, I think. I don't know. There's like credit. It almost gives him more credibility that like maybe even the spirit is leading him like go and learn from me and like take the time to like humbly understand who I am and not just be like this flashy God spoke to me out in the whatever the road to [00:14:00] Damascus.

So I think it's interesting that hit that that much time passes because I think like you said a lot of people just assume that he went right into it and I think it's really important that. He didn't, and that after that specific. Time that he experienced. I don't know. I think he was doing it wisely Yeah, it appears that he had sound preparation on on your point It's very easy to use the God card as a form of like easy spiritual manipulation And it sometimes when I make this case, it's misinterpreted as like, well Ryan doesn't believe that God speaks to people I definitely do believe that God speaks to people.

I also believe that people pretend and manipulate and Actually haven't heard from God and they're just saying that they have and one of the key hallmarks is that people in my experience, um, that have heard from God and have experienced some kind of spiritual thing are usually sort of hesitant and, uh, [00:15:00] clearly discerning when they should disclose that and what they should say about it.

Um, even Paul himself, it was just a couple of days ago, we were reading in second Corinthians 12, Paul very reluctantly reveals some of his spiritual. It's spiritual experiences, for example, being taken into paradise in the third heaven or here spending time in the desert doing some type of preparation.

He doesn't seem to lead with that. He seems to just lead with his devotion to Christ, which I think is. Just wise, we'll put that all in the extra credit category for today. So what's a good, your part for today's chapter, opening us up in Galatian. Um, the, your part starting a new book is read the chapter for yourself.

Please do that. Um, read over it, try to study it for yourself. See if there's anything that you D disagree with us on. Um, and then also just. Set your expectation to really understand, uh, this justification by faith alone and like the, the power of God's grace, the power of Christ's sacrifice. [00:16:00] And anytime that we're, we're like, uh, tempted to think that it's like, well, yeah, you're saved by faith in Christ and also this, like anytime you're saying, and also this, that's not great.

And you might be setting up some false beliefs and some false teachings. So this is a great book, uh, to continue to encourage us and remind us of how powerful a faith in Christ is to justify us before God. Uh, so I invite you to read this chapter for yourself and stick around and go through Galatians with us.

It won't take very long. We'll be back again with Galatians chapter two. We'll see you then. Hey, before we get into the reading, we want to tell you quickly about Logos Bible software. It's very helpful to us as we prep for the podcast and we can offer it to you at a discounted rate. There's two links in our description.

One will get you the Logos, uh, fundamentals pack for 50 bucks, which is a great price. The other one will get you a percentage off any package that you want. We use it often. We think it will be useful to you. And if you use that link, you'll be helping out the podcast. So go check that out with that in mind.

Here's [00:17:00] today's reading. Galatians chapter one. Paul, an apostle, not from men, nor through man. But through Jesus Christ, and God the Father who raised him from the dead, and all the brothers who are with me. To the churches of Galatia, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever.

Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. Now that there is another one. But that there are some who trouble you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of [00:18:00] God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not a man's gospel.

For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people.

So extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who are apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia and returned again to Damascus.

Then after three years went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him for fifteen days. But I saw none [00:19:00] of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother. And what I am writing to you before God I do not lie. Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ.

They only were hearing it said, he who used to persecute us, is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. And they glorified God because of me. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of God's Plan, Your Part. Don't forget you can find us on just about every social media platform. And YouTube, let us know what you thought of today's episode.

And if you have any questions, go ahead and post them there. You can also reach out to us directly at God's plan. Your part at gmail. com as always, if you don't have a Bible, or if you'd like to use the one that we use a reach out to us via email, and we'll be happy to send one to you, thanks again for listening.

We'll see you again [00:20:00] tomorrow.