The Book Of Galatians – Chapter 1:2-10 - Message 2 Series

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS – CHAPTER 1:2-10 - MESSAGE 2

This message continues from Part 1

(A). PAUL’S COMPANIONS IN UNITY AND CONFIRMATION

{{Galatians 1:2 “and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia.”}}

This wonderful truth of brotherhood strengthens the purpose of the letter. Paul’s letter was sent to all the churches of Galatia, for the enemy had done his work and this insidious destruction had infected the churches of the whole region.

There are no individual greetings but in chapter 4:19-20 you see the heart of the caring shepherd revealed, but as well the heart of the watchman of souls. Paul is as a father who cares for his children – {{Galatians 4:19-20 “My children with whom I am again in labour until Christ is formed in you - but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.”}}

It was always Paul’s custom to find some word of praise to give to the ones to whom he is writing, eg, in 1 Corinthians 1 v 4-9, but in this letter to the churches in Galatia, there is not one word of praise or commendation. There is nothing for which he can give thanks. This tells us of the serious state of these churches and the effect that had on Paul. Have we ourselves added the law, added doctrines and practices, added good works and activity to the true gospel? Have we adulterated the true gospel with the addition of that which cuts the ground from under the gospel?

Paul’s term “brethren” is a correct Christian term. In fact it is wider than that for it goes back to Old Testament times. {{Acts 7:26 On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren. Why do you injure one another?’}} In a church fellowship there may be a school teacher, a surgeon, a bus driver and a ditch digger. Who is more important? Well I expect you know the correct answer to give. All are equal before the Lord because all are the Lord’s brothers. All are brethren. In the early days of the church when it was very common to have many slaves and masters and free persons, the slaves were equal in the fellowship gatherings that were held. In fact Paul addressed the master how to treat the slave and addressed the slave how to be a good servant. We are members one of another.

It is wrong for churches to have cliques and favouritism groups, often to the exclusion of the quieter person or one less educated or not of a higher prestige. That is wrong, very wrong, and those churches ought to go and read the book of James.

THE GREETING STATEMENT IN ALL PAUL’S LETTERS

{{Galatians 1:3 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”}}

Grace and Peace – the greeting statement in all Paul’s letters. These are two fundamental concepts. It is grace that establishes the union between God and man, and it is peace that nurtures the union after that. Grace reaches out to lost human beings and peace with God results. It is the peace of God that enriches all that union with God.

Why does Paul use those two words in all his letters? The answer lies in his own transformation. Paul who sentenced to death true Christians was himself apprehended by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who saved him. Paul had no peace in his life. He must have been fearful for no murderer can have peace. He came to appreciate, perhaps more than nearly everyone else, how great the grace and peace of God are.

Again it is the fullness of the Godhead in unity that works for our good. The Lord said that His peace He would leave with us. The blessed Lord cares for us all the time – in love and protection, in guidance, in comfort and in peace. Grace made all that possible.

Grace is VERY important in this letter because it opposes all that the false teachers were trying to do. They were trying to impose the LAW on the Galatian converts, a horrible thing to do. See {{Romans 3:20-28 “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin; being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; We maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.”}}

Paul offers grace and peace to them but they had been rejecting the true grace of God. What they once accepted they were throwing overboard because they had been ensnared by clever agents of the devil in turning away from the Lord. The legalisers were trying to turn them from the faith.