Galatians
To make disciples in Galatia
was quite a challenge. As early as 300 years before the birth of Christ, the
country separated from the Black Sea by Bithinia and Cappodocia had been known
as Galatia. Its borders included Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and other cities in
that area. The Galatians were a simple but very fickle and changeable people,
easily rocked from their moorings and set adrift on the sea of whatever came
along next.
The fact that they were very
changeable is easily seen by what happened to Paul. At one point in his
ministry among them, they were ready to worship him as a god. “And when the
people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the
speech of Lycaonia: ‘The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.’ And
they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief
speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter whose temple was before their city, brought
oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the
people." (Acts 14:11‑13)
Shortly thereafter a few
false teachers were able to quickly change their minds. "And there came
there certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and
having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead."
(Acts 14:19)
One minute they were
inclined to worship him and the next minute they stoned him and left him for
dead. This changeable spirit shows up in their readiness to accept
"another gospel." Paul said: "I marvel that ye ere so soon
removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel,
which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert
the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6,7)
Of course when Paul got wind
of that, he spoke out strongly against it. "But though we, or an angel
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached
unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any
man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed." (Galatians 1:8,9)
So, to make disciples among
a people who were so easily tossed to and fro by the latest fad was a challenge
to Paul and the men who traveled with him.
At first, Paul's work in
Galatia had been very successful. Great multitudes, mostly Gentiles, had
enthusiastically accepted Christ. However, after Paul had left them, certain
Jewish teachers came along and told them that Gentiles could not be Christians
without keeping the law of Moses. The Galatians gave heed to their teachings
with the same wholeheartedness with which they had at first received Paul's
message.
Paul's answer to that false
teaching is classic: "I do not make void the grace of God; for if righteousness
come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)
And, the Jewish leaders went
on to tell them that they also had to submit to the various ceremonies of the
Jewish religion. When Paul heard of that, he wrote this letter to tell them how
utterly foolish they were to believe such heresy. Admittedly, these things had
been a necessary part of the Jewish national life and religion, but it was not
a part of the gospel and had nothing whatsoever to do with salvation.
These false teachers were
very clever and full of zeal. They made it their business to unsettle and
trouble the gentile believers. What they were trying to do was to stamp the
gospel of Christ with a Jewish trademark and make salvation a matter of works.
Paul stood against this with equal dedication and zeal.
Had the observance of the
law been imposed on gentile converts, the expansion of Christianity into a
world mission would have been sidetracked and ground to a halt.
So Paul cries out against
this. "Is the law, then, against the promises of God? God forbid; for if
there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness
should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin,
that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which
should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster to bring
us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith is come,
we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the sons of God by faith
in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put
on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye
be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise." (Galatians 3:21‑29)
Christ is all sufficient for
our perfect freedom in Him. We are set free from bondage and brought to a place
of spiritual maturity and liberty in Him. These false teachers declared that
Christ had kept the law and therefore we as His followers should do likewise.
He lived under and fulfilled the law. For that reason you and I are, through
Him and His saving work are set free. John said, "For the law was given by
Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:17).
Study Galatians to learn of
your freedom in Christ.
© Copyright
2002, LeRoy Eims