AUGUST 1, 2025 – IN ORDER TO DELIVER US

READ: Gal. 1:1-5: … who gave Himself for our sins…

The Galatians lived in the middle of Turkey. As pagans, they had come to faith through Paul’s preaching, probably during his second missionary journey. They embraced the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ as a matter of grace. Through faith in Him, they were allowed to be snatched from the realm of destruction, reconciled by the blood of Christ, with a view to eternal glory.

They were bound by their sins but have been liberated by free grace! Their faith in Christ as their Redeemer was purely the work of Christ Himself through His Word and Spirit.

But then Jewish false teachers, Judaisers, entered the congregation with serious consequences.  They taught that for members of Gentile background, it was their duty to conform to Jewish customs and ceremonial laws, including circumcision, the observance of certain feasts, and dietary laws. Only then would they partake in salvation through Christ.

This puts the gospel of free grace through faith in Christ alone at risk! Isn’t Christ’s atoning work the fulfillment of all ceremonial commandments? Now it becomes a matter of personal works and self-salvation instead of free grace through faith alone.

As a result, they would even lose the true Gospel—and with it, their salvation! They have tasted the gospel of grace—will they now fall away (Heb. 6:4-6)?

In addition to pushing their destructive doctrine, the Judaisers also question the authenticity of Paul’s apostleship because his preaching does not align with their teaching.

The tense situation in the church is apparent even at the beginning of the letter. Paul first points to his high calling and authority: he was not chosen by people, but personally by the living Jesus Christ.

He greets the churches with grace and peace from God and Christ and points them to the great miracle of Christ’s deliverance from Satan and the corrupt world under his power. To Him be the glory! 

Do you also experience that you have been snatched away from the world by Christ?

Sing: Ps. 52:1,2