Which Gospel?

Galatians 1

First, a bit of context is required.

Galatia is not a single church. This map of 1st-century Asia Minor shows it is now a regional part of modern-day Turkey.

Paul was a firebrand preacher on his first missionary journey with Barnabas. In Acts 14, he and Barnabus move from Antioch (Acts 13) to Iconium. I suggest you read Acts 13 and 14 in your Bible to gain some context for Galatians. Paul and Barnabas encountered strong resistance from the Jews and were beaten badly to near death. They appointed Elders at each congregation and kept moving, and at the end of Chapter 14, they travelled back to Antioch.

I will write an essay on each chapter of Galatians, and together, we will uncover the richness of the timeless spiritual wisdom it contains. So buckle up and get out your Bible, as this will not be a joyride but an arresting moment if you allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in you.

Which Gospel?

Galatians was probably Paul’s first Epistle, written possibly as early as 47 AD during his first missionary journey around Asia Minor. In Acts 18, we find Paul revisiting them on his third missionary journey. Paul’s beatings would have been fresh in his mind as he penned this letter, hence his sharp tone. Right up front, Paul nails them with their apparent desertion from the Gospel Paul preached.

Galatians 1:6-10 LSB  I marvel that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel,  (7)  which is really not another, only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to the gospel we have proclaimed to you, let him be accursed!  (9)  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is proclaiming to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be accursed!  (10)  For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of Christ.

There is no other Gospel than the Gospel Paul has preached—only the distortions of men who are agents of Satan who seek to distort truth. Paul’s Gospel is outlined in Romans 1:

Romans 1:1-6 LSB  Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God,  (2)  which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures,  (3)  concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,  (4)  who was designated as the Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,  (5)  through whom we received grace and apostleship for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of His name,  (6)  among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

Paul’s Gospel (Paul considered himself a slave to Christ) was the same Gospel spoken by the Prophets when speaking of Christ, that He would be crucified, buried, resurrected and glorified as the firstborn of all the dead, through whom we receive the forgiveness of sins by grace through faith, and through whom we are called to the same slavery to Christ.

Satan’s Deception

Satan’s deception is a profound truth and fundamental to our identity in Christ as slaves to Christ.

We find in Revelation 12 the reality of the rage of Satan after the resurrection of Christ:

Revelation 12:17 LSB  So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the witness of Jesus.

As born-again believers living an exchanged life, we know the workings of Satan and are well aware of his schemes. Those not so aware, though, are much more susceptible to deception.

I have lived two lives as a Christian. The first for almost 30 years, as a fleshly, lukewarm believer, fully committed to Christ but not fully exchanging my life for His, as any slave must do. About 7 years ago, all that changed as I became immersed (the Greek word baptizo) in the Spirit of Christ. From that moment to today and for the rest of my life, my immersion renders me teachable by Christ as His indwelling Spirit moves and shapes me as the Master Potter moulds me into the person He needs for the task ahead. The deceptions of Satan can no longer sway me. I see them clearly and stay the course of the indwelt.

The Gospel of Yahweh

Galatians 1:11-12 LSB  For I make known to you, brothers, that the gospel which I am proclaiming as good news is not according to man.  (12)  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul is at pains to proclaim the legitimacy of his Gospel as coming directly from the author. Paul had no mediator of his revelation but from the mouth of Christ Himself.

This single truth is available to each of us. We do not need the interpretations of men as Christ alone; the indwelling spirit within each of us is our sole teacher.

Matthew 23:8 LSB  “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers.

In our lukewarm church culture, we have become lazy learners, waiting for our pastor’s great sermon or proclamation from an Internet sensation. We do not study; at best, we read a little of the Bible, soundbites mainly from our daily devotional, as we devote 15 minutes daily to Christ; at worst, we do not read at all. How can we know Yahweh’s message to us if we do not engage the whole message, book, or chapter? Soundbites are a fatal flaw of lukewarmness and the primary symptom of the consumer culture we seem to embrace.

Paul Foreknown by Yahweh

Galatians 1:15-18 LSB  But when God, who had set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased  (16)  to reveal His Son in me so that I might proclaim Him as good news among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,  (17)  nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.  (18)  Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas, and stayed with him fifteen days.

Paul discloses the Divine will for his life. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees, trained under Gamaliel, one of the premier teachers of the Law. His zeal for Judaism was unparalleled. He persecuted and jailed followers of The Way, including supervising the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7.

Yet Christ had a plan for him: He would become the Apostle to the Gentiles, replacing his zeal for Judaism with passion for Christ.

Conclusion

Thank Yahweh for transforming Paul into an Ambassador for Christ, an example of the commitment that we should emulate.

The good news of Yeshua, the Christ, is common to all mankind.

Know the facts, as all the Apostles explain, the true witnesses of the events.

Know the accounts of the four Gospels of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

Know the Acts of the Apostles and particularly the chronology of the events.

Know the suffering encountered by the Apostles as they courageously proclaimed the Gospel of Christ.

Walk a mile in their shoes…..

Be a fly on the wall in the descriptions of encounters.

But above all…..

Be Christ to your fellow human.

Next, onto Chapter 2.

Blessing from Noosa, Queensland.

Geoff

PS: Please join my new The Discipler WhatsApp community if Yahweh is calling you to work or if you want to help others get to work.