GALATIANS: PUTTING JESUS FIRST

Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Today, we begin a new sermon series which will take us through an exhaustive study of the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. We’ve entitled this series, “Jesus First”, which is basically the message of not only these books but the entire Scriptures. As we study these books, our prayer is that each of us will gain a deeper understanding and love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Background on Galatians 

1. Written by Paul around 50 A.D.
2. Written to the “churches of Galatia” which could be two distinct regions where Paul visited during his missionary journeys
3. Written to attack legalism and reinforce the sufficiency of the grace and Gospel of Jesus Christ

Tony Merida says, “As we study this book, we should begin to see more clearly what grace is, to be saturated with it, and to know when it is being taught accurately. When we hear a false gospel, we should be discerning enough to recognize it.”[1]

1. Paul’s Purpose

Galatians 1:1-10 (NKJV) Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

• To establish his authority on God
• To challenge the churches in Galatia for their weakness
• To declare the Gospel sufficient
• Verse 6 – “heteros – another”
• Verse 7 is a key indicator of Paul’s purpose in writing the letter
• Verses 8-9 – accursed (anathema – condemned)

1. God’s Promise

Vss 11-17 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

• Paul emphasizes the Gospel is not a creation of man’s imagination but rather a direct gift from God Himself (Romans 6:23)
• Paul indicates how he himself had tried to put down this idea of the Gospel but God had intervened
• The Gospel can overcome anything from our past
• God can use us regardless of our former sin

1. Paul’s Training

Vss 18-24 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.

• Paul took time to learn from others and recognize his calling
• But, Paul also made it clear his greatest teacher was God alone
• He learned of God’s grace in using him

Galatians 2:1-10 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6 But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospelfor the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

• Verses 1-2 are a reference to the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) which was convened in 48 A.D. to determine if the Gospel was enough, or must one follow the Mosaic Law to be saved
• Paul took Titus with him to prove, as a Greek, his salvation was authentic
• Paul emphasizes here that both he and Peter are preaching the same Gospel with the same outcome
• They all recognized the importance of teamwork

1. Paul’s Confrontation

Vss 11-21 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.  14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

• Paul confronts Peter because of his unwillingness to embrace the Gospel of grace
• Peter was attempting to make Gentiles live under the law even though Jesus had fulfilled the law

15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

• Verse 16 (NLT) “Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
• Verse 16 states, “knowing that a man…” This use of “man” is the Greek word, anthrōposwhich is a reference not to a specific man or to the male gender, but rather to all mankind.
• Paul begins to take Peter to school (in front of others) that salvation is not based on what we do but rather what Christ has done. Peter knew this truth but apparently he was influenced by “what others thought”
• Timothy George says in relationship to Galatians 2:20, “Being crucified with Christ implies a radical transformation within the believer. The “I” who has died to the law no longer lives; Christ, in the person of the Holy Spirit, dwells within, sanctifying our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit and enabling us to approach the throne of God in prayer.[2]

1. Vernon McGee says, “Every other religion says do. Christianity says done. The great transaction is done, and we are asked to believe it.”[3]

[1] David Platt and Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Galatians (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2014), 4.

[2] Timothy George, Galatians, vol. 30, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 201.

[3] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (Galatians), electronic ed., vol. 46 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 36.