About This Book
Galatians passionately defends salvation by grace through faith alone against Judaizers who insisted Gentile believers must keep the Mosaic law. Paul marvels that Galatians are turning so quickly to a different gospel, though there is no other gospel. Anyone preaching another gospel, even an angel from heaven, should be accursed. Paul emphasizes he received his gospel not from humans but through revelation of Jesus Christ.
He recounts his former life persecuting the church, his dramatic conversion, and that he didn't immediately consult with the Jerusalem apostles, establishing his apostolic independence. Later, when he laid before the Jerusalem leaders the gospel he preached to Gentiles, they added nothing, recognizing the grace given to Paul. Peter, James, and John gave Paul the right hand of fellowship. Paul confronted Peter publicly in Antioch when Peter withdrew from eating with Gentiles under pressure from James's delegation, acting hypocritically.
If justification came through the law, Christ died needlessly. Paul's central argument is that justification comes through faith in Christ, not works of law. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness—before circumcision and before the law. Those of faith are Abraham's sons.
The law cannot give life or righteousness. Scripture foresaw that God would justify Gentiles by faith, preaching the gospel beforehand to Abraham. Christ redeemed believers from the law's curse by becoming a curse, that Abraham's blessing might come to Gentiles through Christ Jesus. The law served as guardian until Christ came, that believers might be justified by faith.
In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female—all are one in Christ Jesus. If belonging to Christ, then Abraham's offspring and heirs according to promise. Formerly enslaved to elementary principles, believers are now adopted as God's children, able to cry 'Abba, Father.' Why return to weak and worthless elementary principles, observing days, months, seasons, and years? Paul appeals to them based on their previous devotion when they would have given him their eyes.
Has he become their enemy by telling truth? Paul uses allegory—Sarah and Hagar represent two covenants, one bearing children for slavery, one for freedom. Cast out the slave woman and her son. Christ has set believers free—don't submit again to slavery's yoke.
If they accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage. In Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love. Walk by the Spirit and don't gratify flesh's desires. The flesh's works are obvious—sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, hatred, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, divisions, envy, drunkenness.
Those who do such things will not inherit God's kingdom. The Spirit's fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Bear one another's burdens, fulfilling Christ's law. Don't be deceived—God is not mocked; whatever one sows, that will he reap.
Paul concludes that what matters is not circumcision but a new creation.