GALATIANS---LIBERTY OR LEGALISM
INTRODUCTION
1. The country called Galatia
A. Politically - it was the Roman province which included Lyconia, Isauria and parts of Phrygia and Pisidia. It occupies part of modern-day Turkey.
B. Geographically - the center of the Celtic tribes. It was inhabited by a mixed race, with Gauls predominating. These Gauls left their own country (modern France) about 278-277 B.C., and after a successful military campaign, settled there, and gave their name to the land.
2. The people called Galatians
A. They were quick-tempered, impulsive, inhospitable, and fickle people. (5:20, 21)
B. They were quick to receive impressions and equally quick to give them up. (1:6, 3:1)
C. They received Paul with joy and enthusiasm, and were then suddenly turned away from him. (4:13-16)
3. The churches of Galatia
A. Probably were founded by the Apostle Paul
1) He preached there on his first missionary journey. (Acts 13:51; 14:8, 20)
2) He preached there on his second missionary journey. (Acts 16:5, 6)
3) He preached there on his third missionary journey. (Acts 18:23)
B. The purpose of Paul’s journeys was for the confirming of the churches, and with the design of visiting their brethren in every city where they had preached the Word. (Acts 15:36)
C. In view of the above it seems quite evident that Paul preached to the Galatians first and founded the churches there.
4. The epistle to the Galatians
A. Called the “Magna Charta” of Christian liberty
1) It is the Christian’s “Declaration of Independence”.
2) Its message is freedom from the law - set free by grace.
B. Called “the hammer of the Reformation”. Luther considered it in a peculiar sense his epistle. (3:11)
C. It is an arsenal of truths in opposition to salvation by works.
KEY VERSES: 2:20; 3:11
KEY WORDS: law (32), Spirit (15), justification (9), grace (7)
KEY THEME: Christ is the Deliverer from the Law.
DATE: Probably written from Corinth or Philippi around A.D. 56 or 57
CHARACTER AND CONTENTS
1. It is especially distinct from Paul’s other epistles for its unity of purpose. It deals only with the question of law and grace.
2. The Galatian heresy in its double aspect is never lost sight of.
A. They denied the authority of the Apostle Paul.
B. They repudiated the doctrine of grace.
3. The entire epistle is one of sustained severity. Paul never once commends them. Their apostasy brings about his rebuke. Even a kind introduction, present in all his other letters, is missing.
OCCASION OF THE EPISTLE
1. Judaizing teachers had gone among the Galatians, claiming that the Jewish law was binding upon Christians.
A. These Judaizers admitted that Jesus was the Messiah, but claimed, nevertheless, that salvation must be obtained by the works of the law.
B. They were urging Gentile believers to be circumcised. (2:3-5)
2. In order to turn the Galatians from their belief, the Judaizers sought to weaken their confidence in Paul.
A. They said he was not one of the twelve, and therefore not one of the apostles, and his teaching was not of binding authority. (1:1; 1:10-2:14)
B. They suggested that he had learned his doctrine from others, especially those they considered to be the pillars of the church. (1:12-24)
PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE
1. “The design of the whole epistle...is to state and defend the true doctrine of justification, and to show that it did not depend on the observance of the laws of Moses.” ---Barnes
2. The observance of the ceremonial law is not necessary to salvation.
3. We are no longer bound by the chains of the law, but set free by Christ to live under the influence and direction of the Holy Spirit.
4. Anything less than the purity of God’s grace is a perversion of Gospel truth (1:6-9), and is to be shunned by the believer.
OUTLINE OF THE BOOK
I. INTRODUCTION (1:1-10)
A. Salutation (vs. 1-3)
B. Commendation of the true Gospel (vs. 4, 5)
C. Condemnation of the false Gospel (vs. 6-10)
II. PERSONAL EXPLANATION (1:11-2:21)
A. Revelation from Christ (1:11-24)
1. From Christ to Paul (vs. 11, 12)
2. From Christ in Paul (vs. 13-17)
3. From Christ through Paul (vs. 18-24)
B. Confirmation by the council (2:1-10)
1. Message explained to the council (vs. 1, 2)
2. Freedom preserved at the council (vs. 3-6)
3. Missions endorsed by the council (vs. 7-10)
C. Contradiction of freedom (2:11-21)
1. The error of Peter (vs. 11-14)
2. The freedom of Christ (vs. 15-21)
III. DOCTRINAL EXPOSITION (3:1-4:31)
A. Continuance in grace enjoined (3:1-5)
B. Inheritance of faith explained (3:6-9)
C. Deliverance from wrath procured (3:10-14)
D. Integrity of God displayed (3:15-22)
1. The promise of Christ (vs. 15-18)
2. The purpose of the law (vs. 19-22)
E. Maturity in Christ acquired (3:23-29)
1. Preparation for Him (vs. 23, 24)
2. Culmination in Him (vs. 25-27)
3. Unification in Him (vs. 28, 29)
F. Prosperity of the soul described (4:1-7)
G. Apostasy from the faith deplored (4:8-20)
1. Subjection to the form (vs. 8-11)
2. Desertion of the truth (vs. 12-16)
3. Acceptance of the false (vs. 17-20)
H. Typology of grace unveiled (4:21-31)
IV. PRACTICAL APPLICATION (5:1-6:17)
A. Preservation of freedom in Christ (5:1-12)
1. Faith in Christ precludes trust in works. (vs. 1-6)
2. Warnings against Judaizers (vs. 7-12)
B. Love - the fulfillment of the law (5:13-15)
C. The two natures (5:16-26)
1. Struggle of the two natures (vs. 16-18)
2. Works of the flesh (vs. 19-21)
3. Fruit of the Spirit (vs. 22-26)
D. Our relationship to the brethren (6:1-5)
E. The believer and his stewardship (6:6-10)
F. The greatest object of glory (the cross, not the law) (6:11-17)
V. BENEDICTION (6:18)