We started these 30 day studies back in January. Some books we were able to combine because they were small. Let's take a moment to review. Since we started, our group has studied the following book once a day for 30 days each;
James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude
1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Colossians
I started a bit before you and have also done ;
Philemon Titus Philippians Ephesians Galatians Hebrews 1-7
The point is, look at all you have done. Have you ever imagined that you could or would do such a thing? In all of this, I am sure you now understand God a bit better, what He would like for us and what He would like us to be about. You cannot help but know that He loves us and we love Him and are to love others. Your relationship with the Lord has to be very different than it was back in January and still you have so many exciting things ahead.
Again, I know it can seem tedious but you have come so far. Watch out for the adventure and excitement in the Word. According to my count, there are 27 books in the New Testament and you have read 12 of them 30 times each. Now you are in Galatians so that will be 13 books. You are closing in on being half way. This has been a huge, huge undertaking and you have done great.
Let's give each other a hand! Come on, no one is watching, clap those hands! Okay, good. (oh it is so easy to get you to so something silly! just kidding, it is okay to study the Bible and have some fun)
GALATIANS CHAPTER 1
As we have learned to expect from Paul, he begins this letter or Epistle to the Galatians with identifying himself and his position as well as his appointment to Apostle not by men but by God the Father and Jesus Christ. We can expect much from Galatians as it is highly regarded as one of his best writings. It has similarities to Romans and has been called a book that is like a short Romans.
It is similar to 2 Corinthians as they both teach justification (the removal of guilt and the penalty of sin declaring the sinner righteous) by faith (faith and belief that this is accomplished by the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ who paid the price thus atoning for our sin). Along with that both speak to the Christians liberty versus the Judaic legalism that imprisons.
The writing is accepted as being done by Paul while in Antioch about 48 A.D. and is addressed to the churches in Galatia, particularly in the southern region. This was a time when false teachers had infiltrated the churches there, denying Paul's God given authority and teaching that one had to be circumcised as a requirement for salvation.
Paul writes this letter in defense of his position and teaching of the truth. The false teachers taught that Paul's teaching of salvation was false thus robbing them of the truth. People were being led back to the Law and it's deeds and requirements. Paul was fighting to keep them rooted in the truth of salvation by grace apart from works.
Paul mentioned he was there, with those who were likeminded regarding the faith and the beliefs he was expressing to them. He was in Antioch perhaps along with Barnabas. Again, Paul begins with a blessing with which I will as well:
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave His life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever ! Amen.
Paul expresses his shock and anger regarding how soon after his last visit, they have turned back to the Law from the freedom in Christ they had just been taught. His anger was not only about them deserting the teaching of salvation by faith but that in doing so they also turned their back on Christ for it was Christ Himself who accomplished such salvation. In fact, Paul expresses that his teachings are not of himself but of Christ. In perverting the Good News they were actually perverting the gospel of Jesus Christ.
He told them they were being fooled by those who twist the truth - deliberately. He also adds that if anyone, himself and angels included, twist the truth of the Good News, then they should be cursed. For the sake of those who are lost and those who are being persuaded to turn back to the Law, the truth must be taught. If it is taught incorrectly it would cause great and damaging confusion. Those people's souls and promise of eternity by God's grace would be lost. Paul states that unlike those who twist the truth to please men and bring themselves great popularity, it is not his motivation. If it were that way for him, he would not be a servant of Christ.
Paul continues to explain where his teaching comes from, that being from direct revelation from Jesus Christ. Compare this to those false teachers whose teaching come from their own imaginations and thinking. He supports his current position by reminding them of his zealous following of the Law expressed by his persecution of the church and attempts to destroy it. He worshipped the traditions of the past above all things. He clarifies that he was chosen by God for this current work before he was born. While he was a zealous sinner, He was shown grace from God who revealed His Son to him. His life, zeal for the Law and traditions, led to him being brought to faith in Christ so that he could speak to the Gentiles of the Good News of Christ.
Paul then talks of his study of the Law and of the traditions of his forefathers. He speaks of his zeal and driving desire to be better than anyone else at enforcing those teachings. In that, he was taught by those who came before him and by the current teachers of such things. However, regarding the teaching of the truth, God set him apart to do this work, and used his entire life to prepare him for what he was doing. Paul was called by God's grace when he came to be saved and in that God revealed Christ to him. He explains that the purpose of all these things was so that he would teach among the Gentiles bringing them the truth, the Good News and the hope of salvation.
Paul concludes with his activities and travels and that God used his old ways and conversion to touch those he ministered to in such a way that they praised God for him and the work He had done in Paul.