A Look At Galatians

One might ask themselves what the overreaching goal Paul has for his audience of the Galatians. Some people might point out that Paul has some strong words (and language) for these people. One might further say that the principle that Paul has for the Galatians is to not live by the Law in circumcision and that we are justified by faith. However, that only looks at what can be seen with the naked eye. I believe Paul has a greater Truth he wants to tell them.

Paul greets his audience this way:

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

Gal. 1:3–5

Notice the words "to deliver us from the present evil age." Remember this as I will come back to it.

In Gal. 1:11–17 Paul says explicitly that he was a persecutor of the church even zealously so, but that he was changed in just as much of an extreme way by Christ from which he received the Gospel of Christ and that this was the Gospel he originally gave to them. In Gal. 2:1–9 Paul gives a history lesson of his own story (Paul must be telling these people what transpired because they were unaware of these things). But then he says something rather interesting.

"Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do."

Gal. 2:10

This clues us in that Paul had a heart for those who are suffering. What's more, is it tells us that not only Paul, but also Peter, James, and John also had similar feelings. This is integral to the Gospel. I say this because it seems the Apostles all cared about the poor, those suffering, and that the Gospel would be preached to these people and not only or especially those well off during that time.

Then Paul unpacks justification by faith in Christ and not by works here:

"yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."

Gal. 2:16

And he adds:

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."

Gal. 3:13–14

What Paul is really saying here is that Gentiles are also heirs of Abraham and they are not saved through the Law, which is impossible, but rather they are saved through faith in Christ.

In Gal. 3:19–22 Paul says the Law "imprisoned everything under sin," meaning, it is impossible to keep the whole Law.

Then Paul says this:

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."

Gal. 4:4–7

Notice this in comparison to Gal. 2:10 where Paul was said his duty was to care for the poor. It was not so much that Paul's job was to liberate the people FROM their poverty, but more so that he would preach the Gospel to the poor in order that they might cry, "Abba! Father!" The way I understand this is that this cry to God is a cry of adornment to God. It is just as much an expression of thankfulness to God as much as it is of endearment. In this way, it is akin to a spiritual awakening to Christ and his sacrifice for us.

And then here Paul says,

"They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them."

Gal. 4:17

I take this to mean that there were religious leaders who wanted to make servants out of the Galatians and that they should serve under these religious leaders. Moreover, they wanted to act as though they WERE Abraham commanding them to be circumcised just as Abraham commanded his servants to be circumcised. In short, these people did not care about them. They offered a "cheap grace" that if they were circumcised they would have right standing with God.

Then the preceding verses leading up to this one verse where Paul commands them to be free,

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Gal. 5:1

From this, we see Paul's heart for these poor people who are likely impoverished and probably just want a better life for themselves. The catch is that they must subjugate themselves under the orders of the person or people who is telling them to be circumcised. And then here Paul, with righteous indignation, wanting what is best for these people says,

"I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!"

Gal. 5:12

Paul here might look to be unjust in his strong words, but he realizes these people are being fed a dinner of worms. The person enslaving these people and commanding them to be circumcised is in itself a heinous act that goes against the Gospel of Christ. Paul is saying, "I wish the people who are wanting to inflict this harm on you would feel themselves what it is they are doing to you." In this way, it is completely fair in what Paul is saying and his words are not too strong.

And then Paul gets to his real point. It is not through servitude to another person that the Galatians will better themselves, but even though it will likely make life more difficult for them in one sense, in another it's really the goal of the Christian ethic. We see this in part here where Paul says,

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another."

Gal. 5:13–15

This higher call to love one another - to care for those brothers and sisters in Christ - is Paul's aim to make things better for these people. Rather than preaching to subject themselves under a master by human hands, he tells them they are free through Christ. And though they may live difficult lives, through faith and their love for one another, they can better their own circumstances.

And then here Paul says,

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

Gal. 5:25–26

It seems the Galatians were dealing with a degree of division among themselves, for why else would Paul tell the Galatians not to fight, but to care for one another and to exemplify the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23?

So it is clear, to me at least, that this person who wanted to enslave and circumcise these people were creating a great deal of division for the Galatians. To which Paul's answer is to pay no mind to this person or people and to focus on caring for one another instead.

Then Paul gives the message as explicitly as it can be stated, the message he most wants to convey to the Galatians. We find this sums up all that Paul has been pointing towards and is the key to the Galatian's success.

"Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."

Gal. 6:6–10

This seems to be the most important group of verses in the book of Galatians. It encapsulates all that he had talked about previously: teaching they don't need to be circumcised and teaching them to love one another by the Spirit.

Finally, Paul shows what this is all about when he says,

"It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ."

Gal. 6:12

This person or people that wanted to put the Galatians in slavery seem to be giving the Galatians a dichotomous choice: be our slaves and get circumcised, or suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. This is what I think Paul means when he says, "to deliver us from the present evil age."

And with that, there is all the more reason for us to cry out to God, "Abba! Father!"

God Bless you! Until Next time!