Book of Galatians

1. Book of Galatians – 18th March 2016
“…knowthat a personis not justifiedbythe works ofthe law,but by faithin JesusChrist”(Galatians
2:16).
In this letter to Galatians, it clearly identifies the Apostle Paul as the writer of the Epistle.
Depending on where exactly the Book of Galatians was sent and during which missionary
journey Paul started the churches in that area, the Book of Galatians was written somewhere
between 48 and 55 A.D. The churches in Galatia were formed partly of converted Jews and
partly of Gentile converts, as was generally the case. Paul asserts his apostolic character and
the doctrines he taught, that he might confirm the Galatian churches in the faith of Christ,
especially with respect to the important point of justification by faith alone. Thus the subject is
mainly the same as that which is discussed in the Epistle to the Romans, that is, justification by
faith alone. In this epistle, however, attention is particularly directed to the point that men are
justified by faith without the works of the Law of Moses.
Galatians was not written as an essay in contemporary history. It was a protest against
corruption of the gospel of Christ. The essential truth of justification by faith rather than by the
works of the law had been obscured by the Judaizers’ insistence that believers in Christ must
keep the law if they expected to be perfect before God. When Paul learned that this teaching
had begun to penetrate the Galatian churches and that it had alienated them from their
heritage of liberty, he wrote the impassioned remonstrance contained in this epistle.
There are some key verses in this book that we need to draw our attention. In Galatians 2 we
learn that as Christians our justification is through Jesus Christ and not by any other way or
whatever the world may try to portray. “…know that a person is not justified by the works of
the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may
be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law
no one will be justified.” (Galatians 2:16).
It also teaches us that we should live our life by faith in the Son of God who lives within us once
we accept Him as our Lord and saviour. We can read in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified
with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." We can also learn that those
who live righteously are people who are able to live by faith in Jesus Christ because our
justification before God is through Jesus Christ and NOT by the law. We can learn this in
Galatians 3:11, “Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the
righteous will live by faith.”
We can learn that as Christians we are able to receive ‘full rights’ as Gods children because we
are redeemed by Jesus Christ who calls God “Father”. We can learn this through Galatians 4:5-
6, “…to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to son-ship. 6 Because
you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,
and Father”.

2. We can also learn of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is an important learning for us as Christians in
our walk with God. Through our faith and belief in Jesus Christ as our saviour, we are able to
seek salvation and with it the presence of the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts. It is the Holy
Spirit of God working within us that avails us the fruits of the spirit, which are important
changes that are effected in the “NEW LIFE” we receive as Christians. We can learn of the fruits
of the spirit through Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such
things there is no law.” We must learn, change and adhere to these gifts of God that are meant
for us and also for others around us. But we must clearly know that we receive Gods provisions
in accordance to what we do in our lives because NO one can fool the omnipresent God whom
we believe in. We learn this in Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A
man reaps what he sows.”
Galatians was not written as an essay in contemporary history. It was a protest against
corruption of the gospel of Christ. The essential truth of justification by faith rather than by the
works of the law had been obscured by the Judaizers’ insistence that believers in Christ must
keep the law if they expected to be perfect before God. When Paul learned that this teaching
had begun to penetrate the Galatians churches and that it had alienated them from their
heritage of liberty, he wrote the impassioned remonstrance contained in this epistle.
The result of justification by grace through faith is spiritual freedom. Paul appealed to the
Galatians to stand fast in their freedom, and not get "entangled again with a yoke of bondage”
referring to the Mosaic law as we can learn from Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has
set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Christian freedom is not an excuse to gratify one's lower or of sinful nature; rather, it is an
opportunity to love one another as we can read in Galatians 5:13, “You, my brothers and
sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather,
serve one another humbly in love”. We must also learn that such freedom does not insulate
one from life's struggles. Indeed, it may intensify the battle between the Spirit and the flesh.

3. “…know that a person is not justified by the works of the law,
but by faith in Jesus Christ”(Galatians 2:16).