June 30, 2014 (Monday)
Paul went back to Antioch, happy with the fact that many people in Galatia had accepted Christ as Savior, but received news that the Judaizers had followed him and had convinced many believers that they must first become Jews before they could accept the Messiah. Paul writes to them and his being upset at this turn of events is very evident in the very first part of his letter to them: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–which is really no gospel at all..” (Galatians 1:6-7 NIV). He goes on to write an organized presentation of justification by faith. One might say that Galatians is a mini version of Romans. Romans was a theological treatise; Galatians was an emotional outcry: “..you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. Where, then, is your blessing of me now?” (4:14-15). How does Paul feel about this perversion of the gospel? Well, listen: “..if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (1:8), and “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (2:21).
Galatians – A devotional thought
Any attempt to create requirements for salvation other than receiving Christ as Savior by faith is not of God. When Paul reached Philippi at a later date, he heard a man ask, “What must I do to be saved?” and his reply was direct and easily understood: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!” (Acts 16:31). Salvation is all of grace, based upon God’s love in Christ. We can freely share the gospel with others, knowing that it is what they need.
