Galatians 1 verses 1 to 10 Pleasing people

 Galatians

Galatians was Martin Luther's charter of liberty during the Reformation.   His writings in turn brought the truth of the salvation by faith to John Wesley's heart in that little meeting on Aldersgate Street in London on 24 May 1738 and Wesley was used by God to spearhead revival in the British Isles leading to the founding of the Methodist Church.

John Wesley’s heart-warming experience at a religious meeting on Aldersgate Street, London, is arguably the most famous event in his life. After thirteen years of focused effort to attain a pure heart before God, Wesley learned in early 1738 that what he lacked was an assurance of salvation.  Then on May 24th, he found what he longed for:

“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s ‘Preface to the Epistle to the Romans’.  About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Immediately afterward, Wesley confidently shared his newfound faith with the group, and later that evening he visited his brother Charles and triumphantly exclaimed ‘I believe.’

KEY VERSE OF GALATIANS - CHAPTER 5 VERSE 1:

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

THEME OF GALATIANS: Christian liberty in the grace of God

Galatians chapter 1 verses 1 to 11

Paul an apostle (not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead). And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia.  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ.  Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father.  To whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen.  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.  Which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ.

Notice the words I have highlighted - this is how I bible journal, I find the words that are repeated:

grace

gospel

God the Father

preached 

let him be accursed

please/pleased

And there is one word which I noticed which I want to find the meaning for - "pervert".

The "who" wrote this letter is easy to answer = Paul

To "whom" was it written = to the churches of Galatia.  This made me ask the question - which churches?

Several hundreds of years before Christ's birth people migrated from Gaul (modern day France) into Asia Minor and founded Galatia.  The Romans reorganised the ancient world and included other areas and called the province Galatia.  Paul founded the Christian churches in Galatia on his first missionary journey:

They included Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.

"What" is the reason for Paul writing to these churches = the Gospel message was being attacked and Paul was out to defend the truth.  Some false teachers had invaded the churches of Galatia and were teaching a different message from that Paul had taught.   

Notice how Paul starts this letter - not with his usual greeting.  No he dives straight in and explains his authority (chapter 1 verses 1 to 5).  He describes himself as "an apostle".  Although he was not one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus, Paul had seen the risen Lord Jesus and had been commissioned by God - Acts 9 tells us his testimony.  So he explains his ministry but also his message - his purpose for writing in verses 3 and 4.  For Paul the Gospel is centred on a person - Jesus Christ the Son of God.  That person paid a price - he died on the cross for our sins and he delivered us (both the people in Galatia and us) from the bondage of sin.  Paul also sets out his motive.  False teachers were ministering for their own glory - they were stealing people away from the Gospel.  Paul wanted instead to glorify Jesus Christ.

In verses 6 and 7 Paul expresses his anxiety.  "I am amazed that you are so quickly moving away."  They hadn't actually fully turned from Christ but were on the way to.  Paul uses the words "grace of Christ" - what is grace? God's favour to undeserving sinners.  Salvation is God's gift through his grace.  These people were "perverting" the Gospel.  They claimed to be preaching the Gospel but it was a Gospel based on works and not grace.  They believed in Jesus but they wanted to add to it.

This brought me back to the word "pervert" and its meaning.  The word is used 3 times in the New Testament: Acts 2 verse 20, James 4 verse 9 as well as here in Galatians 1 verse 7.  Its meaning?  To turn about, to change into the opposite direction, to reverse.

Paul refers to "some that trouble you".  Again this word trouble is used elsewhere in the New Testament.  Remember when the wise men from the east came to Herod and asked where Jesus was - Herod was troubled that day.  It is also used when the disciples were in the boat and a storm rose up in Matthew 14 verse 26.

This word "grace" is used quite often in the New Testament but what are we taught about grace?

Romans 5 verses 1 and 2 = grace is the foundation of the Christian life

2 Timothy 2 verses 1 to 4 = grace gives us strength to be victorious soldiers

2 Corinthians 12 verses 1 to 10 = grace enables us to suffer without complaining

When a Christian turns from living by God's grace he must depend on his own power and that leads to failure and disappointment.  Later in Galatians Paul refers to some who have "fallen from grace" (chapter 5 verse 4).  This means they are moving out of the sphere of grace into the sphere of the law.  They are ceasing to depend on God's resources and are depending on their own resources.

In verses 8 to 10 Paul exposes his adversaries.  They are identified by the false gospel they preached.  How do we know when it is a false gospel?

Matthew 24 verse 11 = the test is not by popularity of an individual

Matthew 24 verses 23 and 24 = or miraculous signs and wonders

but rather by faithfulness to God's word - Isaiah 8 verse 20

Paul uses the phrase "accursed" meaning they are dedicated to destruction.

Notice also the false motives they had.  The accusation the false teachers had against Paul was that he was always fitting in the Gospel to suit his circumstances.  When he was with Jews he lived like the Jews but then changed to live like the Gentiles when he was with them.  He was in effect a man pleaser they said.  As a result they believed he could not be trusted.

Paul in these opening verses tries to show that this was false:

verse 1 - his ministry did not come from any man but God

verse 12 - his message did not come from any man but God

Paul shows that he did not seek to please any man but God alone.

My application from these verses

So often I am guilty of trying to please people depending on the circumstances and situation I am in.  I have to remember that I am saved by grace alone.  The works that I do must be as a result of the salvation I have received.  Being popular is not a requirement for people to respect the gospel, they must see Christ first and foremost.  My commission to tell others about Jesus comes directly from God and not from any individual person or denomination.  I must watch my motives, that they are pure and from God not my own.