In this series we offer brief introductions to the books of the Bible, including background, authorship, content, and application to the lives of today’s Christians.
Freedom, and the Destructive Power of Addition
At times what ought to be obvious to us is finally identified only through comparison. So it is with the Holy Spirit’s urgent message to the churches of Galatia, delivered through this Epistle by His servant Paul. Comparing Paul’s Letters to the churches in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colossae, and Thessalonica, his letters followed a familiar pattern: 1) From, 2) To, 3) Words of thanks, praise, and encouragement, 4) The message God the Holy Spirit would convey.
Not so here. Writing to the Galatian churches in Derbe, Lystra, and Iconium, Paul identifies himself as the author, the churches in Galatia as the recipients, but omits any words of thanks, praise, and encouragement. In fact, he does quite the opposite. Rather than words of thanks and praise, Paul launches immediately into what is arguably one of the strongest reprimands found anywhere in his writings: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-8 ESV) Not even in his letters to the troubled congregation in Corinth did Paul deliver such sobering words of rebuke and disapproval. Understanding why Paul did so is key to understanding the entire epistle.
“False brothers” (called Judaizers) had insinuated themselves into the Galatian churches. In loving concern for the souls of the tender new Christians there, Paul used the strongest of terms to identify the subtle but deadly danger. The attack was subtle in that it did not overtly deny Christ but suggested a “simple addition”—the Law, especially circumcision. The Judaizers’ argument was, “Faith in Jesus is fine, but you also have to observe the Law of Moses.” Understand how seductive this argument must have been for Jewish converts, who had been raised under the constraints of the Mosaic Law. Recognizing the threat for what it was, Paul addressed it so forcefully because what was being promoted as a relatively minor addition destroyed the Gospel entirely.
The theme of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians is summarized in one word: Freedom. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 ESV) To add anything at all that man must do to what Christ has done for us is to abandon the freedom we have in Christ and to again place ourselves under the slavery of the Law. If it is even in part by works, then salvation is not by grace alone. By His perfect life offered in innocent death, Christ freed us. He paid what we owed and thereby liberated us from the bondage and condemnation of the Law. Paul therefore asked of the Galatian Christians the obvious question: “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?” (Galatians 4:9 ESV)
Having first established that salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ, and not by works, Paul goes on to address what Christian freedom is not; that is, it is not a license to return to the slavery of sin. “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh . . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”(Galatians 5:13, 24-25)
Since Satan will certainly continue to tempt us with the subtle appeal of works righteousness, treasure the gift that is Paul’s Letter to the Galatians and the true freedom it proclaims.
Paul launches immediately into what is arguably one of the strongest reprimands found anywhere in his writings.
is pastor of Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Bismarck, North Dakota.