Galatians: Freedom Through Grace

The Apostle Paul argues for the truth found in the Gospel as legalistic Judaizers were trying to distort God's message of salvation in Galatia. The true Gospel says that humans are incapable of being righteous before God, but through Jesus Christ they can have eternal life by asking for God's mercy to apply to them. The false teachers Paul was combating added obedience to the law as means to salvation and growing with God, a theological debate that has plagued Christianity. The difference between works and faith is wide-spread in areas including: 1) our approach to God; 2) our acceptability; 3) our spiritual state; 4) the real issue between us and God; and 5) the power to live.

Paul combats the Judaizers by defending the message of the Gospel of God. Paul uses his own personal testimony as direct revelation of God and evidence for the real life-transforming power of grace, which not only transformed his motivation but was also accepted by the apostles of Jesus Christ. The grace of God called Paul into a life of radical service for God and others, reflecting God's compassion and mercy towards a zealous sinner. Paul's understanding of God's grace resulted in radical thanksgiving.

Paul rebukes Peter for his hypocrisy and how his actions don't communicate the truth of the gospel to Jews and Gentiles. The grace of God motivates people to obey God based on total undeserved acceptance and contrasts legalism, where acceptance before God is based on our works or by obeying the law. Once we know Christ, the new identity we have through his death allows us to serve God out of grace, and not push us towards a lifestyle of active rebellion and sin towards God.

Paul addresses the Galatians, reminding them that spiritual growth comes from dependence on the Holy Spirit and not looking to the Law. The righteousness we receive from God is based on faith, not by works. As Christians, the key to spiritual growth is trusting in the complete adequacy of Christ, the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, and the justification we receive from his work on the cross. This teaching includes a testimony from Travis Henderson about moving away from legalism into thinking about living under grace.

Paul tells the Galatians that real freedom comes from living under God's grace instead of legalism. Under legalism, our identity is based off our works and leads to: superficial relating with others, fear of failure, and looking to others for our sense of approval. Under grace, we know: that we're going to fail but we still act, we look to demonstrate God to others, and our lives are transparent. Living under grace allows us to realize God's promises to us as His children and to depend on the Holy Spirit in our lives for change.

There are two paths to do God's will that Paul points out to the Galatians: 1) according to the flesh; or 2) according to the Spirit. As Christians live according the Spirit, we act in faith as we confidently expect God to deliver on what He promises. This type of active dependence allows us to see God's provision more and more in our lives. Living under legalism when trying to follow God will lead to enslavement, failure, and despair.

When it comes to growing with God, legalism versus grace are mutually exclusive. Real change happens when we wait and put our confident hope in God's desire to make us more Christlike over our lives, resisting the urge to work to please God. A growing conformity to be more like Jesus will result in exceeding amounts of faith expressing itself through sacrificial love. We will experience more freedom in Christ as we decide to actively depend on the Holy Spirit and live under God's grace.

As we seek to grow spiritually, we encounter two competing agendas: the spirit and the flesh. The desires of the flesh are often motivated to put self first and will cause damage within our relationship with God and others. In order to combat this, we must take our thoughts captive against the fleshly thoughts and attitudes and ask for God's help to walk in line with His Holy Spirit as we live based out of God's Word.

Character transformation is an ongoing process that happens as we depend on the Holy Spirit's power in our lives. Developing a radical dependence on God to change us, we are able to see Him grow our ability to show sacrificial love, take joy in other's growth, and stay at peace with people. Other areas of transformation include gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Within the first four chapters of Galatians, there are three opposing views that Paul addresses within the Galatian church. The first is whether you relate and stand before God based on the law versus God's grace alone. The second was whether to be empowered by the flesh or the Spirit. Lastly, the effect of grace, and whether believers wish to be under bondage to the law or experience the freedom of living under God's grace.

The Law of Christ can be seen through our ability to lovingly restore other Christians, as well as bear others burdens. We are called to bear burdens, while helping others learn how to bear their own loads and learn how to walk according to the Holy Spirit and grow spiritually. As we invest in deep love relationships, God is able to use us in others lives to draw closer to Him and see real transformation.

As we grow in our love towards others, there are three principles for developing a loving lifestyle: 1) understanding that what we feed grows, whether we sow to the flesh or to the spirit; 2) the reward of enduring and doing good without losing heart; and 3) seizing the opportunities God places in our lives to do good to others. Living out a lifestyle of sacrificial love is rewarding not just in this life, but even more so in the next.

The central message through Paul's letter to the Galatians has been the cross of Christ. As Christians, our boasting should come from the incredible work of Jesus Christ at the cross which gives us a new lens of viewing the present world. As a result of our new identity in Christ, we are able to live in this world with peace, as we understand God's grace and mercy towards us and await our real home in eternity with Him.