Paul loved the Galatians. Galatians 1.1-5
Galatians 1 (1)
Opening Prayer: Psalm 46.1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
Sing Psalm 46.1-3
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
God is our refuge and our strength; He is our help in times of need.
Thus though the earth beneath us should change, the sea consume the mountain range.
Waters may roar with raging speed; yet God will rescue us at length.
Read and meditate on Galatians 1.1-5.
Preparation
1. How did Paul introduce himself?
2. Why did Jesus die for our sins?
Meditation
The Galatians were a group of believers meeting in several churches—probably all in homes—in the region of northern Asia Minor. Paul had opened the way for Christian faith there during his third missionary journey (Acts 16.6), and the Lord gave a good beginning to the work.
But it was not long before false teachers arrived and began leading the Galatians astray. Their “turning away” from the Gospel Paul preached was the occasion for this letter. Paul always had high expectations and goals for his writing. He didn’t simply scold or threaten; rather, he wanted the believers to know more of the grace and peace of the Lord (v. 3) and to keep their focus not on persuasive men but on the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. Jesus has delivered us from our sins and this present evil age (v. 4). Now, though we live in an age of wrong-belief and lies, Jesus has removed us from it. He has delivered us into the age to come, the new world of the Kingdom, which is coming on earth as it is in heaven as a foreshadowing and foretaste of the new heavens and new earth.
We who, like the Galatians, have believed in Jesus are called to this Kingdom and to the glory of God (1 Thess. 2.12); and we are thus to live as people whose priorities, values, agendas, and daily lives are determined not by this present evil age, but by the new age of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit which is here now and is coming. Thus, full grace and perfect peace will be ours, and God will be truly glorified in our works (vv. 3, 5).
The Galatians were in danger of losing sight of this and lapsing back into an effort to gain salvation by their works. Paul sought to intercept them in their waywardness and lead them back to the Jesus Path of grace, faith, and good works of love. His letter to the Galatians offers a short course on God’s great salvation.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Man’s attempt at keeping the law has been an abject failure from the very beginning—Adam and Eve being the first. “She took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Gen. 3.6).
They did the very thing they had been told not to do (Gen. 2.16, 17). A rebellious response.
Then we have the example of the rescued-from-bondage Israelites, who, while waiting a bit for their leader Moses to return from receiving the Ten Commandments—the quintessential Law—demanded of Aaron the priest, Moses’ brother, that he make them gods “that shall go before us” (Ex. 32.1). A treasonous request.
And now, the Galatian church, after having started out well, was turning from their salvation by faith alone, back to the impossible salvation by works. A ridiculous removal from sanity.
Paul, full of grace and mercy, spelled out the work of Jesus, to remind them of the true way of salvation:
“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who gave Himself for our sins,
that He might deliver us from this present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Gal. 1.3-5).
“…to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us…” (Eph. 1.6-8).
God says, “For I know their works and their thoughts” (Is. 66.18).
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth,
and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen. 6.5).
This is exactly why we need a Savior. We could not, can not, will not be able to work our way into heaven.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5.8).
So, in the book to the Galatian churches, “Paul sought to intercept them in their waywardness and lead them back to the Jesus Path of grace, faith, and good works of love.” He seeks the same for us.
O God, give us hearts to live in the realism of your righteous reign and choice for our means to salvation.
Reflection
1. Salvation is not by good works but unto them. Explain.
2. How does Paul’s love for the Galatians, who were drifting from true faith, instruct us?
3. To whom will you minister unto grace and peace today?
He likewise declares the design of our redemption to be, that Christ, by his death, might purchase us to be his own property. This takes place when we are separated from the world; for so long as we are of the world, we do not belong to Christ. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Galatians 1.4
Pray Psalm 46.4-11.
Thank the Lord for delivering you to Himself through Jesus. Pray that He will guide you step-by-step into His good and perfect will for this day.
Psalm 46.4-11
(St. Chrysostom: We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought)
God’s everlasting, joyous grace gladdens the city where He dwells.
Safely in Him, we will not be moved; when morning dawns, His love will be proved.
Fears and distresses Jesus dispels for His beloved, chosen race.
Kingdoms arise and rage and roar, threat’ning the earth with sore distress.
Nations may fall, earth melt away, His Word is yet our hope and stay.
God is among us, ever to bless; He is our stronghold evermore.
Come see the works of God’s Right Hand! He breaks the nations of the earth,
shatters their foolish weapons and pride, sets all their sinful strength aside.
Them He will show His infinite worth as they before His judgment stand.
Rest in the Lord and be at peace, all who are mired in sore travail.
Lift up our God, praise Jesus our Lord; proclaim to all the earth His Word!
God is our stronghold, never to fail: thus may our hope and joy increase!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
To learn more about the salvation into which we have been delivered, order the book, Such a Great Salvation, by clicking here. Or order a free copy in PDF by clicking here.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
