Introduction
Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
The stress on Paul's apostolic credentials is important; Paul has much to say to these Galatians, and they must understand that he writes with authority, apostolic authority. He was the Apostle chosen by Jesus by direct revelation on the road to Damascus.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Acts 9:16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.
Paul was turned around from persecutor of the church, to the apostle to the Gentiles, with much suffering. He caused much suffering and would suffer much for the sake of preaching the gospel.
2 Cor 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
2 Cor 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
2 Cor 11:25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
2 Cor 11:26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
2 Cor 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
2 Cor 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Gal 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
This is not a letter written to a single church as in the cases of those to Corinth and Ephesus. This is a letter addressed to a number of churches. They were churches begun by Paul when he was on his very first missionary journey, traveling with Barnabas into the cities of Antioch, Iconium, Derbe, and Lystra. In Lystra, on one occasion, he was stoned and dragged outside the city and left for dead after having first been welcomed and treated as a god. In all these cities he experienced persecution. These were the cities of Galatia.
They were not Arabs or Orientals but a Celtic race, of ancestry similar to that of the Scots, the Irish, the Britons, and the French. One ancient writer described them. They are frank, impetuous, impressionable, eminently intelligent, fond of show but extremely inconstant, the fruit of excessive vanity. Sounds familiar.
Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul begins with his customary greeting, including Jesus as the source of grace and peace.
Gal 1:4 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:
Paul focuses on the saving work of Jesus - saving us both from sin and from this present evil age, something that the Galatians were battling with, and needed to know that Jesus had in fact come to save them from.
The particular word for evil denotes someone who is not content in being corrupt themselves; they must also be corrupting others, and drawing them into the same destruction
Gal 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus not only died for our sins but he brought glory to the father, for through Jesus God is able to save to the uttermost. Part of the problems with the Galatian Church was that they were adding to God's grace in Jesus. This implied that Jesus was not enough, that somehow man must add works for salvation. Jesus did it all, we are free in him. The work of salvation is finished. Thank you Jesus.
No Other Gospel
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
I am surprised and astonished that you are turning renegade and deserting Him who invited and called you...(amplified Bible) into the grace of Christ to another gospel.
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
pervert; metastrepho"to transform into something of an opposite character" (meta, signifying "a change," and strepho,) as the Judaizers sought to "pervert the gospel of Christ," (Vines Dictionary)
Paul makes it clear that there is no other Gospel, but the gospel of sins forgiven by faith in Jesus. God's grace given us. There is no other way to God, but through his son. (John 14;6) So any other way is a false way.
Gal 1:8 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.
The Book of mormon was supposedly delivered by an angel...If any preach any other gospel, let him be accursed. Paul is announcing that those who preach a false gospel are accursed, they are not to change God's gospel message.
Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Prov 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Prov 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
If in doubt about a teaching ask them about Jesus. Is he the only way to God and is he Lord?
1Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
It is repeated again, anyone who preaches a false gospel, adding to or taking away from Jesus on the cross, let him be accursed.
2Cor 11:13 For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Cor 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Cor 11:15 Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
In the Internet chat rooms you see these false ones mocking the gospel of Christ. "What about the millions of Hindus and Buddhists and Muslims, are they not worshipping the same God, only a different way?" My response is to ask "What about you? Will you hear the gospel message? What do you believe and teach?" If any preach another gospel, let him be accursed. We can give each one we meet a chance to hear the gospel. It is our responsibility, then it is between them and God. There is only one way to God, through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.
Lord Jesus open the eyes and ears of the lost. Draw them to you, for many pervert the way. Help us and empower us through the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel to all who have not heard. Let everyone hear and many be saved. In Jesus name...amen.
Revelation Knowledge
Gal 1:10 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.
Paul is not interested in fair speeches or popularity with clever words to persuade man or God. A sobering thought for all teachers of the word, if I teach to please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. We are to preach God's word as Jesus spoke the word's of the Father.
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul received his Apostleship and his learning from Jesus through revelation knowledge. Paul spoke a clear message from the Lord.
1 Cor 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
Revelation, the word of knowledge and prophesying are direct revelations from God from his Spirit and the Spirit reveals Jesus. The Holy Spirit also teaches us to understand the scriptures (doctrines).
Please understand that the Bible is the ultimate authority. Any revelation must be to further understand the word God has given us. We do not receive new doctrines from meditation.
Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Paul came out of the Jewish faith, having persecuted the Church, rounding them up in chains to be delivered to punishment.
Gal 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
He was a very enthusiastic Jew, keeping the traditions taught to him, the interpretations of God's word to the Jews. The laws and their enforcement were practiced to the letter.
Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
The same God who created him also had a pre-ordained plan for his life. He was called by his grace, he received Jesus and grace was given him to preach the gospel among the heathen (non Jews or gentiles). He left the Jewish traditions for the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Instantly he did not ask from others the new truths, he left all to confer with God, to receive from being alone with Jesus in the Spirit.
Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Paul heads for the desert to be alone with Jesus in his Spirit walk.
Are you alone with the Lord, meditating on his word. Asking him the meaning of things? Paul knew the Jewish laws and prophecies. With this foundation Paul with the Holy Spirit, the best teacher, went to receive revelation knowledge in the desert regions. Prayer and meditation would give Paul insights that many would learn and benefit from.
1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1 Cor 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
I have a dear friend who spends much time receieving revelation knowledge directly from God through meditating in the Spirit. Many answers are received this way, including directions for future ministry. We have the fullness of God through our relationship with Jesus. There is no other way but through Jesus.
Testimony
Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Paul spent three years in a desert place receiving revelation knowlege from Jesus, then visited Peter for 15 days. This would have given him further insight into the life and work of Christ. Especially grace, Peter was granted grace from Jesus and forgiveness after denying him three times. He learned the importance of forgiveness. He was forgiven and Peter was forgiven how great is forgiveness, it is God's grace.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Next Paul meets the one who wrote "faith without works is dead" (James 2:20)
Later Paul would write the inspired words...
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Gal 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
Gal 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
Gal 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me.
Paul's conversion brought Glory to God. The one who persecuted the church, having Christians killed for their faith. This same one God had changed into a Christian, an Apostle full of faith; this was his testimony. Though once a sinner, God had chosen him to bring forth his word and bring many to God.
1 Tim 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
1 Tim 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Be sure to tell your testimony to others; what has Jesus accomplished in your life?
Gary
Galatians Chapters