Free,  Free - I'm Free at Last:

rescued by God - a letter to the Galatian Churches

God's Rescue Mission to Galatia

About AD 46 Paul and Barnabas, commissioned by the church in Antioch, embarked on an evangelistic tour. It took them across the island of Cyprus and through Southern Galatia (Acts chapters 13–14). Their strategy, which becomes a pattern for all Paul's church planting missions, is to preach first in the synagogue. Some Jews and non-Jews, ‘God-fearers,’ accept the message and become the nucleus for a local church.

When the majority of Jews reject the gospel, sometimes with violence, the focus of the preaching shifts to non-Jews (Gentiles - cf. Acts 13:46-47). Despite these perils and the defection of their associate, John Mark, at Perga, people are rescued by God from this present evil age. The mission succeeds in establishing local churches in Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and possibly Perga. Paul then returns to his base in Antioch in Syria (Acts 14:26-28). Probably it is while he is back in Syrian Antioch that Paul writes this letter to the Galatian churches. Paul visits the churches of Galatia again on his second and third missionary journeys (Acts 16:6; 18:23).

Why write this letter?

This is one of the most significant books in the New Testament. Paul writes to the churches of Galatia because God's rescue mission is in danger of being sabotaged. Certain Jews from the church in Jerusalem came to Antioch teaching that non-Jewish (Gentile) converts to Christ had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses including dietary laws (Acts 15:1, 5). They argue so persuasively that even mature Christians such as the Apostle Peter stop eating with the Gentile Christians, fearing that they might break the Jewish religious food laws. Paul sees that such action is contrary to the gospel he preaches, and he publicly rebukes Peter because the gospel has displaced the law in very significant ways.

But worse was to follow; for the Jewish false teachers had gone also to Galatia and spread their heretical teaching among the newly planted churches there. When Paul hears this, he is angry at the Jewish heretical teachers and shocked that the Galatians have believed them (Galatians 1:6; 3:1). So, Paul sends off a strongly worded letter, the letter to the Galatians that is part of our New Testament. Paul points out that there is only one gospel, the one he preaches, and that the Law of Moses has no authority over believers in Jesus Christ. Having been justified by faith in Christ, believers live by the same faith. Though free from the Jewish law they are not lawless, but under the direction of the indwelling Spirit of Christ.

A Summary of the letter

The letter opens emphasizing that there is only one gospel - the rescue God accomplished through Jesus Christ. There is no other way to obtain salvation, divine forgiveness of sins, or live the Christian life.

After rebuking the Galatians for so easily believing the Jewish false teachers (Galatians 1:1-10), they are reminded that the gospel they heard and believed came direct from God (Galatians 1:11-24). This gospel is supported by the apostles in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1-10). God's rescue mission offers salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone (Galatians 2:11-21).

The central portion of the letter shows how law-keeping has no place in Christianity. The Galatians should know this from their own experience of conversion (Galatians 3:1-5). The example of Abraham makes the point even clearer. Abraham was saved by believing the promise of God, not by keeping the Law of Moses (Galatians 3:6-14). The Law was never intended to be a way of salvation, though in showing people their sin it helped prepare the way for the Saviour (Galatians 3:15-4:7).

Paul is concerned that the Galatians are being led into Law-keeping (Galatians 4:8-20), for this will lead only to bondage (Galatians 4:21-31).

Concluding on a positive note, Paul instructs the Galatians in the enjoyment of the freedom they have in Christ. Religious Jewish Law-keeping makes true Christianity impossible (Galatians 5:1-12). But freedom under the direction of the Holy Spirit produces Christ-like character (Galatians 5:13-26). After reminding them of Christian responsibilities to others (Galatians 6:1-10), the letter concludes by emphasizing again that the cross of Christ, not the Law of Moses, is the basis of the gospel (Galatians 6:11-18).

Key Words

Faith: 23 times; grace 7 times; free, freedom, liberate 11 times [1]

Outline of Galatians

Galatians 1:1-9           God's historical rescue mission

Galatians 1:10 - 2:10  Rescued by God - Paul's mini autobiography

Galatians 2:11-21       Rescued by God from religious racial and dietary taboos

Galatians 3:1-14         Rescued by God from false doctrine and the law's curse

Galatians 3:15-25       Rescued by God from the tyranny of the Law

Galatians 3:26 - 4:7    Rescued - God's perfect timing and its results

Galatians 4:8-31         God's rescue mission jeopardized

Galatians 5:1-15         God's rescue mission vs Counter insurgents

Galatians 5:16-26       Rescued from the cravings of the flesh

Galatians 6:1-18         Blue-print for living truly free

[1] ἐλεύθερος – eleutheros (3:28; 4:25, 31 free; 4:22, 23; 30 free woman); ἐλευθερία – eleutheria (2:4; 5:1, 13, 13 freedom); ἐλευθερόω eleutheroo (5:1 make free): free, freedom, liberty, unrestrained, exempt from obligation, not a slave, deliver, make free. Strong's Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, s.v. “ἐλευθερία.”