Today we begin a journey through the book of Galatians.  Paul writes this letter to the church in Galatia because of concerns about their faith.  They have received the gospel of grace from Paul but have adopted a new “gospel +” where they have to fulfill certain rules and laws to be accepted by God.  Paul wants to quickly help them understand the truth and not veer from the correct path that Jesus has made for them.  Let’s look at a section of chapter 1 together today.  

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— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 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. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul is particularly concerned that the church understands the gospel of grace.  We are justified by God through the blood of Jesus and grace alone.  We do not have to fulfill any old or current Jewish laws.  There is nothing we can add to make us made more right in the eyes of God.  Later in the book Paul will address how the grace of God does in fact change us from the inside out but it is grace alone that saves us.  This is a significant theme and is important for us today as well.  If we think we can in any way earn favor with God it sets us down a dangerous path.  We subtly begin to depend upon our own strength instead of God’s.  We trust in ourselves instead of Him.  We strive to obey not because of our great love and gratitude to God but in order to earn His love.  Instead we should rely upon His love and grace and simply be motivated to share that with others because it is so amazing.  I pray that this truth would sink in to us in a fresh way as we journey through this book together.  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave