Galatians 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me.
As Paul ends this chapter we see he has traveled to other outlying areas where no one knew him in his physical appearance but only from what they had heard about him. They remembered him as the one that persecuted Christians but that he had a life changing experience and was now preaching what he once condemned. I am sure some doubted his salvation but that did not stop him from going places that needed to here the Gospel. When the people realized Paul was a changed person they began praising God, not Paul, because they knew if God could change a man like him that He was a powerful God. To think that God would save someone who had been so terribly opposed to Him, was almost unbelievable. In this we can see that there is hope for anyone even if we think someone is beyond the point of redemption, even if it takes a life changing experience.
Galatians 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord’s brother.
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
Now we see that Paul is going to Jerusalem to meet with Peter because he was the head of the Christian movement at this time. He did not go to meet with Peter to learn from him but to let him know he was ready to preach the gospel to the Jews as well as the gentiles. He stayed with Peter for 15 days to let him see that the Holy Spirit had enabled him to preach the true Gospel. Paul did not meet with any others but James the brother of Jesus. James also was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. The Jewish legalists were saying Paul was a liar and so Paul was there to show them that what he had came from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we have people who doubt if we are the righteous person we say we are. So we need to know that we have to defend what we stand for sometimes. We should always have enough of the Word of God in us to be able to show people the truth about what we believe.
Galations 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:
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.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
This scripture is a little longer than what I usually use but it is simply Paul telling of the deeds he did while he was still working doing the will of the Jews in persecuting the Christians. He goes on to emphasize again how he was converted by God to preach the message of the gospel among the heathens. It was 3 years before he return close to home because he was growing in his knowledge of God and preach the to the people Arabia or the heathen. This prepared him for being able to preach to Jews. God called Paul to preach the gospel and he was not called by man so Paul depended on God for all the advice he got and not friends. This is good advice for us, as well. We must not question our call. We must do exactly what God has called us to do without conferring with our friends first. God called you, not your friends.
Galatians 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.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul begins here to defend the fact that he received the teaching he did from Jesus Christ. He states that he is not teaching to please man because if he does he is not a servant of Christ. He goes on to say he learned the law from man but the gospel he is preaching is not from man. The gospel he was teaching was from the revelation of Jesus Christ. From this we can learn that it is important that we stay true to the truth of the word of God by studding it for our selves and letting God inspire us and keep us on the right track. It is good to be group studies with others who believe in word of God and not man but we still need to be strong in the knowledge of God’s word.
Galatians 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.
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.
Paul continues in these two verses to let us know that the message he gave was the one that was the true gospel. If anyone or even a fallen angel tried to teach any other message that strayed from the message Paul or any of his followers delivered would be cursed. We know some angles followed Lucifer out of Heaven , we generally cal them demons, would gladly try to get people to listen to a legalistic gospel. Then again in verse 9 he says it again if any man preaches anything other than what he taught them then they will be be cursed. Again we need to be careful today that we do not stray from the true gospel that is in the word of God. They are still a lot of false teachers in the world today and they know how to lure people into their churches and believe a false doctrine. So be careful that you do not get led astray.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Paul is telling us here that he is totally amazed that the these people have already began to listen to people trying to pull them away from the Gospel that was taught them in the beginning. Today we see this all the time. We see people who are on fire for God and it seems in no time someone else has gotten to them and is leading them in a legalistic way. They are going from their first love to worldly religion. Verse 7 goes on to say that they will even pervert the gospel to the point that it opposite of what it should be. It would teach like some religions do toady that you have to work for your salvation. It would be like turning back to law and we that are true believers know we are saved by grace and not by works. We see too much of this today in our churches where the gospel has been compromised just to attract more people to way of belief. We really need to check ourselves today and see if we are staying true the gospel Christ.
Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
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: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul continues here and wishes peace and grace , which is unmerited favor from God. All Christians received grace, not because of their actions, but because of God’s love toward them. The only real peace, is the peace of God. No one can avoid sin by human effort or law-keeping it must be forgiven, which Christ accomplished through His atoning death on the cross Jesus did follow the will of the Father in the crucifixion, but it was Jesus’ choice to do, or not to do. He gave His body on the cross to purchase our salvation. Lastly Paul stopped to glorify the Father and the Son and let us know that we should never stop giving glory to God for what he has done for us. He ends it with an Amen, which means “so be it”.
Galatians 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;)
2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Well I am back decided to do the book of Galatians and in this first chapter we see to begin with that Paul was the author of this book. It begins by letting us know that he was an apostle, which means he was commissioned to spread the gospel, not by man but by Jesus Christ when he had his Damascus road experience.Paul never forgets to remind them that Jesus rose from the dead. These people that Paul is addressing all believed in God the Father, and Paul reminds them that it was the Father’s will for Jesus to rise from the dead. To call Paul an apostle, verifies the fact that his authority is from God. Verse two lets us know Paul did not travel alone but had followers who probably help him in establishing and helping the small churches that were formed in Galatia to keep there faith strong and understand the full meaning of the gospel. This helps us see we do not need to be working alone when we are doing the will of God but should have people we can on to be there for support.
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." I John 5:7
