Galatians Apologetics pt.1
Galatia in Context
In the book of Galatians, Paul is speaking to a people that he has already spoken the Gospel of Jesus Christ to. Galatia is a broad region made up of the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. Paul's first missionary trip through this region of Asia Minor is estimated to have been from the fall of 47 AD to May of 49 AD, (Acts 13-14). This area had both pagan Greeks and Jewish traditionalists. There were synagogues already established in these cities. The Greeks and Jews alike were hearing the good news of Jesus, the prophesied Messiah, and that God shows no favor between Jew or Greek- all are accepted who accept His Son.
The Gospel Received:
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38-39
So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. Acts 13:42-44
Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. Acts 14:1
Issues Arise:
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Acts 13:45
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Acts 14:2
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. Acts 14:19
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Acts 15:1
But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” Acts 15:5
Paul's Instruction for the issue:
Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15:19-21
Paul's instruction names the 4 biggest issues for these converted gentiles to repent from. He specifically says the rest they will learn on the Sabbath by hearing the law of Moses read. The believing Jews of the area needed guidance as to how to further instruct these new to the faith believers as they themselves were already acquainted with the law. Paul has already established with these people that their salvation is by grace alone (not circumcision) and has given the instruction for what this favor means- discipleship in the ways of Christ which are the ways of the Father. The "law of Moses" is a cultural term- God's law was mediated by Moses; Moses didn't make anything up. The Galatians were expected to learn this law. The first 4 instructions they were to follow are from the law- Ex. 20:4, Ex. 20:14, Lev. 18:22, Lev. 20:10, Lev. 17:14, Gen. 9:4- these were pagan practices of worship that needed to stopped immediately upon their confession and repentance. Also note that keeping the Sabbath day is included because they were to go hear the word taught on the Sabbath.
Paul revisited the region of Crete and Galatia (Acts 16:1-6) during his second missionary journey. In this passage we see that Paul took Timothy to be circumcised because he was a disciple ready to join Paul on mission trips. This was a physical sign of Timothy's commitment to the faith as the son of a Greek. He proved his heart conversion- that there is no longer Jew or Greek, but all are one in Christ Jesus. He did not get circumcised to be saved, he got circumcised BECAUSE he was now saved, a new man.
During Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 18:22–21:17), he passed through the region of Galatia (Acts 18:23), strengthening the taught ones.
Carry The Context Over
Going back to Galatians, remember these points: Paul taught salvation by grace alone, repentance from pagan practices, he taught on the Sabbath and instructed further learning of the law be done on the Sabbath, he circumcised Timothy. The Judaizers persecuted Paul and came in behind him teaching circumcision and keeping the law as a means of salvation according to their own traditions. Paul begins his letter to the Galatians stating that he used to be a Jew, zealous for those traditions of the elder's but was brought to repentance by the revelation of Jesus. He understood their false doctrines as well as the purity of the actual word of God. Further points:
•Titus was not compelled to be circumcised by the false brothers who brought the doctrine of salvation by circumcision in to Galatia.
• Paul rebukes Peter for fearing the circumcision party- the Judaizers who *relied* on circumcision and the works of the law for salvation.
The context of this letter is that Paul is needing to correct the bad, false doctrine of Salvation by works. He is rebuking the JEWISH tradition that was brought in, the same thing Jesus was rebuking throughout His ministry. Largely, mainstream Christianity fails to distinguish between Jewish oral law and God's law- it was the major issue 2,000 years ago and it's still a major issue today.
Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? Matthew 15:1-3
“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. Matthew 23:2-3
Note here: why would Jesus tell His disciples to do what is spoken of from the seat of Moses, if He intended for the law to be done away with? Also parallel this to Acts 15:21 mentioned above.
Where it gets confusing…
A man is not declared right by the works of the law alone, but by faith. But how is your faith meant to affect your life?
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:16-21
This section needs to be understood through the lens of "what did Christ die for" and the answer to that is found in His Priesthood. He died so that He could be raised to take His place at the right hand of the Father. Righteousness in this passage is speaking of eternal life- the resurrection of the dead and salvation from the second death. The law has no power to raise the dead, only our High Priest Jesus Christ holds that authority over death because He was completely righteous. If the law had that power, there would have been no need for Christ. The law was never intended to be the means of salvation but as an instruction manual for how to live as a faithful child of God.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10
True faith leads to obedience which means repenting from sin. Paul clarifies this point in Gal. 2:17 "if while seeking to be declared right by Christ, we are found continuing in sin, is Christ a servant of sin? Let it not be!" Paul gives a reminder that this favor does not mean we continue in sin (transgressing the law) but that we aren't relying on it to seal our salvation as Judaizers were preaching.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:5-6
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:3-4
Jesus says that if we want to follow Him we must deny ourselves. Denying yourself means that you deny the sinful nature within and surrender to the ways Jesus exemplified-this is the Romans 7 law of the flesh that wages war with the law of God. The favor of Christ does not come through keeping the law but by faith; what follows as the Spirit works through you will prove in alignment with God's law because it's simply His good and righteous character. This is what "the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit," means. The Spirit leads you to repentance, truth, and understanding so that an upright heart can be fulfilled in us to bear the image of Christ. We'll see this expounded upon more in Galatians 4.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:1-4
Sin is the transgression of the law, period. (1 John 3:4). Your confession of Jesus as Lord and repentance to new life means a laying down of sin- laying down transgressing of the law. If we say the law is done away with there no longer remains a definition of sin thus nullifying the need for Christ. Being a disciple of Christ means we are to learn His ways and walk in obedience to His commandments which are the Father's commandments. This is the life and walk expected of faithful follower of Christ.
To recap Galatians 1-2:
False doctrine was coming in and manipulating the Galatians to deny the need for Christ and seek salvation through works of the flesh, i.e. circumcision. Every rebuke Paul gives throughout this letter is based on the premise of this specific situation.
He is making a distinction between Jewish tradition of salvation by works, and BIBLICAL discipleship that comes AFTER belief in Christ.
The Abraham Dynamic
Paul uses Abraham to explain faith and belief being the means of covenant. Those who are of belief are the seed of Abraham, because Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness correcting the Jewish doctrine that circumcision made you a son of Abraham. Recall John 8:39 "Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham." ...meaning, they were not obedient to God as Abraham was; they had created their own system of beliefs which diminished and replaced God's word. This is still the issue Paul speaks of. As Christians, we have to remember the context of Abraham's belief so that we don't run into the same situation of creating our own system of beliefs that diminish and replace God's actual word. Let's see what James says about Abraham's belief:
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. James 2:18-24
This seems to contradict what Paul just said in Gal. 2:16, so what's the deal? Truly believing God and having faith means that you trust what He says, and do it! Belief isn't simply a mental decision as the world would describe. Biblical belief produces obedience. If Abraham was to say "I believe in you God but I'm not going to do this thing you're asking me to do" he would be counted rebellious, not righteous. In an opposing manner, if Abraham was to say "I'm going to sacrifice my son anyway so to appease you" this would have also counted him hard hearted for trying to earn salvation. Abraham believed God's word and did what He said to do- trusting God would provide, thus he was counted as righteous. It's also important to note that Abraham walked with God and followed His word for 29 years before He was instructed to be circumcised, thus proving the faithful relationship comes first and obedience follows. If we truly believe Christ, we are to do as He said- to obey the Father's commands as our discipleship process. The question we have to stop and ask ourselves is this: Do I trust God to do what His word says, or not?
The Curse
One of the most common passages to quote at anyone who desires to follow God's law is Galatians 3:10-13 “as many ARE OF the works of the Torah are under the curse, 'cursed is everyone who does not continue in all that has been written in the law to do them'...Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law.” But, this has to be left in context with vs. 9 "those who ARE OF belief." Paul is comparing the two "ARE OF" to show that belief is the means of being resurrected (saved), not the law. Someone who seeks salvation by works alone would be "OF the law" and bound to keep the entire thing perfectly. Versus, someone who seeks to follow the law out of love for the Savior, would be "OF belief" knowing that they can't do it perfectly and need His covering to forgive their trespasses.
Forsaking faith in Christ and relying on your own works is what places you back under the curse which is the second death. RELYING is the key to this passage. Paul is not referencing a keeping of the law out of love and discipleship, he's rebuking using the law as your reliability for salvation which is impossible as we've already established the law does not contain the power to raise the dead in addition to all have sin and need the atonement of our High Priest.
For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10
Christ's Judgment
Christ's authority as High Priest is the ONLY way we can be declared right, period! But, He does judge us based on our works after belief is established. Belief is perfected by works. (James 2:22) Christianity as a whole cannot continue to dismiss the law of God based on a bad interpretation of one letter in the bible. The church is being ill equipped and believers are being led astray to live according to a lawless gospel. We all must do our due diligence to seek out context and properly divide the word. As many warnings we see about trying to earn salvation through works, we can find far more warnings about a lawless faith with no works and no fruit. The two work together, otherwise your belief cannot be proven, and your heart will be judged for despising His patience.
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”(Psalm 62:12): eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness- indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified. Romans 2:4-13
Continue the second half of Gal. 3 through Gal. 6 in Part 2 here.