The Twelfth Apostle

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers and sisters with me,

To the churches in Galatia:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:1-5

Paul opened his letter to the Galatians by stating his credentials as an apostle appointed by the risen Jesus Christ Himself, and the Father who resurrected Him. His authority had been questioned by the legalists, who were distorting the gospel message of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone. Paul had no doubt about the authority that had been given him IN CHRIST, to deliver the pure gospel message to all, and to confirm that message to the churches. He was not appointed by committee (men) or by an individual (man), but by the Sovereign Lord, Who IS the Word of God. Writing from Corinth or Ephesus, he included greetings also from the congregation with him. There were several local congregations in Galatia, as in other Gentile areas which had been evangelized. These Galatians were not Greeks, but Gauls, descended from a barbaric people and apparently being distracted from the doctrine of grace by the insidious Judaizers from Palestine. Paul had some work to do with these confused saints. He was up to it.

“Grace and peace to you,” grace always precedes peace. There can be no peace without God’s grace. This blessing comes directly from the Father (planner) and the Son (executor), through whose willing sacrifice we are redeemed out of slavery to the evil that surrounds us in the world. God willed this plan for us, and Paul expressed glory to God for His marvelous grace.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:6-10

Paul expressed surprise that the Galatians were so easily distracted from the truth they had been taught. His connotation here is of emotional pain, in seeing this process of desertion from pure grace to a “different gospel.” Paul, who had been saved out of a system of legalism and knew all the details and ramifications of that life, was adamant about salvation by God’s grace alone, through Christ alone, received by faith alone. THERE IS NO OTHER GOSPEL! All legalistic versions of the gospel are perversions of it. Stick to the gospel you were given by Paul, who brought you the good news of salvation through the finished work of Jesus Christ. Anything added to that pollutes it.

Even if I, Paul, tell you something else, it’s a lie. Even if an angel brings you a different “gospel” it is a lie, and such messengers should be under God’s curse. I love the King James terminology here : “let him be accursed!”

Paul answered only to God for the message he preached. People’s expectations were of no consequence to him. He had spent most of his adult life as a Pharisee, working to please people in a religious system which could not provide salvation. The law’s purpose was condemnation. Only grace can provide freedom from sin and death.

To a servant of Christ, the petty rules laid down by religionists have no application. Not to Paul, not to anyone who has believed in Jesus Christ for salvation. The formula is faith + nothing.