Falling From Grace

Galatians Chapter 1

In this section, “Scripture”, I’ll be commenting on scriptures and maybe other musings on Christian topics. I’m kicking it off with a series going through the chapters of Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

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Galatians Chapter 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;)

Paul comes to the Galatians with this letter to give them a dressing down for departing from the true gospel and embracing parts of the law of the old covenant. He starts by letting them know that he comes as an apostle, an ambassador of Christ. Not of his own authority, but commissioned by God to represent God and His opinions. Prior to his conversion Paul (“little”) was known as Saul (“significant one”) who was determined to destroy the church from the mistaken authority of legalism based on the traditions of men. Paul was intimately acquainted with the damning legalism of the old covenant that would, if embraced, make the sacrifice of Christ to no effect in their lives - attempting to save themselves by their own works.

2. And all the brethren¹ which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia²:

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.

Jesus gave himself for our sins to deliver us “from this present evil world” - from the evil world system (as opposed to the natural world), which would include not only anti-Christ secular systems but also religious systems that deny the finished work of Christ. This salvation is not a hope for a future deliverance, but a deliverance now. We are delivered from sin and its consequences - sickness, poverty, demonic control - and given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3)³ in this life. The manifestation of such a free life is through faith in His finished work⁴ and Paul gets to the core of the issue in this letter.

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.

Here’s what I believe Paul is launching into (I don’t think the English translation does justice to the emotion Paul would have had): I’m in shock. I can’t believe how quickly and easily you’ve turned your back on the One who called you by the grace of Christ. I’m astounded that you’ve embraced an alternative message, a distorted gospel, a lie about God! You’ve been hoodwinked my friends. You’ve mixed up law with grace and are completely confused.

Paul is so alarmed about the Galatians falling from grace as they would be cutting themselves off from a full relationship with Christ himself. The basis of our salvation is grace (God’s undeserved, unmerited favour toward us) through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)⁵. If the Galatians were to go back to the law, the old covenant, in an attempt to be right with God, they would be denying that Christ had already fulfilled the law on their behalf, and thus denying His grace.

If we observe a tradition, say a feast day, or a dietary constraint, a fast, a way of giving, in a voluntary way (not making it a ‘law’), then this would be fine. But as soon as such observances are made mandatory to obtain righteousness (justification or right standing before God), then the grace of God is perverted. Those who mix in a little law with grace cause confusion at best. The sort of ‘laws’ we can impose upon ourselves to be in right standing with God can be subtle - we can feel that if we don’t recite prayers enough times, or spend enough time reading the Bible or going to church or mass, or whatever the activity might be, then we are out of favour with God. They may not be Jewish laws, but they can have the same effect of confusing or distorting the gospel of grace.

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.

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.

Paul felt so strongly about this deceptive false doctrine creeping into the Galatian church that he calls a curse (anáthema)⁶ on any angel or man who would dare distort the gospel in this way. He actually says it twice just in case the Galatians thought, “Oh, he couldn’t have meant that, could he?” Paul was not concerned about offending anyone, he was on a mission to defend the truth that God had entrusted to him. We have to be very sure of what this salvation is, and what it is not, and passionately defend the truth. How do we know what this true gospel is? Read the bible and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding. A vast majority of believers will spend more time listening to someone interpreting the Word (usually on a Sunday at church and rarely at any other time) than they do reading it themselves with ‘an ear to hear what the Spirit has to say’.

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.

When Paul was Saul he certainly didn’t see the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus foretold in the scriptures⁷. The gospel had to be revealed to Paul after his conversion, likely during the time he spent in Arabia (see below) when the Lord gave him revelation of God’s master plan. I’m reminded of a professor of religious studies at university when I was in my early 20s. He had extensive knowledge of many holy books and a knowledge of the Bible that would put most Christians to shame. But, just like Saul, he didn’t have any revelation of the gospel. He knew the words, but inexplicably the life and spirit of God’s Word was hidden from him. If I remember correctly he was a Buddhist. He refused to mix his knowledge of the Scriptures with faith, but rather chose another path he felt was intellectually more satisfying to him. No doubt he counted the story of God’s grace as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:23)⁸.

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.

The Jews’ religion is a burden of works and continual sacrifices that have an outward appearance of righteousness but no real power to save - not because the law was faulty, but because no one could get it right. Not until Jesus came along. Nevertheless, Paul was more zealous than most and boasts of being an A-list Pharisee. But this devotion to ‘the traditions’ of his religion nurtured a heart of murder and hatred toward the very God he was supposed to be serving. Later he would count himself the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9)⁹ due to these former sins. No wonder he was so passionate and direct toward the Galatians and this sin of falling from grace - he knew where it could lead - he’d been there himself.

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.

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.

As much as Paul was separated from birth to preach the Gospel, he was derailed by the traditions of men in his early years as a Pharisee. After his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and his dramatic conversion experience, he was understandably keen to avoid the consultation of men. Rather he went on a three year spiritual academy with Jesus in Arabia and then Damascus before going up to Jerusalem and meeting Peter.

We can’t rely on other people’s revelation and ministry for our own relationship with Jesus. Certainly the experience and wisdom of other can be instructive, helpful, inspiring, but ultimately we need our time alone with God to receive directly from Him. His Spirit teaches us all things (John 14:26)¹⁰.

20. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

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.

“How is it that we have so many Churches like those in Galatia? Is it not because, on one hand, we disturb the simplicity of the Christian worship by Jewish, heathenish, or improper rites and ceremonies; and on the other, corrupt the purity of its doctrines by the inventions of men? How does the apostle speak of such corrupters? Let them be accursed. How awful is this! Let every man who officiates as a Christian minister look well to this.” (Adam Clarke)

Let’s not be like the Galatians and be so easily led astray by the traditions of men and the temptations of religion. But rather hold fast to the amazing grace of God - that free gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus, not of anything of ourselves, but the pure gift of God. It is appropriated by faith, and our believing in the gift is hardly a ‘work’ - besides, even the measure of faith we exercise to grasp the free gift is itself a gift from Him!

1. The Greek word for brothers here is adelphos - “those who come from the same womb” - figuratively, this means those of the same household, and specifically in this case, the household of believers (brothers and sisters of the faith).

2. Modern-day Turkey

3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4. Something that deserves the title of “the gospel”, or “good news”, when fully understood

5. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

6. ἀνάθεμα (anáthema), Strong’s Definition - a (religious) ban or (concretely) excommunicated (thing or person)

7. Which is remarkable given he would have known Isaiah which reads like a 5th gospel!

8. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

9. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

10. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.