Love Letters from Paul

Galatians 1–3 (NIV)

Introductory Prayer: Heavenly Father, as we study your Word, which is perfect truth in its entirety, fill us with your Holy Spirit, that we may believe, contemplate, understand, and apply it in our lives. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Galatians 1:1–5

Read Galatians 1:1–5

What stands out to you about these opening words?

Paul addresses not the “church”, but “churches” of Galatia. What does this say about the circulation of the New Testament letters early on?

Throughout Paul’s ministry, he encountered opposition from a group of people he called the “super-apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:5; 12:11), who undermined Paul’s ministry, and called into question his authority.

Paul begins his letter this way to remind the Galatians that his calling as an apostle and minister of the Gospel did not come from himself, but rather from Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that whenever Paul writes the words of Scripture, he is not merely giving his own opinions or ideas, but it is Christ himself speaking in and through him, so that what Paul writes carries Christ’s authority and truth (2 Corinthians 12:19; 13:3).

Galatians 1:6–24

Paul goes on to express his disappointment in the Galatians for pursuing a different Gospel (message of good news) contrary to the one Paul and the apostles received from Jesus (see Galatians 1:12). In what follows, Paul describes his former life as a Pharisee, and how Jesus saved Paul by revealing himself to him.

Why is it so important that we believe and teach the true Gospel?

Paul says: “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10b, NIVUK). How should this influence our attitude as servants of Christ?

Why do you think it was important for Paul to give his testimony of how he became a Christian to the Galatians?

Galatians 2:1–10

In the next chapter, Paul goes on to teach his readers the true Gospel—the Gospel that he received from Jesus. Paul starts by recounting an incident he had with the Apostle Peter in the city of Antioch.

Galatians 2:11–14

Read Galatians 2:11–14

The issue arose after Peter distanced himself from the Gentiles after he saw the “circumcision party” approaching—a Jewish group who insisted that Gentiles who converted to Christianity had to keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved (Acts 15:1,5), also known as the “Judaizers”.

Why was Peter’s withdrawal not in step with the truth of the Gospel?

While Paul says the influence of key apostles made no difference to him in his teaching (Galatians 2:6), he also acknowledged that God was indeed at work in Peter (Galatians 2:8). How should this balanced attitude influence how we treat teachers of the Gospel?

Before we criticise the Apostle Peter, we should be humble and admit that if we were in his position, we likely would have acted in the same way. After all, there have certainly been times in our lives when we saw or heard something wrong but chose to do nothing about it out of fear. In the section that follows, Paul defines the true Gospel.

Galatians 2:15–21

Read Galatians 2:15–21regarding:

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Paul?

How are we justified (made right with God)?

Why does Paul say that Christ died for no purpose if righteousness (justification) could be gained “through the law”?

In many ways, this small section can be seen as the heart of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Paul shows that whether we are Jews or Gentiles, there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. No one is born with an inherent “advantage” or “disadvantage” regarding eternal life. Salvation is through Christ alone, who unites both Jews and Gentiles into one body, the Church (Ephesians 2:14–16).

Galatians 3:1–9

In the section that follows, Paul continues teaching on the Gospel. In fact, Paul says that God spoke the Gospel thousands of years ago to Abraham, in the words, “In you shall all the nations be blessed” (Galatians 3:8). Just as Abraham believed, and it was counted to him as righteousness, Paul says that when we believe, we too are made right with God and receive the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:5,6).

Galatians 3:10–14

Read Galatians 3:10–14

What happens if we try to be saved by doing good works (i.e. the works of the Law)?

Why is it significant that Christ was nailed to a cross, according to Paul?

Paul says that Christ became a curse to redeem (free/purchase) us from the curse of the Law. Paul is not saying that Christ became a sinner on the cross (Hebrews 4:15). Rather, he’s talking about Christ’s substitutionary atonement – the punishment that should have been ours became Christ’s (1 Peter 3:18). And the blessing that should have been Christ’s became ours. This great exchange becomes a reality in our lives by the work of the Holy Spirit, whom we receive through faith (Galatians 3:14).

Galatians 3:15–22

In the section that follows, Paul talks about the role of the Law, and how Christ came to fulfil the Law, so that through faith in Christ, the Law no longer has the power to condemn us (though it still guides us in how we live, see Matthew 7:21 and 1 Corinthians 7:19).

Who does Paul say Christ is in this passage (see Galatians 3:16)?

Paul says: “if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise” (Galatians 3:18). What is the significance of God giving eternal blessedness as a promise?

Galatians 3:23–29

Read Galatians 3:23–29

Talk briefly about Abraham’s call and faith journey. Why is it significant that Paul calls us “Abraham’s seed” (Galatians 3:29)? (Genesis 12:1–5 might help.)

What does God do for us in Baptism?

Who and what do we become in Christ?

This is a wonderful passage on which to end our Bible study. In this passage, Paul is saying that our standing as children of Abraham and heirs according to the promise of God remains equal, regardless of our ethnicity, social status, or sex (Galatians 3:28,29). No matter who we are, through faith in Christ, we are co-heirs with Christ, and if co-heirs with Christ, then we possess eternal life and full access to God’s grace (Romans 8:17).

Discuss any final comments or questions.

Concluding Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for redeeming us from the curse of the Law by bearing our sins for us. As you have justified us through faith, as a free gift of your grace, help us to show grace to others every day of our lives, that in everything we say, think, and do, we may honour you. In your holy, most precious name we pray. Amen.

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