Words from Galatians

March 27, 2007
7:15 a.m. (Rainy, cool)

Paul shares where his authority comes from – it is directly from Jesus and God the Father. He is God – commissioned! He greets with words of grace and peace because Jesus Christ has rescued him from the evil world through His sacrifice for our sins. God’s plan is that all of us experience that rescue. Paul goes on to proclaim that if anyone – no matter who – preaches anything contrary to God’s Word, let him be cursed. We must get our message straight from God (through His word). No other Word will do.
Paul goes on to say that when he was still in his mother’s womb he was chosen and called by God’s generosity. Because God intervened and revealed Jesus, His Son, to Paul – so Paul could joyfully tell the non-Jews about Jesus.

Galatians 1:3 (Amplified) “Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and (soul) peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).” (v 12) Paul received the gospel as a direct revelation, given by Jesus Christ. (v 17) Paul immediately went away – retired into Arabia – for three years alone with God! What was that like? How special and wonderful of God to take that one-on-one time to love on and prepare Paul for the work ahead of him.
We are even now reaping the benefits of Paul’s time with God. Will people down the road of time reap any benefit from my time with Him? Am I of any use to God’s overall plans? I have to trust and believe that it is of value to Him – let alone myself.
It is good that we can’t see ahead or even correctly judge what we know and have seen or done. God put us all here for a purpose and the main purpose of my life is to glorify Him – I can’t even judge that properly – it is a trust issue.
Live an obedient and honorable life – day by day, and allow God to be the judge of the effect of my life here on earth.

Galatians 2:
Paul relates why he went to Jerusalem. He wanted to clarify with the church leaders what God had revealed to him. Also what he had been teaching to the non-Jews. Some of the Jews did not like him preaching freedom from the law. They wanted all to keep the traditional laws even after coming to Christ – mainly circumcision.
(v 13) “We know that we have no advantage of birth over “non-Jewish” sinners. We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping, but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul asks “how do we know?” Because they tried it – the Jews had the best system of rules the world had ever seen! He is convinced that no human being can ever please God by self improvement. He believes in Jesus as Messiah, so he could be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good.
(v20) “Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not mine but it is lived by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I refuse to repudiate God’s grace.” (The Message)