Lessons From Galatians – Lesson 1
We are now going to go thru the book of Galatians. And I believe it is helpful to understand who the Galatians are and when did Paul write the book of Galatians.
Where is Galatia? Who are these people that Paul is writing to?
If you remember from Acts Jesus gave the great commission and told His disciples before He ascended to go and get the gospel to all nations. Preach to everyone.
They did not listen. They were only preaching to Jews. God sent visions to Peter of the sheet descending and told Peter don’t you call unclean what I call clean and then the knock on the door and Gentiles asking for Peter to come.
Peter goes, gives the gospel, gentiles get saved, and then filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter returns tells of it and James is not happy. James contends with Peter on it but then gives God glory for it. But no change in action.
God sends persecution and Christians scatter and go preaching Jesus but only to Jews.
Finally two men go to Antioch and preach to gentiles and God moves in a big way.
The leadership in Jerusalem hears of it and decides to send Barnabas to see what is going on. Barnabas goes and sees God move and gets excited about it and knows he needs help. And instead of going back to Jerusalem he goes to Tarsus and gets Paul.
Paul and Barnabas spend years teaching the new believers in Antioch.
Then God’s time comes for the 1st missionary journey and He calls Paul and Barnabas to go.
And guess where they go. The area known as Galatia. They go to a town and preach and some Jews get saved but mostly Gentiles who were attending Synagogue. The Jews get mad and run Paul and Barnabas out of town and they go to the next town and the same thing happens and then they go to the next town.
The Jews finally get people so worked up that they stone Paul and leave him for dead.
Paul and Barnabas then quietly travel back to each town and meet with the new believers and confirm their salvation. They want to make sure that they understood and then they set up some leadership and they do that at each town on the way back to Antioch.
These are the churches that Paul is writing this letter to.
On the 1st missionary journey the Galatians got saved but they received very little teaching.
Paul will go visit many of these churches again on the 2nd missionary journey and on the 3rd missionary journey.
So it is important to know when Paul wrote this letter. Did Paul write it after they had visit after visit from Paul and a lot more training? Or did Paul write it before they had any more visits and training?
While we cannot pin the exact date down to the year, there is enough information in the letter itself that lets us get a general date of the letter.
The first is in Gal. Chapter 2.
Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Gal 2:8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
Gal 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Gal 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
So we know that Galatians was written after Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem and were told by James and the elders that they should remember the poor. Paul is referring here to Acts chapter 15. Let’s go look at it because there is an important detail in that account that will come into understanding Galatians.
Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
So Jews from Judaea showed up in Antioch and was teaching works. Specifically that you must follow the law of Moses concerning circumcision or you cannot be saved.
Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
This false teaching really upset Paul and Barnabas. When it says they had no small dissension and disputation with them that is a way of saying it was big. Large. They really got after it. Force the issue and get to the bottom of it.
And after that disputing they determine that they should go to Jerusalem about this. Why? It is not because they need authority from Jerusalem. Paul is an Apostle. He has all the authority he needs and Jerusalem is in disobedience to the great commission.
Paul and the church at Antioch are not under the authority of James.
The reason that makes sense is that these men that came teaching this are in some way connected to James’ crowd. They might be members of James’ congregation and are maybe out teaching without authority.
So the church at Jerusalem needs to fix this.
Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Sect of the Pharisees which believed. Isn’t that odd. So James let Pharisees in his church.
This is not a public meeting. This is a meeting between the leaders representing the church at Antioch and the leaders of James’ church at Jerusalem.
It says Pharisees that believed meaning they believed in Jesus, but they did not let go of all of the teaching of their sect.
They were mixing law and grace. Which Paul will make clear that if you add anything to grace it is no more grace.
Now we know the root of this problem. It comes from a sect of Pharisees that say they believe in Jesus (which they may or may not) and these Pharisees are a part of the church at Jerusalem. It is from this sect that James allows that is the root of this false teaching.
Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Act 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
Act 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Act 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Act 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
Act 15:19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Act 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
James’ answer is that the Old Testament does tell of this. So let’s just write them a letter that they only have to abstain from idols and fornication and things strangled and from blood. And by the way if they want to really learn the scriptures are being read in the synagogue every Saturday.
And for James that appears to be the end of it. There is no change in the Jerusalem church as far as obeying the Great Commission. No change in helping get the gospel to Gentiles. And we read nothing about these Pharisees being disciplined or kicked out of the church or of them repenting of their teaching.
For James it is going to be business as usual.
At least the other apostles and elders wanted to send chosen men to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas with the letter. And they go and read the letter in Antioch.
Act 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
Act 15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
And they made copies of the letter and sent them to Gentile Churches in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Notice that Galatia is not mentioned.
Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Act 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Act 15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
Act 15:31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
Act 15:32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
Act 15:33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
Act 15:34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
Act 15:35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
So the false teachers that went to Antioch have their false teaching corrected by this letter, and the letter was addressed to Gentile churches and the letter was copied and made its way to many gentile churches.
Paul and Barnabas then continue in Antioch for a long time.
Time passes. Paul is not on a furlough. He is full time teaching in Antioch.
Some time passes and then Peter comes to Antioch.
Go back to Galatians chapter 2.
Peter had to come to Antioch before Paul and Silas start the 2nd missionary journey. Why? Because Paul and Silas was gone a long time on the 2nd journey. Paul then goes to Jerusalem for a feast and then starts the 3rd missionary journey with only a short stop thru Antioch.
Also Paul and Barnabas get in a fight and split up before the 2nd missionary journey.
So for Paul to be at Antioch with Barnabas Peter’s visit had to be before the 2nd missionary journey.
Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Gal 2:13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
This means that Paul wrote Galatians after the letters from Jerusalem to gentile churches went out. And this letter was written before the 2nd missionary journey.
Why not after? Paul would have dealt with this issue face to face on the 2nd journey so there would have been no need to write the letter.
So Paul wrote the letter after Peter came to Antioch and before he planned the 2nd missionary journey.
This means that some time had passed after those letters went out. Those letters went out right away after the meeting in Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas went back to Antioch and went back to teaching. Some time passed and then Peter shows up.
And here we go again. Men from James show up teaching false teaching that they needed to follow their traditions about not eating with Gentiles.
And it says that Peter actually feared those from James that were teaching this. So this time the men teaching this error has some power to cause Peter problems back home.
This shows that the influence of the false teachers in James’ church had grown.
And when we get into Galatians we see that the main purpose of the book is to fight false teaching from Jews about having to keep the law.
So this all fits together. What was going on in Jerusalem in Acts chapter 15 and what was going on in Antioch and what was going on in Galatia all fits together to help understand what is going on in Galatia and the need for the book of Galatians.
What does all of this teach us?
1 The timing shows that the Churches in Galatia had not yet had the 2nd visit from Paul. It shows that they have had very little training. The only book of the New Testament that has been written is Matthew in about 37 A.D. Galatians is the 2nd book of the N.T. to be written. So there is very little New Testament scripture at this time.
Shows the danger of New Baby Christians of being led into error. They have not learned and experienced and solidified yet all they believe and why they believe it. New infant believers can more easily be led astray.
New believers are in danger from slick smooth talking teachers who throw verses at them out of context. On the surface they can make an argument that New Christians can fall for. One example in our day is the Calvinist. They take select verses and ignore huge volumes of other scriptures that prove they are wrong. And since the baby Christian does not know about all the verses they skip they can fall for it. And then the Calvinist adds in a bunch of theological terms and confuses the issue. Terms that are not in the Bible like irresistible grace.
Then throw in they appear smart and have degrees and have many followers, and many fall for it. They don’t know enough to say but that is not true because. They are not able to strip the whole false teaching down to the root of the problem. If God chooses who goes to hell and they have zero chance or choice to get saved, then that makes God responsible for sin. The people who sin had no choice because it was forced upon them.
Calvinism is a really bad false teaching.
2 This also teaches something about false teachers and the danger of Pastors who do not protect the flock from them and their influence.
False teachers have great zeal. They are blind leaders of the blind. They cannot see the truth. But they often outwork those that can see and preach the truth. Jesus taught about this.
Mat_23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Many false teachers will work and work and work. They will compass sea and land to make one proselyte.
The Pharisees that were teaching you must follow the law and get circumcised to be saved were not listened to in that meeting in Jerusalem. And they knew it.
They heard James’ answer to it, and they saw the letter go out to Gentile churches. But it obviously did not deter them in the least.
Here is something that we learn with all of this and this is something that I have personally seen.
False teachers do not take a hint. False teachers are not deterred.
You can’t do what James did and make a declaration about the error and even authorize a letter and then that is it. That does almost nothing to put an end to it.
You go forward a little time from when the letter went out and what do we find. Do we see the Pharisees in James’ church behaving themselves? No. They have grown in influence. They are bold. It took some boldness to go to Antioch and teach that error. And Peter was afraid of their influence back home.
The soft handling of these false teachers by James only make it worse. These false teachers just gained more influence and got bolder and caused more trouble.
James should have treated them for what they were and that is grievous wolves.
Mat_7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Act_20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
The pastor is not to tolerate, be soft on, or allow false teachers in the flock. You need a zero tolerance policy on it. Treat wolves like wolves.
During the years that I spent trying to help a couple of young church planters I saw this.
One man that comes to mind was Thomas. He is not the only one but I will only give one example.
The first time he showed up he lied and said his name was Moses. I spotted him as a wolf right away.
Many times he would take over the services and start preaching Calvinism. Or he would sit in the pew and talk to his wife and call us people like… And correct the preaching to his wife while the pastor was preaching.
We had a missionary visit and Thomas blocked his way so he could not walk out of the church and just verbally belittled and attacked. It was quite an embarrassing situation. And even then the pastor would not stand up and kick Thomas out.
I talked to the pastor long before it ever got to that point. I reminded him that he should not allow false teachers and wolves in the church. He had a responsibility to protect the flock.
He would not listen. He would only answer anyone is welcome to come. His soft response to the false teacher only made the situation worse.
And that is exactly what we see in the Bible. James not taking the strong stand against the false teachers and kicking them out only resulted in them gaining ground and even more influence and only allowed the circumstances for things to escalate and get worse.
They had the influence and boldness to go to Antioch with their false teaching and taught that error with not one but two Apostles present.
So you should be seeing that if they were that aggressive and bold that it was not only Antioch that they were bothering with their wicked teaching.
They were behind and had men going to other Gentile churches teaching the law of the Pharisees.
This is why Paul needed to write the book of Galatians.
See more lessons from Galatians