Hello, my “Walking with Jesus” friends on this Friday,
Have you ever had to write a letter to clear up some misunderstanding about something you said, or maybe clarify your actions or intentions that have been misinterpreted and twisted to the detriment of your personal reputation? Today, join me again in the city of Syrian Antioch, in about 48ad as the apostle Paul is sitting down to write such a letter at a precarious moment in history.
Paul and Barnabas had been back in Antioch from their first missionary journey about a year, (Acts 14:26-28) and they had also recently returned from their trip to Jerusalem, for the ‘Jerusalem council’, which we looked at in Acts 15, the past two days. Acts 15:35 makes it clear Paul and Barnabas both were putting down some roots in Syrian Antioch focusing on teaching the rapidly growing, multi-ethnic group of Jesus followers there.
Remember please Syrian Antioch was a big business city with traders coming and going in all directions by many land routes, thus as the church in Antioch equipped these believers with Jesus’ truth, they took what they learned with them as they traveled to other business hubs around that part of the world. Today we might call this a viral spread of the Gospel!
As so often happens in real life, these exciting days for Paul and Barnabas were complicated by troubling reports coming to Antioch from the very towns where Paul and Barnabas had started churches, in what is today the country of Turkey. Great confusion had arisen as people had come to those towns with strong opinions contrary to what Paul and Barnabas had taught about Jesus. Those troubling reports Paul heard were used by the Holy Spirit not to send Paul on another trip, at least not yet, but rather the Spirit moved Paul to WRITE a letter intended to be read by ALL the Christians in those towns where Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed Jesus, in the provinces of Pamphylia, Pisidian and Galatia. That letter, which Paul wrote, is in our Bible, did you know that? It is known as Galatians. It is the first of 13 letters the Holy Spirit led the apostle Paul to write during the remainder of his lifetime.
Pause. Would you agree that there are some things in life that require crystal clear clarity? In fact, might we say that our lives depend on getting certain things right? That is WHY Paul was moved by God to pick up his stylus and begin writing. This letter is a matter of life and death…for them 2000 years ago, and for you and me and all of us, anywhere in the world today! Paul wrote: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you to live in the grace of Jesus Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and trying to pervert the gospel of Jesus 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.” (Gal. 1:6-8)
Oh my! Is there great confusion in your city? Confusion that perverts the clarity, the truth about Jesus Christ and His life saving Gospel? Is there confusion about WHO Jesus is or about the purpose of Jesus’ earthly life, His death and resurrection? Is there confusion about who the Holy Spirit is and His role in our lives?
Is there confusion in your city about the Gospel and what it means for a person to be ‘saved’ from their sin condemnation and thereby escape hell? Is it simply confusion, or is it more diabolical than that? Do you see confusion in your part of the world that is rooted in rejection, maybe even hatred of Jesus Christ and His Gospel?
Pause. How long have you been interested in Jesus Christ, His life and His teachings? How long have you had a Bible and how much of it have you read or studied? Do you consider yourself well rooted in God’s Truth and can you discern when someone is saying something that is not in full alignment with God’s Truth? How well can you defend Biblical Truth?
THAT is WHY the Holy Spirit of God led Paul to write this letter called Galatians. Those first believers in Jesus in places like Perga, Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe, and all the little villages in between where Paul and Barnabas travelled, they needed to be challenged to remember with clarity the Gospel Paul had taught them and NOT be confused by contrary opinions, even hateful attempts to erase their hope in God’s Gospel.
Today, let’s begin by seeing three brief but very important truths Paul makes with the first chapter of this, his first letter…
First… Paul presents his credentials: “I am Paul, an apostle, sent not from men…but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead…” (Gal. 1:1)
Paul was living his life for an audience of ONE, Jesus Christ…his Messiah, his Savior and his King! Do you see that? There wasn’t even a shred of ‘people pleaser’ left in Paul. How about you and me? Who are we living our lives to please… ourselves, someone else or Jesus, our Savior and King?!
Second... Paul clearly states that the Gospel of Jesus, as Paul presented it, was taught to Paul directly by Jesus Christ Himself, through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 1:11,12)
This is vital! Paul was honest enough to remind them that he once was strongly opposed to Jesus. (Gal. 1:13) But when Paul encountered the risen Jesus Christ his life was dramatically changed, remember? (Acts 9:1-25) Paul made sure his readers understood the radical Gospel Paul had preached was NOT learned from any person or read in any book. It was fully given to Paul by Jesus, through the inspiring work of the Holy Spirit, over a period of several years. (Gal. 1:14-17)
Third… It was important to Paul that the Galatian readers understand that his transformation by Jesus was affirmed by the apostle Peter, and James, leaders of the Jerusalem church, and even some of those who had known the apostle Paul as Saul the angry Pharisee. (Gal. 1:18-24)
I imagine Paul wrote this first chapter with great joy. Do you see that in his closing verse? “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. And they praised God because of me!” Paul writes! (Gal. 1:23,24)
Pause my friend. I urge you to personalize these three powerful, clarifying statements from Paul. Can they be said of you and me?
* Is your identity and life purpose defined by Jesus Christ?
* Is the Gospel you cherish taught to you by the Holy Spirit of God?
* Do people see recognizable life change in you since you’ve encountered Jesus? Oh my, might those be life and death issues needing clarity in your life?
The life ‘lessons learned’ notes are awaiting you at the link below, then a wonderful worship song that will get you toe tapping with wonderful truth, and tomorrow let’s join Paul as he writes his second chapter to the Galatian Christians. It’s powerful!
Today’s Scripture: Galatians 1.
Choose below to read or listen.
 |  |
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.