Grace - The Gospel Revolution

Enjoy this article on Galatians.  I've highlighted two or three sentences.

Grace=Peace,

Jeremy

Galatians - The Gospel Revolution

by Bert White

The gospel that Paul preached was very specific. It was also very important to Paul that his hearers receive and live in the truth and the power of the gospel that he preached. If we say the gospel is the most important message that we will ever hear from the bible, it would not be an understatement. Some people think that any message from the bible is the gospel. They also think that all parts of the bible are created equal. That is not true. There are parts of the bible that carry more weight than others do (See Matthew 23:23). There are also parts of the bible that should not be taught on this side of the cross (unfortunately, there are some things that I wish I had not taught on this side of the cross either)!

Tit 1:10 For there are many disorderly and unruly men who are idle (vain, empty) and misleading talkers and self-deceivers and deceivers of others. [This is true] especially of those of the circumcision party [who have come over from Judaism].

Tit 1:11 Their mouths must be stopped, for they are mentally distressing and subverting whole families by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of getting base advantage and disreputable gain.

It is very unfortunate that some believers do not even know what the gospel is! They sit in churches every Sunday listening to a strange mixture of law and grace not even knowing that the Old Covenant religious system was totally abolished. It is not any wonder why so much of the church is spiritually anemic, sick, and powerless. That is because there is no power, or glory in the preaching of the Old Covenant system (See 2 Corinthians 3:7-9).

This book of Galatians is a book of reformation! During the Protestant Reformation, Galatians served as the defense of the gospel against the religion of the Catholic church. Martin Luther regarded this as his favorite book of the New Testament, and he once wrote, "I have betrothed myself to it; it is my wife!" Frederick Godet later explained that "this epistle was Luther's pebble from the brook, with which, like another (David), he went forth to meet the papal giant and smote him in the forehead."

Luther's writings brought the truth of salvation by faith alone to John Wesley's heart in that little meeting at Aldersgate Street in London on May 24, 1738. It was Wesley whom God used in such a remarkable way to spearhead revival in the British Isles, leading eventually to the founding of the Methodist Church. And that revival positively affected the entire English-speaking world.

Galatians should serve in every age to inspire reformation and restoration that sets Christians free from religion and its stepchild legalism. In case you have not noticed "Galatianism" is still prevalent in the church today. Like Paul, we must reject this false gospel, and clearly explain that the only distinguishing mark of a genuine Christian is the manifestation Christ as the grace of God.

There is a tremendous weight of glory that rest upon the preaching of the gospel (1 Cor 1:18) and there is also a weight of doom that rest upon the preaching of the Old Covenant (2 Cor 3:9). Paul knew this, so when he learned that the young Galatian Christians were infiltrated by another gospel, he was so upset that he was compelled to write and set things in order. The Judaizers were telling the new Galatian Christians they had to add "works" (circumcision in this case, but our list may be a bit different) to obtain their salvation.

In his letter, Paul takes off the gloves and fights for the purity of the gospel of grace. He makes some strong statements against those who would pervert the gospel of grace. From its earliest days, those who would destroy it are those who try to add to it. You must understand the deception of legalism and performance based Christianity does not attack the message of grace by denying it. They attack it by adding to it! Selah! Two thousand years later, we face the same battle. The lines are drawn. The gloves are off! This means war!  We are standing in the middle of a revolution … Its a gospel revolution.

Live Loved – Bert