Trusting God's Grace: Galatians 1:1-6

Introduction

Bondage and Freedom. Law and Grace. Religion and Relationship. Works and Grace. Man's way and God's way. The Bible is full of opposing ideas. This is especially true when the topic is the famous question the Philippian jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" All religions seek to answer this question. Most come to the conclusion that we must do something to be right with God. Whether it is the five pillars of Islam or the traditions of Judaism religions seek to find a way to appease or please God. Through much of Jesus' earthly ministry Jesus challenged the religious leader's understanding of what God required of man. This same search continues today in different forms. All of us answer this question either consciously or unconsciously. The book of Galatians focuses in on this subject. What must we do to be right with God. What is the role of good works and religious traditions in our lives. If we are wise we will examine these issue carefully because the answer matters.

Some Background Information

Galatians was written by Paul the Apostle. Paul had been a religious Jew known as a Pharisee prior to his conversion to being a follower of Jesus. As a Pharisee Paul strictly followed the Jewish law as set forth in the Old Testament and as interpreted and added to by the Pharisees. He Paul was circumcised on the 8th day. He was a pure bred Jew. He followed all of the Jewish religious practices and ceremonies and festivals. He did these things because he and others at the time believed that they were made right before God (righteous) by following the law (good works). The letter that we call the book of Galatians was written by Paul to the church at Galatia. The church was was made up  of many non Jewish people who unlike the Jewish people were not circumcised. They had become followers of Jesus. Now some Jews were coming to the church in Galatia and telling them that they had to be circumcised to be right with God. The believers in Galatia were becoming confused and some of them were getting circumcised or planning to do so. Paul writes this letter telling them that circumcision does not have any effect what matters is God's grace (mercy, forgiveness) expressed through the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. Paul is explaining to them that in Christ they are free from external religious practices, traditions and festivals. A key verse is verse 6 as shown above. While circumcision is not an issue today the same concept applies to us as well. It is not outward works or practices that make us right with God but God's grace alone. Some other key verses on this theme are found in Ephesians 2:8-10 and Romans 2:28. It is not our own efforts that make us right with God but God's grace alone.

Naturally when we talk about God's grace the question comes then does how we live matter? Paul addresses this issue in Galatians chapter 5:13-16 and Romans 6:1. We live right and do good works not to be accepted by God and gain salvation but rather as an outflow of the love and faith in our hearts that flows from having received God's grace.

Some Devotional Ideas

1. Find and study verses in the Bible that speak of God's grace.

2. Meditate and think about God's grace in your life

3. Tell someone in your circle about God's grace this week.

Final Thoughts

Let us rest in God's grace and allow that grace to fill us with gratitude and motivate us to give him our all.