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THE EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE GALATIANS "Solicitude, Proof, after His Conversion." This Bible Study is provided by http://www.theseason.org with permission from it's author R. Christopherson. The book of Galatians deals in large part with proofs of the apostle's divine authority. However the major portion is devoted to refuting the teaching of those that would bring the Galatians back into bondage, for many of them desired to be under the Law. Paul declared to them that by doing so would be moving themselves into a different gospel then he had preached to them. These is no other gospel in reality, what they were doing was perverting the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even though this letter was written prior to the book of Romans, there are many things here that Paul wrote common to both the Romans and the Galatians. The fundamental truth that stands out in both is that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile before God. Though there were many Jews among the church at Galatia, they were outnumbered by the Gentiles, and the problem amongst the Gentiles was that the Judaizers were teaching the necessity of circumcision, and the Gentiles were all to ready to accept the Jewish tradition as a condition of salvation. Paul states to them, when you accept this tradition, you did not receive it as a revelation of Jesus Christ or from me, but as a tradition of the Jews. Galatia means "the land of the Gauls", and this book is in response to when Paul's credentials are being called into question by the legalist. This is even common today, in churches that lean strongly to legalism. Paul's message was given to Jew and Gentile alike, as well as to the rulers of the different nations. This is recorded in Acts 9:15, and it also states there that Paul was a chosen vessel. Acts 9:15 "But the Lord said unto him, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" Acts 9:16 "For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake." The one thing that Paul promotes in this book of Galatians is that we are to take the ceremony out of our teachings, that is concerning Christ. The problem with teaching the law in the form that most churches teach it, is there is no absolutes. With the law comes conditions and variations, where one brother may read it to mean one thing, and which is opposite to another brothers convictions. However when we are in Christ, we have an absolute. Whenever a law is taken to court, or before the deacon board, the decision is not an absolute, but a "precedent", which is a court or board decision that sets an example to be followed in similar cases arising thereafter. In other words it is nothing but an opinion from the mind of man. The law points to "the way", and the way is Christ. The word "Torah" in the Hebrew tongue, is the word for "the Law". The basic meaning of Torah is "to point to something". That way that the Law points to is Christ, and in Christ there is an absolute. Upon repentance in Jesus name there is no conditions or terms to meet, but you are forgiven completely. This is the root of Paul's teachings. So with this in mind, we will see in Galatians Paul making his defense of God's Word before those that call themselves scholars of God's Word. Galatians 1:1 "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead;)" The word "apostle" means "one sent forth" by God. No man appointed Paul to be an apostle for Jesus Christ, but while Paul was on his way to Damascus to kill and bind Christians, God struck him down with a bolt of lightning. Acts 9:2 "And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." Acts 9:3 "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:" Acts 9:4 "And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" Acts 9:5 "And he said, "Who are Thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Acts 9:6 "And he trembling and astonished said, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?..." Paul thought he was doing the work of the Lord God, only he was doing the will and work of the religious Kenite leaders. The Kenite religious leaders wanted Christians dead, or out of the way, and that was the work of Paul before he met Jesus Christ. Once Paul met Christ he became a completely changed man, and as the rest of Acts 9 instructs us, it was Jesus Christ that trained Paul to understand the full meaning of the complete law of God as written in the Old Testament. Paul had the finest training in the Law of that day, as he was educated by Gamaliel, the finest of all scholars in the time of Christ. Paul uses this in letting others know who he is. Acts 22:3 "I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day." Galatians 1:2 "And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:" Galatians 1:3 "Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ," To the "land of the Gauls", the churches of Galatia Paul is extending the grace and peace of God the Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:4 "Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:" These are the reasons that Christ went to the cross; to suffer for our sins, and to deliver us from the evils of this present world age. This shows the kinship that we have with the Father, and in God Will, which is the Word of God, that way is made very clear. Jesus declared in John 14:6; "Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins for a reason, and that reason is to deliver every soul that will believe on Him and repent of their sins from this evil and wicked world. There is much more to receiving simple salvation than uttering a few words, for once you have repented of your sins, you are then bound to study His Word, and following the instructions written there. To overcome this evil world, you must first overcome the one that rules that world, who is Satan, the devil, the serpent or any of the many role Satan plays in tripping up mankind. When you take on the name of Christ [Christian], you also receive the power that comes with your position as one of the sons of God, and you receive that power through the Holy Spirit. We are living in a generation where most living today will face Satan in the form of a man, as he rules as Antichrist. This is why it is essential that each of us know the signs and events of our times so that we will not be deceived when that time comes. Hebrews 2:14 tells us why Christ came to earth to be born of a woman, He came in the flesh to be crucified that He would destroy Death, which is to say the Devil. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part in the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" [14] When Jesus Christ came out of the grave at His resurrection, both Satan and death were defeated. When Satan's angels left their place of habitation and came to earth, they were called "the dead", just as Satan is called death. Galatians 1:5 "To Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Once you have repented and become saved, your service to our Heavenly Father has become eternal. When this earth age is over, following the short reign of Antichrist, Jesus will return ond set up His one thousand year Millennium kingdom, and you will be a active part in that kingdom, serving our Savior . Galatians 1:6 "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:" Paul was surprised at the Christians in Galatia, for in Paul's absence they listened to these Judaizers and drifted away from the gospel of Christ and back into legalism under the law. Galatians 1:7 "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." Paul is saying that you are not moving from the gospel of Christ to another gospel, for what you are receiving is no gospel at all. You have completely removed yourself from the truth of God's Word, that points to the correct way. They were teaching that you still needed to obey the complete law, and even the sacrifices of circumcision. They were teaching that the blood letting of the males was still required by the law of God, and that is false. Paul is saying that circumcision is good, but don't put the label of Christianity on it. In Christianity the circumcision is not to the flesh, but to the heart, the mind, and it applies to both men and women. Christ shed His blood for one and all times, for every sin that is repented to the Father in Jesus name. There is no need for any other blood, not one drop, for the price is paid in full. Paul is warning us to watch out for those legalist that would make a religion out of one law [circumcision]. The very existance of the law is to point to Christ, for all these things of the law were nailed to the cross with Christ, and were paid for in pull. Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Paul is saying that though he or those that were with him, or even an angel from heaven come to you with any other gospel then the gospel that Paul preached when he was with them, let them be cursed. Call it to his face the lie that he is spreading, and curse him for spreading those lies. Galatians 1:9 "As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Paul wanted this to be made clear in their minds that he did not have any use for anyone that would pervert, and add to the Gospel of Christ. Those that would tamper with the pure gospel of Christ, after the price has been paid, should be cursed, especially to our generation. There are many today that have changed the Word of God into the traditions set up by men, and have perverted the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:10 "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." Paul is asking; am I trying to please men or do I try to please God? This is just the way it is; when you become a teacher of God's Word you should strive to teach the true meaning of the Word, even though it will not please most men. As a student of God's Word and as a teacher of God's Word we should always try to please God first. Then if it pleases men also fine, if not, you have been a faithful servant of His Word. In most cases, the things that please men is simply not the truth, and if you love the people, then you are obligated to giving only the truth, for it is only through the truth that the blessings of God will come. Galatians 1:11 "But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man." Paul swears to you in a legal sense, that the gospel that was given to me on the road to Damascus was of God and not of men. Galatians 1:12 "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Paul, when Paul was struck down and cried out. Acts 9:5 tells us that Jesus Christ told Paul directly that it was He that struck him down, and was going to change his life. Galatians 1:13 "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:" Paul is reminding the churches at Galatia that it is no secret what his life and position was like when he was following the Jewish religion. Back then Paul was a destroyer of the church of God. Paul never ever did anything half way, it was all or none. Paul was sidetracked by the same scripes and Pharasees that Jesus faced in Matthew 23. They were the Kenites that sat in the seat of Moses, and perverted the Word of God with their traditions of men, that made void the Word of God. These Kenite leaders were the same ones that killed Jesus for showing their traditions for what they were, nothing but tradition and changed laws from what Moses had taught. Just because the Kenites called themselves by the name of Judah, does not meant that they are, because they are not of any part of the lineage of Abraham, or Jacob, but they are of their father Satan, and are the offspring of Cain, the seed born between that union of Eve and Satan, in the role of the serpent in the garden of Eden. Galatians 1:14 "And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers." Paul is reminding them that when he was in the Jewish tradition of these Kenites, he was considered above most of them. Paul was more zealous then any of their followers in following those traditions that the Kenites taught. This is well documented throughout the book of Acts. Remember also that the reason for Paul complete commitment was that he was educated by the most learned scholar of the Torah of that day. The Torah is the Old Testament, and that is why Paul was able to express himself in the Old Testament in all of His teachings. In the entire Old Testament it points the way to Christ, to His coming, and suffering, and to His death and resurrection. Every thing that happened, and words that were spoke about Jesus Christ's death and resurrection were given hundreds and thousands of years in advance. It all points the way to our Savior Jesus Christ. Before Paul made that trip to Damascus where he was converted, Paul had all of the teaching of the Torah in his mind, only upon his conversion Jesus revealed the truths of that knowledge to him, through the Holy Spirit. Paul then saw how the entire Old Testament, the Torah, pointed to Jesus Christ who was the way of the Father for us to come back to Him through salvation. Galatians 1:15 "But when it pleased God, Who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace," When did God chose Paul? Before Paul was born and Acts 9:15 declared that Paul was a chosen vessel of God. "But the Lord said unto him [Ananias], "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" This is the same as Jeremiah was chosen, even before he entered His mother's womb. Galatians 1:16 "To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: " When Jesus struck Paul down on the road to Damascus, he did not go to speak to any man for instruction. Paul's gospel is directly from the Lord. God didn't just plant the entire Word in Paul's mind because years of deep study placed the word of the Torah in Paul's mind, and the Spirit of God took what was there and gave order and understanding to it. Once the Holy Spirit entered Paul he was able to read those sign posts of the Torah, and know what they were saying. Galatians 1:17 "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus." Paul is telling them that when he became saved, and received the instruction from the Lord, he went right to work preaching the gospel. He did not go back to Jerusalem to receive instruction, for he had all the knowledge necessary. Galatians 1:18 "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days." Paul never went to Jerusalem to see the other apostles until after three years from his conversion on the road to Damascus. We know that this visit was cut short by Paul because of a plot by the Kenite Jews to murder him. Galatians 1:19 "But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother." In defending Paul's case, he is saying that he hadn't even talked to any of the other apostles, except for James, one of Jesus half brothers, and the author to the book of James in our Bibles. Galatians 1:20 "Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not." Paul is guarantying the churches at Galatia that every thing that he writes to them are direct from the Father, and not from the mouth of any man. Galatians 1:21 "Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilcia;" This is all part of Paul's first missionary journey, recorded in Acts 9. Galatians 1:22 "And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:" Paul is saying that he had not gone to the churches of Judaea, and he did not know them face to face. Paul knew of each of the apostles by name, but he had never met them, or talked with them until after his first missionary journey and his return to Antioch. Again Paul is stating that what He is teaching them is direct from God; I didn't learn this from any of them. Galatians 1:23 "But they had heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed." You know that every Christian of Paul's day knew of Paul, for he was a terror of the church. In Acts 7 we see that Paul held the coats of those stoning Stephen, and gave the orders to kill him. All of the apostles knew well of Paul and feared him, yet when the conversion of Paul came, the news spread like wildfire. It took a great deal of doing for the church to accept Paul after his conversion, but Christ can do and chose whom ever he wishes. Galatians 1:24 "And they glorified God in me." When Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, Christ entered Paul, and part of His Spirit [His Holy Spirit] then dwells within him, just as He does today. The Holy Spirit is what gives you unction [understanding] when you study the Word, and place it within your mind. It does very little good to read the Word, unless that Holy Spirit of God gives you the ability to relate to, and apply what you are reading. Remember that Paul was one of the most refined scholars of his day, and the reading of the Torah was already in his mind, so when the Holy Spirit entered into Paul, God became glorified in the mind of Paul. Paul then understood what was meant by being one of the elect, and what the overall plan of God was. He understood who the Kenites were, and how every detail of Christ's life was fore prophesied in the Old Testament. When you understand the Word of God, and the Spirit of God is within you, God is glorified. The entire word then takes on a new meaning, and Psalm 22 becomes history of the crucifixion, exactly as every other fulfilled prophecy from Genesis, through the book of Daniel, and including all the Minor Prophets. When God's Word is opened to your mind, you crave every part of His holy Word.
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