No More Law A bold study in Galatians

NOMORELAW!
NOMORELAW!
AboldstudyinGalatians
BruceAtkinson
ForewordbyDrR.T.Kendall
GalatianstranslatedfromtheGreekbyProfessorJamesD.G.Dunn
Copyright©2012BruceAtkinson
181716151413127654321
Thiseditionfirstpublished2012byPaternoster
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ISBN978-1-78078-031-3
THEMESSAGE
ThetranslationoftheGreekusedthroughoutthisbookisbyJamesD.G.Dunn,TheEpistletotheGalatians
(Black’sNewTestamentCommentary),(Peabody,M.A.:HendricksonPublishers,1993)
CoverdesignbyDavidMcNeillatRevocreative
ToChristopherCartwright
Contents
Acknowledgements
ForewordbyDrR.T.Kendall

Preface
Introduction
1TheSupernaturalGospel(1:1–5)
2ShockedtoCursing(1:6–13)
3Paul’sTestimony(1:13–24)
4TheCouncilofJerusalem(2:1–10)
5FoodFightinAntioch(2:11–14)
6TrustingintheFaithofChrist(2:15–21)
7ReceivingtheSpiritwithPower(3:1–5)
8TheBlessingofAbraham(3:6–9)
9TheCurseoftheLaw(3:10–14)
10ThePurposeoftheLaw(3:19–25)
11HeirsofGod(4:1–7)
12NoTurningBack(4:8–20)
13YourMotherFromAbove(4:21–31)
14LiberatedforFreedom(5:1–6)
15LoveYourNeighbour(5:7–15)
16HowtoBeLedbytheSpirit(5:16–18)
17FleshorFruit(5:19–24)
18InStepwiththeSpirit(5:25–6:6)
19ReapingtheReward(6:6–10)
20Conclusion:GloryOnlyintheCross(6:11–18)
Bibliography
Endnotes
Acknowledgements
IwouldliketoexpressmygratitudetoProfessorJamesD.G.Dunnforgivingmekind
permissiontousehisEnglishtranslationofGalatiansfromtheGreek.Mywife,
Nicola,andIhavefondmemoriesofbeingtutoredbyProfessorDunnatDurham
Universityinthelateeighties.HiscommentaryonGalatianshasbeenagreatsource
ofhelptome,andIrecommendittothosewhowishtostudytheepistlefurther.

IwouldliketothanktheElimFoursquareGospelAllianceforgivingmean
opportunitytoexpressmyministry.Thefellowship,supportandencouragementthatI
havereceivedfromtheMovementovertheyearsaresincerelyappreciated.
Finally,IwouldliketothankColinandAmandaDyeandallthedisciplesat
KensingtonTemple.Withouttheirsupportthisbookwouldnothavebeenpossible.
Foreword
ThegreatestdangerinthechurchatthepresenttimeisthatthegospelofJesusChrist
islargelypassingbehindacloud.Thegospel,inmanyplaces,hasbeeneclipsedby
‘What’sinitforme?’prosperityteaching,andanemphasisuponworks.WhenIfirst
cametoWestminsterChapelin1977,Iwasasked,please,tospeakonGalatians.Idid
thisonFridaynightsforoverfouryears.Itwasalife-changingeraformanypeople,
includingmyself.IhadjustfinishedmyresearchdegreeatOxford,havingbeen
immersedinPuritan-typethinkingforthreeyears.ThePuritans,generallyspeaking,
hadbecomequitelegalistic,causingMartinLuther’srediscoveryofjustificationby
faithalonevirtuallytobeputtooneside.Iwassogladthattheyaskedmetoteachon
Galatians.
RevdBruceAtkinson,theassociateministeratLondon’sKensingtonTemple,has
doneacommendablejobinhisexpositionofPaul’slettertotheGalatians.Brucehas
givenusgood,solidteachinginthisbook.Iamthrilledthatsomeonewithhis
backgroundandinhisPentecostaltraditionwouldwritesoclearlyandcourageously,
whensomanyinthatmovementhavebecomeworks-orientatedintheirperspective.
WhatBrucedoesistomaintainawonderfulbalancebetweentheWordandtheSpirit,
thegospelandtheplaceoftheMosaicLaw,freedomfromthatLaw,butwithan
emphasisuponourresponsibilitytolivegodlylives.AScottishtheologiansaid
centuriesagothatthepersonwhounderstandstherelationshipbetweentheLawand
thegospelisagoodtheologian.
IwasespeciallypleasedthatBruceAtkinsonhaspointedoutthatwearesavedby
thefaithofChrist–Jesus’ownpersonalfaithandobedience.TheapostlePaul
stressedthatwebelieve‘in’JesusChristinordertobejustified‘bythefaithof’Jesus
Christ(Gal.2:16).Thechurch’sgeneralfailuretoseethisimportantfoundationisone

ofthereasonstherehasbeensomuchmisunderstandingoftheplaceoftheLawinthe
Christianunderstandingofthegospel.SoPaulcouldsaythathelivedbyfaith,namely
that‘oftheSonofGod’(Gal.2:20).SadlytheAuthorizedVersionisalmostalonein
beingclearontheGreeklanguagethatliesbehindverseslikethese.Youwilldowell
toreadBrucecarefullyinthissection.
AndyettheauthorofthisbookputsgreatstressontheworkoftheHolySpiritin
theChristianlife.HespeaksofwalkingintheSpirit,howthisbringsfreedomand
producesgodliness.EverynewChristianshouldreadthisbook,andyetthereismuch
initforthemostmaturebeliever.
ColinDye,theSeniorMinisterofKensingtonTemple,canbejustlyproudof
havingBruceonhisstaff.Brucehasproducedaserious,no-nonsenseexpositionof
thebookMartinLuthercalledhis‘KatyVonBora’(thewomanLuthermarriedafter
hewassetfreebythedoctrineofjustificationbyfaith).Ipraythisbookwillsetyou
freeaswell.
DrR.T.Kendall
MinisterofWestminsterChapel(1977–2002)
Preface
Whatdoesitmeantobesaved?Thisisthechiefquestionaddressedbythebookof
Galatians.Itseemssuchasimplequestion,doesn’tit?Butifwegettheanswer
wrong,theconsequencescouldbeawfulandeternal.Howdoesone‘getsaved’?And
oncesaved,howdowestaysaved?JustasinPaul’stime,today’schurchis
profoundlyconfusedandsharplydividedovertheanswerstothesequestions.
TheGalatianGentileshadbeensavedbyPaul’spreachingofthegospel–orhad
they?Nowtheyweren’tsosure.Somenewteachershadcomeintotheirmidstwith
verydifferentanswersthanPaultothequestionofhowtobesaved.Thesenew
teachershadnewstandardsandrulesthattheyclaimedwouldnotonlysavethe
Galatians,butjustasimportantly,keepthemsaved.Obediencetothesecommands
wouldnotonlyshowtheGalatiansbuteveryonethattheyweretrulypartofGod’s
savedpeople.ThesenewteachershadintroducedtheGalatianstotheLawofMoses!
ThisteachingaboutChristianslivingbytheLawofMoseswasnewtothe

Galatians.IthadplayednopartintheirdailyChristianlivingsofar.Paulhadnever
toldthemthattheyneededitandtheyweren’tschooledinit.Sowhenagroupof
JewishChristianmissionariescametoGalatiawhodisagreedwithPaul’sviewofthe
gospel,theybecameconfused.
TheJewishmissionariestaughtthatclearboundariesmustbeputintoplaceinorder
toseparatethenewbelieversfromtheworldaroundthem.Theseboundarieswere
externalandoutwardforalltosee:circumcision,obediencetofoodlaws,indeedthe
wholeJewishLawitself.These‘Judaizers’taughtthatiftheGalatiansreallywere
saved,thentheyhadtodemonstrateitbyobediencetoGod’scommands.Theywere
nowtoldthattheyhadbeensavedinordertolivebyGod’sLaw.Paul,ontheother
hand,believedthatfarfrombeingsavedtofollowGod’sLaw,theywereactually
savedfromit!TohimtheLawwasnolongerneededbecauselifewasnowledbythe
Spirit.TheSpirit-filledlifehadreplacedobediencetotheLaw.ThebookofGalatians
drawsusintothefirst-centurychurch’sbattleoverthenatureofthegospel.Itwasa
nastyconflictfulloffactions,strongpersonalities,politics,andpressuregroups.
PaulhadblazedanevangelistictrailacrosstheGentileworldandthousandswere
comingtoChrist.ButhotonPaul’shealsfollowedotherswhopreachedagospel
radicallydifferenttohis.ThisbattleforthegospelreacheditsclimaxinGalatiawhere
opponentsofPaulactivelysoughttoturnhisconvertsagainstbothhimandhis
gospel.
WewillalsofindthatGalatiansisapowerfulrecordofpersonalencounterswith
thelivingGod.Pentecostalbyexperience,Paulunderstoodtherewasadynamic
dialoguebetweenscholarlytheologyandapersonalexperienceoftheSpiritofGod.
Scriptureisthefinalauthorityregardingallmattersoffaith,butPauldoesnotonly
turntoScripturetopresenthiscaseforthetruegospel,healsoutilizeshisown
personalexperienceoftheHolySpirit,andalsothatoftheGalatianChristians
themselves,toprovethevalidityofthegospelthathepreached.
Bibletruth,afterall,isnotjusttobeunderstoodintellectually,butcanalsobe
experiencedthroughpersonalandsupernaturalencounters.Itisthetruththatactually
setsusfree.PaularguesinGalatiansthatwhatreallyseparatesusfromtheworldis

notobediencetorules,butourpresentongoingexperienceoftheHolySpirit.The
experienceoftheSpiritandhisaccompanyingmanifestationsweretobecomeoneof
Paul’smainargumentstopersuadetheGalatianstoremainsteadfastingospelgrace.
Whataboutyou?BeforeyoutakeajourneythroughGalatians,wheredoyoustand
onsuchissues?DotheTenCommandmentsplayaroleinyourChristianlife?Doyou
believethatyoucanloseyoursalvation?DoyoulivebyrulesorbytheSpirit,anddo
youevenknowthedifferencebetweenthetwo?Areyoureallyandtrulylivingthe
Spirit-filledlife?Doyouknowwhatitreallymeanstobefree?
ThelettertoGalatiansaddressesalltheseissuesandmore.Ipraythatthemessage
oftheSpiritthatwasspoken2,000yearsagototheGalatianchurchwillresonatein
yourspiritasclearlytoday.IpraythatyoumighthearthevoiceoftheSpiritcrying,
nomorelaw!
MartinBruceAtkinson
KensingtonTemple,
NottingHillGate
London
Introduction
ThelettertotheGalatians:who,when,what,howandwhy?
Letters,emailsandtextsarefascinatingformsofcommunication.Nomatterhowlong
orshortamessagemaybe,thereisalwayssomuchtolearn–notonlyfromthewords
usedinthemessageitself,butfromthecircumstancesthatcausedthecommunication
inthefirstplace.Similarly,Galatianswaswrittenasaletterbyaspecificpersontoa
specificgroupofpeopleforaspecificreasonandataspecifictime.Weshould
recognizethisfromtheoutsetifwearetrulygoingtobeabletounderstandthe
messageitcontains.
ToappreciatewhatGodissayingtousthroughthisportionofScripture,itis
imperativetofindoutasmuchaboutitsbackgroundaspossible.Ihavereadbooks
andlistenedtosermonsthathavetreatedversesofGalatiansasiftheyweregenerated
byanimpersonalcomputerinheavenandthendownloadedtoearth.Whenpeople
treatScriptureinthiswaytheyusuallymisunderstanditsomewheredowntheline.

WhenwereadspecificbooksintheBibleweshouldalwaysaskthequestions,who,
when,what,how,why?WeshallaskthesequestionsaboutthelettertoGalatians
becausetheanswersarekeytounderstandingtheepistleitself.
WhowasPaul?
WhowroteGalatians,andtowhomwasitaddressed?Noonedoubtsthattheauthor
ofthelettertotheGalatianswastheapostlePaul.Infact,ifyouwanttoknowwhat
kindofmanthisapostletotheGentileswas(Gentilessimplyreferstoallnationsand
peoplesapartfromIsrael),thenthisisanexcellentlettertoread.
Ilovereadingbiographiesofgreatmenandwomen.Evenbetterare
autobiographies,wherepeoplewritepersonallyabouttheirlives.Ifyouwanttoknow
whatittakestobeagreatgeneral,businessman,sportspersonorpoet,youneedto
readbooksabouttheirlivesandespeciallybookswhereyougetit‘straightfromthe
horse’smouth’–fromthemenorwomenthemselves.Galatiansisaverypersonal
letterbecausePaulrevealssomuchabouthislife’sstruggles,passions,defeatsand
victories.Tofindoutwhatareal‘breakthrough’ministryislike,weshouldreadthis
letter.
PaulthePharisee
TheapostlePaul,beforehecametofollowChrist,wasknownasSaul.Hewas
schooledinoneofthestrictestformsofJudaism,similartotheOrthodoxJewsof
today.HedescribeshisreligiouspedigreeinPhilippians3:5–6
IwascircumcisedwhenIwaseightdaysold.Iamapure-bloodedcitizen
ofIsraelandamemberofthetribeofBenjamin–arealHebrewifthere
everwasone!IwasamemberofthePhariseeswhodemandthestrictest
obediencetotheJewishlaw.IwassozealousthatIharshlypersecuted
thechurch.Andasforrighteousness,Iobeyedthelawwithoutfault.
(NLT)
ThePhariseeshadbeenapowerful,purifyingmovementinJudaisminthe150years
beforeChrist.TheywerethespiritualdescendantsoftheearlyHasidim(meaningthe
‘pious’)formedaround170BC.TheHasidimresistedtheattemptsoftheirGreek
rulerstoforceallJewstoadoptGreekcultureandrenouncetheirown.ThePharisees

(meaning‘separateones’)modelledandtaughtastrictobservanceoftheJewishLaw
astheonlymeanstoremainafaithfulpartofGod’scovenantpeople.Theirteachers
wereknownasrabbisandtheyhadawholeseriesoftraditionsandrules(notfoundin
Scripture)thattheybelievedwentbacktothetimeofMoses.ThePhariseesbelieved
thesetraditionshadbeenhandeddownfromgenerationtogeneration.Knownasthe
OralLaw,Jesuswouldconfrontmanyofthesenon-biblicaltraditionsduringhis
ministryonearth.
ThereweremanydifferentsectswithinJudaismduringPaul’stime,andnumerous
viewsonwhatitreallymeanttobeatruecovenantJew.NotonlywereJews
distinguishedfromGentilesbycircumcision,butalsobysuchthingsasfoodlaws,
whichgovernednotonlywhattheyatebutalsowhotheyatewith.Allthiswas
essentialtotheJewishsenseofidentity.Theterm‘sinner’wasawell-usedonein
first-centuryJudaism–thedifferentJewishsectstendedtocallanyone(includingone
another)whodidnotliveaccordingtotheirparticularformoftradition,asinner!No
wonderweseesuchimportanceplacedupontheuseoftheterm‘sinner’throughout
theGospelaccounts.
PaulhadbeenanoutstandingPharisee.Hehadstudiedintheschoolofthefamous
RabbiGamaliel.Intoday’stermsitwouldbelikehavingaPhDinOldTestament
studiesfromOxfordorCambridgeUniversity.
ThisbackgroundisextremelyimportantforanyreaderofGalatians.Atthistime,
manyJewishChristianswereconcernedthattheidentityofthechurchshouldalsobe
expressedbycertaintraditionssuchascircumcisionandfoodlaws.Theywerefearful
ofbeingcontaminatedbytheGentileworld,oflivinglikesinnersandlosingtheir
specialrelationshipwithGodasJews.ThehugenumbersofGentilesbecoming
ChristiansfurtherconcernedmanyJewishbelieversthattheirheritagecouldsoon
disappearforgood.TheyfeltthattheyhadtokeeptheirJewishnessatallcosts.
ApostletotheGentiles
Paulhadforcefullypersecutedthechurchinitsearliestdays,imprisoningandeven
sentencingbelieverstodeath.Hesaw‘theWay’(asChristianitywasfirstknown)asa
greatthreattotheauthenticcommunityofGod,andhethoughtthatasaPhariseehe

wasthebestrepresentativeofJudaismthatcouldbefound.ThebookofActstellsus
thatPaulevenheldthecoatsofthemenwhostonedStephen.Jesusdiedin30ADand
PaulhadhisfamousencounterwithChristontheroadtoDamascusbetween31and
33AD(seePaul’sownaccountinActs26:12–18).Itwasatthatpointthathislifewas
turnedcompletelyaroundandhereceivedhisdivinecallingtotakethegospeltothe
Gentiles.PaulthenspentthreeyearsinArabia.Inabout35AD,hevisitedJerusalem
andstayedwithPeter,meetingJameswhilsthewasthere.Paulthenbegan
evangelizingtheGentiles,basinghimselfinthecityofAntioch.
TheCouncilofJerusalem
Afterfourteenyearsofpowerfulevangelism,Paulreturnedtowhatwouldbethe
CouncilofJerusalemmentionedinActschapter15(meetingaround49AD).This
wasaverysignificantassemblyandPaulreferstoitinGalatians.AttheCouncilit
wasconfirmedthatPaulwouldpreachthegospeltoGentiles,whowererecognizedas
fullmembersofthechurchofChristwithoutneedingtobecircumcised.Despitesome
opposition,thegospel’sfreedomfromtheLawseemedtohavetriumphed.Itwas
establishedthatPaulhadbeencalledtobringthegospeltotheGentileworldwithout
callingonthemtobecircumcised.
ThefalloutwithPeterinAntioch
AntiochhadbecomethemajormissionarysendingcentretotheGentileworld.Itwas
thebaseforPaul’sministry.TheAntiochchurchconsistedofamajorityofGentiles,
butalsocontainedalargenumberofJewishbelievers.TheinfluenceoftheJudaizers
begantospread.TheJudaizerswereactivelyfollowinginthestepsofPaultoconvert
hisconvertstotheirfalsegospel,whichincludedthenecessityofkeepingtheJewish
Law.TheCouncilofJerusalemhadbeenclearinregardtoitspositionon
circumcision,butnotsoclearontheissueoffoodortablefellowship.TheJudaizers
inAntiochbegantoinsistthatJewishChristiansnolongerhavefoodfellowshipwith
GentileChristians.
WeshalldiscoverthatPeterandevenPaul’scloseassociate,Barnabas,werewon
overbytheJudaizers’arguments.Peterdecidedtonolongertablefellowshipwiththe
GentilebelieversofAntioch.Thiswasamajorstepbackwardsforthegospel,

especiallywhenwerememberthatitwasalsoduringtablefellowshipthatthebread
andwineofHolyCommunionwascelebrated.Paulstoodhisground,butlostthe
argument.FromthatpointonPaulmovedfromAntioch,makingbasesatCorinthand
thenEphesus.PaulhadlostthebattleatAntioch,butwasdeterminednottolosethe
waroverthetruthofthegospelofgrace.
WhoweretheGalatians?
Galatiawasnotacity,butaRomanprovince.ItisfoundinthehighlandsofAnatolia
inmodern-dayTurkey.Ankara,thepresentTurkishcapital,wasalsothecapitalof
ancientGalatia.TheareawasnamedGalatiaafterthemigrationoftheGauls(or
Celts)intotheareaintheearlythirdcenturyBC.TheassembliesthatPaulwouldhave
pioneeredinGalatiawouldhavebeenpredominantlyGentile.Thereisagreat
discussioninacademiccirclesaboutwhetherthelettertotheGalatianswasdirected
onlytoSouthGalatiaorwhetheritincludedNorthGalatiaalso.IfPaulhadalso
managedtoreachNorthGalatiaitmeansthatthelettermayhavebeenwrittenafew
yearslaterthanifitaddressedonlytheinitialevangelizationoftheSouth.Really,it
doesn’tmatter–themostimportantthingtorememberisthattheCouncilof
JerusalemtookplacebeforeGalatianswaswritten.TheepistletotheGalatianscould
havebeenwrittenanytimefromtheearlyfiftiesAD.
TheJudaizingmissionariesplaguedthefootstepsofPaul.Itisamazinghoweven
today,whereverthegospelgainsground,cultsandfalseteachersarenotfarbehindit,
likewolvestryingtodevourthesheep.Paulwasastonishedandannoyedthatthe
youngchurchinGalatiahadsuccumbedsoquicklytoafalsegospel.Wasthisgoing
tobeAntiochalloveragain?NotifPaulhadanythingtodowithit!Thepower,force
andemotionalintensityofthelettertotheGalatiansshowPaulbattlingonceandfor
alltodestroythefalsegospelofsalvationbyworks.
ThemessageofGalatians
BecausePaul’sletterreactstoadeparturefromthetruegospelbytheGalatians,it
alsomeansthatPaulwillneedtogiveacrystal-clearaccountofwhatthegospelreally
is.Galatiansisextremelyimportantbecause,morethananyotherbookintheBible,
exceptperhapsRomans,thegospelisexplainedintheclearestwaypossible.

IfyouapproachtheScripturestodiscovertheanswertothequestion,whatdoesit
meantobesaved?itisimportantwhereyoustart.Alwaysstartwherethedoctrineis
mostplainlyandspecificallytaught.Somepreachersbasetheirdoctrineofsalvation
notprimarilyonGalatiansorRomans,butselectedversesofthesynopticgospels
(Matthew,MarkandLuke)andtheepistleofJames.
Ifyouwishtounderstandthedoctrineofsalvation,startwiththethreebooksthat
specificallyaddressthetopicofhowtobesaved:Galatians,RomansandtheGospel
ofJohn.Thesethreebooksarethefoundationuponwhichthedoctrineofsalvation
shouldbebuilt.
ThetheologianF.F.Brucesummarizestheprimitivemessageofthegospelfoundin
Galatianslikethis
JesusourLord,theSonofGod,wassentintotheworldbyhisFather
whentheduetimecame.HewasbornintothefamilyofAbrahamand
livedundertheJewishLaw.Hewascrucifiedbyhisenemies,butin
deathhegavehimselfforhispeople’ssins.Godraisedhimfromthe
dead,tobethesaviourofallwhobelieveinhim;hehassentthisSpirit
intotheirhearts,enablingthemtocallGod‘father’asJesusdid,to
exhibithisloveintheirlivesandtolookforwardconfidentlytothe
realisationoftheirhope.
1
BythetimePaulwroteRomans,hehadeffectivelyconqueredthethreatofthe
Judaizerstothechurch–somuchsothathecouldevengraciouslycallonChristians
tobepatientwiththeweakerbrethrenwhostillfollowedaspectsoftheJewishLaw
(Rom.14).ThelettertotheGalatianswastoplayahugepartinthisvictoryoverthe
falsegospel.
1.
TheSupernaturalGospel
(Gal.1:1–5)
GreetingsfromPaul(1:1–5)
(1)Paul,apostle–notfromhumanbeingsnorthroughahumanbeing,

butthroughJesusChristandGodtheFather,whoraisedhimfromthe
dead–(2)andallthebrotherswithme,tothechurchesofGalatia.(3)
GracetoyouandpeacefromGodourFatherandtheLordJesusChrist,
(4)whogavehimselfforoursins,inorderthathemightrescueusfrom
thepresentevilage,inaccordancewiththewillofourGodandFather;
(5)towhombegloryforeverandever,amen.
AllofPaul’sNewTestamentletters,apartfromGalatians,startinarelaxed,polite
manner,yetshowatouchofformality.Heoftenbeginsbycommendingor
complimentingthepeopleorpersonthatheiswritingto.Oftenhewilltellthemhow
muchheappreciatesthembygivingthanksforthem.Healsofrequentlyremindsthem
thattheyareinhisthoughtsandprayers.Ifyoutakejustacoupleofminutesyoucan
flickthroughthebeginningsofPaul’slettersintheNewTestamentandyouwillsee
notonlyacommonpattern,buthowdifferentGalatiansisfromthatpattern–notonly
inthecontentofthegreeting,butalsoitstone.
Paulisveryemotionalatthebeginningofthisletter.Hedealswithmanyserious
issuesinotherletters,butnothingaffectedhimmorethanhisconcernforthetruthof
thegospel.PaulwantstogetthegreetingtotheGalatiansoverwithassoonas
possibleandgetstraightdowntobusiness.Buteveninthegreetingheismaking
powerfulpoints.Haveyoueverrepliedimmediatelytoanemailinanger?Haveyou
everpressedthesendbuttonandthenthought,‘WhathaveIdone?’(and‘recall’never
seemstowork).Emailswritteninhasteandwithangryemotionsusuallydon’t
achievetheiraims.WhyisPaulsofieryinGalatians,rightfromthestart?
Thereisatimeforholyangerorzeal.Jesusdemonstrateditanumberoftimesin
hisdealingswiththePharisees,andmostfamouslyincleansingtheTemple.
Remember,GalatiansisnotonlytheletterofamannamedPaul,butitisalsothe100
percentinfallibleWordofGod.ItissowonderfultoreadtheBibleandseeallthe
characteristicsandpersonalitiesofthehumanauthorsdisplayed.Butitisalso
amazingtoknowthattheHolySpiritcarriedthemalong,superintendingtheir
thoughts,yetwithoutviolatingthem,sothattheywouldalsowriteexactlywhathe
desired.

TheBible’sauthors’wholelivesandpersonalities,theirfailingsaswellastheir
strengths,wereusedbyGodtoproducehisperfectWord.Paul’sanger,impatience
andbluntnessarenotjustexpressionsofhispersonality,butalsoanindicationofhow
Godhimselfwantedthislettertobewritten.GodrequiredthisportionofScriptureto
bepassionate,seriousandaggressive.Becausethegospelistheonlypowerthatcan
save,itmustbedefendedatallcosts.
Paulintroduceshimselfas‘apostle’:‘Paul,apostle–notfromhumanbeingsnor
throughahumanbeing,butthroughJesusChristandGodtheFather,whoraisedhim
fromthedead.’Pow!Paulcomesoutofthecornerinthefirstround,andconnects
withalefthookinthefirstsentence.
IhaveentitledthefirstfifteenversesofGalatians‘thesupernaturalgospel’because
fromthestartthisisthemainthemeofthesection.By‘supernatural’Imeaninthe
senseofdivinepower.Theword‘apostle’means‘onewhoissent’andcanbe
thereforebeunderstoodbothinthesenseofamessengerandalsoacommissioned
ambassador.ThatPaulhadtodefendhisdivinecallingfromthestartshowshow
muchhisauthorityhadbeenquestionedandunderminedbytheJudaizers.Paulwas
notonlyanapostleintheEphesians4:11senseoftheword–hewasalsooneofthe
foundationaleyewitnessesoftherisenLord,andspecificallycalledtobetheapostle
totheGentiles.
Supernaturalcalling
Paulbreaksoffhisgreetinginanunexpectedwaybydefiningtheoriginofhiscallas
divine.Paul’sauthoritycamefromGod.Itwasnotanauthorityofhumanorigin.His
authoritywasnotpoliticalordenominational.Neitherwasitderivedfrompopular
support.Itwasanauthorityandcommissioningthatcamefromadivinesource.He
wasappointedbytheLord.
Evenintoday’schurchmanytakethetitle‘minister’butdon’thavethe
supernaturalanointingtobackitup.Thisnormallycausesthemtoturntohuman
meansofauthenticationandadvancement.TheJudaizersweresuchministers.As
Paulwillexplainlaterintheletter,itisalwaysfleshthatpersecutestheSpirit,the
‘Ishmaels’whopersecutethe‘Isaacs’.Paul’sconfidencewasinhissupernatural

calling,andhewasnotafraidtorefertoit.
Resurrectionauthority
Paulexplainsthathissupernaturalcallingisbasedonthemostimportantmiraculous
eventinhistory:theresurrectionofJesusChristfromthedead.Christianitystandson
thefactthatJesusrosefromthedead.ThebasisofallfaithandthusofallChristian
ministryisthetruthoftheresurrection.IfChristwasnotraisedfromthedeadallisin
vain,butifhewasraisedthenabsolutelyallthingsarepossibleforthosewhobelieve.
ItwastherisenChristwhoconfrontedPaulontheroadtoDamascusandcalledhim
toapostleship.ThisistheonlytimePaulmentionsJesus’resurrectioninthisletter,
anditisinterestingthathedoessoinrelationtodefendinghisministry.
PaultellstheGalatiansthathisministryisnotonetobejudgedfromahuman
standpointbecauseitisrootedinthesupernaturalcallingofGod.Alltrueministers
willlikewisehavetheirownpersonalstoryofasupernaturalcalling,althougheach
experiencewill,ofcourse,beuniquetoeachperson.Paulinchapter3willappealtoa
commonsupernaturalexperiencethatalltheGalatianChristianshaveencountered
throughconsciouslyreceivingtheSpirit.Buthereheisfocusingonhisdivinecalling
asaministerofthegospel.
Irecallasanon-believerkneelinginDurhamCathedralattheageof18beforemy
interviewtobecomeatheologystudent.Imuttereda‘goodluck’prayer:‘God,ifI
becomeastudentatDurham,Iwillgivemylifetoyouandyourservice.’Tobe
honest,Ididn’tevenknowwhatIwassaying.Suddenlyastillnessandapowerful
blanket-likepresencefelluponme.FortwentyminutesIkneltinthisstrange
presence.Then,asan‘unbeliever’,Igotupandwenttomyinterview.Iwasdazedbut
divinelycalled.Othersmaydoubtmycalling,butIknowitcamethroughapersonal
experiencewiththeLord.IwasordainedbeforeIwasevensaved,andIlikethat.
PeoplegetsocaughtupwiththeissueofPaul’sconversion,butPaulneversaw
himselfsomuchas‘converted’byGodbutrathercalled.Maybeweshouldnolonger
speakofconvertsbutofthosethatarecalled,fortobecalledisalsotobe
commissionedtoasupernatural,divineplan.
(2)andallthebrotherswithme,tothechurchesofGalatia.(3)Graceto

youandpeacefromGodourFatherandtheLordJesusChrist,(4)who
gavehimselfforoursins,inorderthathemightrescueusfromthe
presentevilage,inaccordancewiththewillofourGodandFather;(5)to
whombegloryforeverandever,amen.
ItisremarkablethatinthefirstfiveversesofGalatianswehavealreadyhadthecore
ofthemessageofthegospel.WehavethedivinityofJesusasLord,wehavehisdeath
onthecrossforoursins,hisresurrectionandourdeliverancefromthepowerofsin
andevil,andalsowereceiveGodasourFather.
Graceandpeace
Allweneed–indeed,allthehumanconditionlongsfor–isgraceandpeace.Martin
Luthersaidthatgraceandpeacearethetwofriendsthatdealwiththetwintorments
ofourlives:sinandaguiltyconscience.LuthersaysinhiscommentaryonGalatians,
‘ThesetwowordsgraceandpeacecontaininthemthewholesumofChristianity.
Gracecontainstheforgivenessofsins;peaceaquietandjoyfulconscience.’
1
Conscienceisthebrokenmirrorintheheartofeveryindividualthatdimlyreflects
therealityofwhoweareatthecoreofourbeing.Wearesinful,guilty,shameful
humanbeings.Wecanignoreandrecoilfromthispainfulimage,butitsrealitywill
neverchangeuntilgraceandpeaceenterourheartsthroughthegospel.Gracesimply
means‘totalundeservedfavour’anditusuallyreferstoGod’sunconditionallovefor
us.PeacemeansalifeinharmonywiththeHolySpirit.Ahealed,freedandassured
lifespringsfromahealthyheartfilledwiththeHolySpirit.AsPaulsayshere,this
graceandpeacecomesfromonlyonesource.Youcan’tgetitfromanyreligionor
frommeditation,fromapoliticalparty,worldlysuccess,orevenanyotherhuman
being.ItcomesdirectlyandonlyfromGodtheFatherthroughhisSonandbythe
preciousHolySpirit.Nothingbutfaithinthegospelcanbringusintoanexperience
ofwhatwesodesperatelyneed.
Arescuemission
Humankindneedsamightydeliverance.ThedeathofChristwasnotonlytodeliver
usfromthepenaltyofoursin;italsohasdeliveringpowertorescueusfromthefallen

anddemonicallyruledagethatwelivein.JamesDunn,inhiscommentaryon
Galatians,putsitthisway
Paulcertainlyhadnodoubtsthatthepresentagewasmarkedby
corruptibility,superficiality,follyandblindness,orthathumankindas
heirsofAdamwerecaughtunderthereignofsinanddeath.Inearliest
Christianunderstanding,Christ’sdeathwasthekeytodeliverancefrom
theseductiveandcorruptingintroversionofthisage’sself-delusion,since
byhisdeathhebrokeboththepowerofsinandthepowerofdeath.For
thosewhoidentifiedwiththisJesusasLordthespellwasbroken...
2
Theworldweliveinisfallen.ThefallofAdamintheGardenofEdenwasareal,
historiceventofthemostcatastrophickind.Oftenatheistspointtothebrokennessand
sufferingoftheworldasanargumentthatifGodcreatedtheworldthatwelivein,
thenhemustbeaverycruelbeingindeed.Manyalsopointtotheexistenceof
sufferingasproofthatthereisnoGod.Afterall,ifwehadbeenGodwewouldhave
createdsuchabetter,kinderandmorejustworld,wouldn’twe?
AsPaulintroducesthegospelinthesefirstfewverses,heacknowledgesthatthe
ageweliveinisevil.FarfrombeinganexpressionofGod’scharacter,itisactuallyat
enmitywithhisnatureandpurpose.Godissoconcernedwiththepresentstateof
humanaffairsthathesenthisSontodieinordertodeliverusfromit.Thisisnotto
saythattheworlddoesn’tstillshowfaintreflectionsoftheCreator’sgoodness,nature
andpower.Wehaveseenhissignaturewrittenallovercreation.Infact,thebeautywe
seecanbeoverwhelming,andifwecanstillspyoutsuchbeautyinanevilandfallen
world,whatmustithavebeenliketodwellontheearthwhenGodcalleditgood?
ImaginehowitwillbewhenGodcreatesanewheavenandanewearthattheendof
theage.
Theeviloftheworldisprimarilyspiritual,moralandsupernaturalinnature.We
areunderits‘spell’.Itblindsanddeceivesusfromthetrutharoundusandwithinus.
Itholdsusinbondagetodemonicaddiction.Paultellsusthat‘thegodofthisworld,
hasblindedthemindsofthosewhodon’tbelieve’(2Cor.4:4,NLT).

InGalatians3,PaulwillaskwhohasbewitchedorputtheGalatiansunderaspell.
Thegospeldeliversusfromsin,Satanandthechainsofevil.Ofcourse,aspilgrimsin
aforeignlandwestillliveinandexperiencetheevilsoftheworldaroundus.Butby
faithinthepowerofChrist’sdeathwecanexperiencedeliverancefromthespiritual
deceptionanddominationofthispresentevilage.BythepoweroftheHolySpiritwe
canliveasflaminglightsinthemidstofdarkness.
Ican’temphasizeenoughthefactthatthegospelactuallydeliversusoutofone
spiritualrealmintoanother.Regeneration(beingbornagain)translatesusfromthe
kingdomofdarknessintotherealmofthekingdomofGod.Themomentwebecome
Christianswearecompletelydeadtothereignofsinandevil;weleaveitsterritory
altogether.InhisexpositionofRomans6,DrMartynLloyd-Jonesputsitlikethis
HowcanIsaythatIamdeliveredfromtheruleandtherealmofthedevil
andofsin,whenIstillfallintotemptation?Lookatitinthisway.Think
oftwofieldswitharoadbetweenthem.Thefieldontheleftrepresents
thedominion,thekingdom,theterritory,theempireofsinandSatan.
Thatiswhereweallwerebyournaturalbirth.Butasaresultofthework
oftheHolySpirit,wehavebeentakenholdofandtransferredtothefield
ontherightoftheroad–‘Deliveredfromthepowerofdarknessand
translatedintothekingdomofhisdearson.’Iwasontheleft;Iamnow
hereontheright.Yes,butIspentmanyalongyearinthefirstfieldand
thedevilisstilltherewithallhispowersandhisforces.Thisisapicture
ofwhatoftenhappens.AsaChristianIamhereinthenewfieldand
Satancannottouchme,aswearetoldin1John5:18,‘thatwickedone
touchethhimnot.’Hecannottouchusbecausewearenolongerinhis
kingdom.Hecannottouchus;buthecanshoutacrosstheroadatus.
EveryChristianwhofallsintosinisafool.Thedevilcannottouchus,
whythendowelistentohim?Whydoweallowhimtofrightenus?Why
dowepayanyattentiontohim?Whenhespeakstouswelistentohim
andfallunderhisspell.Weshouldresisthim.
3

WeshallseelaterintheepistleofGalatiansthatthistranslationfromthekingdomof
darknessisattheheartofourlivinginholyfreedom.
Finally,inthisopeningtotheletterweseethatgospeldeliveranceistheverywill
ofGodtheFather.ThesovereignwilloftheFatherisself-evidentinPaul’steachings.
Hiscalling,themessageofthegospel,thegiftoftheSpirit,allarepartoftheFather’s
plan.PaulwouldhavesaidaheartyamentotheapostleJohn’sstatement
ButasmanyasreceivedHim,tothemHegavetherighttobecome
childrenofGod,tothosewhobelieveinHisname:whowereborn,notof
blood,norofthewilloftheflesh,norofthewillofman,butofGod.
(John1:12,13,NKJV)
Itisnotsurprisingthatwithallthispowerfulteachinginthefirstfourversesof
Galatians,Paulburstsintoadoxology(ashortexpressionorhymnofpraisetoGod).
Butthisdoxologyisveryimportant,completingthisinitialpresentationofthedetails
ofthegospel.PaulascribestoGodourFather‘gloryforeverandever,amen’.
Glorymeansthesplendour,majesty,authorityandpowerofapersonmadeknown
anddemonstrated.Gloryhasagreatdealtodowiththereputation,renownandfame
oftheindividualconcerned.Thegospel,evenmoreimportantlythanbeingthemeans
ofsalvationforhumanbeings,istheunveilingoftheveryglory,splendourand
characterofGod.
AstheWestminsterShorterCatechismsays,‘Man’schiefendistoglorifyGod,and
toenjoyhimforever.’Historyisnothuman-focused,butGod-centred.Thedeathand
resurrectionofJesusChristwasprimarilytoglorifytheFatherthroughthesalvation
ofhumankindfromsin.
2.
ShockedtoCursing
(Gal.1:6–13)
(6)Iamastonishedthatyouaresoquicklyturningawayfromtheone
whocalledyouinthegrace(ofChrist)toanothergospel,(7)whichisnot
another,exceptthattherearesomewhoaredisturbingyouandwantingto
turnthegospeloftheChristintosomethingelse.(8)Butevenifweoran

angelfromheavenpreachtoyouagospelcontrarytowhatwepreached
toyou,lethimbeaccursed!(9)Aswesaidbefore,Inowalsosayagain:
ifanyonepreachestoyousomethingcontrarytowhatyoureceived,let
himbeaccursed!(10)ForamInowtryingtopersuademen,orGod?Or
amIseekingtopleasemen?IfIwerestilltryingtopleasemen,Iwould
notbetheslaveofChrist.(11)ForIwantyoutoknow,brothers,thatthe
gospelpreachedbymeisnotofhumanorigin.(12)Foritwasnotfroma
humanbeingthatIreceivedit,neitherwasItaughtit,butthrougha
revelationofJesusChrist.
Paulcouldn’twaittogetthroughhisgreetinganddealwiththeissuesofthegospel.
TheGalatianswouldbeexpectingPaultogivesomesortofthanksgivingfortheir
livesatthispoint,butPaulhadabsolutelynothingtothankGodaboutinregardto
theirpresentcondition.Whenheutteredhis‘astonishment’attheirturningaway,it
wastheexactsamewordusedintheNewTestamentforwhenpeoplewere‘amazed’
atChrist’smiracles.Paulwasasamazedattheirbackslidingfromthegospelasifhe’d
justseenanastonishingmiracle–exceptthatthispresentastonishmentwasoneof
incredulity.
TurningfromthegraceofJesus
PaulwashardonthechurchofGalatiabecauseheknewthattheywerereallyturning
fromtheircallingingrace–athemePaulhasalreadyintroducedinhisbriefgreeting.
Theywereturningawayfromafree,underserved,unconditional,unmeritedgiftof
grace–eternallife.Theywerealsoturningfromtheonewhocalledthem;theywere
turningawayfromChristhimself.Sometranslationstalkabout‘desertingHimwho
calledyou’(v.6,NASB).The‘desertion’fromJesuswasthattheGalatiansnolonger
believedinthesimplicityofthegospel.Theynowbelievedtheyhadtoprove
themselvesacceptabletoGodthroughobediencetotheLaw.
Gospelornot?
Theword‘gospel’simplymeansgoodnews,gladtidingsorajoyfulmessage.Inthe
bookofIsaiahweseethetermgospelorgoodnewsusedinawaythatbothJesusand
theearlychurchwouldhavebeenverymuchawareof.InIsaiah40–66wehavea

seriesofannouncementsofgoodnewsthatheraldrestoration,salvation,freedomand
thefavourofGodtoIsrael.Jesus,inLuke4:18–21,explainsthegoodnewsinhis
manifestoforministrywhichheproclaimedinNazareth
THESPIRITOFTHELORDISUPONME,
BECAUSEHEANOINTEDME
TOPREACHTHEGOSPELTOTHEPOOR.
HEHASSENTMETOPROCLAIMRELEASETOTHE
CAPTIVES,
ANDRECOVERYOFSIGHT
TOTHEBLIND,
TOSETFREETHOSEWHOAREOPPRESSED,TOPROCLAIMTHE
FAVORABLEYEAROFTHELORD.
(vv.18,19,NASB)
InhisexplanationtoJohntheBaptistinMatthew11:4–6,Jesusagaindefineshis
gospelinaudio-visualterms
GoandreporttoJohnwhatyouhearandsee;theBLINDRECEIVE
SIGHTandthelamewalk,thelepersarecleansedandthedeafhear,the
deadareraisedup,andTHEPOORHAVETHEGOSPELPREACHED
TOTHEM.(NASB)
LikeJesus,Paulbelievesthegospelispreachednotonlyintermsofforgivenessof
sins,butthatitshouldalsobeaccompaniedbysupernatural,miraculoussigns(Gal.
3:5).PaultalksaboutthegospeloftheJudaizers.TheGalatianshaveturnedto
‘anothergospel,whichisnotanother’.InourEnglishtranslationsweonlyhaveone
wordfor‘another’,butintheNewTestamentGreekPaulusestwodifferentwords.
Thefirstoftheseisheteroswhichmeansanotherofatotallydifferentkind.For
example,youmayseetwoanimalsinafield;oneisacowandanotherisasheep.
Theyarecompletelydifferentkindsofanimal,andtheGreekwordyouwoulduse
herewouldbeheteros.SoPaulwassaying,‘Youhaveturnedawaytoanothergospel
ofatotallydifferentkind.’Infact,todayweusethetheologicalword‘heterodoxy’to
describeabeliefthatisnotinlinewithbiblicaltruth.

Paulthenusesadifferentwordfor‘another’inverse7,allos,whichmeans‘another
ofthesamekind’.Ifyousawtwoanimalsinafield,apigandanotherpig,youwould
usethewordallosmeaninganotherofexactlythesametype.Paulismaking
absolutelysurethattheGalatiansknowthatthereisonlyonetruegospelandthat
therearen’tanyalternativestoit.HeissayingthattheGalatianshaveturnedto
‘anothergospel(heteros)ofatotallydifferentkind,whichisnotanother(allos)ofthe
samekindatall.’
Pervertersofthegospel
Haveyouevermetpeoplewhodisturbyourpeace?Youarehavingapleasantdayand
thensomepersonjustdisturbsyourtranquillity,shakesyourspiritandleavesyouina
stateofagitation.Wehavealreadyseenthatgraceandthepeaceofthegospelisthe
answertothehumancondition.Buttherearethosewhowishtodisturbourpeace
withGod,interferewithitandcauseustodoubtourstatusaschildrenoftheFather.
(7)whichisnotanother,exceptthattherearesomewhoaredisturbing
youandwantingtoturnthegospeloftheChristintosomethingelse.
Paulconfrontsthesetroublemakers.Theyarepervertersofthegospel,takingthat
whichproduceslifeandtwistingittoproducedeath,turningfreedomintobondage
andhopeintofear.TheGreekwordfor‘disturb’islikenedtothecalmseabeing
stirredupbyastorm.Thewordwasalsousedtodescribeapoliticalconfrontation
suchasrioting.Changingthegospelintosomethingelseisn’tasoftadjustmentora
slightdifferenceinopinion.Itbringsincrediblespiritualturbulenceanddestruction.
Angelicauthority
TheJudaizerswerenoangels,buttheGalatiansbelievedtheirfalseteaching.Paulhad
evenbeentreatedhimselfasanangelicmessengerwhenheevangelizedinGalatia,
andperhapsthisisinthebackofhismindwhenhebringsupthesubject.Itwasin
Lystra,Galatia,afterPaulhadhealedamancrippledfrombirththatthecrowdthought
PaulandBarnabasweregodsinhumanform.TheythoughtBarnabaswasZeus(king
oftheGreekgods)andPaul,Hermes(Zeus’smessenger)(Acts14:8–20).Thechurch
ofGalatiawouldknowthisstory,soitwouldhavemadeaspecialimpactwhenPaul
saidthatevenifheoranangelfromheavenpreachedadifferentmessagetotheone