Defending "the truth of the gospel"

Galatians 1:1-5

It is believed by some scholars that this letter was written as early as A.D. 48 or 49, if that is correct Galatians is among the earliest of NT books.  Much of what was to be discussed at the Jerusalem Council is in this letter, giving insight into the scholars beliefs on the time line, the conference happen in A.D. 49.  The HCSB study Bible gives this insight on page 2011, “If Galatians was written after the Jerusalem Council, it is inconceivable that Paul would not have cited the conclusions of the council, which supported his works-free view of the gospel.  This strongly implies that the Jerusalem Council had not yet occurred when Paul wrote Galatians.”

It is the message and purpose of the letter that each of us should examine it to clarify and defend “the truth of the gospel,” in the face of a false gospel.  Paul enlightens us on the work of the Holy Spirit as to living out the Christ life.  It is always good to look back to the gospels and remember our Lord picked 12 men to carry His message to a world of religious people living in darkness.  One of those was removed and the eleven replaced him, but later we find Jesus picking Saul on a road to Damascus, it’s a great read and you can find the account in Acts chapters 8-9.  Saul was given more than a new name, the Holy Spirit filled him, and we know him as the apostle Paul, the writer of this letter and much of the New Testament. 

In the first verse we find Paul addressing himself with the title of an apostle, and the reason for that is to show those reading the letter that his authority was not from man but from God.  And do not over look Paul referring to “all the brothers who are with me;” a strong message to us that he was not alone in the views he expressed.  When Paul said, “To the churches of Galatia” it is implied that the letter was to be read to many churches.

But it is the words that follow in verses 3-5, that should warm your heart and bring peace to your mind for it is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Galatians 1:3-5, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”  The gospel is Jesus plus nothing but faith, and even that is not from you but a gift of God’s grace, and it is the same message Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about the resurrection of Christ.

In 1Corinthians 15:1-9, “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice