Galatians: An Important Letter

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was REALLY powerful in loosening the locks on my brain put there by religion. It was the book in which I understood GRACE and was led to REPENT of my legalistic attitude that held me in bondage. I felt like I had been traveling backwards in a relationship with God instead of forward, but when I read Galatians 5:4, I understood why; I had FALLEN FROM GRACE.

You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Gal 5:4)

I understood how it happened too. I made the mistake of coming into agreement with the LIE that my religious works were better than what God had already done for me through Jesus Christ. It was a very humbling moment.

The letter was written by the apostle Paul to the churches of Galatia probably around AD 49. It’s clear he’s writing it as a warning to his Christian brethren to protect the faith they’ve already been given. Some were claiming they MUST get circumcised in order to be pleasing to God. Even though circumcision is not a big issue in most churches today, it’s a relevant letter to Christians in our era according to the introduction in my NASB Study Bible, “All theologies that teach salvation by faith plus human effort are forcefully negated by this great letter.”

What “human effort” have you been told you must add to your faith for salvation?

Would you like to discuss this letter over the phone with Julie?