A Verse By Verse Study
Galatians is a letter that the apostle Paul wrote to the primarily Gentile church in Galatia, because they were being led astray by Jewish Christians who were trying to bring the practices of Judaism into the church. These men, which Bible scholars later dubbed, “Judaizers”, were teaching Gentile Christians that they must be circumcised and follow the Mosaic Law. They argued that Paul was not an authentic apostle and was trying to make the gospel more appealing to Gentiles by removing circumcision and the Law from the requirements of being a Christian.
"Christianity" was brand new and most of its members consisted of Jews who had converted from Judaism. Since Christianity seemed to be a religion that had derived from Judaism, many of them believed that they were required as Christians to follow the same religious practices as Judaism. However, this of course is not the case. Judaism, which is a religion that originated after the Babylonian captivity, and old covenant Hebrewism, are not the same thing. God never intended for His relationship with the ancient Hebrews to be a religious movement consisting of rules and regulations like Judaism is, but He likened it to a marriage covenant consisting of love and faithfulness. In the same way, God never intended for His relationship with Christians under the new covenant to be a religion governed by rules and regulations, but a marriage covenant between His Son and His people. Paul, the other apostles, and the leaders of the Jerusalem Counsel hashed all these issues out, but not before Paul wrote the letter to the Galatian church.
Paul responded in his letter to the Galatian church by clearly establishing his apostolic authority [“sent not by men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father”] and thereby substantiating the gospel that he preached. By introducing additional requirements for justification (e.g. works of the law) his adversaries had perverted the gospel of grace, and unless prevented, would bring Paul’s converts into the bondage of legalism and the old covenant. It is by grace through faith alone that people are justified, and it is by faith alone that they are to live out their new life in the freedom of the Spirit under the new covenant.
It is likely that Paul wrote the letter about 48-49 AD to the churches that he planted in southern Galatia during his first missionary journey. As I previously mentioned, the issue of Judaizers corrupting the gospel that Paul preached to the people of Galatia, is the same issue that was settled during the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) which took place shortly afterwards in 49-50 AD, indicating how important, problematic, and widespread this issue was among the early church. Furthermore, Paul's letter to the Romans contains many of the same warnings as Galatians, and his letter to the Hebrews outlines how Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and how his blood is the seal of the new covenant. He directed them to the fact that the new covenant is a better covenant of which Christ is the Mediator and that it has made the old one obsolete.
Because there was now a new covenant with Christ which Christians were to acknowledge, Paul was outraged by the Judaizers's false teachings and he took the issue very seriously. He called the Galatian’s acceptance of the Judaizer’s teachings, “turning away from God”, and marveled at how quickly they had done so (1:6). False teaching can take root fast and lead people away from God just as quickly. He called their teachings a “perversion of the gospel of Christ” and said that it is not “another gospel, but a different gospel.” Paul found the Judaizer’s message so appalling that he said twice that if an angel from heaven or anyone preach a gospel different from the one that he and his team preached, “let them be accursed!” (1:8-9). The Greek word Paul used here is anathema, which has the meaning of divine judgement - to be "under a curse" or "condemned." It emphasizes being set apart for destruction. Paul was basically saying, "let them be cut off and eternally condemned!", indicating how serious this matter was to him and just how upset he was when he wrote it. It's astonishing how pervasive this same issue is in the church today despite Paul’s strong language and stern instruction to the church to steer clear of such teachings!
Here I'm going to go off on a bit of a rabbit trail to explain why the modern church widely ignores Paul's warning to not allow or accept the teachings of Judaizers despite his strong language and stern warnings, because it's important for the church to understand, yet is either not taught in churches at all, or is not taught correctly. We read in Luke that one of the key characteristics of the early church was that it was steadfast in following the doctrines of the apostles (Acts 2:42) whose understanding of the Scriptures had been opened by Jesus (Luke 24:45). Though we cannot be taught directly from the apostles like the early church was because they are no longer alive, we are fortunate to have their teachings in the New Testament of our Bibles to guide us on how to live as Christians and how to interpret the Old Testament. The books contained in the New Testament were all written by apostles (whose understanding of the Scriptures had been opened), or someone closely associated with them, therefore we can trust that what they wrote, and how they interpreted the Old Testament, is true and accurate. Furthermore, their writings were inspired by God and His Spirit testifies that what they wrote is true and accurate, and He will guide us into all truth through their writings if we let Him.
The New Testament contains the new covenant that God made with mankind through the blood of Jesus Christ, as well as the new covenant teachings and requirements laid out by Jesus and the apostles. The New Testament can also be called the New Covenant because the English word Testament derives from a Greek term meaning Covenant. Conversely, the Old Testament (Old Covenant) contains the old covenant that God made with Moses and the old covenant teachings and requirements of the Law and the prophets. The old covenant between God and the Hebrews is a foreshadow of the new covenant between God and the people who believe in Jesus Christ. It is called the old covenant because God has made a new covenant. God does not have one people who are under the old covenant and another people who are under the new covenant as many Christians believe.The New Testament teaches against that idea.
Unfortunately, much of the modern church follows the doctrines of the old covenant as interpreted by Jewish rabbis and modern day Judaizers (zionists), rather than the enlightened teachings of the apostles whose understanding had been opened by Jesus. According to Jesus and Paul, these are blind guides (Matthew 23:16, 23) with veil covered minds and hearts (2 Corinthians 3:14-15). These blind guides teach that the Mosaic law of the old covenant is still in effect, rather than the new covenant law that Jesus and the apostles teach in the New Testament, despite the fact that the New Testament teaches that the old covenant has been made obsolete because of a new and better covenant (Hebrews 8:13). Modern day Judaizers ignore what Jesus and the apostles say on the matter and argue that the New Testament must be interpreted by the Old. They insist that Jewish rabbis who reject Christ and who do not have the Holy Spirit are the ones we need to look to for proper understanding of the Scriptures, rather than Jesus and the Spirit filled apostles whose understanding were opened. They are deceived and are leading people away from Christ, just as Paul said.
The issues that Paul took with the Judaizer's teachings were 1) works based salvation- whether Christians are required to continue in the practices of Judaism or not; 2) legalism- whether Jesus alone is enough or not; and 3) that God was implementing something new, but they were trying to revert God's people back to the old ways of which He had gone through great lengths to do away with. God had demonstrated to the lost sheep of Israel that He was finished with the old covenant by sending His only Son to fulfill the law and the prophets which it institutes. Jesus had come and offered himself as the perfect sacrificial lamb because God was finished with the animal sacrifices. He later demonstrated to them that He was finished with the sacrificial system by sending His armies to destroy the temple and the earthly Jerusalem which was the place where the Jews offered their animal sacrifices. By destroying the temple, He also did away with the Levitical priests who were the mediators between them and God, and who offered their sacrifices to God in the temple. Jesus’s sacrifice satisfied every part of the sacrificial system. He is the Sacrifice. He is the Temple. He is the High Priest, the Mediator between God and man, but not in the line of Levi like the old covenant priests were, but in the new order of Melchizadek (Hebrews 6:20).
Many Christians are attempting to go back to the old ways of which God has been finished with for over two thousand years. They are partnering with an antichrist people (antichrist according to John's definition- they deny the Son and the Father - 1 John 2:22) to resurrect the old covenant which God has been finished with for over two thousand years. They are hoping to build a third temple in Jerusalem in order to restore the sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood which God destroyed over two thousand years ago because He is finished with it. There is no need for it, but Judaizers have led Christians to believe that going back to the sacrificial system and practicing the old covenant is God's plan.
God does not dwell in one city, or in temples made by man. Jesus and the apostles who wrote the New Testament teach that Jesus and his people are the temple in which He dwells. It is an abomination to God for His people to revert back to the old ways of which He sacrificed His Son to fulfill and of which He has gone through great efforts to do away with. Jesus is the way. The old has gone, the new has come. God has made a new covenant with His people which is better than the previous one (Hebrews 8:6-13). Going back to the old covenant is a major deception that is an abomination to God and a slap in the face to Jesus. That is why Paul wrote this letter to the Galatian church.
Paul establishes his apostolic authority and substantiates his gospel-
“sent not by men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.”
Galatians 1:1 NKJV
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 1:6-9 NKJV
“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 1:11-12 NKJV
“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.”
Galatians 1:15-17 NKJV
Since the day that Jesus called Paul, Christians have always disputed his apostleship, and therefore there has always been dispute about the gospel that he preached and whether or not his writings belong in the Bible. Some say that he preached a different gospel than Jesus did. But according to his letter to the Galatians, he and his gospel were accepted by the apostles, and he was sent out by the apostles as an apostle to the Gentiles (along with Barnabas). As a side note, it is advantageous and convenient for Judaizers to remove Paul and his teachings from the Bible because of the harsh things that he says about them and their teachings-
“Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.”
Galatians 1:18-19 NKJV
“Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised…
But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”
Galatians 2:1-3, 7-9 NKJV
The apostle Peter also shows his support of Paul's apostleship, considering him a brother in the Lord and attributing his writings to be by the wisdom of God and to be Scripture-
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2 Peter 3:15-16 NIV
Apparently even Peter was participating in Judaizing practices out of fear of the Jews. Therefore Paul confronted him and the Jewish Christians who were with him for their hypocrisy of living as Gentiles but compelling Gentiles to live as Jews by practicing works of the law, rather than by faith in Jesus Christ. He pointed out to Peter that the grace of God and righteousness comes through faith in Jesus, not the law, and that no one will be justified by works of the law-
“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.””
Galatians 2:11-21 NKJV
Paul is outraged that Judaizers are leading his disciples astray by corrupting the gospel of Christ! He's enraged that the disciples he had intensely labored for believe their lies! He calls them fools for falling for their lies and wants to know who it was that bewitched them by teaching them that they are required to obey the works of the law rather than obey the truth. By using the term "bewitched", Paul is charging the Judaizers with casting a spell of magic or sorcery on the Galatians in order to deceive them-
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”
Galatians 3:1-4 NKJV
Paul informs them that God works miracles among them by the hearing of faith, not by the works of the law. The Jews wrongly regard themselves as being the descendants of Abraham because of their ethnicity and Jewish practices, so Paul uses Abraham's faith as an example, saying that it was his faith which was accounted to him for righteousness, not works of the law-
“Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Galatians 3:5-6
The Jews believe that they are the children of Abraham, but in perfect harmony with Jesus's teaching (John 8:39-47), Paul reminds them that only those who have faith [in Christ] are the children of Abraham -
“Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.”
Galatians 3:7 NKJV
The Scripture (the Old Testament) predicted that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and preached the gospel to Abraham saying, “In you, all the nations shall be blessed.” Not only ONE nation Israel would be blessed, but ALL nations. And how would the nations be blessed? By Jesus Christ. Jesus is the blessing that God promised to Abraham-
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”
Galatians 3:8 NKJV
Paul tells them that those who have faith [in Christ] are the ones who are blessed - blessed because they believe Abraham and that through him all nations will be blessed. This suggests that those who do not believe Abraham or the gospel that the Scriptures preached to him do not have faith, and according to Paul, only those who have faith are the children of Abraham, and only the children of Abraham will inherit the promises that God made to Abraham-
“So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.”
Galatians 3:9 NKJV
Paul says that according to the Scripture, the many who are “of the works of the law” are under the curse (the Judaizers and their followers) because anyone who does not continue to do ALL of the things which are written in the book of the law is cursed. Again, he is using language of bewitching, magic, and sorcery, saying that if you want to practice the law, you are cursed because you can’t pick and choose which parts of the law you want to do - you have to do ALL of it and live ACCORDING to it. But no one is justified by the law, for the just shall live by faith-
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.””
Galatians 3:10-12 NKJV
Paul informed the Galatians that Jesus has redeemed them from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for them by being hung on a tree:
1. so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles who are in Christ;
2. so they might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Therefore there is no longer any need for them to be circumcised or to practice the law-
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Galatians 3:13-14 NKJV
Paul informed them that God’s promises to Abraham were made to both Abraham and to Jesus, who he clarified as Jesus being Abraham’s Seed or offspring, not the many physical descendants of Abraham-
“Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.”
Galatians 3:16 NKJV
Paul goes on to tell them that the law cannot annul the covenant which God confirmed in Christ 430 years earlier. If it did, it would make the promise useless because if the inheritance is by way of the law, then it is no longer of promise, BUT God gave it to Abraham by promise, not by law-
“And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”
Galatians 3:17-18 NKJV
Paul informed them that the law was added because of transgressions (sins) until Jesus came to whom the promise was made, and that it was appointed through angels by a mediator (Moses). The old covenant was meant for a certain time and purpose which it has served, and of which Moses was the mediator of. Now that Jesus has come the old covenant is obsolete because Jesus is the Mediator of a new covenant-
“What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.”
Galatians 3:19 NKJV
He said that a mediator does not mediate for the Jews only, but for both the Jews and the Gentiles because there is one God who will justify both the circumcised and uncircumcised by faith (Romans 3:29). God does not discriminate between Jew and Gentile. Both will be justified based upon their faith, not by the law or circumcision-
“Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.”
Galatians 3:20 NKJV
Paul tells them that the law is certainly not against the promises of God because if the law was able to give life, righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has placed everyone under sin (death) so that the promise which comes by faith in Jesus might be given to those who believe in him (life). The promise to those who are under sin is death, and the promise to those who have faith in Christ is life-
“Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”
Galatians 3:21-22 NKJV
Paul tells them that before faith came - before Christ came - we were held in bondage under the law until faith in Christ came and set us free. Though the law was our captor, it was also our guardian until Christ came through whom we are justified by faith. Because of Christ, we are no longer in bondage to the law-
“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”
Galatians 3:23-25 ESV
Now that faith in Christ has come, we are no longer in captivity under the law (the old covenant). Instead, those who are “in Christ Jesus” are all sons of God through faith. Everyone who has been baptized into Christ has put on Christ (the new covenant )-
“But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Galatians 3:25-27 ESV
Paul drops a huge bombshell that probably ruffled a lot of feathers, but saying things like this are why the Jews opposed him, Jesus and the early church- race, ethnicity, social status, or gender do not matter because those who are in Christ are one [body] - there is no distinction between them. Not even between Jews and Gentiles. Saying that the Gentiles are equal with the Jews infuriated them because they viewed themselves as God's chosen people, and Gentiles as dogs. He adds that if you belong to Christ (if you are "in Christ"), then you are a descendant of Abraham and will inherit the promise that God made to him. Paul is saying that those who are of Jewish descent are not the offspring of Abraham, only those who have faith in Christ are. If a Jew is in Christ by faith in him, then they are part of his body (which is defined by Paul as the church) and will inherit the promise of Abraham. If they are not in Christ, they have no inheritance of the promise. They are no different than an unbelieving Gentile. John the apostle said the same thing: "He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life"- 1 John 5:12-
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
Galatians 3:28-29 ESV
Paul explains that even an heir does not have total freedom, but like a slave he has guardians and stewards over him until the time that the father has appointed him to receive his inheritance. Even as an heir to the promise, they were in bondage to the world until the time that God appointed to send His Son to redeem those who were under the law so that they might be adopted as His sons and receive His Spirit into their hearts. Those who have been redeemed from the bondage of the law are sons and heirs of God through Jesus Christ-
“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Galatians 4:1-7 NKJV
Paul expressed his concern for the Galatians for turning back to the law and enslaving themselves to it again, after they had come to know God and become known by God-
“But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.”
Galatians 4:8-11 NKJV
Paul encouraged them to become like him because he had become like them in order to preach the gospel to them. He reminded them that they had received him as an angel of God, even as Jesus himself, and that they would have done anything for him, even pluck out their eyes. Yet now they consider him as their enemy because he is rebuking them for turning away from the truth and they don’t want to hear it-
“Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have not injured me at all. You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”
Galatians 4:12-16 NKJV
Paul explains that the Judaizers are “courting” them for the purpose of dividing and separating them from the rest of the church, leading them astray by their false teachings so that they will become zealous for them rather than for the true gospel of Christ-
“They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.”
Galatians 4:17 NKJV
Paul tells them that it is good to be zealous at all times, but only for good things and not only when he is there with them. Being zealous for the false gospel of the Judaizers was not a good thing-
“But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you.”
Galatians 4:18 NKJV
Paul considered the Galatian church his little children and described his hard work of “forming Christ in them” as “laboring in birth.” He would have liked to have been with them in that present time so that he could rebuke them directly in person because he had serious doubts about them continuing in their faith and the truth of the gospel of Christ-
“My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.”
Galatians 4:19-20 NKJV
You can sense Paul’s frustration with the Galatians whom he had worked so hard to disciple and teach the truth of Jesus Christ to. He said to them, “Tell me you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?”. Paul said that they desired to be under the law. They wanted to be under the law. The law is what they wanted. But they did not understand what being under the law meant (“do you not hear the law?”)-
“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?”
Galatians 4:21
The Church of Galatia was being led astray by false teachers who were saying that they, as Christians were required to be circumcised and to practice the Law of Moses. They were being deceived so that they had come to desire to be under the law. However, they did not understand what being under the law meant. So Paul explained it to them by informing them of what the two sons of Abraham symbolize:
Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael was born to Sarah’s maid, Hagar, who Paul called “a bondwoman.” Isaac was born to his wife Sarah, who he called “a freewoman.” So one son was born to a slave and the other was born to a free woman.
He goes on saying that the one who was born to the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the one who was born to the freewoman was born through promise, which things are symbolic. Symbolic of what? They are symbolic of the two covenants - the old covenant that God made with Moses and Israel at Mt. Sanai, and the new covenant that Jesus made with his disciples who represented Israel and Judah in the upper room during the Last Supper.
Paul explained that the covenant from Mt. Sanai which Hagar and Ishmael symbolizes-the old covenant- gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar the maid of Sarah, or according to Paul, the bondwoman. Hagar is Mt.Sanai and she corresponds to their present day Jerusalem who is in bondage with her children. According to Paul, Jerusalem and her children Israel, who were under the old covenant and the law of Moses, were in bondage because of it-
“For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—“
Galatians 4:22-25 NKJV
Earthly Jerusalem and her children (Hagar) were in bondage, but Jerusalem above, heavenly Jerusalem (Sarah) is free and she is the mother of us all. And what is heavenly Jerusalem? Revelation says that the heavenly Jerusalem is the bride of Christ (Revelation 22:2) and according to Paul in Ephesians and 2 Corinthians, the bride of Christ is the church. The book of Hebrews, which is all about the abolishment of the old covenant and the institution of the new, agrees with Revelation and Paul, defining heavenly Jerusalem (which according to the author is also called Mt. Zion),as “the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven” (Hebrews 12:22). God is the Father and the church is the mother of the bride of Christ.
“but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.”
Galatians 4:26
Paul quoted a verse from Isaiah that prophesied of the new covenant that God would make with His people when Jesus came the first time. In the old covenant, God was the god of Israel, but in the new covenant, Gentiles would also be admitted into the people of God. God would no longer only be the God of the Israelites, but He would be the God of everyone who believes in His Son, Jesus Christ. As Peter wrote, they were once not the people of God but now are (1 Peter 2:10).
In the verse that Paul quoted, Isaiah was saying that the Gentiles (“the desolate”) were barren, they were not producing children [of God], however rejoice because they are now in labor and will bear more children than Israel whom He was in covenant with at the time [“she who has a husband”] will-
“For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband.””
Galatians 4:27 NKJV
Just as Isaac was the child of the promise who would inherit the promises of God to Abraham, Paul tells the Galatian church that Christians are the children of promise who will inherit the promises of God to Abraham-
“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.”
Galatians 4:28
Paul said that just as Ishmael (“he who was born according to the flesh”) persecuted Isaac (“him who was born according to the Spirit”), the Jews (those born according to the flesh) were persecuting the church (those born according to the Spirit)-
“But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.”
Galatians 4:29 NKJV
Paul reminded the Galatian church of what the Scriptures say in Genesis 21:10 and 12- to cast out the bondwoman and her son (the old covenant), because the sons of the flesh (the old covenant) will not be heir with the sons of promise (the new covenant)-
“Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.””
Galatians 4:30 NKJV
Jesus said the same thing to the Jews in a different way. A slave will not stay in His house forever; a slave does not inherit the promises of God. But God's children inherit the promises and stay in His house forever because He sets them free from the bondage of the old covenant-
“And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
John 8:35-36 NKJV
Paul tells the Galatian church that because of Jesus Christ and the new covenant that he made with his people, they were not children of the old covenant which placed them in bondage, but of the new covenant which set them free-
“So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.”
Galatians 4:31 NKJV
Paul instructed the Galatian church to stand fast in the freedom of Christ which comes through faith, and not the old covenant or its law. He explained that being circumcised is of no benefit to Christians, and anyone who does get circumcised will be indebted to keep the whole law. He said that those who attempt to be justified by the law have been estranged from Christ and have fallen from grace. This is a harsh rebuke by Paul!
He explained to them that through the Spirit, Christians eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness through faith, because in Christ, faith working through love is the only thing that matters; circumcision or uncircumcision means absolutely nothing because Christ has set us free from all that-
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”
Galatians 5:1-6 NKJV
Paul said that they were doing well until someone hindered them from obeying the truth. He informed them that these teachings are not from God. Whoever infiltrated the church with these false teachings would be judged by God and reap the dire consequences. If Paul still preached circumcision, then he would not be suffering persecution, and the offense of the cross would have stopped. The cross is an offense to those who believe that the old covenant is still in effect. The false teachings of the Judaizers was so abhorrent to Paul and the gospel of Christ, that Paul wished they would not stop at circumcising their foreskins, but would cut off the entire thing-
“You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is. And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!”
Galatians 5:7-12 NKJV
Again Paul tells them that they have been called by God to liberty in the new covenant of Christ. He instructed them not to use their liberty as an opportunity to return to the bondage of slavery under the old covenant, but instead to serve one another in love because all of the law is fulfilled by loving your neighbor as yourself-
“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.””
Galatians 5:13-14 NKJV
Paul warned the Galatian church that if they “bite and devour one another”, they will be “consumed by one another.” They would basically implode and be destroyed from within by these false teachers who have perverted the gospel and are leading them astray-
“But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”
Galatians 5:15 NKJV
So Paul instructed them to walk in the Spirit and by doing so, they would not give in to the lust of the flesh. In context of the passage and of the letter, Paul means that if they walk in the Spirit, they will not give in to their desires to follow the old covenant law. He said that if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. You are free-
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV
Paul lists the works of the flesh which holds one captive, and warns them that whoever practices them will not inherit the kingdom of God. Much of the old covenant law as well as the religion of Judaism, which originated during the Babylonian captivity, contains ceremonial laws. But the law of Christ in the new covenant contains moral laws, which if broken, is sin in the sight of God, and holds one in bondage to sin. If one continues in unrepentant sin, whether he considers himself a Christian or not, he is not an heir of God’s promises because he is not a child of God through faith in Christ. A child of God inherits the kingdom of God because he has faith in Christ and by such faith he has put his sin to death and is therefore free from the bondage of sin. The kingdom of God, of which Jesus is King, is comprised of the people of God, and the people of God are only those who have faith in Jesus Christ. No one comes to the Father except through the Son, and he who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. Christ and the new covenant that he made with his people sets people free from the bondage of sin, giving them abundant life-
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV
Paul informed them of the fruit that is produced by the Spirit- the fruit produced by liberty and the Spirit was the promise of the new covenant. There is no law against the fruit of the Spirit-
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
Paul tells them that those who belong to Christ have killed the flesh along with its passions and desires. Those who are in Christ have no desire to practice the old covenant because they have been spiritually crucified with Christ the Mediator of the new covenant-
“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
Galatians 5:24 NKJV
Paul instructed the Galatian church to walk in the Spirit if they live in the Spirit-
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25 NKJV
There is no partiality with God. He does not distinguish between race, ethnicity, or gender. All who are in Jesus are God’s elect and are one body, so Paul commanded them to not become conceited, provoke one another, or envy one another-
“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Galatians 5:26 NKJV
Paul, speaking to the brethren (the church), instructed those who are more spiritually mature to help bring back the brethren who have been overtaken by sin, otherwise they may also be tempted and overtaken by sin. Of course the “trespass” pertains to any sin, but in the context of Galatians it primarily pertains to the rejection of Christ and his covenant by the keeping of the Mosaic law and the old covenant. Those of the church who see that their brethren are being led astray by false teachers are instructed by Paul to step in and restore them back to the truth. This is fulfilling the law of Christ which is loving your neighbor as yourself-
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:1-2 NKJV
If anyone thinks he is above the law of Christ, or that he is invincible from sin, or that he is better than anyone else because of his race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or position, then think again! He is deceiving himself and needs to examine what he is doing and how it affects others. The Judaizers, believing that what they were teaching the church of Galatia was “correct doctrine” and that Paul was leaving out important aspects of Christianity in order to be more appealing, had influenced them to believe a perverse gospel and to teach others to believe the same. They had a high view of themselves, believing themselves to be better than Paul by having the “true gospel.” However, they were deceived, ignorant of the law of Christ and believing false doctrine. Everyone is responsible for learning the truth for themselves and so that they do not teach false doctrine which leads others astray from the truth. This is bearing your own load-
“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.”
Galatians 6:3-5
True, accurate teaching of the word of God benefits both student and teacher. Some of these benefits include edification and equipping the saints for ministry until we all become united in faith and knowledge of Christ, becoming as one perfect man to the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:12-13). The Judaizers were teaching false doctrine which was contrary to the true gospel, the new covenant, and the law of Christ, which was dividing the church rather than uniting it. They were not leading the Galatians to a knowledge of Christ, but away from him. They were not edifying or equipping them for ministry, but leading them back into the bondage from which Christ had set them free from-
“Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.”
Galatians 6:6 NKJV
Paul instructed the Galatian church to not be deceived by the false teachings of the Judaizers. He warned them that God is not mocked, which means that there will be consequences for following these false teachers who are perverting the gospel of Christ- a man reaps what he sows. If he sows to his flesh, he will reap corruption; if to the Spirit, eternal life. Keep in mind that when Paul mentions “the flesh”, he is talking about Hagar the bondwoman who was born according to the flesh, which is symbolic of the old covenant. Whoever sows of the old covenant will reap corruption, but whoever sows of the Spirit (the new covenant) will reap eternal life.
Paul encouraged them to continue on in good works because they will reap the harvest in due season. If they grow weary and lose heart, there will be no harvest to reap.
“Therefore”, he said, as they have opportunity, do good to everyone, but “especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Paul is referring to Christians. Christians are of the household of faith. He’s instructing them to help everyone, but especially Christians because they are their spiritual family members. They are part of their household.
Yet many Christians today ignore their spiritual family members in Israel in order to help the Jews who are not only not their spiritual family members, but who reject their King and persecute their brothers and sisters. They do so because they are taught by Judaizers that Christians are required to keep the old covenant as well as to bless Israel or be cursed. However, the Bible does not say that Christians are required to bless Israel. What the Bible really teaches is that Christians are to first bless their own spiritual family members and then bless others. I imagine that it greatly displeases God when Christians support those who are the cause of the suffering of Christians and ignore the needs of their spiritual family members, but help those who reject Him. They are deceived and will reap what they sow, just as the Judaizers who were deceiving the Galatian church into believing that they needed to be circumcised and follow the old covenant would.
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:7-10 NKJV
The Judaizers who were compelling the Galatian church to be circumcised, were not keeping the requirement of the law themselves, but only wanted them to be circumcised so that they could boast to the Jews and evade persecution from them. Paul exclaimed that the only thing he is willing to boast of is the cross of Christ, because by him the world had been crucified to Paul, and he had been crucified to the world. He then made a very important point regarding circumcision and its relevance to God and to Christians- it means absolutely nothing. The only thing that matters is that a Christian is a new creation.
“As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.”
Galatians 6:12-15 NKJV
Paul wishes peace and mercy upon those who walk according to the rule of the new creation, and upon the Israel of God. “The Israel of God” is a term that Paul uses for those who have faith in Christ and who live according to the Spirit and the law of Christ, not by the flesh of circumcision or the old covenant law. The Israel of God is an extension of old covenant Israel. It is comprised of both faithful Jews and Gentiles, and according to Paul, it is the true people of God, the church-
“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
Galatians 6:16 NKJV
In order to defend their "Left Behind" theology that God has two people and not one, many Christians dispute the idea of the church being the Israel of God that Paul is talking about in Galatians 6:16. But a couple other passages that supports the church being the Israel of God are Ephesians 2:11-22 and Romans 11. In the Ephesians passage, Paul states that Gentiles were without Christ, were excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and were strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope without God in the world. But now in Jesus Christ, Gentiles who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He has made one new man out of the two (Jew and Gentile), breaking down the middle wall of separation and reconciling them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity between them. He preached peace to both Jews and Gentiles, and by him, both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Now, therefore, Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners, but citizens of Israel with the saints, and members of the household of God, which is being built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone in whom the whole building being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom the church is also being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:11-22 NKJV
Paul begins Romans 11 by saying that God has not cast away His people, and he uses himself as an example - "I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham, the tribe of Benjamin...". Paul was ethnically Jewish, and formerly a Pharisee of Judaism. However, he became a Christian by having faith in Jesus Christ. Even though he was a Christian and no longer a practitioner of Judaism at the time that he wrote this, he said, "I also am an Israelite of the seed of Abraham." Is he saying that he is an Israelite because of his ethnicity, or because of something else? Well we already know from our study of Galatians who the seed of Abraham is according to Paul- it is Christ and those who belong to him (3:16, 29). And we know from the words of Jesus that are recorded by the apostle John that Jesus is Israel - "I am the true vine" (Isaiah 5; John 15:1). So Paul is not saying that he is an Israelite because of his ethnicity, but because he is in Christ, the true Israel. Those who are in Christ by having faith in Christ are Abraham's seed, and heirs of God’s promises to Abraham (Galatians 3:29), not unbelieving ethnic Jews.
Later in Romans 11, Paul goes on to talk about an olive tree that has some branches grafted in because of belief, and some broken off because of unbelief. The olive tree is Israel (Jeremiah 11:16), and Israel is Jesus, who also talks about branches that are pruned to bear fruit and branches that are cut off and burned (John 15:1-6).
So based on what Jesus and Paul said, Jesus is the true Israel, the church is the Israel of God consisting of both Jewish and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ, the church are true Israelites because of their faith in Christ, and God has one people not two- the church.
But if you don't want to listen to Jesus and Paul, then listen to Peter who, talking about the church, used the same language as Moses regarding Israel, and who said the same thing as Paul about the church being the stones of the temple of which Jesus is the chief cornerstone-
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
I Peter 2:4-10 NKJV
Paul was persecuted by Jews for boasting in the cross of Christ rather than in the flesh. He described it as “bearing the marks of the Lord Jesus.” He considered his sufferings for Christ a blessing and honor, therefore no man could bring any “trouble” upon him-
“From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
Galatians 6:17 NKJV
Paul concluded his rebuke to the Galatian church by stating his hope that the Lord’s grace would be with them-
“Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
Galatians 6:18 NKJV
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