INTRODUCTION
THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER: Paul's subject in this epistle is justification by faith in Christ. The Galatians knew this, of course; they had to in order to become Christians (3:26-27). But, false teachers from among unbelieving Jews had duped some among the churches of Galatia into believing that keeping the law of Moses was also essential to salvation. Legal systems of law cannot justify lawbreakers, but can only condemn them (Gal. 2:16). This addition of the law of Moses to Christianity would obviously cancel out justification which comes by grace through faith in Christ (Gal. 2:21).
While believing in Christ, these Christians did not fully understand the justifying principle of faith nor the inherent condemnation of the law of Moses. This simplicity made them vulnerable to the particular brand of false doctrine which encouraged Paul to write and challenge.
OUR NEED TO STUDY GALATIANS: This same problem exists in the church today, and for the same reason- failure to understand just why and how faith justifies, and why the law of Moses is condemned. Therefore, grappling with the problem as revealed in the Galatian epistle is as needful now as it was then, and for the same reasons.
THE DESIGN OF THE EPISTLE: Galatians falls into three natural divisions:
1. The Historical Argument, Ch. 1-2.
2. The Scriptural Argument, Ch. 3-4.
3. The Practical Argument, Ch. 5-6.
The letter opens with strong assertions (claims) of apostolic authority and divine power to save (1:1-5), and a warning challenge not to move away from the truth of the gospel (1:6-10).
AIM OF THIS LESSON: To show that Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves and that, therefore, the object of our faith is Jesus Christ.
I. CHRIST OUR SUBSTITUTE, v. 4
A. Consider the word “for”- from the Greek Huper meaning, in behalf of another. A word of substitution.
B. Used in other scriptures (cf. Gal. 2:20; 3:13; Rom. 5:8; Eph. 5:2).
II. CHRIST OUR RESCUER, v. 4
A. “Deliver Us” - from the Greek EXAIREO, meaning to set free, to deliver, to rescue.
B. “World” - from the Greek AIONOS, meaning this present age or time, not speaking of the physical universe.
CONCLUSION: Paul reveals the centrality of Christ in the Christian religion and arranges the rest of his epistle to produce obedience of faith in him as essential to salvation.
QUESTIONS?
1. Will one obey Christ if he does not trust him to do what he said he would?
2. Will a Christian fall from grace any quicker through false doctrine than he would by plunging back into this present worldly age? (Cf. Heb. 10:36; Rev. 2:10).