In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua]
was in the beginning with God.
GALATIANS
The book of Galatians is the fourth of Paul’s thirteen letters
referred to as the Pauline epistles. The apostle Paul wrote the letter
in Antioch in the Roman province of Syria (present day Antakya, Turkey)
in AD 49 just prior to his second missionary journey. He addressed the
letter to the churches of Galatia in Asia Minor (present day Turkey).
Paul wrote this epistle after learning that some of the Jews in the
Galatian churches who professed Jesus Christ, the Messiah, were requiring
Gentiles to follow
the Mosaic Law. These Judaizers were spreading false teachings of
salvation by works rather than by grace. Before his conversion, Paul was
zealous for the traditions of his fathers and he persecuted
the church. The traditions of his fathers relied on works through the
Law of Moses for salvation. Paul described his conversion as a divine
revelation of Christ by the grace of God. Paul did not have to confer
with man to substantiate the revelation of the gospel. Paul explained
that justification comes by faith and not by works. If we depend on the
Law for salvation, then we will be judged by it because no one is able
to abide in the Law.
As Paul explained to the Galatians, we are saved by grace through
faith in Christ. The Law, which cannot save us, is
meant to lead us to Christ. Because of His death and resurrection,
salvation is given to us by faith in Him because His redemptive work
frees us from the curse of the Law. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ
gives us liberty from the bondage of sin. We are to walk in the Spirit
and not allow ourselves to become a slave to sin again. The fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control against such there is no law.
Galatians 1-2: Galatian departure from grace; the gospel of Christ;
the revelation of Christ
Galatians 3-4: Justification by faith and not by Law; the curse of
the Law; freedom from the Law
Galatians 5-6: Liberty in Christ; the flesh and the Spirit; fruit of
the Spirit; reaping and sowing