Galatians 1:1-9 Dire Situation

The book of Galatians is known as the Magna Carta of Christian liberty. By that, we mean liberty in the true sense of the word – freedom to meet with God not on the basis of any of our doings – but soley upon His grace and mercy which are found in Christ our Lord – AND liberty, not in the sense that you get to live however you want – but liberty to live in accordance with God's law and word; liberty to live in obedience to Him.

Hence, only through Jesus, based upon His propitiatory, substitutionary work at Calvary, is a person able to be freed from the curse of sin and of law and to live a new life – not in bondage or license.

Martin Luther referred to the book of Galatians as his Catherine Von Bora – a reference to his wife – because as Luther said – “I am wedded to it.” The Lord of course used Luther to revive the important lost doctrine of the Church – namely – justification by faith alone – freeing many who lingered under the works and trappings of the Roman Catholic church.

The reason Paul wrote to the Galatians was precisely because false teachers, known as the Judaizers, had come in and were telling the people Jesus alone wasn't good enough for right-standing with God – they needed Jesus plus circumcision – or other parts of the ceremonial law. Paul wrote to them to exhort, warn and remind them that only through Christ alone can they obtain right-standing with God – AND only through Christ alone can they live the Christian life.

As we will see, Paul uses strong, severe words right from the beginning of this book to try and help the Galatians see just how dire their situation is because of their embracing the Judaizer's false teaching.