The Gospel According to Galatians

Salvation: Bondage or Freedom?

A Book Showing the Bondage or Freedom One Experiences Based on His Understanding of Salvation

God

There is nothing more important than Jesus Christ and His work to save us from our sin. His death, burial and resurrection are the greatest expression of God’s love and the only way any man, woman, boy or girl can be forgiven and allowed into Heaven.

Paul

God emboldened the Apostle Paul to preach this message whether it was accepted, denied, ignored, abused or distorted. Paul wrote this letter to “the churches of Galatia” because the message of Jesus, which he had so vigorously championed, was being distorted by “false brethren”—those who appeared Christian but were not. Paul knew that Heaven was by the work of Christ without the work of men. The false brethren, however, were teaching contrary to this, and by so doing, were enslaving those who followed them with the idea that one must strictly keep the Law if he is going to Heaven. Now, “bewitched” by this false teaching, these people who were once liberated by the salvation of Christ had come again into bondage; Paul would have nothing to do with this. He strongly rebuked the churches and plainly showed “the Gospel of Christ” to be the opposite of the works of men.

You

Many people doubt if they are saved. They want to be saved, but they do not quite understand how salvation relates to the way they live. You might be someone like this. Do you have doubts about your salvation? Do you wonder if you are living in a way that is acceptable enough to God? Do you know where you would go if you died today? Carefully study the letter to the Galatians and these notes. As you do, may the Lord teach you the truth, and may your salvation soon rest on the unchanging Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians Answers Three Chief Questions

What is the Grace of Christ?

1:3b-4 Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins…

3:26 …so we can become God’s children.
What allows us to have part in the Grace of Christ?

2:16 Belief in Jesus Christ justifies us in God’s sight, and…

3:13 …frees us from the curse (or, bondage) of Moses’ Law.
What blessings does the Grace of Christ give to the believer right now?

5:1 Liberty – The demand of the Law is satisfied by Christ; it is no longer held over you.

2:20 Life – The death of the sinner was taken by Christ; it no longer haunts you.

5:13-14 Love – The duty of the believer is fulfilled by love; this is why you obey.

Fourteen Arguments Showing that the Grace of Christ Justifies Men in God’s Eyes

The Apostle Paul taught one simple message: God will accept you into Heaven if you trust Jesus Christ to take your sin away as opposed to trusting yourself. Men accused Paul of making up his own teachings, speaking against the Law and teaching things contrary to the other apostles. The following fourteen arguments are the backbone of Paul’s refutation of these false accusations. God preserved them in the Bible to help us see just how important trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation is, and how man’s efforts to keep the Law are worthless since no man is flawless. May you be led of God not only to see these arguments from Paul’s perspective but also how they directly relate to you today.

1. 1:10-24 The Apostles Give Evidence for the Grace of Christ

The other apostles did not disagree with Paul; rather, they glorified God in Paul because he preached the Grace of Christ.

2. 2:16-18 The Inability of Man Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

God gave His Son to die, not because men were keeping the Law, but because none were good enough to keep it.

3. 2:19-21 The Death of Christ Evidence for the Grace of Christ

If salvation comes by what man can do, then Jesus Christ’s death was in vain.

4. 3:1-5 The Response of the Holy Spirit and of Critics Give Evidence for the Grace of Christ

The Holy Spirit, the sufferings and the miracles are evidence that God accepts faith without requiring one to be a Law keeper.

5. 3:6-9 God’s Justification of Abraham Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

Since God was willing to justify Abraham before the Law was ever written then God can justify both Jews and Gentiles now without it also.

6. 3:10-14 The Old Testament Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

The teaching that faith alone justifies a man in the sight of God is not a new teaching because the Old Testament writings (Genesis-Malachi) taught the same.

7. 3:15-20 The Covenant to Abraham Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

Jesus Christ is man’s Saviour by the promise in His covenant made to Abraham’s seed (children).

8. 3:21-29 The Purpose of the Law Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

The Law was given not to make men obey, but to teach that all men do not and cannot obey.

9. 4:1-7 The Origin of Adoption Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

Adopting believers into God’s family was His idea and not man’s.

10. 4:8-10 The Mechanical Nature of Law Keeping Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

Trusting in one’s ability to keep the Law is as ridiculous as worshiping manmade idols.

11. 4:21-31 How God Handled Abraham’s Children Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

Abraham’s biological children were an allegory teaching that salvation is by promise.

12. 5:1-7 The Utter Impossibility of Law Keeping Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

If one hopes to trust in his ability to keep the Law, then he must be able to keep it flawlessly.

13. 5:8-12 The Rejection of Paul’s Preaching Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

Paul’s preaching would not have been rejected if he had been teaching what that the Law saves.

14. 6:11-15 The Failure of the False Brethren Gives Evidence for the Grace of Christ

Not even the false brethren who are teaching salvation comes by the Law are proving to be flawless.

Conclusion

Bondage or freedom? Which of these do you want? There is freedom in Christ and bondage in the Law. Some of the happiest people in the world are those who were in bondage but are now free in Christ. This is not to be thought of as freedom to disobey, but rather freedom to obey. A person is free to obey who does not feel threatened that a failure on his part will bring the angry judgment of God upon him. He is saved and he knows it; now he obeys, not to get or keep salvation, but to show love to God who has already saved him. This is the Grace of Christ, the message of Paul and the truth argued for in the book of Galatians. May God give you His grace today!