Galatians 1:1-24

Angel Preachers

The letter to the churches of Galatia was written for a specific purpose. The letter to the Romans covered much of paul’s theology and many other topics as well, The letters to the church at Corinth covered a broad range of topics. The letter before us today mainly focuses in on one topic. These churches had apparently been led away from the gospel by teaching that salvation is based on human works. Paul was mightily and justly upset by this occasion.

Before going into greater detail later in the letter he starts off by calling this a perversion of the gospel. He ten makes a startling statement that many would do well to take to heart, even today. “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” Think about it. If an angel appears, or even the apostle Paul himself, and brings a “different” gospel then let him suffer the damnation of hell. (That is what “eternally condemned” means.) 

He then goes on to make another point which believers for all time need to understand. The gospel wasn’t man’s idea. Men did not “make up” the gospel, nor did they reason it out. It came by revelation from God. That is the only way it could have come because it simply doesn’t make sense to the purely rational mind. 

This is why Paul goes to length to explain the history for the few years following his conversion. He didn’t get this gospel by collaboration with the other apostles. He didn’t really meet the apostles for over three after his conversion. Yet, the gospel that he preached was the same gospel they preached. How could that be? Revelation from God.

Of course you could present a rational case that Paul was lying. And if you believe that then there isn’t much I can do for you. You can also make a rational case the salvation “must” involve works, but the apostle Paul wouldn’t think too kindly of your teaching. Is it really by faith alone? Does even the Old Testament support such a position? We have come to the right book to examine that question. Let’s do it together.