What’s the Big Idea - November 27

Read Galatians 2:16

Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too,

have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

Reflect

How would you summarize the main idea of Paul’s letter to the Galatians?

We have reached the end of our study on Galatians. Thank you for joining us! If a friend asked you what you learned from studying this epistle, what would you say? What’s the big idea in Paul’s letter to the Galatians?

If you said the big idea is that we are justified by faith not by works, I’d have to agree! That was Paul’s purpose for putting pen to paper. A group of legalistic Jews called the Judaizers were spreading a dangerous heresy that Gentiles must convert to Judaism and follow the Mosaic law before they could become Christians. In particular, they were requiring Gentiles to be circumcised and argued that salvation was dependent upon it.

But the apostles had already met to discuss this issue and had made a determination concerning Gentile believers at the Jerusalem Council. You can read about it in Acts 15. Peter explained their decision: “Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Acts 15:10-11). His point was that their forefathers had been unable to perfectly keep the Mosaic law and could not obtain salvation through it. So why would they place that burden on the Gentiles, especially when it had no ability to save them? Peter emphasized that if the Jews had to be saved through God’s grace then why wouldn’t God’s grace be the basis for the salvation of the Gentiles as well? In Acts 15:22-35, we read that the council penned a letter explaining this decision and delivered it to the churches.

Unfortunately, Paul heard that the Judaizers were still preaching this legalistic teaching in Galatia and that many were being led astray by it. He wrote: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel…” (Galatians 1:6). They were called in the grace of Christ but they were deserting that true Gospel and were returning to a false gospel of human works. They were returning to legalism.

In today’s verses, Paul emphasized that we can’t be justified, or declared righteous, before God based on works of the law. We are only justified by our faith in Christ and His work on the cross on our behalf. Because we are saved by placing our faith in Christ, we have spiritual freedom! Paul urged the Galatians not to return to the burden and bondage of the law: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

But he also emphasized that we should never use our newfound freedom in Christ “as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). We aren’t free to sin, we are free to walk by the Spirit.

Then, he pointed out that the desires of the Spirit and the desires of the flesh are completely contradictory and explained what it looks like to walk by the Spirit rather than by the flesh. He wrote: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” (Galatians 5:22-23). That is how we should walk out our faith in Christ. Those aren’t the virtues that save us, those virtues are the evidence of our salvation.

Friends, I pray that this study of Galatians has bolstered your understanding of the Gospel of grace and that you will keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen” (Galatians 6:18).

Respond

Lord, I thank You and praise You for the gift of Your grace and salvation. Help me to never return to the bondage of legalism or use my freedom as an opportunity to sin, but keep my feet in step with Your Spirit at all times. Amen.

Reveal

Who do you know that needs to hear that we are justified by faith in Christ and not by observing laws? How can you share the truth with them today?