The Writings of Galatians

What defines your life? What gives you an identity? Is it your culture? Your family? What defines your identity with God? This was a controversial issue for Christians in the first century. The church began only with Jews but quickly Gentiles joined the church. Did these Gentiles need to also become followers of the Jewish law or could they be Christians solely because of the work of Christ?

This issue is not jus theological but very personal. It defines the core of the gospel. Paul writes a letter to the church in Galatia and tells them that God’s grace is what is needed to break the chains of religious bondage to experience true freedom in Christ. It is grace, through faith in the work of Christ, that defines a Christian. Paul speaks about grace with much conviction because he is a product of it. Before Paul made the decision to live his life for Jesus, he relied on religious identity but then he had a personal encounter with Jesus and discovered the revelation of the gospel. Paul’s own personal experience is what makes him so passionate about the church in Galatia.

For Paul, the issue is not merely people trying to earn their salvation. The issue is leaders who are wrongly leading people to add to their identity in Christ. Any attempt to add to who Christ has made you is to destroy the work of Christ. The only way to live a life in Christ is to do by faith in the work of Christ alone.