3rd July 2023

Obedience to what law?

This study is the tenth in a series of studies on the books of the New Testament

(Galatians – read in 13 minutes)

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:21 (NKJV)

This verse expresses the central message of Paul’s letter. The threat from unnamed teachers to the Galatian churches, is that Jesus’ saving work is replaced by their own obedience to ‘the law’. That is the same law that Paul admits he was bound by when he describes himself as, ‘being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.’ (Galatians 1:14).

It is an all or nothing message – works versus grace for salvation – that are mutually exclusive. There is no crossover in the Venn diagram. The 3084 words of Paul’s argument finds resolution in Chapter 5 in the descriptions of the opposing ‘works of the flesh’ and ‘fruits of the spirit’. The indwelling of the Spirit, in those saved by faith, changes them. At the same time Paul addresses the difficult balance, for the people living at that time, and for us today, between faith in salvation in Christ alone, and ensuring that freedom does not become a licence for ‘fleshly’ living.

Paul’s focus is on circumcision but it is the tip of an iceberg – maybe the most obvious part – that encompasses all the other aspects of ‘the law’. Twice he comments ‘neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything’. It seems to have become a badge of righteousness amongst the Galatians, led by an unknown group of ‘teachers’, but is indicative of a deeper problem: the implication that being under the law requires one, not merely to be circumcised, but to keep the whole law, thus Paul refers to some of these wider problems as keeping ‘days and months and seasons and years.’ (Galatians 4:10).

It is an emotional message, showing disappointment, anger, confusion, pain. Outbursts such as, ‘O foolish Galatians’ and ‘My little children’ underline Paul’s deep love for those that he has preached Christ to, who have accepted him as Saviour, and his frustration at realising that the central part of the gospel message is being rejected. It only takes five verses, following traditional niceties, to address the issues: ‘I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel…’ (Galatians 1:6).

Paul also defends himself against accusations that he is not an apostle, that the gospel he preaches was his own (Galatians 1:11-17). Early on he lays down a foundation for what is to come by stating that what he preaches came, ‘through the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ (v.12). He argues that he was approved by the ‘pillars’ as being the apostle to the Gentiles. (Galatians 2:7-9).

That Paul brings the faith of Abraham, and some details of his life (Galatians 4:22-31) into his discussion, suggests that these teachers had introduced Gentile converts to Abraham and the history of Judaism, and to the Jewish, confidence that they had salvation by being sons of Abraham. These people were running a concerted and aggressive campaign.

Paul confirms and defends the truth of the gospel, that Jews and Gentiles are both justified by grace through faith in Christ. We, along with the Galatians, are crucified with Christ – dead to the law and the flesh, we live a life of freedom in the Spirit – a freedom to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:22-25), and not to do whatever we want.  

Prayer
Heavenly father, show us how to more perfectly bear one another’s burdens in love, knowing that this fulfils the law of Christ. ¹  Amen.

Study by Maggie Mitchell 

¹ Galatians 6:2

About the writer:
Maggie Mitchell attends the Northampton congregation of Grace Communion International and is Chair of the Pastoral Council

Local congregation:
GCI Northampton
Ecton Village Hall
78A High Street
Ecton
Northampton
NN6 0QB

Local congregational contact:
Maggie Mitchell
Email:  maggie.mitchell@btinternet.com

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church