God Did It (Galatians 1:1-5)

September 12, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Grace, legalism, Salvation

Legalists from Israel were corrupting the Galatian churches, teaching them they needed to be circumcised and to keep different laws to be saved.

Paul hit back. Hard.

Paul’s greeting to the Galatian churches (1:1-5) strongly emphasized that God is the main actor in salvation.

God sends the preacher (v 1a).
God raised Jesus from the dead (1b).
God gives grace and peace (v 3).
Jesus gave Himself for our sins (v 4a).
Jesus delivers from the present evil age (v 4b).
God wills for this all to happen (v 4c).
And all the glory belongs to Him (v 5).

It’s all God, God, God.

None of it is you, you, you.

To think that circumcision could add anything to this is not just crazy, but “cursed” (v 8, 9).

Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) was the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society from May 2012 through June 2022. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

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