Day 2, 363 more to go

I read Galatians today. Galatians was a book that helped me abandon my dispensational beliefs several years back. It was also the first book that I preached through. I loved preaching it. It has a repeating theme that is emphasized repeatedly through the book. This made it difficult for a new pastor to preach without sounding like the previous week's sermon. I don't have much time to write today, so I will just address one point in the book of Galatians.

In all of the commentaries that I have read, they all claim that the beginning of Galatians is Paul's defense of his ministry. What is he really defending? Is he trying to prove he is indeed an Apostle? Is he trying to prove the effectiveness and success of his ministry? I believe that you find his purpose beginning with the fourth word of the letter.

"not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father"

Later, in 1:10 Paul states that he is not a man pleaser - instead he is a servant of God.

The clearest statement is found in 1:11 where Paul says that the good news that he proclaimed was not "according to man".

I could comment quite a bit on this passage but please read it sometime and take note of Paul's defense. The gospel he proclaimed was not from men. He defends this several ways to include chronological points which do not do much for simply defending that he is an Apostle. He is proving that he was not influenced by men. He even had the guts to confront Peter, someone with high reputation.

Ultimately, I am thankful for the truth found here in Galatians. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us." 3:13

I am not the best writer. Please be patient with me.

Because of God's Great Mercy!