"Galatians: The Gospel of Freedom in Jesus Christ” An Introduction - Galatians 1:1-5 - Rev. Dr. David Harding

In his letter to the Galatian churches, the apostle Paul forcefully declares and defends the gospel of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. The churches Paul planted in the region of Galatia had been infiltrated with false teachers. They were dismissing Paul’s authority as an apostle of Jesus and were undermining his message of God’s grace to sinners in the gospel. As a result, the churches were in danger of exchanging the gospel for a works-based religion. This is always a tendency for Christians in every age. So, Paul warns them and us that any alternative to the free grace of God in Jesus Christ is no gospel at all. His message is powerful, clear and liberating: A person is not justified by works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 2:16; 5:1).