Galatians is Paul's battleground against error. Judaizers had infiltrated the young church saying that, while it was fine to accept Christ, the converts must also keep the Jewish law. This was a shattering blow to the doctrine of Christ's all-sufficient sacrifice, for such logic concludes we are saved by works, not by faith. Jesus plainly said the old and new ways cannot mix. He spoke of the impossibility of putting new wine in old bottles and new cloth on an old garment. Paul also pointed out the error of mixing two contradictory doctrines.
Galatia was in central Asia Minor, and Paul apparently had started this church on his first missionary journey. Jealous Jews soon swept in insisting that the new converts adopt all the Jewish law and observe every manmade regulation. Paul strongly condemned this thinking saying that, even if an angel from heaven suggested such a thing, it should be rejected. So much did he believe this that he said even if he himself returned to preach another way, he should be ignored.
We must never underestimate the importance of this battle. Because Paul waged it and won, Christianity moved beyond being a local sect of Jewish religion to become a worldwide faith encompassing men of all nations. Another important theme Paul presents in this epistle concerns the fruit our lives produce. He said those who love Christ will overflow with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. However, those alienated from God will spill over with lust, madness, strife, and anger. It is up to us which fruit our lives produce.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 1:8 KJV
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