Galatians: A Significant Salutation
Preached on 8.1.10 by Dustin Neeley
Sermon Notes
A Significant Salutation 8.1.10
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:1-5 ESV
Overview of the Text: A basic salutation or greeting which could be found in any ancient letter. But, as was his custom, Paul uses even the greeting to do more than just say “hello” but also reaffirm certain truths, “lay the ground work” for certain themes, and begin to set the stage for why he is writing in the first place. It is important to notice what is here but also what is absent as well.
“Paul” Born Saul. Named after one of Israel’s most well-known kings. In his “former life,” he was well known for his scholarship and devotion to and zeal for his faith. He was sincere, but sincerely wrong. He was radically changed when he met Jesus face to face on the road to Damascus Acts 9. Means “small.”
P: We can be sincere and sincerely wrong.
Just because it feels right doesn’t make it right.
P: If God can change Paul, He can change us.
Have I been changed by Jesus? Am I being changed by Jesus?
“an apostle” lit. messenger, sent one. At this time, apostles would have been emissaries/delegates sent with a royal message with royal authority. To reject an ‘apostle’ would have been to reject the King. This term carries a particular importance in this letter.
Two Types of Apostles in the Bible:
1. “Capital A” Apostles – 13 men who God used to write Scripture and speak with His authority on His behalf.
Qualifications for all 12 Apostles other than Paul:
1. The person was first a disciple.
2. The person was eyewitness of the resurrected Jesus.
3. The person was directly and personally called by Christ.
- Paul’s “apostleship” was in question because he was an atypical apostle. This didn’t make him any less of one, just one who was called differently.
2. “Lowercase a” apostles - missionaries/church planters. (Also “apostolic.”)
*The first category does not exist today.
“not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead” Paul is defending his apostolic authority by pointing to its source his apostolic appointment from Jesus Himself which came from God. He is not “tooting his own horn” but rather he is seeking to eliminate any humanity from the process and say that “to reject me is to reject Jesus because Jesus sent me and I am speaking for Him.”
Implications for Today:
1. It is impossible to say “I like Jesus but I don’t really care for Paul.”
a. This is a category that would have been completely foreign to Jesus himself.
2.We should not try to follow in his footsteps in this way.
a. Dimensions of Our Callings: Inward call but also and Outward call.
“and all the brothers who are with me” Somewhat unique in that it doesn’t list workers by name. Possibly because he is in such a hurry to get to the matter at hand. Likely included for added ‘punch’ and also to say “I’m not the only one who thinks you are in danger of shipwrecking your faith.
“To the churches of Galatia” Group of churches in what is modern day Turkey under attack from a group of false teachers. Galatians is the only letter written to a group of churches as opposed to a single church or individual.
“Grace to you and peace” Grace: God’s unmerited favor to us that is ours through Christ Jesus. The context of our salvation. “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” Peace: the result of our salvation. Also, it is likely no accident that Paul would have mentioned both of these to this audience in light of the false teaching among them. Grace was under attack and they certainly weren’t experiencing God’s peace.
“from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” The first two members of the Trinity.
Shows their common faith. Also reaffirms divinity of Jesus.
“who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age,” The substitutionary atonement. The primary reason Jesus came. Lit. “rescue.” The broken world around us filled with sin, injustice etc. Paul will explain later that by wanting to stay under the Law, they are anchoring themselves to this present evil age.
P: Jesus came to rescue us from our sins.
1. This happens in a “once for all” sense when we repent and believe.
2. This happens in a “moment by moment” sense in which we continually look to Christ to save us from our sins.
Have I been rescued from my sins? Am I living as one who has been rescued? If not, what needs to change?
“according to the will of our God and Father” Redemption unfolded according to plan.
P: If we can trust God to be in charge of our salvation, we can trust Him to be in charge of our lives.
“to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” One of the central truths of Scripture.
P: The glory of God is the most important thing in all eternity.
The false teachers are teaching for their own glory and leading the Galatians to pursue their own by “making a good showing for the flesh.” (Gal. 6:12)
Am I pursuing the glory of God in every aspect of my life? When I don’t, am I quick to repent?
Everything we have learned today is true because of Jesus.