Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
Galatians 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Saul was sold out for the Jewish religion. He made money at it, new the law backwards and forwards, kept the law, and went after anyone who he thought was committing blasphemy. In his opinion anyone who said that Jesus was the Christ was a blasphemer.

Here is what the priest did when Jesus told them He is the Son of God. Blasphemy if Jesus was not the Son of God.

Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Matthew 26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
Matthew 26:66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

Saul had every right to put to death any Israelite that committed blasphemy. In the book of Numbers we are told of a man that was put to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath.

Numbers 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
Numbers 15:33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
Numbers 15:34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
Numbers 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
Numbers 15:36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Who gave the order for the man to be put to death? The LORD did.
What did the man do wrong? He worked on the Sabbath.
Have you ever picked up sticks on the Sabbath?
Why didn’t the LORD have you put to death?

I have been told many times that we are to do ALL the Bible. We can’t and we are not supposed to. Hebrews 1:1 tells us why.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

God has dealt with man in many different ways at different times. Paul tells us to rightly divide the Word of truth. (see 2 Timothy 2:15) If you don’t, you might just believe that you must stone someone to death for picking up sticks on the Sabbath.

Keep studying,

Jack

Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:


Paul is telling the Galatians and us about his past. His whole life was devoted to the Jewish religion. What was the Jewish religion?
• They believe in the God of Abraham (as we do)
• Kept the law of Moses (613 laws)
• Offered animal sacrifices thru the priests
• Were waiting for their King to arrive so they could take their Kingdom on earth

This is what Paul had devoted his life to. The next part of the verse says “beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:” So what was this church of God that Paul as Saul was persecuting and who was part of it? Who was Saul going after? Anyone that believed Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, the Son of God, the King that was to bring in the Kingdom. Read Acts 7 thru 8 and hear what Stephen was telling the Jewish religion leaders and members. Guess who was there? Saul! Saul was going after Peter and the other 11 apostles and anyone that believed Jesus was the Son of God.

This church of God, which Peter was left in charge of, was scattered to get away from the persecutors. It was made up of Israelites and a few believing gentiles. This has now split Israel into two categories: Believing Israel and unbelieving Israel. Saul, while persecuting, was part of unbelieving Israel. What did believing Israel believe in?
• God of Abraham
• Jesus is the Son of God (their messiah/king)

Did this believing Israel have to do anything to show that they believed? YES


• Water Baptized (Read Mark 16:16-20)
• Still obey the law of Moses
• Endure till the end (Jacobs trouble)
• Sell what they had and put it in common. (So they could get thru Jacobs trouble)

Notice this is not the same as “The Church the Body of Christ”. We believe:
• Jesus is the Son of God (Savoir)
• Died for our sins (Paid the death penalty for us)
• Was buried
• Rose again

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ completed work and you to can be saved.

More later,

Jack

Galatians 1:11-12 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Did Paul go to Jerusalem to get the gospel from Peter? NOPE
Did Paul just make up a gospel that sounded good to him? NOPE
Did any man give Paul the gospel he preached? NOPE
Did Peter and the eleven preach the same gospel as Paul? NOPE

Where did Paul get the gospel that he preached? The ascended Jesus Christ.

What is the gospel that Paul preached?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Here is the gospel Peter preached at Pentecost.

Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I am told all the time that Peter and Paul preached the same gospel. Do they look the same to you or is there something different?

Till next time,

Jack

Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

It is sometimes hard to teach Paul’s gospel (gospel of Christ) among religious people. They have been taught things that are contrary to the gospel and want to stay in the traditions of man. For example, when you say there is only one baptism for today and it doesn’t include water, they think you have fallen off your rocker.

You show them Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Then you show them the one baptism
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Paul knew he wasn’t going to please man and it didn’t matter if he did. He had a job to do and that was to do what God said to do. As a member, of the Church the Body of Christ in the dispensation of grace, we have the same job to do. It isn’t easy and people will get upset with you. Who are you pleasing? God or man.

Grace and Peace

Jack

Galatians 1:7-9

Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:8 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.



How can someone pervert the gospel of Christ? By adding to it or taking away from it. Verse 8 tells what happens to anyone that adds to or takes away. They are accursed. NOT GOOD. Paul says in Romans 9:3 that he would be accursed for his kinsmen (Israelites) if they would just believe the gospel of their salvation.

For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

He (Paul) was willing to be separated from Christ so they would be saved. (I don’t know how much you would have to love someone to be able to wish that.)

If an angel from heaven came and gave you personally a gospel would you believe it? Verse 8 says NO! How many denominations today are following an individual that says they got a message from an angel? There are several. Paul tells us that the Satan today is an angel of light and has his own ministers of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2 Corinthians 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
God feels so strong about this that He had Paul say it again in verse 9.

Galatians 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Be careful not to follow after man, follow what God has said to us in His perfectly preserved Word.

Grace and Peace

Jack

Paul has the salutation out of the way and is getting ready to unload on the churches of Galatia.

Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

It sounds like no sooner than Paul had left, someone (most likely someone from the Jewish religion) came in right behind him and added to the gospel of Christ. Notice that he says in verse 7 that it is not another gospel. This passage puzzled me for a bit. How could it be another gospel and Paul turns right around and says “which is not another”? Sounded like double talk to me at first. The end of verse 7 gives us the clue “and would pervert the gospel of Christ”. So, if the gospel of Christ is perverted it is called “another gospel”.

Just for review. The gospel of Christ is that:
• Christ died for your sins
• Was buried
• Rose again the third day



The gospel for us to believe today is found in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. How could anyone make that complicated? Well they (we) have messed up God’s Word since the Garden of Eden. Read Genesis 3 and see if you can pick up were God’s Word was changed. We mess it up by adding to it.

Denominations today add things to the gospel all the time. Some say we have to be water baptized. Others say you have to tithe, keep the Sabbath, make Jesus Lord of your life, confess your sins so they will be forgiven, be real sorry for what you have done and don’t do it again. Bottom line is, if you are trusting in ANYTHING you are doing for salvation you missed the boat. We are called to do good works (Titus 2:12), but not for salvation. Christ did it all at the cross.

Make sure you are not being preached or taught “another gospel”. In the next couple of verses we will see what happens to those who preach another gospel.

Grace and Peace
Jack

Galatians 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
Galatians 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Ok, we will try 4 verses today. The brethren that were with him I believe were in Corinth. From what I have read this is debatable. If anyone has some verses which verify where he was please share with the rest of us. It really doesn’t matter where he was, just that he wrote the letter. He was with saved people writing to saved people in the churches in Galatia. In Paul’s letters he uses the terms brethren, false brethren (Gal 2:4), and kinsmen.

Brethren= Someone who has believed the gospel that Paul delivered to them.

1 Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1 Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

False Brethren = one who ostentatiously professes to be a Christian, but is destitute of Christian knowledge and piety (OK, I went to the Greek on that one. In good old Georgia terms they AIN'T saved.)

Kinsmen = Israel, Paul’s kin by blood line.

Verse 4 in Galatians 1 is awesome news for us. “Who gave himself for our sins,” We were all born sinners because of the fall of Adam. We had no hope, our punishment is death. Jesus Christ giving himself for our sins is our way out of this evil world. Christ did it all at the cross for us. All we can do is believe He died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day.

As we get into Galatians we are going to see that this group has been tricked into believing that they have to do something more than what Christ already did. Have you been tricked? We will see as we continue our study.

Grace and Peace,
Jack