Speaker: Siamah Dim En — Galatians 1 & 2
Background
- Paul wrote the book of Galatians.
- The letter was written not to just one church, but to several churches in the region of Galatia.
- Paul wrote to:
- Spread the gospel to the Gentiles.
- Make sure believers remained grounded in the Word of God.
- Expose false teachers and their false teachings.
Why Did Paul Write Galatians?
Paul was not one of the twelve disciples, so many questioned his authority and assumed his teaching was not legitimate.
Because of these assumptions, Paul wrote to remind the churches that:
- Salvation comes through God’s grace, not through traditions passed down from generations.
- Believers are saved by grace through faith, not by keeping Jewish laws or religious traditions.
Main Theme of Galatians:
Salvation (the Good News) is by grace through faith alone—not by following Jewish laws and traditions.
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Questions Many Believers Ask
- If you receive salvation, can you lose it?
- Do we receive salvation through Jesus alone, or do we still have to abide by the Law?
Paul teaches that salvation is not based on:
- How good we are.
- How well we follow the Law.
- How consistently we read the Bible.
- How much we pray.
We are saved because of our faith in Jesus Christ and the grace of God.
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Galatians 1:1
“This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group of people or any human authority, but by Jesus Christ himself and by God the Father…”
- Paul’s authority did not come from people.
- He was appointed directly by Jesus Christ.
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Galatians 1:2–5
Paul greets the churches with grace and peace and reminds them that:
- Jesus gave His life for our sins.
- His sacrifice was God’s plan to rescue us from this present evil world.
Context:
Paul’s opponents believed that faith in Jesus was not enough.
Many Jews believed believers also had to:
- Follow the Law.
- Be circumcised.
They taught that a person was not fully saved without keeping these requirements.
Paul’s purpose was to proclaim the true gospel given to him by God—not by people.
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Galatians 1:6–10
Paul was amazed because he had seen people’s lives transformed by the gospel in such a short time.
“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God…”
Key Point
Paul’s goal was never to please people but to serve Christ.
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Galatians 1:11–12
“I received my message from no human source… I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.”
- The gospel Paul preached came directly from Jesus.
- It did not matter that Paul was not one of the twelve disciples.
- His message carried God’s authority because it was revealed by Christ Himself.
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Galatians 1:13–17
Paul shares his testimony.
Before Christ:
- He fiercely followed Judaism.
- He persecuted Christians.
- He tried to destroy the church.
After Christ:
- God revealed Jesus to him.
- He was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
A genuine encounter with Jesus brings transformation. There should be evidence of change in the life of someone who truly knows Christ.
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Galatians 1:15
“Even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.”
- God chose Paul before he was born.
- Paul did not immediately walk in his calling.
- He persecuted Christians before surrendering to God’s purpose.
- God still called and used him despite his past.
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Many young people struggle with questions like:
- What should I major in?
- What career should I pursue?
- Should I choose financial stability or God’s calling?
Like Paul, we may have doubts or make our own plans.
However:
- God knows the right timing.
- When His time comes, He will lead you into His purpose.
- When you follow God’s calling, you will not regret it because His plans are always good.
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Like Sia Khai No.
- He originally chose engineering because it was a high-paying career.
- God allowed him to work in that field for many years.
- When the right time came, God opened a new opportunity.
- He could not ignore God’s calling and stepped into the ministry God had prepared for him.
God often places us where He needs us more than where we planned to be.
His love and purpose are greater than our own strength and plans.
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Wherever God calls us:
- We should share the Word of God. We should spread the gospel. Our calling is not just about having a title or position. It is about making Christ known wherever we are.
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The world’s definition of success is different from God’s.
True success is:
- Having your name written in the Book of Life.
- Living faithfully for Christ.
Do not depend on people for joy or fulfillment.
Instead:
- Depend on Jesus.
- Do not place your trust in human approval or human works.
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Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Galatians 2:14–16
“When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others… We know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law… For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
- The Jews were known for carefully following the Law.
- Paul reminded Peter that although they were Jews by birth, they were made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, not by keeping the Law.
- Righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone—not through human effort or religious traditions.
Does this mean we no longer:
- Go to church?
- Read our Bible?
- Pray?
- Fast?
- Serve?
No. These are all things believers should continue to do.
However:
- We do not receive God’s acceptance or blessings because of our works.
- Jesus has already accomplished everything necessary for our salvation.
- Our obedience, service, and devotion should come from love and gratitude for what Christ has already done.
Sometimes we serve so much that we begin to think God’s blessings depend on our performance.
But the truth is:
- We are blessed because we belong to Jesus.
- God’s love and acceptance are not earned by our works.
If we believe we have to work to earn God’s favor, it becomes difficult to ask Him for help when we struggle because we feel like we have to deserve it.
Instead, remember:
- God has already accepted us through Christ.
- He does not change His mind about us.
- He desires for us to be part of His family.
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Galatians 2:20
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live