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GALATIANS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 28, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 13.

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GALATIANS

By F. D. Starr

While other epistles of Paul were addressed either to individuals or to single churches or to the people of God in general, this one alone was written to the believers in a certain country, in which were found several churches. Galatia was one of the leading provinces of Asia Minor; a number of churches were located within its borders. To all these churches, as will be seen by the introduction, this letter was addressed.
The reasons for writing this epistle are so clearly stated in that very interesting work entitled, “Sketches from the Life of Paul,” that we will here give a few extracts:
While Paul looked with interest and hope to new fields of labor in the west, he had cause for serious apprehension concerning the fields of his former labor in the east. Tidings had been received at Corinth from the churches in Galatia, revealing a state of great confusion, and even of absolute apostasy. Judaising teachers were opposing the work of the apostle, and seeking to destroy the fruit of his labors.
Faith in Christ, and obedience to the law of Ten Commandments, were regarded as of minor importance. Division, heresy, and sensualism were rapidly gaining ground among the believers in Galatia.
Open, unmasked error was supplanting the faith of the Gospel.
Those false teachers were hypocritical, unregenerate men, unholy in heart and corrupt in life. Their religion consisted in a round of ceremonies, by the performance of which they expected to receive the favor of God. They had no relish for a doctrine which taught, “Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God.”
To substitute the external forms of religion for holiness of heart and life, is still as pleasing to the unrenewed nature as in the days of the apostles. For this reason, false teachers abound, and the people listen eagerly to their delusive doctrines. It is Satan’s studied effort to divert the minds of men from the one way of salvation,—faith in Christ, and obedience to the law of God. In every age the arch-enemy adapts his temptations to the prejudices or inclinations of the people. In apostolic times he led the Jews to exalt the ceremonial law, and reject Christ; at the present day he induces many professed Christians, under the pretense of honoring Christ, to cast contempt upon the moral law, and teach that its precepts may be transgressed with impunity.
Paul continues to vindicate his position as the apostle of Christ, not by the will of men, but by the power of God. He describes the visit which he made to Jerusalem to secure a settlement of the very questions which are now agitating the churches of Galatia, as to whether the Gentiles should submit to circumcision and keep the ceremonial law.—Pages 188–193.
The distinction between circumcision and obedience to moral precepts is thus plainly stated by Paul:
“Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.” 1 Cor. 7:19.
The same truth is set forth in the epistle under consideration:
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” Gal. 5:6; 6:15.
It will thus be seen that circumcision is the sign of ceremonial obligation, and all that system that was connected with it, is a very different matter from the moral duties the sign of which is the Sabbath of Jehovah. See Ex. 31:13; Eze. 20:12, 20. Circumcision is done away, so that now it is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God is something; yes, we may say it is everything; for Jesus kept the commandments of His Father, and through His obedience, sinful mortals are made righteous. Rom. 5:19. He came to enable us to live lives of righteous obedience to the Father’s law.
Notice how three things are put together in opposition to ceremonial observances: Circumcision is nothing; but faith which worketh by love. Circumcision is nothing; but a new creature. Circumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. These three—faith that works by love, a new creature, and the keeping of the commandments of God—are inseparably connected together, and constitute the essentials of Christian experience.
To further show the excellencies of the law of God, Paul says in Gal. 5:22, 23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.” Or as the German reads, “Against such the law is not.” All these are the fulfilment of God’s holy law, and are in contrast with the works of the flesh just before enumerated, which are simply the transgression of that same law.
How can any one misunderstand the teachings of the book of Galatians in regard to the law of God? After the stirring defense of the subject of justification by faith, which is the leading thought in the book, many very beautiful and encouraging exhortations are given in the last chapter of this epistle. O, that we might ever heed them, restore those overtaken in a fault, bear one another’s burdens, sow to the Spirit, with the assurance of a bountiful harvest in the soon-coming time of reaping, and never be weary in well-doing, but do good unto all men.
We will notice in closing, two verses from this unique book which so decidedly express the true nature of Christian experience: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 2:20; 6:14.
F. D. STARR.