Galatians - Week 1 (1:1-9)
Galatians 1:1-9
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Galatians 1:1-9 〰️
Welcome to week 1 of our 13-week series in the book of Galatians! We’re back in a verse-by-verse series after spending a few weeks in the parables of Jesus, so we’ll be taking this book on in short passages at a time, beginning, of course, with 1:1.
Quick Context
This letter was written by the apostle Paul “to the churches of Galatia” (v2). It’s not known with certainty where the Galatians were, as “Galatia” had both ethnic and political meanings that point in somewhat different directions.¹ If it means ethnically, we can look to Acts 18:23 and 19:1, as Paul was in north-central Asia Minor, a region where “Galatians” were known to reside (Western Turkey). If it means politically, then the Galatians to whom Paul was writing refers to those living in the southern part of the Roman province of Galatia (Eastern Turkey), as recorded in Acts 13:14-14:23. Scholars have very little doubt that the apostle Paul wrote this letter, as the overlap of his greeting, grammar, and teachings is significant.
The purpose of Paul writing this letter is stated just after the greeting, in v6: Because they “are so quickly turning away” from the gospel of Jesus Christ. This entire letter is laced with passionate language, pleading with the people of Galatia to return to the truth of Jesus and reject the world's false “gospel.” Throughout the letter, Paul teaches about the Holy Spirit’s role in the Christian life of following Christ. Most notably, Galatians 5 lists the fruits of the Spirit, the marks by which followers of Jesus will be known. Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians (whether a people group or residents in a specific region) to implore them to reject false teaching and return to the one true Gospel of Jesus, stressing the weight of leading others astray.
1:1-9
Paul opens the letter to the Galatians with what is now considered his standard greeting, stating who he is and to whom he is writing. Something so fun in this passage is Paul’s mention of both “God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ” in v3. Even in his introduction to the Galatians, Paul restates that Jesus is the Son of God and Lord, countering the returning argument and belief that salvation comes through “the works of the law” (2:16).² One key issue (of many) with salvation by works rather than grace is that the “works-doer” gets the glory, having essentially saved themselves. This common, timeless belief entraps many into thinking salvation comes through what we do rather than what Jesus has done. By “achieving” our own right standing with God, we earn our place in His family, and Christ’s death was in vain! But what Christ did on the cross in my place deserves the glory, because He did that which I could not. Paul restates this to the church in Ephesus as well,
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8–10)
Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states the source of our salvation, the reason we can stand before the Lord with our debt wiped clean. Because this passage is so clear and concise, we can often skip v10 when recalling it, but especially in the context of our passage here in Galatians 1, v10 is essential. Paul clearly states that we were “created in Christ Jesus for good work.” Our salvation is in Jesus and is not dependent on our obedience or good work, but God still created us for good works. We are called to be obedient because of the mercy God showed us, but our right standing before God isn’t conditional on our obedience. This is what Paul desperately wants to remind the Galatians, because it has been so easy for them (and us) to claim credit for salvation by “being good” or doing good things. In their own right, good works are excellent and can bring glory to God, but are not the determining factor in our standing before God.
This portion of the letter closes with Paul warning against false teachings, reiterating that if anyone teaches a “gospel” contrary to that of Jesus, “ a curse be on him!” (v8, 9). The Gospel of Jesus, the Gospel of grace, is so beautiful and wonderful that Paul was “amazed” that the Galatians deserted it for a false teaching of works. For nearly all of civilization, humans have (largely) functioned as merit-based. You clean your room, you get dessert. You ace high school calculus and behave in class; you get honors and more opportunities for higher education. You perform well, you get a promotion. This is just how the rest of this fallen world works, but the kingdom of heaven is not like this. In Jesus’ kingdom, we need only to “repend and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15).
Discussion:
Ice Breaker Question: What is one thing you think the original version of is always better and you refuse to accept a substitute for?
Could someone read Galatians 1:1-9?
Why does Paul make such a big deal about the fact that his message came from God and not from people? What difference should that make when the gospel (or the bible) challenges what we think, want, or believe?
Leader Notes: Paul emphasizes the divine source of his apostleship because the gospel is God's message, not something created or discovered by human beings. Because we didn't create the gospel, we don't have the authority to reshape it; instead, we receive it as God's truth and allow it to challenge and reshape us.
Additional Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 2:1–5; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20–21
Why do you think it can be difficult for us to really believe that our sin is serious enough that Jesus had to “give himself” for us? How does the cross challenge the way we tend to think about ourselves and our sin?
We naturally tend to minimize, excuse, or compare our sin to others, but the cross gives us an honest picture of its seriousness. At the same time, the cross doesn't leave us in despair—it shows us that Christ willingly gave Himself for sinners who could never rescue themselves.
Additional Scriptures: Romans 3:23–26; Romans 5:6–8; 1 Timothy 1:15–16; 1 Peter 3:18
Paul says Jesus gave Himself not only “for our sins,” but also “to deliver us from the present evil age.” How does that expand our understanding of what Jesus came to save us from and what He came to save us for? Why is this truth essential to remember as we seek to kill sin in our lives?
Leader Note: Paul presents salvation as more than the cancellation of individual guilt; Christ rescues His people from the dominion and values of an age opposed to God and brings them into His new creation. The gospel therefore includes both forgiveness and deliverance—we are rescued from sin's guilt AND power to belong to Christ and His kingdom.
Additional Scriptures: Colossians 1:13–14; Romans 6:6–14; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:14–15
If someone asked you, “Is Christianity basically about becoming a better person?” how would you answer them from these verses? Where does obedience fit if Jesus is the one who has done the rescuing?
Leader Note: Christianity certainly produces transformed lives, but transformation is the result of salvation, not its basis. We don't obey in order to make ourselves acceptable to God; because Christ has rescued us by grace, obedience becomes the grateful fruit of salvation.
Additional Scriptures: Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 2:11–14; Romans 6:1–4
Paul says the Galatians are turning to “a different gospel,” but then immediately says that there actually “is no other.” How can a message contain much of Christianity and yet cease to be the gospel? What kinds of additions fundamentally change the gospel?
Leader Note: The Galatian error wasn't simply abandoning Jesus but believing that Jesus plus something else was necessary for justification. Adding another requirement to Christ's finished work doesn't merely supplement the gospel—it changes the basis of our acceptance before God from Christ's work to our own.
Additional Scripture: Acts 15:1–11; Romans 11:6; Galatians 2:16, 21
Why do you think Paul goes as far as saying that even he—or an angel from heaven—should be rejected if they preach a different gospel? What does that teach us about how we should decide what is true, even when a message comes from someone we respect or trust?
Leader Note: Paul makes the striking claim that the gospel is authoritative even over the person who originally preached it to them. No teacher's reputation, church tradition, personal experience, or supernatural claim can overturn what God has revealed; everything must ultimately be tested against God's revealed truth.
Additional Scripture: Acts 17:11; 2 Corinthians 11:3–4, 13–15; 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21; 1 John 4:1
What is the difference between denying the gospel outright and functionally living as though the gospel were not enough? Where are you most tempted to place confidence alongside the finished work of Christ?
Leader Note: Most Christians will never consciously reject salvation by grace, yet we can functionally build our confidence before God on morality, theological knowledge, ministry, reputation, spiritual disciplines, or the approval of others. The aim is to expose the subtle “Christ plus _____” tendencies of our hearts and return our confidence to Christ alone.
Additional Scripture: Luke 18:9–14; Philippians 3:4–9; Galatians 6:14
Where in your life are you most tempted to feel like you have something to prove—to God, to yourself, or to other people? How does the gospel change the way you approach that area of your life?
Leader Note: Encourage the group to move from discussing gospel distortion “out there” to identifying gospel drift within their own hearts. This might look like trying to earn God's approval, finding identity in success or others' opinions, allowing guilt to define us after Christ has forgiven us, or looking to something besides Christ for security and worth. Encourage specific, concrete applications rather than general answers.
Additional Scripture: Romans 8:1; Colossians 2:6–7; Hebrews 12:1–2; Galatians 2:20
1. A. Boyd Luter, Galatians, in CSB Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1856.
2. A. Boyd Luter, Galatians, in CSB Study Bible: Notes (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1858.