Saved and Commissioned to Preach Sovereign Grace 

 

  ^{© Stuart Olyott}

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The Galatian church, founded by Paul, has been infiltrated by teachers claiming that faith in Christ alone is insufficient to guarantee salvation.  These false teachers have so convinced the church that the Galatians have rejected the Gospel Paul preached for that of the false teachers.  Paul is writing to persuade the Galatians that they must not abandon the truth which they were taught by him, that salvation is found in Christ alone.  The false teachers have the upper hand, they are present with the church, and they know that the simple way to maintain their position is to discredit Paul and the message he preached.  After all, isn’t it very arrogant of Paul to say that his message alone is valid?  This is no simple disagreement over a theological issue.  At stake is the very salvation of those early believers.

Paul is quick to counter these issues at the beginning of his letter.  He is clear that his message is not of human origin or invention.  He did not learn it at school or college.  His message came to him through the direct revelation of Jesus Christ.  Paul’s message can only therefore be the true Gospel with the power to save.

How can we know then if a message we hear is the true Gospel?  Simply by asking this question, “Is the message the same as that revealed by Jesus Christ in the scriptures?”

Paul is claiming that it is not his gospel but that of Christ.  Paul will show that he had no opportunity to learn this gospel from human source.  If this is so it reveals both the truth and authority of the Gospel.

Critically Paul contends that the gospel he preached is Christ’s Gospel.  Therefore rejection of his Gospel is rejection of Christ.  How can any Gospel that rejects Christ have any power to bring salvation to man when Christ is at the heart of that very salvation?