In my last post, I suggested that you study a large section or book of the Bible as a whole. Read the entirety in one sitting, and do that every day for a month. As you do, try to trace the main goal(s) of the writer. Then boil it all down into one paragraph. Certainly important things will be left out, but that’s ok. If you get the big pieces of the puzzle in order, the smaller pieces tend to fall into place (in your mind) much more easily. I have done this with Galatians. Read it and see if it makes sense to you. See if you catch the “message” of Paul; this is too often lost in the details as we read extended portions. You also will note that there is some interpretation involved (inevitable as you condense); see if I was faithful to the original. Whether you agree or disagree, do it yourself.
Paul writes to the Galatians because they appear to be following a different gospel than the one Paul preached to them. Paul received the gospel directly from Jesus and not from men, but its truth was confirmed by the Jerusalem apostles. The gospel is that man is justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law. If justification could be gained through observing the law, Christ died for nothing. Since you were saved by faith and not by works, you must continue to live by faith and not by works. Gentiles become children of Abraham and receive the Spirit by believing in Christ crucified. The promise was given first to Abraham and the law was added later to lead us to Christ so that we might be justified by faith. When Christ came, we were made sons of God by faith and the law was no longer needed as our guardian. Thus it is foolish to revert to the law, which is slavery. Just as the child of the slave woman, Ishmael, persecuted the child of the free woman, Isaac, so those under the slavery of the law are persecuting the children of freedom. Remove from your midst those serving the law, for they will not inherit the promises made to Abraham. Those who try to be justified by the law have fallen away from grace.
Do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, but rather to serve one another in love. Live by the Spirit and do not practice the works of the flesh. The sinful nature is subdued not by the law but by keeping in step with the Spirit. Be careful how you live, knowing that a man will reap what he sows. Again, I urge you not to be circumcised, for that only produces boasting about your flesh, and there should be no boasting except in the cross of Christ. This is true not only for Gentiles but for Jews as well.
In one sentence: You were justified by faith in Christ crucified and to submit to observance of the law is to fall away from grace and return to slavery.
Key verses: 2:16; 3:3, 5:4