Galatians

Galatians 1 – No Other Gospel

Key Themes:

• Paul’s authority as an apostle
• The danger of false gospels
• The divine origin of Paul’s message

Important Verses:

• Galatians 1:6-7 – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.”
• Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?”

Highlights:

• Paul defends his apostleship and message, saying it came from Jesus Christ, not men.
• He warns the Galatians about turning to false teachers preaching legalism.
• Emphasizes that salvation is through grace, not works.

Galatians 2 – Justified by Faith

Key Themes:

• Unity of the apostles
• Justification by faith, not by the law
• Living in Christ

Important Verses:

• Galatians 2:16 – “A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.”
• Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

Highlights:

• Paul confronts Peter for hypocrisy (favoring Jews over Gentiles).
• Strong declaration that righteousness comes by faith in Christ, not the law.
• Paul’s personal testimony of living by faith, not by human effort.

Galatians 3 – Faith or Works?

Key Themes:

• The foolishness of returning to the law
• Abraham’s faith
• The law as a guardian

Important Verses:

• Galatians 3:11 – “The righteous will live by faith.”
• Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Gentile… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Highlights:

• Paul argues that the Spirit comes through faith, not law.
• Uses Abraham as proof that justification has always been through faith.
• The law was a temporary guardian until Christ came, not a means to salvation.

Galatians 4 – Heirs Through Christ

Key Themes:

• Adoption as sons and daughters
• Freedom vs. slavery
• Allegory of Hagar and Sarah

Important Verses:

• Galatians 4:6-7 – “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts… So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child.”
• Galatians 4:9 – “But now that you know God… how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces?”

Highlights:

• Believers are adopted into God’s family and made heirs with Christ.
• Paul expresses heartbreak that they are turning back to slavery under the law.
• Uses Hagar and Sarah to illustrate the difference between being a child of slavery (law) and freedom (grace).

Galatians 5 – Freedom in Christ

Key Themes:

• Living by the Spirit
• Christian freedom
• Fruit of the Spirit

Important Verses:

• Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free… do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
• Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Highlights:

• Believers are called to live in the freedom Christ offers, not under legalism.
• Warning against using freedom as an excuse for sin.
• Encouragement to walk by the Spirit, not the flesh—resulting in spiritual fruit.

Galatians 6 – Sowing and Reaping

Key Themes:

• Restoring others gently
• Sowing to the Spirit vs. the flesh
• Boasting only in the cross

Important Verses:

• Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
• Galatians 6:14 – “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Highlights:

• Encouragement to carry each other’s burdens.
• Warning that what you sow (to the flesh or Spirit), you will reap.
• Final encouragement to remain faithful and to boast only in what Christ has done, not human efforts.

OVERALL MESSAGE OF GALATIANS:

• Salvation is by grace through faith—not by works of the law.
• Christ brings freedom from sin and legalism.
• The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live transformed lives.