Paul (1:1) probably wrote this epistle after the Council of Jerusalem (a.k.a., Apostolic Council) of A.D. 50 (2:1), where the reputed church leaders approved of Paul’s teaching and ministry to the Gentiles (2:7-10). His letter was circulated in a province in the Roman Empire known as Galatia (1:2), today, south-central Turkey.
Paul’s purpose in writing this letter was to address the controversy (1:6-7; 2:4; 5:7-10) incited by the Judaizers (4:17; 5:12), an extremist Jewish sect of Christians, who insisted it was mandatory for Gentile Christians to observe Jewish laws and traditions, such as circumcision, in order to be saved (3:1-5; 5:1-6,11; 6:12-13,15).
Salvation for both Jew and Gentile is by God’s grace through faith (3:8-9,14,24-28), not through our own effort (3:3), such as by mechanical compliance with Jewish laws and traditions (2:16). The Mosaic Law holds us hostage, condemning us as prisoners of sin (3:22-23), because no one is capable of perfect obedience to every statute (3:12). But now that faith has come through Christ sanctifying us, we are led by the Holy Spirit, and no longer under the supervision of the law (3:25; 5:18).
Christ is the Seed (singular; one person) through whom the promise of faith by grace comes to his spiritual heirs (3:6-9,14-19,22; 4:7,28). If this is difficult to understand, consider this, the seed of an orange always carries the promise of becoming an orange, nothing else. Paul emphasized that we, who are one in our belonging to Christ through faith, are of Abraham’s sanctified seed to illustrate, how it is only in Christ that we receive his blessings (3:26-29).
God does not endorse sin (2:17), so we are never free to sin (5:13). Christ has set us “free” by his righteousness (5:1,5). Now, we are “free” to live without fear of judgment from the Law of Moses and “free” to choose to live by the law of Christ (i.e., love; 5:6,13-14; 6:2). The curse of the Law is judgment leading to death, but the cure is Christ’s justification through faith bringing sanctification by the Spirit resulting in eternal life (3:10-14; 6:8).
In baptism, the Father cleanses us from sin with the holy water of his righteousness and sends the Spirit of his Son into our hearts (4:6), clothing us anew in his holiness (3:27). When we live by the Spirit (i.e., Christ lives in us), we live for God by bearing the fruit of the Spirit (5:16-18,22-26) and doing good (6:8-10).
Walking with Jesus Series, Refl. #134, Mar. 2026
Copyright © 2026 by Christopher Clark