Galatians 1.1-5
“Paul, an apostle — not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead — and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Having declared his authority as an apostle, Paul identifies the churches of Galatia as the recipients of the letter, and then immediately focuses on his primary message: the gospel. The Greek word for “gospel” is euaggelion, and it means “good message, glad tidings, or good news.” The gospel was anticipated throughout the Old Testament, and then announced and inaugurated by Jesus himself:
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14-15)
The gospel is the good news that through Christ, God offers us redemption from sin. It is the good news that God’s original plan and purpose for man — which was disrupted at the Fall — is now being restored through the person and work of Jesus. When Jesus says “the time is fulfilled,” he is referring to all of the time and events that had transpired on earth since Genesis 3; all of God’s actions through Noah, Abraham, Moses, the people of Israel, the prophets, etc.. Ever since the Fall in Genesis 3, the earth had been waiting for this good news; and now in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the gospel is here.
- At the Fall man’s relationship with God was broken. The gospel is the good news that through Christ we are reconciled to God.
- At the Fall man sinned and was morally separated from God, and was therefore under condemnation. The gospel is the good news that through Christ we are redeemed and made righteousness before God.
- At the Fall the image of God in man was corrupted. The gospel is the good news that through Christ the image of God in us is restored.
- At the Fall mankind came under the curse of death. The gospel is the good news that through Christ we are regenerated and given new life; we have been moved from death to life.
- At the Fall the kingdom of God (that is, life under God’s rule) was rejected by Adam and Eve, and Satan became the god of this world. The gospel is the good news that through Christ the kingdom of God has returned to planet earth, and the god of this world is defeated.
- At the Fall the earth itself was subject to corruption and decay. The gospel is the good news that through Christ the process of renewal has begun.
- At the Fall man’s purpose was lost. The gospel is the good news that through Christ our divine purpose and calling is re-established: The image of God is restored in us, and we are once again empowered to have dominion on earth as agents of the kingdom of God in every sphere of creation and culture.
Paul’s message is that these blessings of the gospel are received by faith, not achieved by works. In particular, and contrary to the false teaching of the Judaizers, Gentile believers do not need to be circumcised and do not need to follow the ceremonial rituals of the Law. In the book of Galatians, Paul will explicitly, passionately, and repeatedly clarify that the gospel is the good news that God offers these eternal blessings to us by grace and not by works of the Law.
