What is true faith? Why is Gospel living vital to true faith? How can we know what the “Gospel” is according to Bible? The book of Galatians and Ephesians guide us in this journey. Paul explains how faith and gospel living are different from a rule based “religion.” Are you living a life based on grace and gospel or religion?
Interpreting Galatians/ Pauline Letters
When reading the New Testament letters of Paul here are some points to consider:
First, who is Paul addressing in his letter? Galatians is a letter written to the Christians living in the region of Galatia. Second, what issues or questions are Paul addressing? Third, how does Paul’s teaching relate to Jesus, the Gospels, other epistles, and Old Testament teachings? It’s vital to consider these three things in order to properly understand and apply Paul’s teachings!
A helpful tool in proper Bible study and application is a study Bible available in your preferred Bible translation. Biblehub.com has many online resources and commentaries that are simple to use. I will embed some helpful links for your study. I used this textbook in both college and seminary class:
The Gospel and Authentic Faith
“This is true faith, a living confidence in the goodness of God.“
Paul is distressed that the Galatians are going astray: Galatians 1:6-7 Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
No Other Gospel
6I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
This is a false gospel being spread in an attempt to manipulate others. Paul even confronts Peter in chapter two!
Paul Confronts Cephas (Peter) Galatians 2:11-16 BSB emphasis mine
11When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, because he stood to be condemned. 12For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group. 13The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14When I saw that they were not walking in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “If you, who are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
15We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile “sinners” 16know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
This false gospel and hypocrisy were leading people astray. Even church leaders were acting religious instead of righteously!
Fear, Acceptance, and Hypocrisy
Notice that Peter, Barnabas, and others were separating themselves from the Gentiles due to fear. Fear and the desire for acceptance is at the root of this hypocrisy. Why do we desire other’s approval? Do we fear the right things? Do we “fear” God more than the rules and teachings of human religious leaders?
Churches and communities tend to fear and exclude others in which they don’t understand or connect with. For example, singles feel excluded from church “society” and viewed with suspicion. I’ve experienced being rejected from ministry opportunities because of my marital status (single, never married).
Does marriage status relate to godliness or being righteous? As I age into my 40s, the suspicion increases with people asking me personal questions and making wrong assumptions about me. What about those who divorced or are single parents? Why are there so few single men and women in the church? What about those who don’t look or act like “church” people?
Hypocrisy grows and spreads in the “religious.” Just like the Pharisees who made 613 rules (oral law tradition). They valued the Sabbath and specific rules more than people being healed and restored. It becomes more about what someone does or doesn’t do than who they are in Christ! The more one receives Christ’s grace and love the more that one shares it with others! A good example is Nicodemus and Jesus in John Chapter Three. We all must be “born again from above.”
False Gospel
What is this false gospel?
Thomas R. Schreiner explains this in detail!
https://zondervanacademic.com/blog/what-is-the-false-gospel-in-galatians
In summary, salvation comes from God’s grace not obeying Old Testament law. This issue is relevant today! I’ve watched numerous videos on YouTube and read various articles wherein various authors/teachers strongly recommend following Jewish traditions in order to be “closer to Christ.” Some say that sabbath must be celebrated on Saturday, that you must wear certain styles of clothes, head coverings, etc. Various denominations teach modesty and have traditions about “godly” living.
Should Christ followers dress and act modestly? Is it proper for followers of Christ to avoid things that promote lust and sin? Paul would agree that we should represent Christ in our life style and actions. But, these things don’t increase God’s grace or make us closer to Christ. The issue emerges when a person or group associates outward behavior with relationship with Christ in a harsh, condemning attitude toward others.
The issue in Galatians centered around circumcision and other Jewish traditions that a group was promoting and trying to enforce on others in order to be “saved.” Is this happening today? I would assert that it is still happening and leading people away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
How to live in Christ
Charles Spurgeon: AZ Quotes”Top 25 Charles Spurgeon quotes” accessed August 27, 2023
Paul gives us the answer Galatians 2:20-21 (BSB)
20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing.
Paul explains the purpose of the Law in Galatians 3. Also consider Romans 7:1-6 and following.
We live in and through Jesus Christ! That is what it means to be authentic. Authentic is a synonym for “real” and “true.” A true follower of Christ is one who follows Christ not human rules and regulations that lack the power to change the inward nature (fallen, sinful).
Conclusion
The path to Jesus is the Good News of the Gospel. Ephesians 2:4-10 explains:
4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”
True faith is being saved by grace and walking by faith! Let your light shine! To know God’s grace is to share it with others!
One who has been touched by grace will no longer look on those who stray as “those evil people” or “those poor people who need our help.” Nor must we search for signs of “loveworthiness.” Grace teaches us that God loves because of who God is, not because of who we are.
Philip Yancey, “What’s So Amazing About Grace.”
Words of Grace & Hope 