The Gospel According to Abraham (in Galatians) - Overview Part 1

Paul wrote Galatians to churches that are in present day Turkey.  Paul wrote to Churches who were messing with the Gospel.  The key verse I think is found in Galatians 2:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

Before we dig deeply into the letter, let's look at some of the obvious things, starting in the First Chapter.  For example, notice how in Chapter 1 Paul gives us hints as to how he understands the Gospel.  For example:

• The Gospel is about God who raised His Son, Jesus Christ from the dead (v1)
• The Gospel is about Christ being given for our sins so we might be delivered from them in this life (v4)
• The Gospel is Jesus.  To desert the Gospel is to desert Jesus (v6)
• The Gospel was not developed by man (v11)
• Recipients of the Gospel are set apart to receive it before their birth, called to it by grace and in it Jesus is revealed (v15).

Father, I thank You today for the Gospel.  I thank You for this letter of Paul that gives such a clear insight into the Gospel. The Gospel is Jesus; and is about Jesus. Jesus and the Gospel are inseparable. To leave one is to leave the other.   The Gospel works and that I know with great joy.  Thank you Father that in the Gospel sins are forgiven and sins are removed.  No man could devise such a plan to deliver us from such a plight.  This is Your doing, worked in us who believe before the foundations of the world.  Thank You Father that the Spirit is a willing agent of cooperation Who calls me to this grace and by grace makes me a willing agent of cooperation. The best part of the Gospel, Father, is we get Jesus.  We get to see Him and know Him.  Thank you Father for this very, very Good News.  Amen.