The glorious gospel of God—that faith in Jesus Christ apart from the works of the law is what saves—this is the truth which prompted Paul to exercise his rebuke of the Galatians in embracing a counterfeit gospel. This true gospel which excluded boasting, this gospel which sought the approval of God, this gospel which was free and gave freedom, was the Apostle’s mainstay and foundation upon which all love and sin-killing would follow. By clinging to even one thing, circumcision, as being necessary to become a child of promise, those who had fallen away from grace revealed that their hope and reliance was not in the righteousness that comes through faith, but in their own righteousness, thereby nullifying the death of Christ. It was because of this reality that Paul wrote vehemently against such heresy.
From the outset, Paul made plain the purpose of his writing, namely, that the Galatians were turning away from the gospel which saves them from their sins (1:4, 6-9) and depending on something else which would bring about their destruction (1:8-9). Paul repeatedly throughout the letter states that this “gospel” which they were embracing was the law, and one particular thing about the law, namely circumcision (5:2-3, 6; 6:12-15; cf. 2:15-16). Thinking that circumcision was necessary to make one righteous, they enforced this upon others (2:14) thereby enslaving others to the law which would bring forth death (3:13) instead of embracing Christ alone through faith (2:16; 3:7, 14, 22) which brings forth life (3:12) and imputes to us the righteousness of Jesus (2:4-5). Paul repeats the gospel theme of Christ defeating sin and becoming a curse for us (3:13), delivering us through his death and resurrection. As he begins by saying that through Christ who was raised and through Christ who delivered us from the present evil age (1:4), he says that only through this Christ can we be delivered from the principles of this world which bring slavery (4:3, 9) and this is done by a trust in Christ alone (2:16; 4:4-6)
Justification by grace alone, through faith alone excludes boasting (1:4-5, 10; 6:14) and clings to Christ for adoption as sons (4:1-7). As we cling to Christ alone, love follows (5:16ff), not out of slavery because of the law (4:7), but out of freedom from the law by the Spirit. This Spirit is the means in overcoming the passions of the flesh (2:20; 5:16, 24) and living as believers who are not afraid of man’s opinion or of seeking man’s approval (cf. 1:10, 2:11-14; 6:14). Apart from Christ, there is no hope to be made right with God. Even in adding just circumcision to the gospel, one thereby shows that one’s hope is not set fully on the righteousness of Christ, but instead one is depending on one’s own righteousness. The comforting aspect of the message of the gospel is that Christ became a curse for us in dying on the cross, and rose triumphant from the dead so that we who only deserve the curse of God may receive the blessing of being an heir through faith. It is because of this adoption that we are to walk in step with the gospel and live according to the Spirit.
In this study, the connection between being justified by grace alone through faith (2:16) and being an heir of God from which dependency comes (4:6-7) and grace to overcome the passions of the flesh and even the fear of man, was made known to me in a new way. The nuance of boasting in the cross alone and not one’s own righteousness was a blessed one to see, for in doing so I will not be afraid of man, but instead seek the approval of God (cf. 1:10; 6:13). This is in stark contrast to the boasting of others who do not embrace the gospel, for these people rely on their own strength and law-keeping. Oh, how grateful I should be and how radical should my life look, leaning on the cross of Christ and living by the Spirit, from whom fruitfulness arises and from whom godly reliance is fostered, for it is by grace that I am saved and by grace will I be sanctified (2:20).
