Below is the introduction to Galatians that I wrote for my Uganda friends:
GALATIANS
Galatians is called by some the “epistle of
freedom.” At issue is the question of whether Christians should observe the
Jewish law in order to be saved. Galatia
was a huge Roman province that occupied much of what is modern day Turkey. Paul
founded churches in the southern cities of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.
Shortly after Paul’s first visit in this region, other Jewish teachers arrived
and taught that non-Jewish converts to Christ must be circumcised and fully
observe the Jewish law (virtually become Jews) in order to be saved. Paul
argues that no human being can earn God’s gift by trying to live a perfect
life. Repentance and faith are all that is needed in order to receive God’s
forgiveness and the gift of new life. Galatians is the most passionate and
strongly worded of all of Paul’s letters. It was written about AD 57 shortly
before the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) that resolved the issue of how much of
the Jewish law Christ’s followers must obey. Paul’s passionate plea defines
this critical issue for the early Christian movement. Key
Learning: We are free from the requirements of trying to earn our salvation and
favor with God. Do not allow the bondage of empty religion to enslave us again.
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