Book Description

The core message of the book of Galatians revolves around the concept of spiritual freedom attained through justification by grace through faith. This profound truth liberates believers from the constraints of the Old Testament Law. Paul vehemently condemns any attempt to undermine God’s grace or alter the purity of the gospel (Galatians 1:8–10). To reinforce his authority as an apostle, Paul recounts his divine calling and emphasises that righteousness is not achieved through adherence to the Law but through faith in Christ alone (Galatians 1:11–2:14; 2:21). He urges the Galatians to guard their independence and resist being burdened again by the yoke of bondage represented by the Mosaic law (Galatians 5:1). However, Paul also emphasises that Christian freedom should not be misconstrued as a license for indulging in sinful behaviour. Instead, it presents an opportunity to express love and serve one another (Galatians 5:13; 6:7–10). The Christian life is to be lived under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16–18). Crucially, Paul underscores the transformative power of Christ’s crucifixion, highlighting that believers are united with Christ in His death, leading to the production of spiritual fruit by the indwelling Spirit (Galatians 2:20). This spiritual fruit serves as evidence of a life lived in alignment with the grace and freedom found in Christ.