The Simple Message

In a day when  a simple following of Christ alone is diluted by an ever increasing push by pastors, church staff, and other members that one must prove his or her Christianity by doing this and being part of that, Paul warns the Church at Galatia to be on guard of false teachers.

The message of Paul, never lacking in deep theological meaning, was actually quite simple. "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20). Paul's salvation was not based upon anything else other than Christ's death, burial, and Resurrection for the glory of God and the forgiveness of sins.

To demonstrate the authority he had to teach this Simple Message, he gave the Church members of Galatia three qualifications.
1. He received the context of his teaching directly from Christ Jesus (1:11-17) (Acts 26:15-18).
2. He received approval from the Apostles in Jerusalem (2:11-10).
3. He rebuked the Apostle Peter (2:11-21)

Considering that he received his message directly from Christ, is it not then a message of pure authority? He went away for three years after his conversion. Could it be there that he met with the Lord Jesus who taught him what to write and preach? Based on this authority, do you read the Bible as the direct words of Jesus?  Do you approach the Bible and understand that it has authority, and that authority despite how you and I feel is the authority of God nonetheless?

Many times we are lead to believe that the we must feel something when coming to the Scripture (some emotional state of being), but that is not always the case. However, knowing that it is the very Word of God, it is true and powerful no matter our mood or our feelings.  God does not need us to be psyched in order to make His Word awesome!  The Simple Message that Jesus Christ saves sinners is awesome!

For the people at Galatia, Paul goes a step further to prove his authority. He had the approval of the other Apostles.  John, Peter, and the rest recognized Paul as having the authority to proclaim God's word as an Apostle.  The Apostles also sided with Paul concerning the Gentiles that they need not conform to circumcision in order to be saved.  There was no other requirement for Gentiles to be saved other than faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  They did not need Jesus Christ plus anything. The Apostles recognized it, and we need to remember it.

Finally, his authority is demonstrated when he recalls rebuking PETER the Apostle.  Wow! Can you imagine how uncomfortable that must have been? The concern was that Peter was causing others to go astray by reverting back to the old customs of the Jews which included restrictions, and he was portraying a need to do these things as a necessity to walk with Christ.  Now, Peter was not a false teacher, but for a moment he was false teaching. Paul spoke up and corrected the situation. We must be aware and fight the urge to make preferences necessity. Don't forget, there is Liberty in Christ.

No doubt, authority is established according to these proofs.  So what else should we take from this?  Paul's message is the message of Jesus Christ.  It is a Simple Message that has been echoed down through the corridors of Church History with  Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, Whitfield, Spurgeon, and Lloyd-Jones.  That message is that we have been saved by grace through faith.  The work is not of us, and the we have nothing to offer.  It is Christ by himself though His work that saves us.  Let this be a Simple Encouragement to live for Him. Praise God!