Apostasy in Galatia
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In his letter to the Galatian believers Paul briefly reviewed the
leading incidents connected with his own conversion and early Chris-
tian experience. By this means he sought to show that it was through
a special manifestation of divine power that he had been led to see
and grasp the great truths of the gospel. It was through instruction
received from God Himself that Paul was led to warn and admonish
the Galatians in so solemn and positive a manner. He wrote, not in
hesitancy and doubt, but with the assurance of settled conviction and
absolute knowledge. He clearly outlined the difference between being
taught by man and receiving instruction direct from Christ.
The apostle urged the Galatians to leave the false guides by whom
they had been misled, and to return to the faith that had been accompa-
nied by unmistakable evidences of divine approval. The men who had
attempted to lead them from their belief in the gospel were hypocrites,
unholy in heart and corrupt in life. Their religion was made up of a
round of ceremonies, through the performance of which they expected
to gain the favor of God. They had no desire for a gospel that called
for obedience to the word, “Except a man be born again, he cannot
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see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
. They felt that a religion based on
such a doctrine, required too great a sacrifice, and they clung to their
errors, deceiving themselves and others.
To substitute external forms of religion for holiness of heart and
life is still as pleasing to the unrenewed nature as it was in the days of
these Jewish teachers. Today, as then, there are false spiritual guides,
to whose doctrines many listen eagerly. It is Satan’s studied effort
to divert minds from the hope of salvation through faith in Christ
and obedience to the law of God. In every age the archenemy adapts
his temptations to the prejudices or inclinations of those whom he
is seeking to deceive. In apostolic times he led the Jews to exalt
the ceremonial law and reject Christ; at the present time he induces
many professing Christians, under pretense of honoring Christ, to
cast contempt on the moral law and to teach that its precepts may be
transgressed with impunity. It is the duty of every servant of God to
withstand firmly and decidedly these perverters of the faith and by the
word of truth fearlessly to expose their errors.
In his effort to regain the confidence of his brethren in Galatia,
Paul ably vindicated his position as an apostle of Christ. He declared
himself to be an apostle, “not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus