JESUS and Grace (Gal.1)

I used to glance quickly over Paul's salutations in his letters to the churches, but it benefits us to read every word, since these salutations include so much "meat".  Essentially, Paul begins with a strong doctrinal statement about the authority in which he was speaking and writing - and that his message was from God - NOT men...

(Galatians 1:1)  Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),

Just from this opening statement, we know that Jesus is God - part of the Trinity.  It is critical to know this.  If any church or person says that Jesus was just a man, then they are wrong, and they do not understand God's Truth.  Paul ends his salutation with the essence of the gospel message...

(Galatians 1:3-5)  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

After the salutation, Paul writes to the Galatians about how they have been distorting the gospel message, by becoming legalistic (believing that to be saved, there were still do's and don't's - which is the opposite of grace)...

(Galatians 1:6-7)  I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Mankind loves to be in control!  People actually love to set up institutions with lots of laws and regulations.  Even street gangs are institutions (of crime) - with their own set of "laws" as they break the laws of the country.  As well, people set up their own personal "rules" in order to compare themselves with others.  Now, it is not wrong to be organized, because God is a God of order.  And we do need laws and regulations for us to get along with each other - but - there are no do's and don'ts to be saved!...

(Galatians 1:11-12)  For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

(Ephesians 2:8-9)  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.