The book of Galatians gives us a a fiery, passionate defense of the gospel, written by a man who had everything to lose by preaching it.
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My parents tell me I was a curious child — always asking questions, challenging assumptions, and refusing to accept simple answers. I vividly remember the frustration of asking, “Why do I have to go to bed if I’m not tired?” only to hear the dreaded response, “Because I said so.” That answer so vexed my young soul that I swore I would never use it on my own children.
Of course, as I grew, I realized that not everything in life is open for debate. Some things simply are. But my curiosity never faded — it just shifted toward deeper questions. How do we know there’s a God? How do we know Jesus really existed? How can believing in the right thing lead to eternal salvation? These weren’t just abstract thoughts; they were questions that shaped my understanding of faith.
For a while, I drifted into what I now call “practical atheism” — not outright denying God’s existence, but simply living as if He didn’t matter. I figured God could do His thing, and I would do mine. But everything changed when I got married. Loving my wife in a selfless way opened my eyes to the reality that life isn’t just about me. And when we had our first child, my entire worldview shifted.
I’ll never forget looking into my newborn daughter’s eyes and realizing, this is unconditional love. A love that would do anything to protect, guide, and nurture — not because of anything she had done, but because of whose she was: mine. That realization hit me in a new way: This must be how God loves us. It isn’t about performance or perfection. It’s about our identity, about belonging to Him.
Even after my faith was renewed, the questions persisted. If faith in Jesus is the only path to salvation, what about those who lived before Him? Can someone believe in Jesus, receive salvation, and then live however they want? How does God look at us and not remember all the sinful things we’ve done?
What I’ve come to love about Christianity — and about the book of Galatians in particular — is that God never asks us to check our intellect at the door. He invites us to wrestle with Him, to seek, to question, and to grow. In fact, the name Israel means “one who wrestles with God” (Gen. 32:28). And in Isaiah 1:18, God invites us, “Come now, let us reason together” (ESV).
Galatians: A Book for Thinkers
Galatians is not just another book of the Bible — it is a fiery, passionate defense of the gospel, written by a man who had everything to lose by preaching it. The Apostle Paul, with unshakable conviction, addresses some of the most fundamental questions of the Christian faith, questions that continue to shape our understanding of the gospel today.
In this letter, Paul boldly asserts his authority as an apostle, defending both his calling and the message he received directly from Christ. He confronts the pressing issue of how we are made right with God, making it clear that salvation comes by faith alone, not by works of the Law. He exposes the dangers of false gospels and clarifies the true gospel of Christ. Paul also wrestles with the role of the Law, explaining its purpose and how it relates to believers under the New Covenant. He challenges distinctions between Jews and Gentiles in the Church, emphasizing unity in Christ. And perhaps most powerfully, he unveils the meaning of true freedom in Christ — freedom that releases us from bondage to the Law while calling us to live lives of love and service as we walk by the Spirit.
These are not just ancient theological issues — they are real, pressing questions that Christians wrestle with today. Even among well-meaning believers, confusion often arises over the relationship between faith, works, and the Law. You’ve probably heard statements like, “We should follow the Old Testament Law because Jesus followed it,” or “Salvation is by faith, but you still need to live a certain way to prove it.” Others claim, “Christians should obey the Ten Commandments, but not all the other Old Testament laws.”
These kinds of statements reveal a deep need to understand the message of Galatians. Paul’s letter cuts through the confusion, making it clear how the gospel transforms our relationship to the Law and what it truly means to live by faith. The same struggles faced by the early church still challenge us today, and Galatians provides the answers we need to walk in the freedom and grace of Christ, revealing a gospel that is just as radical today as it was 2,000 years ago.
God Welcomes Our Questions
Early in my faith, I remember coming across Jesus’ interaction with the father of the boy with an unclean spirit. Jesus told him, “All things are possible for one who believes,” and the father immediately cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24 ESV). This passage hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks. We can believe and still struggle with doubts?
What I love about Galatians is that it shows us God is not afraid of our questions. He doesn’t command our blind faith and simply declare, “Believe because I said so.” Instead, in His great mercy and love, God provides us with reason, history, and evidence. Paul builds a logical, scriptural case for why the gospel of Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises and why the works of the Law the false teachers demanded could not justify anyone. Galatians reminds us that the Christian faith is not about rule-keeping and moralism — it’s about relationship. We are not saved because we followed the Law perfectly. We are saved because of what Christ has done for us. And that changes everything.
If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about faith, grace, the Law, or salvation, Galatians is for you. This book is a battle cry for freedom in Christ, a call to reject legalism and embrace the unshakable grace of God. Paul wisely pairs this declaration of liberty with a warning against the abuse of such freedom. “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13 ESV). Jesus did not bring us freedom to sin, but freedom from sin.
So, I invite you to dig into Galatians — not just as a theological study but as a personal journey. Let it challenge you. Let it refine you. Let it remind you that you are not defined by your performance but by your identity in Christ. Because, at the end of the day, God’s love for us isn’t based on what we do. It’s based on whose we are — His.
Take a fascinating verse-by-verse walk through Galatians with Professor R.L. Solberg in his book, The Law, the Christ, the Promise.
In the face of modern challenges to faith, The Law, the Christ, the Promise is an essential guide for believers seeking a firmer grasp on Christian truths. This concise yet profound Bible study dissects the Apostle Paul’s message to the Galatians, addressing false teachings and bringing to light the significance of justification, righteousness, and God’s promise through Christ. It’s a pivotal read for anyone looking to deepen their grasp on the gospel and defending it today.
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