What does Galatians 1:3 Mean?

Study Notes

Grace
Grace (in salvation). Galatians 1:6 ; Galatians 1:15 ; Galatians 2:21 ; Romans 3:24 .

grace

Grace. Summary:

(1) Grace is "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man.. . not by works of righteousness which we have done" Titus 3:4 ; Titus 3:5 .

It is, therefore, constantly set in contrast to law, under which God demands righteousness from man, as, under grace, he gives righteousness to man Romans 3:21 ; Romans 3:22 ; Romans 8:4 ; Philippians 3:9 . Law is connected with Moses and works; grace with Christ and faith; John 1:17 ; Romans 10:4-10 . Law blesses the good; grace saves the bad; Exodus 19:5 ; Ephesians 2:1-9 . Law demands that blessings be earned; grace is a free gift; Deuteronomy 28:1-6 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; Romans 4:4 ; Romans 4:5 .

(2) As a dispensation, grace begins with the death and resurrection of Christ Romans 3:24-26 , Romans 4:24 ; Romans 4:25 . The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ, with good works as a fruit of salvation,; John 1:12 ; John 1:13 ; John 3:36 ; Matthew 21:37 ; Matthew 22:24 ; John 15:22 ; John 15:25 ; Hebrews 1:2 ; 1 John 5:10-12 . The immediate result of this testing was the rejection of Christ by the Jews, and His crucifixion by Jew and Gentile Acts 4:27 . The predicted end of the testing of man under grace is the apostasy of the professing church: See "Apostasy" (See Scofield " 2 Timothy 3:1 ") 2 Timothy 3:1-8 and the resultant apocalyptic judgments.

(3) Grace has a twofold manifestation: in salvation Romans 3:24 and in the walk and service of the saved Romans 6:15 .

See, for the other six dispensations:

Innocence, (See Scofield " Genesis 1:28 ")

Conscience, (See Scofield " Genesis 3:23 ")

Human Government, (See Scofield " Genesis 8:21 ")

Promise, (See Scofield " Genesis 12:1 ")

Law, (See Scofield " Exodus 19:8 ")

Kingdom, (See Scofield " Ephesians 1:10 ") .

Context Summary

Note how strenuously Paul insists upon the genuineness of his call as an Apostle. It had come directly from the lips of Christ. Neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:1. We who are redeemed have been lifted out of the present age, Galatians 1:4, into the next age, which may soon break forth in manifestation. It is now concealed, but it shall be unveiled. The age which preceded the fall of Jerusalem was notoriously corrupt. Speaking of the Jews at that time, Josephus says that they exceeded Sodom.

The false teachers who dogged Paul's footsteps suggested that he had only one side of the gospel, and that there was therefore abundant room for their statement of it. But this the Apostle indignantly repudiated, Galatians 1:8. No, he said; there is no gospel other than that which you have heard from my lips. These are solemn questions that each of us should ask: "What has been the effect of the gospel upon my life? Have I been redeemed out of the world that passes away, into that unseen and eternal kingdom of which my Lord is Center and Chief? Do I live according to the will of my God and Father?" Galatians 1:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Galatians 1

¹  Paul's greeting to the Galatians;
⁶  He wonders why they have so soon left him and the gospel;
⁸  and accurses those who preach any other gospel than he did
¹¹  He learned the gospel not from men, but from God;
¹⁴  and shows what he was before his calling;
¹⁷  and what he did immediately after it