The Nature and Character of God in Galatians

Chapter 1

• He is described as being "God the Father."  Gal 1:1
  • The father description is discussed in context with "Jesus Christ". Gal 1:1
  • The action of the father was described concerning Jesus as "who raised him from the dead;" Gal 1:1
     
• The two personages are described as assigning the rank of apostleship upon Paul.
  Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
   
• Grace and peace may be provisioned from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
  Gal 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
   
• These two
  • wills delivering us from this present evil world
    Gal 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
  • The "our" Father above indicates a presumption that this fatherhood also extends to mankind, inparticular this application can be made concerning Paul the writer of this epistle and "Gal 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me,"
     
• Both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ are ascribed worthiness of glory for ever and ever.
  Gal 1:5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
   
• It is the Father "that called you into the grace of Christ." Gal 1:6
  • here "you" refers directly to the Galatians, to whom the epistle was written.
  • By extension this would apply to any who are of faith.
  • Implication here also indicates that they too have right to consider Him their Father.
     
• With reference to Paul, God the Father was directly involved in
  • his separation from his mother's womb.
    • This took place by or according to God the Father's pleasure.
    • Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
  • called Paul by his grace. God does call individuals. This declares that God directly intervenes in human affairs as it pleases Him in such manner that future is affected. God does this with purpose.
    • Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
      • This verse directly refers to Jesus as being the Son of God the Father.
      • Here it directly states that God uses the instrumentality of men to further his purpose of communicating with mankind.
    • This first chapter gives direct refutation to many religious groups which deny one God with a plurality of personality manifestations commonly defined as the trinity. Such groups might include Islam, forms of Judeism, Jehovah's Witness, Atheism, Humanism, Liberalism, and others.

Chapter 2

• God accepteth no man's person: Gal 2:6.
  • Before God, no one has undue preferencial treatment or influence.
    • The spiritual response to God is to not show preferential treatment or respect apparent worldly influence in our ministries among men
      • Gal 2:6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: .
    • Neither should we do as Peter by withdrawing fellowship from some believers in the presence of influential persons of another opinion. For this Peter was admonished. (Gal 2:11 - 14)
    • Man is justified by the faith of Jesus Christ.
      Gal 2:16
      • Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
      • but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
        • even we have believed in Jesus Christ,
        • that we might be justified by the faith of Christ,
        • and not by the works of the law:
        • for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
   
• The believer is to live unto God
  Gal 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
   
• The believer is to live by the faith of the Son of God
  Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Chapter 3