LORD, DELIVER US

Gal 1:1-5 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, Who raised Him from the dead;) and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 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: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Unlike many of Paul's epistles, he addresses this message, not to a specific congregation of God's people, but unto thechurches of Galatia -the churchesof Christ within the Galatian province of the Roman Empire. He introduces himself as Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ. Without any doubt, false teachers had preceded Paul into this area, and had attempted to gain creditability, and a believable reputation, by placing doubt in the minds of these Christians, regarding Paul's apostleship. Reading the account of Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-31), we know that it was God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, whom He raised from the dead, that called Paul to become an apostle (Also see Rom. 1:1 & 1 Cor. 1:1). As an apostle of Christ, Paul says, in the following verses, that the gospel message he taught, I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ (See Gal. 1:11-12). Indeed, the authority by which Paul preached came not of men, neither by man, but by a direct revelation from God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Paul's greeting to the Galatian Christians, came, not only from himself, but also from all the brethren, which are with me. We are told that Paul was accompanied by Silas and Timothy, as he passed through Galatia, during his second missionary journey, establishing churches in the faith, and increasing their number (See Acts 16:5-6). Since this epistle was directed to the churches of Galatia, its gospel message was general in the sense that it applied to all of the congregations located in this geographical area. Its general application applied then, and applies, as well, to all churches of Christ in the present age. The salutation, Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, is Paul's prayerful petition, that the blessings of God, the Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, may be bestowed on each congregation, as well as upon each individual member of these bodies of Christ.

Paul, then describes Jesus as the one who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world. This is the foundation on which the church of Christ was built. It is the basis of Christian doctrine. It must serve as the central thought around which an acceptable worship service is offered to God. Without God giving His Son, Jesus Christ, for the redemption of the sins of the world, there can be no reconciliation between mankind and God. Without this reconciliation between righteous God and sinful man, God's promise of eternal salvation is made void, and, from the beginning of time and throughout eternity, all hope is lost for the people God created in His own image. It was necessary to remind the churches of Galatia of this truth in order to overcome all false doctrine that perverted the gospel, and denied Jesus Christ as the Messiah. To alter, add to, or omit any doctrine of Christ, is to deny Him as the Son of God and Savior of the world.

The reason Jesus Christ gave His life our sins, was that He might deliver us from this present evil world, and transport all faithful Christiansinto a future world of eternal bliss - a home in heaven. Paul then tells us why Christ was sent for this reason: because it is the will of God and our Father: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Indeed, God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Similar to this teaching, Paul also wrote to the Christians in Rome: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Rom. 12:2).

It is Paul's sincere hope that every Christian will be delivered from this present evil world. James wrote that the friendship of the world is enmity with God (James 4:4). John warned Christians to Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). From the evils of the present world in which we live; Lord, we beg and plead with you, to deliver us!