What is the truth Paul preached to the Galatians?
The truth Paul preached to the Galatians is Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen from the dead, plus nothing. Salvation is by faith alone in that finished work, not faith plus law, works, baptism, or temple worship. Paul rebuked the Judaizers who said something had to be added to his gospel.
Les teaches that the Galatians were being hoodwinked into thinking they had to add to Paul's gospel. Paul calls them foolish and bewitched, asking who had fooled their thinking; these were Judaizers from Jerusalem. The truth Paul preached was Jesus Christ crucified, buried, and risen from the dead, plus nothing. Les explains that it had always been plus something, except for Abraham. Old Testament saints were saved by faith, but not faith alone—it was faith plus. Even in Christ's earthly ministry, they had to repent, be baptized, keep the law, and maintain temple worship. But now, beginning with Paul's gospel, it is faith plus nothing. Les recalls a lady in his Macalester class who made a plaque asking, 'faith plus nothing?' because most of Christendom says it is faith plus.