Who was the book of Galatians addressing?
Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians, addressing those who were going back or being tempted to return to legalism, which at that time was prompted by Jews and involved circumcision. The letter emphasizes salvation is all of grace by faith plus nothing else.
Les explains that the book of Galatians is a little letter to the Galatians who were going back, or being tempted to at least, to go back under legalism. At that time, this legalism was prompted by the Jews and was circumcision. Paul has been dealing with that in particular. For us today, circumcision is not so much the criteria, but it's all these other things that people try to tell us we have to do besides believing the Gospel. The whole concept is that we are not under the system of law or any kind of legalistic demands for our salvation, but salvation is all of grace by faith plus nothing else, taking away from the finished work of the cross. We have to believe that He did everything that needs to be done, and we stand justified, forgiven, sanctified, and glorified simply because we believe it is a finished transaction.