Paul wrote Galatians to refute Judaizers who insisted Gentile believers must keep the Law and be circumcised, urging them to stand fast in grace.
The Galatian churches, which Paul had established in Asia Minor, were being besieged by Judaizers—Jewish believers who demanded that Gentiles keep the law of Moses, including circumcision. Paul wrote this letter urgently to correct this error, emphasizing that believers are not under the law but under grace. He admonished them to stand fast in the liberty Christ provided and not be entangled again with legalism.
Galatians 5:1 — This verse directly captures Paul's purpose: exhorting believers to stand fast in liberty and not be entangled with the yoke of bondage (legalism).
Galatians 2:16 — Paul's argument that a man is justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law, is central to refuting the Judaizers' demands.
The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians because certain individuals (Judaizers) were troubling the Gentile believers, insisting that they needed to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses to be saved (Acts 15:1, 5). In Galatians, Paul strongly opposes this, declaring that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16). He exhorts believers to 'stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage' (Galatians 5:1). The entire epistle contrasts the bondage of legalism with the freedom of grace in Christ.
Les Feldick explains that Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians because those churches, which Paul had established in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) about twenty-two years after Pentecost, were being besieged by Judaizers—Jewish believers who insisted that the Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law, including circumcision (Clip 1, Clip 2). These Judaizers even made it a commandment, not a suggestion, that the Gentiles must keep the law (Clip 5). Les emphasizes that Paul wrote this letter hurriedly, without his secretary, because of the urgency of the situation (Clip 1). The letter was to refute the idea that believers are under the law, and to admonish them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free (Clip 3, Clip 4). Les notes that this pressure from Jewish believers persisted even at the Jerusalem council, where Paul had to dispute with believing Pharisees who demanded that Gentiles be commanded to keep the law of Moses (Clip 6, Clip 7).
The main problem was that the Galatian churches were being pressured by Judaizers—Jewish believers who insisted that Gentile believers had to keep the Jewish Law, including circumcision, in order to be saved (Clip 1). These Judaizers even made it a commandment, not a mere suggestion, that the Gentiles must keep the law of Moses (Clip 5). Paul had to write this letter to refute this false teaching and to reaffirm that believers are under grace, not under the law (Clip 3, Clip 4). Les also notes that this pressure was part of a larger controversy at Jerusalem, where believing Pharisees demanded the same thing of Paul and Barnabas (Clip 6, Clip 7).
Paul responded by writing the Galatian letter, which was an urgent and direct refutation of the Judaizers' demands. He emphasized that believers are not under the law, and he exhorted them to 'stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage' (Galatians 5:1, as cited in Clip 3 and Clip 4). Les highlights that Paul did not yield to the pressure, and in Galatians 2, he recounts how he withstood the Jewish leaders, insisting that the Gentile believers were under grace, not under the law (Clip 5, Clip 6).
The situation was urgent because the Galatian believers were 'turning back under legalism' and 'falling for it' because works appeal to human intellect (Clip 1). Paul got wind of this and wrote the letter hurriedly, without even waiting for his secretary, because of the urgency of the hour (Clip 1). The danger was real, as these believers were being 'hammered' by Jewish believers to come back under the law (Clip 3). Paul's admonition to 'stand fast' was necessary to prevent them from being entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Clip 4).
Why Mixing Law and Grace Cancels the Work of the Cross
program was slipping away from them, and the Gentile program was ascending. Transition. But they didn't realize it, and that's exactly what Paul is saying. They seemed to be somewhat. They thought they were still in control, but they weren't, because it was falling apart. We've looked at this a few weeks ago, and I don't like to repeat things unnecessarily. But he says in verse 6, 21.
Urgent Writing
Les explains that Paul wrote Galatians hurriedly because the Galatian churches were being besieged by Judaizers and the believers were turning back to legalism.
Galatian Context
Les sets the scene: Paul wrote to Gentile churches in Asia Minor about 22 years after Pentecost, as Jewish leaders were challenging his ministry to the Gentiles.
Stand Fast in Liberty
Les teaches that Galatians was written to refute the false teaching that believers had to keep the law; Paul's command is to stand fast in the liberty Christ gives.
Admonition Against Legalism
Les emphasizes that Paul warns against falling victim to legalizers, urging believers not to be entangled with the yoke of bondage (legalism).
The Command to Keep the Law
Les shows how the Judaizers made keeping the law a commandment, not a suggestion, and Paul fought against forcing Gentiles under the law.
Dispute at Jerusalem
Les connects the Galatian problem to the Jerusalem council, where believing Pharisees demanded circumcision and law-keeping for Gentiles, prompting Paul's response.
Pagan Salvation Outside Law
Les explains that the Judaizers couldn't comprehend God saving pagans without bringing them under the law, which is what Paul had to counter in Galatians.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
This verse is Paul's core exhortation to the Galatians, directly addressing the purpose of the letter.
Galatians 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.
Paul's foundational argument against the Judaizers: justification is by faith, not law-works.
Paul wrote hurriedly because the Galatian believers were quickly turning back under legalism due to the pressure from Judaizers. The urgency was so great that he did not even wait for his secretary to write the letter for him (Clip 1).
The Judaizers demanded that the Gentile believers be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. It was not a suggestion but a commandment (Clip 5).
Paul told them to 'stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage' (Galatians 5:1), meaning they should reject legalism and remain in the freedom of grace (Clip 3, Clip 4).
Watch the Teaching: Why Mixing Law and Grace Cancels the Work of the Cross