Yes — Galatians is just as relevant today as when Paul wrote it, because the battle between grace and legalism is still being fought.
Les directly states that Galatians "is just as appropriate for the world today as it was then," including the world of church people [Clip 2]. The Galatians were being told they had to keep the Jewish Law to be saved, and Les says the same pressure appears today because works always appeals to the human intellect and legalism feeds the ego [Clips 4, 5]. Galatians stands as the corrective call to return to the pure grace of God and refuse the yoke of bondage [Clip 6].
Galatians 5:1 — This verse states the letter's core admonition to stand fast in the liberty Christ has provided and refuse the yoke of bondage — the very struggle with legalism that makes Galatians relevant to believers today.
Paul opens his letter to the Galatians with these words: "Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)" (Galatians 1:1). Later in the letter he commands: "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 letter was written to believers who were being pressured to come under the Jewish Law and practice circumcision, and these verses give the letter's central admonition: hold to the freedom Christ provides and refuse the bondage of law-keeping. The command to stand fast in liberty is what Scripture itself holds out to every believer facing that pressure.
Les teaches that Galatians was Paul's urgent letter to the Gentile churches of Asia Minor — the region of modern Turkey — written because Judaizers were convincing these believers that they could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law, including circumcision. He notes that the letter came about twenty-two years after Pentecost, when Paul was called back to Jerusalem to answer for taking the gospel to the Gentiles. When Paul heard that the Galatian churches were falling for this teaching, he hurriedly wrote to correct the false teaching and bring them back under the pure grace of God [Clips 1, 2, 4]. The reason Galatians remains relevant, Les insists, is that the same battle still rages. He says the book "is just as appropriate for the world today as it was then" — even for church people. Legalism still appeals because works always appeal to the human intellect, and people like to satisfy their ego with "look what I've done." But, as Les puts it, "God will have none of it." He also points out that many theologians and pastors ignore Paul's writings, even though Paul's letters are where we must go to know the truth of God for this age of grace [Clips 2, 4, 5, 7]. Finally, Les connects the letter's central command — "be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" — directly to legalism, and urges believers to stand fast in the freedom Christ purchased [Clip 6].
Paul and Barnabas were called back to Jerusalem about twenty-two years after Pentecost because Paul had taken the gospel to Gentiles — something the Jerusalem believers thought was reserved for the Jew [Clip 1]. Meanwhile, Judaizers were following Paul wherever he went, insisting that the Galatian Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law, including circumcision [Clips 3, 4]. When word reached Paul that these churches, which he had established in Asia Minor (modern Turkey), were falling for this teaching, he hurriedly wrote this letter to admonish them not to give in, reminding them they are not under the Law but under grace [Clips 3, 4].
Les says legalism appeals to the human race because everybody likes to satisfy their own ego with "well, look what I've done, look what I do" — and God will have none of it [Clip 5]. He also observes that works always appeal to the human intellect, which is exactly why the Galatians were falling for the Judaizers' arguments [Clip 4]. That is why the letter's correction of a corrupted gospel is just as appropriate for the world today as it was then, even for the world of church people [Clip 2].
Les identifies the "yoke of bondage" in Galatians 5:1 as legalism — the demand to come under the Law and practice Judaism to the fullest extent [Clip 6]. Paul's instruction is to "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Les emphasizes that this warning means exactly what it says: believers are not under the Law or under any demands of those commandments [Clip 6].
Les observes that many theologians, pastors, preachers, and ministers totally ignore Paul's writings, almost treating them like a plague [Clip 7]. Yet, he says, this is where we have to be if we are going to know the truth of God for this age of grace [Clip 7]. Since Galatians is one of Paul's letters, it carries that same essential weight for believers today.
Setting the Stage for Galatians
Les sets the scene for Galatians by locating the Galatian churches in Asia Minor and urging believers to be ready to answer when asked why they believe — showing that the letter's message is meant to be put to use.
The Letter's Historical Context
Les explains that Galatians was written about twenty-two years after Pentecost, when Paul was called back to Jerusalem for taking the gospel to the Gentiles.
Galatians Is as Appropriate Today as Then
Les directly states that Galatians was written to correct false teaching and bring believers back under pure grace, and that it is just as appropriate for the world today as it was then — even the world of church people.
Not Under Law, Under Grace
Les teaches that Paul wrote the letter to remind the Galatians they are not under the Law but under grace, because Judaizers were following him everywhere insisting salvation required keeping the Law.
Why Works Appeals to the Human Intellect
Les explains that the Galatians were falling for the Judaizers' demand of circumcision and Law-keeping because works always appeals to the human intellect, leading Paul to write in urgency.
Legalism Appeals to the Ego
Les says it is no different today: legalism appeals to the human race because people like to satisfy their own ego with "look what I've done," yet God will have none of it.
Stand Fast Against the Yoke of Bondage
Les shows that Galatians 5:1 calls believers to stand fast in the liberty Christ has made and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage, which he identifies as legalism.
Paul's Writings Are Essential Today
Les laments that Paul's writings — including Galatians — are ignored by many in ministry, yet they are where believers must go to know the truth of God for this age of grace.
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.
The verse Les quotes as the central admonition of the letter: believers are to stand fast in Christ-given liberty and refuse legalism's yoke — the very error that makes Galatians relevant today.
Galatians 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;)
Les highlights Paul's opening claim that his apostleship came from God, not human commission, showing the authority behind the letter's grace message.
Galatians 4:19: My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Les references this verse in his teaching on Galatians 4, where Paul expresses pastoral anguish over believers being drawn back into legalism.
Paul wrote hurriedly when he learned that the Galatian churches he had established in Asia Minor were being besieged by Judaizers who insisted the Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the Jewish Law, including circumcision. He wrote to correct that false teaching and bring them back under the pure grace of God.
Yes. Les says the letter is just as appropriate for the world today as it was then, even for the world of church people, because legalism still appeals to the human ego and people still try to earn God's favor by what they do.
Les identifies the yoke of bondage as legalism. Paul's command is to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage — in other words, not to go back under Law-keeping.
Les explains that works always appeals to the human intellect, and legalism appeals to the human race because everyone likes to satisfy their own ego with "look what I've done." He adds that God will have none of it.
Watch the Teaching: Not Under Law, Under Grace — Galatians 1 Explained Verse by Verse