Articles
“Gospel Greetings”
Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Galatians 1:1-5
We tend to think of the opening greetings of the epistles as routine formulas. We usually skip over them to get to the body of letter (and we certainly don’t preach on them!). While these opening greetings may seem routine to us, there is a depth to them that often goes overlooked. Paul usually foreshadows his discussion in the opening verses. Consider his greeting to the Galatians.
He’s a little edgy in introducing himself. In the very first verse, he defends his apostleship because some considered him a sub-apostle and disregarded his authority. He also subtly counters the ‘Jesus-plus’ heresy the Galatians had been swallowing. This was the idea that we need more than the gospel to be right with God (i.e. the Law of Moses). There is something conspicuously absent here as well that we see in every other opening of Paul’s letters: his customary prayer of thanksgiving. The Galatians need a kick in pants not a commendation, so he launches right into the problem.
In his greeting, Paul sets these blessings before them so that they recognize what they are forfeiting by walking away from the simple gospel. We can look at Paul’s greeting positively to show us what we have in Christ and to motivate us never to wander from him but rather to seek him more deeply.
First, the bounty of the gospel (3) in the blessings God gives. Notice the source of “grace” and “peace” are God the Father and God the Son. Have you ever noticed that grace always precedes peace? This is because one is a result of the other. We can only enjoy peace after we’ve reconciled to God through Christ (by grace). These blessings are continually available to us because are in constant need of them to sustain us through weariness.
Second, the wonder of the gospel (4a) in the love God shows. At the mention of “the Lord Jesus Christ” and his being “raised… from the dead” we are reminded of his perfect love which he expressed when he “gave himself for our sins.” Who could discount such love shown at such price toward such people?
Third, the liberty of the gospel (4b) in the freedom God wins. Jesus gave himself not just as an expression of love but as an act of power to “deliver us from the present evil age.” We were all in the grip of spiritual bondage, powerless to escape. But when Jesus was “delivered,” we received emancipation to live as we ought. Did you know that the word “delivered” is the same word translated “betrayed” in 1 Corinthians 11:23? Who betrayed Jesus? Judas, for money; Pilate for fear; the Jews for envy—but the Father for love!
Finally, the plan of the gospel (4c) and the will God executes. God’s love and power exhibited in the gospel were “according to the will of our God and Father.” That is, it was always God’s plan to rescue his people in this way. When Jesus was “delivered” on the cross, it seemed to be a divine blunder. Israel’s Messiah rejected by the ones he came to save? God must have miscalculated! But Paul affirms the cross was always the plan. In other places, he and other New Testament authors carefully show how Jesus was “delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23). The resurrection (mentioned in v.1) is, of course, what explains the cross. By raising Jesus from the dead, God vindicated his plan, his name and his Messiah, as well as giving hope to those who believe. To him “be glory forever and ever. Amen!”
