This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. I Tim.1:15-16
A. Paul an example – Apostleship Ch.1:1-5
A1 Introduction and theme Ch.1:1
A2 Background Ch.1:2-5
B. The Galatians – soon removed Ch.1:6-10
B1 Reasons for writing Ch.1:6-10
C. Paul an example – Receiving the Gospel Ch.1:11-24
C1 The flesh religion
C2 The true Gospel part a
C2 The true Gospel part b
C2 The true Gospel part c
D. Paul an example – labouring Ch.2:1-10
D1 the question of Circumcision Acts 15
D2 The False brethren part a
D2 The false brethren part b
D3 No man common Acts 10-11
E. Paul an example – rebuking the works of the flesh Ch.2:11-19
E1 Peter was to blame Ch.2:1-14
E2 Justified by faith Ch.2:16
E3 Implications Ch.2:17-19
F. Paul an example – living the life Ch.2:20-21
F1 Not I but Christ Ch.2:20-21
Many of the NT letters were written to counter false teaching, false practice, or both. Galatians is one of those epistles, and its message is still as relevant in these days as it was to those in the early Church.
Shortly after receiving the pure Gospel from the Apostle Paul, the believers in the Galatian churches fell back into a legalistic way of life. Instead of continuing to walk by faith they, instead, had tried to live the life by works of the flesh. They had listened to false brethren, who had tried to dominate them and bring them into spiritual bondage. They did this by insisting that the Galatians kept the Jewish law, in particular circumcision.
Paul writes this letter to correct the Galatians, and is quite straight with them. The first section sees Paul giving testimony of God’s dealings with him and how his life is a pattern to those who will believe.