BIG IDEA:
LEGITIMATE DIVINE APOSTLESHIP PROMOTES THE ESSENCE OF THE TRUE GOSPEL = THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
I. (:1-2a) AUTHOR: SOURCE OF PAUL’S LEGITIMATE APOSTLESHIP (AND AUTHORITY)
“Paul, an apostle”
A. Not Mediated by Man
1. Directly — “not sent from men”
2. Indirectly — “nor through the agency of man”
What were Paul’s detractors charging him with? What types of false accusations were they making to seek to promote their own legitimacy and agenda?
B. Mediated by God
1. God the Son — “but through Jesus Christ”
2. God the Father — “and God the Father”
C. Essence of the True Gospel — Significance of the Bodily Resurrection
“who raised Him from the dead”
Paul had been set aside by God to communicate the truth of the true gospel of God
D. Affirmation of Authority
“and all the brethren who are with me”
Not operating as some type of Lone Ranger
II. (:2b) RECIPIENTS: REALM OF APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY
“to the churches of Galatia”
III. (:3) GREETING: BLESSING FROM APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY
A. 2 Key Ingredients:
1. “Grace to you”
2. “and Peace”
B. 2 Key Providers:
1. “from God our Father”
2. “and the Lord Jesus Christ”
IV. (:4) ESSENCE OF THE TRUE GOSPEL — SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CRUCIFIXION
A. Provision of Salvation — Substitutionary Atonement
“who gave Himself for our sins”
cf. the gospel summary in 1 Cor. 15:3-4
B. Purpose of Salvation — Freedom from Sin
“that He might deliver us out of this present evil age”
C. Plan of Salvation — Divine Plan
“according to the will of our God and Father”
V. (:5) ULTIMATE GOAL = GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER
“to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen”