GALATIANS 1.1-24

The Real Gospel: A Revelation of Jesus Christ

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

  The first five verses form a greeting, which contains the whole gospel.  If there were no other portion of Scripture accessible, this contains sufficient to save the world.  If we would study this small portion as diligently and prize it as highly as if there were no more, we should find our faith and hope and love infinitely strengthened.  In reading it, let the Galatians sink out of sight, and let each one consider it the voice of God, through His apostle, speaking to him today.

 An "apostle" is one who is sent.  His confidence is in proportion to the authority of the one who sends him and to his confidence in that authority and power, "He whom God has sent utters the words of God."  John 3:34.  Thus it was with Paul.  He spoke with authority, and the words, which he spoke were the commandments of God.
  See 1 Corinthians 14:27.  In reading this letter or any other in the Bible, we need make no allowance for the writer's personal peculiarities and prejudices.  Each writer retains his own individuality, since God chooses different men to do different work.  But it is God's Word in all.

Not only the apostles, but everyone in the church is commissioned to "speak as the oracles of God."  1 Peter 4:11, KJV.  All who are in Christ are new creatures, having been reconciled to God by Jesus Christ; and all who have been reconciled are given the word and ministry of reconciliation, so that they are ambassadors for Christ, as though God by them, even as by Christ, were pleading with men to be reconciled to Himself.  See 2 Corinthians 5:17-20.  This fact should help prevent discouragement and fear on the part of those who speak God's message.  Ambassadors of earthly governments have authority according to the power of the king or ruler whom they represent.  But Christians represent the King of kings and Lord of lords.

All gospel teaching is based upon the deity of Christ.  The apostles and prophets were so fully imbued with this truth that it appears everywhere in their writings.  Jesus Christ is "the image of the invisible God."  Colossians 1:15.  "He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of His nature."  Hebrews 1:3.  He was in the beginning with God and was God before the world was.  John 1:1; 17:5.  "He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."  Colossians 1:17