An Exploration of Galatians: Summary
Galatians 1:1 - Galatians 6:18
My exploration of Galatians is now complete. I don’t know about my readers, but I really received some amazing insights from this epistle, which is usually known to most believers for a couple of verses on Fruit of the Spirit. Although I have done a Bible in One Year reading plan for many years, I will reiterate that Scripture is best understood when you have to research and write about it!
To do this summary, here are the key takeaways that I discovered from each devotional; other Scripture references that were in those devotionals are also noted:
Galatians 1:
Galatians 1:1-2 - Galatians is an early epistle of Paul written to early church groups in the Galatia region of Asia Minor.
Galatians 1:3-5 - Begin with grace, believe in Him, arrive at peace and He gets the glory.
Galatians 1:6-7; 1 John 3:13 - Do not desert the true Gospel!
Galatians 1:8-9 - Let the Gospel of Christ be the Truth that guides us.
Galatians 1:10-12, Luke 10:38-42 - Who you serve becomes your master.
Galatians 1:13-17 - Belief in Jesus causes radical changes in people!
Galatians 1:18-24; Acts 9:26-30 - The true Gospel comes from God and Paul spent many years in obscurity before being called.
Galatians 2:
Galatians 2:1-2, Acts 11:27-30, Acts 15:1-6 - What God reveals is the most important thing for us to remember.
Galatians 2:3-5 - Beware of false brethren who can infiltrate churches and mislead believers.
Galatians 2:6-10 - Don’t wait for someone else to make you a great Christian!
Galatians 2:11-14; Acts 10:9-16, 30-35 - Be aware that we can all be fearful and subject to the weaknesses of flesh and the opinions of others.
Galatians 2:15-21 - We are justified through Faith in Jesus because no one person can come to God through the Law.
Galatians 3:
Galatians 3:1-5 - God sets us free in Christ to live in the power of His Spirit daily, for His glory.
Galatians 3:6-9, Romans 4:9-12, Romans 11:25-27 - Do you believe in God or believe God? Believers are all sons of Abraham!
Galatians 3:10-14 - We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God!
Galatians 3:15-18 - A promise from God is guaranteed!
Galatians 3:19-22 - The Law points out our need for salvation. Christ is the mediator who fulfills the law and frees us through our faith in Him.
Galatians 3:23-29; Exodus 20:15, 17 - We are guarded by the Law and our identity is in Christ.
Galatians 4:
Galatians 4:1-3; Colossians 2:8 - Legalism binds us back into an immature childhood of faith; Grace removes us from these elemental things and “cause and effect”.
Galatians 4:4-7 - We have a wonderful life with our adoption as children of God! God’s timing is always perfect!
Galatians 4:8-11 - A Living Christ is not found through religion; the church must be focused on Him!
Galatians 4:12-16; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 - Paul was accepted, but was concerned that he is the enemy because he speaks the truth.
Galatians 4:17-20; Matthew 10:16 - We are to be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves when legalism sneaks into our spiritual lives.
Galatians 4:21-31 - Paul reminds the Galatians and Judaizers that Abraham had two sons from two women - One in bondage and one in freedom.
Galatians 5:
Galatians 5:1-6 - Faith in Christ Jesus works through love. Do not put on a yoke of slavery again.
Galatians 5:7-12; Matthew 16:5-12 - False doctrine is easily introduced, so beware!
Galatians 5:13-15; Mark 12:28-31 - We are not released from serving our neighbor when we are liberated by Christ.
Galatians 5:16-18 - We walk by the Spirit to not carry out the desires of the flesh or be under the Law.
Deeds of the Flesh:
Galatians 5:19-21; Luke 16:19-31 - Are you immoral, impure or sensual (in a bad way)?
Galatians 5:19-21 - What is your passion? Is it God?
Galatians 5:19-21 - Do not let enmities, strife and jealousy take over your life.
Galatians 5:19-21 - Do not let your anger result in sin. Pray for God’s justice and for a gift of patience and peace.
Galatians 5:19-21 - Do not act from selfish ambition and discord; wisdom and discernment are essential.
Galatians 5:19-21 - Envy rots the bones and destroys the soul.
Galatians 5:19-21 - Pray for self-control from the Holy Spirit and avoid excess and revelry.
Galatians 5:19-21 - The Holy Spirit is our Holy guide and conscience to keep us from practicing the deeds of the flesh.
Fruit of the Spirit:
Galatians 5:22-23 - Fruit is from the Spirit; Deeds of the Flesh quench the Spirit virtues.
Galatians 5:22-23 - Behold the Lamb of God and His infinite Love for us!
Galatians 5:22-23 - Joy is eternal, happiness is temporary. Seek JOY!
Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 4:4-7 - God’s peace surpasses all understanding!
Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 2:4, Romans 9:12 - Longsuffering and true patience emulate our Lord Jesus.
Galatians 5:22-23 - Be kind and leave the unkind judging and opinions behind.
Galatians 5:22-23 - Goodness is the moral backbone and strength needed by believers to bring the holiness of God’s kingdom to Earth.
Galatians 5:22-23 - Our faithfulness to others is a reflection of God’s faithfulness to His creation.
Galatians 5:22-23 - Gentleness results in the perfect emotional balance in the believer.
Galatians 5:22-23 - Self-control is not eating salads. It is a mighty power from faith that makes the other eight fruit possible and improves the believer both spiritually and physically.
Galatians 5:22-23; Luke 10:26-28 - No law can make us holy, only the Holy Spirit can do that and then we don’t need the law.
Continuing Galatians 5:
Galatians 5:24 - We are to crucify our sufferings and our desires on the Cross of Jesus!
Galatians 5:25-26; Galatians 5:16 - Walking in the Spirit requires introspection, repentance and humility. Do not compare yourself to other believers!
Galatians 6:
Galatians 6:1 - How do we go to or even know about others trapped in trespass in our closed, individualistic society? I don’t know…I think we are lost. [I struggled with this verse].
Galatians 6:2-5 - Rid yourself of the deceit of pride and examine your works, so that you can share the burdens of others and carry your own load.
Galatians 6:6-7; Acts 5:1-11; Luke 8:4-8 - We reap what we sow and we should sow into the teaching of the Word.
Galatians 6:8-10 - Sow to the Spirit and take the opportunity of this life to do good to all people through the Spirit.
Galatian 6:11-13 - Paul writes in big letters at the end of this epistle to get the attention of the churches in Galatia.
Galatians 6:14-16; Galatians 2:20 - We are a new creation in Him, by boasting only in the Cross.
Galatians 6:17-18 - We can endure through His Grace!
I plan to pray all of these things!
My next devotional is a personal testimony of God’s shepherding of his two stubborn and rebellious lost sheep (Steve and I) through signs and wonders during the trauma of my Dad’s final illness and passing.
After that personal testimony, I will do a deep dive of Psalm 22.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord: May the Gospel of Truth guide me, may I be discerning and wary of false leaders who attempt to draw us into the law and not the Spirit, may I endure through Your Grace! Amen!
References for the actual devotionals are noted at the bottom of each devotional.
Beautiful summary…thank you