"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1).
In this brief sentence we have the whole of the truth of the Gospel summed up. He who reads aright may derive a world of comfort from it.
Galatians 2:6-16
Our last lesson covered the first ten verses of the second chapter of Galatians, but we did not particularly study the last portion of the section. Accordingly we shall begin our study this week with the sixth verse, in order to keep the connection.
In the fifteenth chapter of Romans and the fourth verse the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Paul, sets the seal of approval upon the whole of the Old Testament, in giving the object for which it was written. He says, "For whatsoever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
Galatians 2:1-10
Before beginning the study of the second chapter of Galatians, read the first chapter again carefully. One must necessarily understand and have in mind the contents of chapter 1 in order to understand chapter 2, since the second is but a continuation of the first. There is no break in the narrative in passing from the first to the second chapter. We may summarize the first chapter thus:—
The salutation, in which the whole Gospel is included.
Galatians 1:13-24
Galatians 1:6-10
Having in our minds the opening words of the Epistle to the Galatians, we will proceed directly to the subject matter of it. The apostle at once comes to the point, saying:—
“Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead); and all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia; grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
— — — — — — — — — — — — —
The Gospel Message
“There is but one thing in this world that a man needs and that is justification—and justification is a fact, not a theory. It is the gospel. That which does not tend to righteousness is of no avail, and not worthy to be preached.