Articles
The Power of the Gospel at Galatia
"For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16, emp LS). Let's notice another example of the POWER of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST, the Galatians.
CONDITION OF THE GALATIANS. Paul says, "Even so we, when we were children, were in BONDAGE under the elements of the world...Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did SERVICE ("you were slaves", NASB) unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in BONDAGE" (Galatians 4:3, 8-9, emp LS)? The Galatians were slaves, in the bondage of sin.
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS TAUGHT. Paul, on his first missionary journey, preached the Gospel of Christ at Antioch (Acts 13:14-50). "And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region" (Acts 13:49). That "region" was known as Galatia, where Paul journeyed "unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: And there they preached the gospel" (Acts 14:6-7).
THE RESULTS. "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life BELIEVED" (Acts 13:48, emp LS). "And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a GREAT MULTITUDE both of the Jews and also of the Greeks BELIEVED" (Acts 14:1, emp LS). As Paul later writes to the Galatians, we see the POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27). The Galatians heard the Gospel of Christ, believed it, and obeyed it.
WHAT THE GALATIANS BECAME. After hearing and obeying the Gospel of Christ, by being baptized into Christ, Paul says, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and HEIRS according to the promise" (Galatians 3:29, emp LS). Paul, to the Romans, spoke concerning the children of God being heirs, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:16-17). We are "fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ BY THE GOSPEL" (Ephesians 3:6, emp LS).
ONLY through the POWERFUL GOSPEL OF CHRIST can you and I be changed from slaves, in the bondage of sin, to heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. ONLY heirs, children of God, will spend eternity in heaven with God and the angels. My friend, have you obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the power of God to save?
