Julie Fillinger

Good News! 

Paul wrote a letter intended to be circulated to churches that he had started in the region of Galatia. This is modern day Turkey. In this letter, he greets the churches with Grace and Peace. I love these words. John Stott says they are pregnant with theological substance and summarize the Good News of the Gospel of Christ. ¹ Grace, God’s free favor and lovingkindness to the undeserving, is the source of our salvation. Peace, reconciliation with God, within ourselves, and to our fellow man, is the nature of salvation. They flow from God the Father and the Son together in harmony according to the Father’s will. The cross is where grace is exhibited and peace is derived. 

How do I know if everything is going to be okay ? 

I want to pause and hang out a minute on this idea of peace. There have been many times in my life that people have told me, ”it’s going to be okay,” when they have no idea if it is or not. They mean well, but it’s not actually a helpful thing to say. They are hoping it will be okay, just like I am. But how do either of us really know if it’s going to be okay ? 

What God is offering is not the absence of conflict but rather tranquility in the midst of it that arises from reconciliation with God. ² This is a spiritual blessing that says all is well within us, a sense of well-being and ordered harmony. ³   

The only One that has any credibility to tell me
everything is going to be okay
is
Jesus Christ.  

He is the One who made everything okay when He gave Himself to rescue me and set me free from being a slave to our present world system. Because of this, today and tomorrow overlap. In other words, I have access to this peace now because Christ’s work is finished. When I am tempted to doubt God’s way is better than mine, His Spirit in me holds me fast as I wait for Christ’s return when peace is completely realized. To Him be the Glory forever and ever. 

Paul tells Christian leaders to go to hell. 

The letter has some strong language for those who preach a different Gospel.  Paul says if anyone preaches a Gospel to them other than the one he preached, then they can just go to hell. Wow! Why was this such a big deal?  

Paul actually says, “let them be accursed,” which means devoted to destruction and doomed to eternal punishment in hell. ⁴ He was very concerned about these new believers being led astray by those who were supposed to be Christian leaders.  They were religious Jewish men that came from Jerusalem to teach these Gentiles in Galatia if they wanted to be a part of their faith, then they had to obey the laws of the Old Testament. The problem was this was not the Good News Gospel Paul was preaching. Paul at one time had been one of them, but when he realized Jesus Christ had fulfilled all of the requirements of the Law, he turned to follow Him completely as the only Way.  

Don’t be a traitor 

Paul was astonished the Galatian churches could be so fickle and desert Christ so quickly. He wasn’t trying to win a popularity contest. He is basically calling them traitors. They had experienced salvation  by Grace through Faith in Christ alone. Why would they turn from that and follow anything else?  He leverages his apostolic authority given to him by the risen Jesus Christ Himself, to speak this strong warning.  Afterall, their spiritual lives were at stake. 

What am I afraid of? 

Who am I willing to go after with such passion when they are tempted to believe a lie? A few people come to mind. But if I am being honest, I am good at talking about the Good News of the Gospel of Christ in places and on platforms that feel comfortable, but then get tongue-tied when I have the opportunity to speak it in the general public. I have had really good teaching that has equipped me with the Truth, and I keep it to myself when it feels awkward to do otherwise. If someone was in a burning building, I would go in to try to help rescue them. Then why won’t I treat those who may be headed to hell with the same care and concern? I pray for more courage in this area of my walk. It’s not that I am ashamed of the Gospel, but I can’t quite discern what it is I am afraid of. I have gone to classes, read books, and been on mission trips. But it still does not flow naturally for me, and I doubt the opportunity was really present until it’s passed.  

I think what I am really doubting is that the Holy Spirit will give me His words to say when I need them. I think I have to be clever and have everything planned out so it sounds appealing. Even as I am typing this, I realize that’s not my job. My job is to be a willing vessel ready to be used by Him when He says. Put the Truth out there, even if it doesn’t sound polished, and the Holy Spirit can take it form there. There’s a lot of freedom if I am willing to live that way.  

My journey to live free in Christ continues as I lean into the Holy Spirit’s leading.  

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1. John R. W. Stott, The Message of Galatians: Only One Way. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1968. 
2. Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, New Testament. Chattanooga: AMG International, 1993. 
3. The ESV® Study Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 
4. Amplified Bible. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation. Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. 

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