When it comes to Christian faith & practice “Where does authority reside?” If we are to be those who fight for the freedom of others in Christ as well as our own, then we need to know the answer to this question. Freedom from legalism & spiritual abuse, or from domineering religious hierarchies, systems or leadership is found in answering this question correctly! Paul’s answer to the question is that ultimately it resides in the gospel itself, not so much in those entrusted with it! This is one reason preserving the gospel is to be a primary priority of true Christianity. Also, it is only in the gospel that true Christian freedom & partnership can continue to exist & flourish. 

Paul uses his own story of God’s Life-Changing Gospel to help point to its origin! It is not man’s life-changing gospel but God’s Life-Changing Gospel! In fact, it’s only because it is God’s Life-Changing Gospel that it has the power to eternally transform those who receive it! So, Paul firstly underlines the origin of the gospel, then he talks of its transforming power in his own life. His whole purpose being to underline the genuineness of his apostleship so the Galatians stick with God's Good News!

In Paul’s other letter’s we find thanksgiving & blessing at this point, but here in Galatians we find holy frustration & the warning of a curse for those who preach ‘another gospel’. This is because the Galatians are right in the middle of being scammed out of the true gospel! One of the purposes of Paul’s letter is to save them from this. The letter continues to serve this purpose. There are three things that stand out very clearly in in this section of Galatians: 1. To turn to another gospel is to desert the God who called us. 2. When the Gospel is distorted Christians become troubled. 3. The gospel is the supreme authority – even over apostles & angels! All point to the fact there is no other gospel!

​Paul’s letter to the Galatians is written to professing Christians. It’s written to help kill off our ‘inner Pharisee’ & to help ensure we never allow ourselves to be subject again to the yoke of pharisaic teachers or leaders & their distorted gospel, which Paul says is no gospel at all. The true gospel is both the highest authority & most liberating reality of the Christian’s life. It is so because it speaks God’s final verdict & liberating truth over God’s children. This is why as Christians we must not let anyone, or anything turn us from it! Yet one of the dangers in Christian circles is that we can become familiar with gospel language without truly understanding the gospel itself. So, it’s important to ask, ‘What is the Gospel’? The whole of Galatians helps answer this question. Yet, even in Paul’s opening greeting we find a clear & simple answer to this vital question!