Sermons | Christ Wesleyan Church

On Sunday, August 4th, we began a long journey through the Pauline Epistles! As you may know, Paul was the most prominent figure among the apostles, both as a missionary and a writer. We have thirteen Epistles from him, and while we don't know how many more were lost, there are four particularly important ones that even the most skeptical critics acknowledge as genuine. These writings bear Paul's unmistakable style and are rich with details of his life and times.

The Pauline Epistles are primarily pastoral letters to congregations he founded, except for the churches in Rome and Colossae, which were likely established by his students, or to individuals like Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Despite being written during times of imprisonment, they still convey Paul's unwavering faith, hope, and joy, ending with a triumphant note. Even though they were born out of challenging circumstances, they remain calm and composed. They address the trials, dangers, and issues that arose in newly formed congregations, reflecting Paul's deep concern for their spiritual well-being. Having led them from ignorance and prejudice to Christian truth and freedom, Paul nurtured these communities, pouring his affection into them as a mother does for her children. His love for his spiritual children was an outpouring of his love for Christ, which he extended even to his unbelieving and persecuting fellow Jews, mirroring Christ's sacrificial love for his enemies.

The Epistles cover essential truths and duties of the Christian faith, shedding light on them with profound knowledge and experience, without claiming to fully exhaust them. They provide the best material for understanding Christian beliefs and ethical living, encompassing the entirety of Christian life from before creation to life after death. Paul, writing with the authority of an apostle and inspired teacher, distinguishes between the command of the Lord and his personal opinion on matters of expediency. He seems to have written quickly and under pressure, without extensive revision. Despite the complexities, Paul acknowledged the limitations of human understanding and humbly confessed that our knowledge in this world is incomplete!

These Epistles were written over a period of around twelve years, from around A.D. 52 or 53 to 64 or 67, during the peak of Paul's influence. To help us in our study, we will go through Paul's letters in chronological order, starting with Thessalonians (A.D. 52 or 53), then Galatians, Corinthians, and Romans (between 56 and 58), followed by the Epistles of the captivity: Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon, Philippians (between 61 and 63), and lastly, the Pastoral Epistles, with the second Epistle to Timothy likely being his farewell letter on the brink of his martyrdom.

In Galatians, Paul is angry.

Some false teacher has pressured the churches in Galatia (a region in the Roman Empire likely modern-day Turkey) to follow the Jewish Law. They’re teaching that salvation comes through the Law of Moses, and not through Christ—the exact opposite of what Paul had taught them. So, Paul writes a letter to bring them back to the truth.

This letter isn’t about Paul’s ego or preferences: it’s about understanding why Jesus had to die and how it affects us.

The Jews had been living under the Law since the days of Moses. The Law was a set of expectations for God’s people: commands that, when followed, would distinguish Israel from all other nations as a people that belonged to God. However, Israel couldn’t keep the Law. Nobody could: everyone was a sinner.

So, God sent Jesus. Jesus lived the Law, died for our sins, and rose again—He fulfilled the Law.

The Galatians’ new teacher completely disregards and disrespects God’s grace, Christ’s sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s work. That’s why Paul is so upset.

This book explains the believer’s new relationship with God. We’re freed from sin. We’re freed from the Law. We’re adopted as children of God. We’re counted as spiritual children of Abraham, whether we’re Jews or non-Jews. And we’re all empowered by the Holy Spirit to do good works, something sin prevented us from doing and the Law never enabled us to do.

Christ’s death is important, and Paul won’t let anyone forget it.