Drive out the Legalists : Gal 1:6-9

Paul unleashes a scathing rebuke on the Galatian believers.

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel—which is really not another. There are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or even an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached, let him be accursed! (cf. Galatians 1:6–9).

So, what happened here? Why is Paul getting so riled up? He had preached the pure gospel as he journeyed through Asia Minor, proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to both Jews and Gentiles. In the region of Galatia—a territory inhabited by a mix of indigenous peoples and Greek settlers—many responded to his message, and a church was formed. However, some individuals who joined these churches began introducing legalism. They claimed that salvation came not only by faith but also through keeping the law. Paul insists that they are distorting the gospel. He had not expected this; he had recently left them in good order, rejoicing in what he called “so great a salvation” and triumphing over their foes. Their assemblies were overseen by handpicked elders, and their heartfelt thanks and appreciation for Paul and Barnabas were evident (cf. Galatians 4:15).

What was the problem with the legalists?

First, let’s define our terms. The gospel Paul refers to is the finished work of Christ—justified by faith rather than by works (cf. Galatians 2:16; 2:21; 3:13). Legalism, in this context, is the belief that one must keep the law to be a Christian. In other words, they insisted on adhering to specific rules and even traditions as a requirement for salvation.

Why would these Legalists do that?

Let’s consider the motivation behind these legalistic leaders. Certainly, their intent was not to split the church or cause strife. Back in those days, Gentiles were often seen as unruly, immoral, and idol-worshipping—essentially, barbarians. The church in Galatia was a predominantly Gentile church located in what is now modern-day Turkey (the same region once humorously associated with the Gauls in the Asterix comics). Today, the term “Gentile” carries no such stigma; civilization and accepted ways of life are the norm. However, for the people of that time, the unruliness and moral laxity of many Gentiles were well known. Then Paul began receiving new believers, and he proclaimed that salvation is by faith alone. He did not prescribe any additional laws for them to follow or “put them in order” in that sense.

Strict “Jerusalem” Church

On the other hand, there was another church in Jerusalem attended by the prominent disciples and leading figures of early Christianity. These were mostly Jewish Christians, and in the early days of the church, many still observed the Jewish law. Some even believed that adherence to the law was necessary for salvation. There are indications that James, the brother of Jesus and a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church (cf. Acts 15:13–21), held such views. For reasons that may have been well intended—but ultimately exploited by the devil—these leaders from the Jerusalem church (or possibly factions outside of it) went to Galatia to promote legalism. They taught that salvation required both faith and law-keeping, emphasizing works as necessary for both obtaining and maintaining salvation. They probably did not realize that this teaching perverted the true gospel.

Why did people abandon the gospel of grace?

It is human nature to work for it

When you examine many humanistic religions around the world, one common theme is the belief that you must do something to receive something from God. The more you do, the greater the reward—you might even climb 1,000 steps to earn a blessing. This mindset is common because deep within fallen humanity lies a desire to act—a desire stemming from the guilt of original sin and the sense of alienation from God.

I remember that in my early days after being saved, I felt compelled to do something good; if I did, I felt a sense of worthiness in approaching God with boldness. That impulse is innate. When we repent, we naturally want to take action. Yet the gospel teaches that Christ has already accomplished everything. This concept can seem counterintuitive—it is, after all, pure love. In fact, it is sometimes more challenging to rest in the finished work of Christ than to strive for personal achievement. The Bible reminds us that we can approach the throne of grace with boldness and confidence—not on the basis of our own works (cf. Hebrews 4:16; Luke 18:10–14).

This prominent leader preached, so it must be true?

Secondly, the proponents of legalism were often prominent leaders. On one hand, we have Paul, who founded several churches; on the other, we have James—the brother of Jesus—and his disciples, who were seen as icons of early Christianity. Many people tend to accept the teachings of the more prominent figure, thinking, “This person has a Ph.D. in theology, was with Jesus, leads a great ministry, and is far more qualified than I am.”

I recall that during COVID, I posted verses affirming that God’s will is for healing. At that time, a prominent leader in US Pentecostalism fell ill, and it was surprising how many of his followers were offended by the idea that healing comes by faith—likely because they held his reputation in such high esteem. I, a regular person, received much criticism for sharing those verses on Facebook. This response underscores a common aspect of human nature. In contrast, the believers in Berea examined the Scriptures for themselves and accepted the truth. The church in Galatia, however, seemed to rely on reputation, which is why Paul was incensed—emphasizing that even if an angel were to preach a contrary gospel, he would be accursed (cf. Galatians 1:8–9).

How does it apply today?

Subtle forms of legalism still exist. Some claim that if you are born again, you must still keep the law—ignoring the fact that we are not under the law. They argue that being born again empowers us to keep the law. There are many people who like the legalists back in the day, think it is their moral responsibility to keep churches in line, and they spend their entire life calling out people who don’t keep the law. There are many people whenever some cataclysmic event happens, keeps pushing the world to follow the law. We see that today!

However, we are not called to be law-focused or strictly adhere to a set of commandments. Instead, we are called to live by the Spirit, which enables us not to follow the desires of the flesh (cf. Galatians 5:16–25).

Why do we need the law when we have been transformed by Christ? This topic is discussed in detail in our previous blogs . In our study of Colossians, we observed that traditions and legalistic interpretations have been added to Christianity. Whenever someone wishes to condemn another, they often invoke the law—a phenomenon I call the “law on demand.” Some take pride in their selective adherence to the law; though they do not uphold its entirety, they cling to a “mini-version” and claim to be keeping it.

The finished work of Christ is the truth of the gospel. It brings freedom and enables us to live in our true nature—not in a performance-based religion.