Am I Seeking the Approval of Man, or of God? (Galatians 1)
Galatians 1
This is a recap of our Bible Caller Club meeting on June 1st, 2026 over this passage. If you want to join the club and attend future meetings and study with us via phone, click here.
Context:
As we began our new study on Monday, June 1, 2026, we learned that Paul wrote this letter to the Gentile Christians in Galatia to correct a false teaching. Jewish Christians had come into the area, teaching that to be truly right with God, the Gentiles needed to follow the old law, including circumcision, but Paul wrote to defend the true gospel message: justification is through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by works of the law.
1. What’s happening in this passage?
In our study tonight, we explored the first chapter of Galatians. The chapter opens with Paul immediately establishing his authority, declaring that he is an apostle sent directly by Jesus Christ and God the Father, not by any human (v. 1). He then gives a greeting of grace and peace, immediately grounding it in the gospel: that Christ gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, all according to God’s will (vv. 3-5). After this, Paul expresses his shock and amazement that the Galatians are so quickly abandoning the true gospel for a distorted one, which was really no gospel at all (vv. 6-7). As one member pointed out, this false teaching was likely from Jewish Christians insisting that Gentiles must follow the works of the law to be saved. Paul is so passionate about this that he states twice that anyone—even an angel from heaven—who preaches a different gospel should be accursed (vv. 8-9). To defend the origin of his own message, he insists that the gospel he preaches did not come from any human source; it was given to him directly through a revelation from Jesus Christ (vv. 11-12). To prove this point, he recounts his own history: his former life as a zealous persecutor of the church (v. 13) and his dramatic conversion, after which he did not consult with the other apostles but went away to Arabia, further showing his gospel's divine origin (vv. 16-17). The purpose of this was to show that his transformation was so profound that when other believers finally saw him, they glorified God because of the change in his life (vv. 18-24).
2. What is God revealing about humanity?
Our group discussion highlighted a significant truth about human nature revealed in this chapter: our tendency to quickly desert the truth. Paul marvels that the Galatians are "so quickly deserting him who called you" (v. 6), which shows how easily we are swayed by different teachings, especially ones that appeal to our desire to justify ourselves. As one person in our study noted, Paul seems to imply that teaching these "different gospels" is a way of pleasing people rather than God (v. 10), which reveals our weakness for seeking the approval of others. As one club member put it, we often seek the favor of men, which is why false gospels that appeal to human pride can be so tempting. We also talked about how difficult it is to let go of old ways of thinking or traditions. Another member shared how this relates to anyone raised in a strong religious system; it's a real struggle against what you've been programmed to believe. We also observed our tendency to look for truth in "flesh and blood"—relying on trusted teachers instead of seeking a direct, personal relationship with God (v. 16). Finally, another point brought up was how people watch believers, especially during difficult times. As one club member put it, the way we handle trials can "make or break someone else" who is watching our example.
3. What is God revealing about Himself?
This passage reveals that God is the sole author of salvation and the source of the one true gospel. Paul makes it crystal clear that the good news is not a human invention but a divine revelation. God called Paul "through His grace" and was "pleased to reveal His Son" to him (vv. 15-16), showing that God takes the initiative in our salvation and has a specific purpose for each of us. Furthermore, we see God’s jealousy for the purity of His gospel; He doesn't tolerate distortions or additions. The strong language Paul uses, saying anyone preaching another gospel should be "accursed" (v. 8), reflects God’s own view on the matter. God is the one we should seek to please, not people (v. 10). He is also revealed as the "God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), comforting us in our afflictions so we can comfort others. God is not a God who shares His glory or the credit for our salvation with our own works. Ultimately, God is glorified through the transformation of His people. When others saw the radical change in Paul, it didn't bring glory to Paul, but to God (v. 24), showing His power is made perfect in our weakness, shining through our "cracks and our breaks."
4. How should our lives change?
Having studied this passage, our lives should be marked by a renewed commitment to the one true gospel. A powerful application that resonated with the group came from verse 16: we must not have a "secondhand faith." We cannot rely on our parents, our preacher, or our Bible study group to sustain us; we must cultivate a personal relationship with God, seeking truth directly from Him. We must be vigilant against any teaching that adds human works to faith as a requirement for justification, and be willing to leave behind old ways of self-reliance. Our group kept returning to verse 10. In our daily lives, we must constantly ask ourselves who we are trying to please. If we are tempted to soften the gospel message, we should remember Paul's boldness and his focus on God’s approval alone. Paul's testimony is a powerful reminder that God can transform any life. Our lives, with all their imperfections, can become a reason for others to glorify God, just as Paul’s life was.
