Galatians 1:1-5 Rescued

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

In writing to the Galatians, Paul is addressing a specific heresy that is being taught in the region. Jewish Christian evangelists who still follow the law of Moses were teaching that Christians everywhere needed to follow the law. Not only the Jews, but also that the Gentiles couldn't become Christians without converting to Judaism and being circumcised.

They also attacked the authority of the Apostle Paul in order to strengthen their position.

Paul begins Galatians by addressing these issues, even in his greeting, when he makes it clear that he was not sent by men, but "but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead".

Again, Paul uses his greeting to set the stage for his forthcoming arguments. He calls on the name of Jesus, "who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age".

Let's make this clear. Jesus didn't "receive our good works". He didn't "accept our adherence to the law". He didn't give us a set of rules. He gave Himself for our sins. To say anything else cheapens the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

"...So that He might rescue us from this present evil age." We need to be rescued from evil. Jesus taught that Satan has authority in this world. "“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;" [John 14:30 NASB]

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, Satan claimed authority over all the kingdoms of the earth, and offered to give them to Jesus. Jesus did not refute him, but said, "Go, Satan! For it is written, ' you shall worship the  Lord your  God , and  serve  him only .'" [Matthew 4:10]. 

Paul makes it clear that before we were Christians, we were subjects of Satan. "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience." [Ephesians 2:1-2 NASB].

For a time, Satan has authority in this world, and all who are not in Christ under his authority, and need to be rescued by Jesus.

When we are born again, we receive the Spirit of God within ourselves, and are no longer subject to this world. "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household," [Ephesians 2:19 NASB]

We have been rescued from this world, and are now citizens of the Kingdom of God, and we are subject to God's authority, and are recipients of His grace and peace.