Deserting the True Gospel
Category: Failure of faith
Could endure: Hold firmly to the gospel of grace.
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6)
Cross-Refs: 1 Corinthians 15:1–2; Hebrews 2:1.
Chose wrongly: Turned to a different gospel.
“…and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” (Galatians 1:6–7)
Cross-Refs: 2 Corinthians 11:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12.
Endured (negatively): Fell into confusion and bondage.
“Who has bewitched you?” (Galatians 3:1)
Cross-Refs: John 8:44; 2 Peter 2:19.
Why (wrong motive): Desire to please people, fear of persecution.
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?” (Galatians 1:10)
Cross-Refs: John 12:43; Proverbs 29:25.
Result: Cursed if persisting in false gospel.
“If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:9)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 13:5; Revelation 22:18–19.
Legalism and Bondage
Category: Failure of freedom in Christ
Could endure: Stand firm in liberty.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1)
Cross-Refs: John 8:36; Romans 8:2.
Chose wrongly: Sought justification by law and circumcision.
“After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
Cross-Refs: Philippians 3:3–9; Hebrews 7:19.
Endured (negatively): Cut off from Christ if relying on law.
“You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ.” (Galatians 5:4)
Cross-Refs: Romans 10:3; Colossians 2:20–23.
Why (wrong motive): Pride, reliance on human effort.
“Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised.” (Galatians 6:12)
Cross-Refs: Philippians 3:19; Isaiah 64:6.
Result: Lost the benefits of grace.
“You have fallen away from grace.” (Galatians 5:4)
Cross-Refs: Hebrews 12:15; Revelation 2:4–5.
Hypocrisy of Peter and Others
Category: Failure of consistency
Could endure: Live consistently in gospel truth.
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6)
Cross-Refs: 1 Corinthians 13:2; James 2:17.
Chose wrongly: Drew back from Gentiles out of fear.
“Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back.” (Galatians 2:12)
Cross-Refs: Acts 11:2–3; Matthew 26:69–75 (parallel fear).
Endured (negatively): Misled others by example.
“The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” (Galatians 2:13)
Cross-Refs: Romans 14:13; 1 Timothy 5:20.
Why (wrong motive): Fear of men.
“Because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.” (Galatians 2:12)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 29:25; John 12:43.
Result: Rebuked publicly by Paul.
“When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all…” (Galatians 2:14)
Cross-Refs: 1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:13.
Works of the Flesh
Category: Failure of holiness
Could endure: Walk by the Spirit.
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)
Cross-Refs: Romans 8:4–5; Ephesians 5:18.
Chose wrongly: Indulged in sin.
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” (Galatians 5:19–21)
Cross-Refs: Colossians 3:5–9; 1 Peter 4:3.
Endured (negatively): Spiritual ruin.
“Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21)
Cross-Refs: 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Revelation 21:8.
Why (wrong motive): Desires of the flesh.
“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:17)
Cross-Refs: Romans 7:23; James 1:14–15.
Result: Exclusion from God’s kingdom.
“Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:21)
Cross-Refs: Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 10:26–27.