Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead

 Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead

Galatians 1:1-3 "Paul, an apostle—not of men nor through men, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead—to the churches in Galatia, together with all the brothers who are with me, grace and peace be with you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

The phrase "through" carries the meaning of becoming one with the object.

It means that Paul became an apostle through (or in) Jesus Christ and God the Father. Although the purpose for which God the Father appointed Paul as an apostle remains the same, the method of becoming an apostle is presented. To become an apostle, one who becomes one with God in Jesus Christ becomes an apostle.

While on his way to Damascus, Paul heard the voice of Jesus Christ, collapsed, and was blind for three days. He had become physically dead. Then, three days later, he opened his eyes through Ananias. To open one's eyes means to become one with God in the spirit.

Today, most people in the church believe that the resurrection of Jesus is a coming back to life from the physical dead. "God who raised (ἐγείραντος) from (ἐκ) the dead (nekron νεκρῶν)." If asked why God resurrected Jesus, most people emphasize the distinction from other religions by saying that since Jesus is God, He resurrected the body that had died again.

"Nekron" refers to the spiritually dead. It signifies a separation from God. "Ek" means "coming out of" (similar to the English "out of"), and "egerantos" means "to rise." In the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel, dry bones are described as coming to life; thus, resurrection signifies the spiritually dead coming back to life. This is why, when Paul explains his becoming an apostle, he explains that just as God resurrected Jesus Christ, he too has been resurrected with a spiritual body.

Regarding the concept of resurrection, believers today accept the doctrine that the dead body comes back to life. They believe that although the body received from their parents died, God brought it back to life and transformed it into a spiritual body. If so, there are accounts of Jesus raising the dead on several occasions, such as the raising of Lazarus, the widow of Nain's son, and the daughter of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. No one would equate these instances with the resurrection of Jesus.

This is because, although they came back to life, their bodies are destined to die again. Jesus' resurrected body does not die again. What is the difference? The first three people came back to life, but their physical bodies remained exactly as they were received from their parents. Jesus' resurrected body signifies a resurrection where the body received from parents dies (disappears), and the spirit manifests wearing a spiritual body. Therefore, we see that resurrected body capable of transformation and even appearing through walls. Resurrection is a story about the spirit and the spiritual body.

In 1 Corinthians 15:44, it says, "It is sown in a fleshly body and raised in a spiritual body (pneumatikon). If there is a fleshly body, there is also a spirit body (pneumatikon)." In the original language, the spiritual body is written as "spiritual body."

Galatians 1:4-6: “Christ gave himself for the atonement of our sins to deliver us from this evil age, according to the will of God, our Father. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and following a different gospel.”

A generation roughly refers to the 30 to 40-year period during which a person is capable of performing work (ministry). Ministry is important in Christianity. Various biblical verses defined by works refer to ministry. This means that faith without ministry is dead faith (an evil thing).

Esteletai (ἐξέληται) is the grammatical middle form of the verb meaning "to rescue," signifying that the Lord rescues us and makes us His own. The purpose of the Lord rescuing us is to make us His people and to make us ministers of the Kingdom of God.

The word *dólsa* (δόξα), meaning glory, carries the meaning of offering to God the glory of victory, in which those who became apostles fight against and overcome the world by preaching the gospel.

The Greek phrase *tous aionas ton aionon* does not mean "forever," but rather "in every generation." Therefore, it expresses the hope that such glory will be manifested in every generation. This is a great spiritual revival.

Kalesantos (καλέσαντος) refers not only to pastors but to all church members. Being called is a result of God's grace. However, among them are those who have been called but have not been chosen. Therefore, while we must preach this precious gospel, there are those who pursue a different gospel. In Greek, the words for "different" are allos and heteron. Allos means slightly different—that is, not exactly the same but similar—while heteron means completely different.

Representative examples of the "other gospel" include legalism, humanism, and Gnosticism. Although churchgoers believe in justification by faith, theological doctrines lead them to view it in a human-centered way. The phrase "saved by faith" implies that one obtains salvation simply by believing in Jesus. This is why the prayer of acceptance is introduced.

Therefore, regarding the statement that salvation comes simply by believing, those who say "once saved, always saved" believe that since they have been saved, it does not matter if they lead a half-hearted religious life; on the other hand, regarding the statement that salvation can be revoked, they argue that one must subsequently strive diligently for sanctification to avoid falling into sin. The amazing gospel of Jesus Christ, who died for humanity on the cross, is perceived only partially in the face of humanistic ideology. The gospel of the cross is mixed with human effort or inaction. If anything is added to or subtracted from the gospel of Jesus Christ's cross, it becomes a completely different gospel.

In justification by faith, being saved by faith means that the believer enters into Christ. Entering into Christ means that one is saved when the physical body dies with Him on the cross, is born again into new life, and Christ becomes the Logos in the heart of the saint.