This whole book deals with the idea that our standing with God has nothing to do with anything we do ourselves. There is no level of achievement or accomplishment on our part that obligates God to include us in His family. Our best efforts are tainted with sin and worthy of death. That's the bad news.
The good news, found throughout the Scriptures, shows up again in Galatians 4:
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir."
There is nothing we can add to the work Jesus has done that qualifies as sons/daughters of the living God. So when Paul learns that the Galatians are worried about turning back to weak and miserable principles, observing special days and seasons, and being circumcised in an effort to earn status with God, he responds forcefully. The Galatians need to be reminded of the truth of the Gospel; the good news that we can add nothing to the work of Jesus. And that any attempts to add to what He has accomplished are misguided at best and probably incredibly dangerous.
We see Paul's passion for the purity of the Gospel, along with his passion for allowing Christ to love people through him. I know that God is always working in us to gradually become like Jesus, but I wouldn't mind being a lot more like Paul along the way.
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