See on Matt. 20:28; Rom. 4:25. The theme of this epistle is salvation through Jesus Christ. The Galatians had turned away from this spiritual truth and had accepted the false teaching that salvation may be earned. Acceptance of this unscriptural doctrine had practically led them to ignore the atoning death of Christ. In giving Himself to release us from the penalty of sin, Jesus not only offered Himself as a sacrifice for man, to suffer and die in his behalf, but united Himself with the human family and identified its interests with His own (see on Phil. 2:6-8).
That is, from the prevailing sin and corruption of the present age. Of ourselves we are powerless to escape (see on Rom. 7:24 to 8:4). To the Galatians, who had so soon forgotten the great truths of justification and sanctification and had returned to the works of the law as a means of salvation, Paul again presents the great truth that Jesus, through His atoning sacrifice, has provided a way of escape for all who will accept Him. Any attempt to earn this victory over the evil of the world through one’s own efforts is not according to God’s will. Thus, in his brief introduction, Paul intimates his objective in writing. If the Galatians persist in their legalism, they can hope neither for deliverance from sin now nor for admission to the future, sinless world.