The book of Galatians is thought to have been written by the apostle Paul during his last visit to Corinth in about A.D. 60. Of course the Author of Galatians is God. Galatia was a region that included the cities of Iconium, Derbe, Lystra, among other places Paul visited on his first and second evangelistic travels. The name Galatia was given to the region because most of the people there were Gauls. They were not Greeks. Apparently they had migrated into that area in the third century before Christ. Galatia today is in the area of Turkey.
Paul was greatly used of God as a born again Christian. He was a man who had quite a rough past. He was well trained as a Pharisee. He loved to hate God and hate God’s people. He thought he was serving God in hating the people of “this way”, later called “Christians”.
He was directed by God to give us his credentials. Can we trust Paul?
First we are told that Paul was an apostle. An apostle is a delegate or an ambassador. Paul then explains what type of an apostle he was. He was not a delegate of men or an ambassador of men. He was not trained by men to be an apostle. He had been trained by men to be a destroyer of born again Christians.
Now, Paul was a delegate or an ambassador of Jesus Christ. He was personally chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father. Paul had a divine calling on his life. He was no longer a self-made man. He was now a man that was chosen by God for a different work. This was a divine work that was of great importance. Paul reminds us that God the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
Thus we are told that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins and that His Father, Who sent Jesus Christ to this earth for the specific purpose of dying for our sins, was there to raise Him up again. God the Father worked with God the Son in providing salvation for all.
Paul was not working alone. He was not a maverick. He had a specific call and there were other saints who agreed that Paul had been called to be an apostle. These were not enabling type of men. These were men of God who understood the importance of the Word of God. Paul also tells us what the purpose of this letter was. He was told by God to address this letter to the churches of Galatia. Again we are reminded that there is no such thing as a universal church. Paul was told to write this letter to the churches of Galatia. Galatia was a region in Asia. They were the original recipients of this letter. However, it would also be read by other churches in other areas. The message was important for all of them, and it is still important for us today.
In verse 3 we see a common desire of God as expressed by the apostle Paul. Grace and peace are both very necessary for God’s people and for God’s Work. God’s grace is necessary to save lost sinners. God’s grace is also necessary to enable Christians to serve God.
God’s grace is that unmerited favour that God shows to the lost. He knows nobody deserves to be saved. He has heard every curse word used against Him. He knows the rebellion in every person’s heart. Yet He reaches out to all people, desiring them to be forgiven and saved.
There is also the grace that is needed for the saved person to serve God faithfully. The writer of Hebrews refers to this grace in chapter 4:16.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.