v. 1) John 17:14-18 says that we are to be in the world but not of it. In the same way, when Paul says that he has not been sent from men, he is saying that he has been transformed and is no longer a man of the world but a disciple of God. As Paul says in Philippians 3:20, "[Our] citizenship is in heaven."
v. 2) The fact that "the brothers" trusted Paul enough to follow him despite his life prior to his encounter with Christ proves that there was a miraculous change in his life. "The brothers" would not be with Paul if they expected persecution from him.
v. 3) Paul uses the words "grace" and "peace" here to remind the Galatians of how they should respond to their salvation. Grace is a gift given that is undeserved. Obviously, nobody deserves eternal life because no one is righteous; yet God gave us the free gift of salvation anyway. Paul reminds the Galatians of that fact. Then he assures them that they should have peace: certainty that their salvation is guaranteed. Peace can also take on the connotation of joy in that, if our peace/joy is in Christ, nothing can take it away.
v. 4) Jesus never drew upon His identity as God in the flesh, but He did everything out of pure devotion to God. Philippians 2:6-8 says, "[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
Jesus did not draw upon His power as God to give Him the willpower to die on the cross. He simply prayed for strength to do so, and God answered His Son's prayer. Jesus was then able to give Himself up on the cross as a Man. He died a real human death. And He was happy to do it for us.
v. 6) [By] the grace of Christ—" Again we see that we have been given a gift we don't deserve. But the Galatians turned down the gift. They deserted (NIV), or turned traitor to (MSG), Christ. They were just as bad as the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), taking the gift, wasting it, and betraying his father. But we often do the same, dragging the cross through the mud. Thank God there's forgiveness and sanctification!
v. 8-9) Mark 9:42 sums this passage up perfectly: "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck."
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