One Gospel (Part 1)

Don’t be Swayed

Galatians 1:6-10

Intro

So today, we are starting one of these series. Over the next few weeks, we will be going through Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia, which you may know as the book of Galatians. In this book, Paul explains that there is “one gospel.” But, what does that mean? The term gospel just means “good news.” But to completely understand what Paul is talking about, we need to get some background.

Today we are going to look at Galatians chapter 1, and learn what was going on in the church and what it means for you and me. We need to start with where this “book” came from. Paul wrote it. He wrote it to the church, so we can assume his audience believed in Jesus Christ. We also know there were these guys who were causing problems in the church.

They were telling people that in order to be saved, they had to become Jewish and follow a bunch of Jewish customs. Paul wrote this letter to explain the gospel and tell them that those guys were wrong. He wanted to refocus them on the true gospel, on what it really meant to follow Jesus.

In order to do this, he needed to clarify some things, which he does in the first two chapters. But, today we are going to focus on chapter 1. Paul explains two things about the gospel that will lead to two questions that every person will have to answer, including you guys.

Scripture

Galatians 1:6-10

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Pray

Help us to see the value of Your word

Story

Blindfold game - everyone shouts - can’t hear the right voice cause it’s distorted by so many others

Application 1

There is only one gospel, one way, and one sacrifice because of grace.

The second thing Paul clarifies in Galatians 1 is that there is only one gospel. There is only one way to be reconciled with God. This is what the GOOD NEWS is! That we can be reconciled with our Creator, even though sin had separated us from Him. Then, Paul goes on to reinforce that the one way is rooted in grace.

Grace is the undeserved favor of God. I love explaining grace with GRACE:

God’s

Riches

At

Christ’s

Expense

This might go against what we want to hear. We want to hear that everyone goes to heaven as long as they are a “good person.”

The issue is that no one is good. Jesus is the only member of that club. The rest of us depend on Him. Think about how awful it would be for God to require a sacrifice if it wasn’t necessary? We have to understand this, because it leads straight into the first question we have to ask in response to the gospel.

Story 2

Driving and looking over my shoulder caused me to turn

What you focus on steers your direction -

Supporting Scripture

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

Application 2

Question #1: How do I view people?

Paul gets to the root of what is important: the gospel. He explains that in everything he is doing, it is not to make friends. It is to fulfill what God called him to do. So we have to ask ourselves, how do we see people?

Do we see them as someone to impress? Do we see them as someone to help us achieve a goal? Or do we see them as lost and in need of a Savior?

I’ll be the first person to admit that this is difficult. When someone cuts me off on the freeway, I rarely thinking, "I wish I could share the gospel with that guy." But this is the charge of a disciple.

Question #2: How do I view Scripture/the Bible?

Paul explains where the gospel originated by comparing it to the laws of the Jewish Pharisees. This begs the question, how do you view Scripture? Is it just a work of literature written by men? Is it an ancient work of art? Or is it the words of the Creator of the universe?

How you see it will determine how much the Gospel will impact your life. But, regardless of how you see it, It will accomplish what God set it out to accomplish.

The sovereignty of God is not based on our opinion, but on His authority. My prayer is that you will answer these questions with the help of God’s Word and delight in the grace we have as the result of the one gospel.

Conclusion

Are you swayed away from the gospel?