Gal 1.6-10

Main Idea: Amazed by the Galatian believers’ turn from the gospel of Christ, Paul explains why such a decision is problematic.

PRAYER

A - God in Heaven, True God, Alpha and Omega. You are God and there is no other, you have made yourself known to us in your scriptures as the Father, you have made yourself know to us in the person of Jesus the Christ, and you have made yourself know in our very hearts in your Holy Spirit. You have given us your son as a sacrifice on our behalf so that we might have a relationship with you. This is amazing grace!

C - And yet we so often take this gospel for granted, or we even like our brothers and sisters in Galatians we turn aside to a false gospel. We confess that our hearts are prone to wander.

T - Thank you for your grace upon grace, thank you that you are ever pursuing us. Thank you that your gospel is sufficient, understandable, and powerful to save.

S - Be with us now oh LORD, illuminate our hearts and minds, focus us on your word. Help us to understand and apply your word in our lives this very day. In the name of our LORD and Savior Jesus we do pray. AMEN.

INTRO

Imagine if you would that you are in an airplane…

We are going down!! - Parachute OR Backpack

You want to know for sure which is which…

Exalting Jesus in Galatians Contending for the Gospel (Galatians 1:6–10)

Contending is a relevant subject not only for spurring us on to greater witness, but also for reminding us of the importance of knowing what we believe. Many high school graduates go off to college and soon consider abandoning the Christian faith on which they were raised. Why? Among a host of contributing factors is the fact that they simply were never prepared to contend for the faith. As a result, a skeptical professor, a group of unbelieving friends, or an unbelieving boyfriend or girlfriend may cause them to doubt the faith altogether—or at least to question its importance to daily life. This trend is a good reminder that every believer must be rooted in the essentials of the faith early on in his or her Christian journey.

MESSAGE

Galatians 1:6–10 ESV

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.

The Galatians Departure

Galatians 1:6 (ESV)

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—

The departure from the gospel is also a departure from God.

The Gospel is God’s plan not mans invention

we would have done it another way

“deserting Him who called you”

Romans 8:29–30 “29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Jhn 6.44 “44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Jhn 14.6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

2 Thessalonians 2:13–17 “13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”

Galatians 1:6 (ESV)

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—

The departure from the gospel can happen quickly.

Jesus gave us illustrations of this

Matthew 13:3–9 “3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.””

The Gospels of Matt, Mark, Luke, John illustrate this

g

Peter demonstrated this himself

Colossians 2:8.

Galatians 1:6 (ESV)

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—

The departure from the gospel should cause you to marvel.

We ought to marvel that they would leave such a grace filled God

We ought to marvel that it is only by Gods grace that we ourselves remain His.

Philippians 2:12–13 “12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

John 6:66–69 “66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.””

Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;   Prone to leave the God I love: Take my heart, oh, take and seal it   With Thy Spirit from above.

The Gospel Distortion

Galatians 1:6–7 (ESV)

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.

The gospel is being distorted by false teachers.

Distort = The word “alter” (from μεταστρέφω) is often used to denote strong contrasts, “denoting a radical change, as of water into blood, or fresh water into salt, or feasting into mourning, or daylight into darkness.

False teachings then

Judaizers

Knostics

False teachings now

adskjsda

The Gospel cannot be perverted !!

Galatians 1:6–7 (ESV)

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.

There is no gospel other than the one the Bible teaches.

The Exclusivity of Christ…

the counter claims to this truth…

Do you know the Gospel

Do you believe the Gospel

Are you living the gospel

Can you articulate the Gospel

Are you sharing the Gospel

The Great Danger

Galatians 1:8–9 (ESV)

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.

When we do not accept and believe the gospel we are in eternal danger.

The truth of the message does not depend on the messenger

Credentialism = what are your credentials on this topic...

hyperbolic language = “Angel from heaven”

When we mis-represent and mis-use the gospel we are in eternal danger.

Final Destruction

Joel Osteen = perceived “success” in this life

There is no plan B

There is an old Latin proverb that says, Corruptio optimi pessimum est, “The corruption of the best is the worst.”

Schreiner, Thomas R.

The weightiness of Paul’s judgment against the false teachers strikes home when we realize that the Judaizers most likely proclaimed that Jesus was the Christ. Nowhere in this book does Paul criticize the Galatians for a defective Christology. They are indicted for adding to the gospel by insisting that one cannot be a believer without being circumcised and keeping the OT law.

Anything that adds to the work of Christ or requires some works from us is NOT the Gospel.

In our churches we may begin to concentrate on what it means to be good parents, to have a good marriage, to form meaningful relationships, and to make an impact in the world (all good things of course!), so that we slowly and inadvertently drift away from the gospel of free grace.

The Glorious Decision

Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

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.

We cannot serve both God and man, let us serve God!

Do not turn to the right or the left of the gospel.

Work to understand and apply the gospel in your life.

Seize opportunities to share the true gospel of Christ.

Servant to the MOST HIGH God

CLOSE

Main Idea: Amazed by the Galatian believers’ turn from the gospel of Christ, Paul explains why such a decision is problematic.

Application: Today this danger is even more present and just as problematic.

How do you plan on remaining faithful where these Galatians failed?

How are we guarding those around us in the way Paul guards his brothers and sisters in Christ?

How are you putting in place your glorious decision to Live for Christ!!

PRAYER

God our Father in heaven

Group Questions

Why must we contend for the gospel? What hinders people from contending?

What are some of the main arguments against Christianity today? How do you respond to them?

Are you having gospel conversations with people? Why or why not? Stop and pray for someone who needs to trust in Christ alone for salvation.

Why was Paul “amazed” by the Galatians? What might quickly “turning” away from devotion to God look like today?

Do you think Paul is out of control in this passage? Explain.

What do we learn about the gospel from this passage?

What does it mean in your words to “distort the gospel”?

What does Paul say about those who preach false gospels?

How should you pray for those who are preaching the gospel in local churches today? What might be gained through first praying for your church and your city before expanding your prayers to include the nations?

How do Paul’s words about pleasing Christ, not men, affect you? Do you struggle with the desire to please others rather than Christ? What might you do to fight this sin effectively?