Galatians Study No Other Gospel

The first two chapters are personal, and the key word in them is “Gospel,” found ten times in these forty-five verses. Paul’s aim was to show that his message and ministry came directly from Christ and not from men.

Paul did not preach a secondhand message that he learned from Peter or any of the apostles.

“I Paul, am sent out, called out by Christ… not by men.” This message is from God. This ministry was not given to me by the authority of the other apostles… but by Jesus alone.

Verse 12 - Jesus taught Paul. Paul received revelation from Jesus, just like the other apostles had, directly from Jesus. Yes, Paul was called out, set apart, was commissioned, and taught by the Spirit of Christ.

When Paul met with the other apostles, they compared notes, so to speak… and their message was the same; their Gospel was the same.

And Church… Church in Galatia… You are moving away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are in danger! Listen up!

Verse 6 – I marvel; I am astonished that you are turning away from Him (God) so quickly, from the One who called you in the grace of Christ… to a different gospel, which is no gospel at all.

There are these people/false teachers who are influencing you, pulling you away from the True Gospel of Grace.

These believers had heard and received the Gospel, repented of their sins and was following Christ, so it seems… but then people came into their lives to make them question the Gospel message.

Now what? They are now deserting their post. The word here is like the military word, “deserter.” They were leaving their post they were commissioned to. They were leaving home. What is home for them? As a Christian, Grace is Home. The Gospel we, and the Galatians have received, is the Gospel of Grace. But, what happened as soon as Paul left? Wolves came.

Judaizers came into the area and began to mix the Good News with something else… works.

Verse 7 – There are those who trouble you (they are shaking you up causing deep emotional disturbance) and they want to pervert (they want to turn the gospel of Christ into the opposite), which is legalism (salvation by works). These visiting preachers, if you will, came into the Church and caused problems. They began to persuade the Christians to depart from the grace of God and to go back to keeping the law, to circumcision, and to the traditions of the Jewish people.

They were probably telling the Christians in subtle ways, “Paul is right about certain things, but, you need to do more than believe and trust in Christ; you must perform, work, keep the traditions… in order to be saved and to be in right standing before God.”

This was their “good news” to the Church. This was their Gospel: That Jesus Christ has come and died for their sins; believe on Christ, and make sure to keep the Law and don’t forsake the Old Covenant customs… and you will be just fine before God.

It’s gracious that God let’s you work for it, isn’t it. Doesn’t that seem right; doesn’t that feel right. To many Jews and to many of us today… it does seem right and feel right.

But is it right? Is it good news?

Paul makes it clear very quickly: This is not a gospel; this is not another gospel… why? Because there is no other Gospel to be told or to believe. There is only one Gospel, and this is not it. It is not good news that we must keep the whole law to be saved. That’s bad news. It is not good news that Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the O.T. requirements only to place the burden back on the people. Then Christ died for nothing.

Paul does not play around with words. He says something here that is strong and direct.

Verse 8-9 – But, if we, angels or anyone else preaches another gospel… let them be accursed. If anyone preaches another gospel than the one you have received… let them be accursed. The word that is used here is the word “anathema.” Let them be eternally condemned and destroyed.

No, Paul does not play around with words. This is life and death. This is salvation or damnation. This is whether or not someone goes to heaven or not… This is serious!

What are some false gospels that people are preaching and teaching today?

a. Self-Righteous/Good People Gospel - “I got this. I am doing the right things to be saved. We are all basically good.”

b. Therapeutic Gospel - Christ died so I can feel better about myself, and He died to make me happy.

c. Social-Club Gospel - Salvation is about finding fellowship at church, with other people.

d. Activist Gospel/Social Justice Gospel - The Gospel is about building a just society, uniting people together under a just or political cause.

e. Prosperity Gospel - Salvation is about being happy, healthy, and wealthy, a life with no troubles.

2. When we believe in a false Gospel, this is where we will go:

a. We believe a false Gospel whenever we make something else besides faith in Christ necessary for salvation.

b. We believe a false Gospel whenever we assume that it doesn’t matter what you believe so long as you are sincere and a good person.

c. We believe a false Gospel whenever we are trying to earn God’s love and favor.

d. We believe in a false Gospel whenever we are not following Christ, and seeking to imitate Him.

3. The True Gospel is that God saves sinners. Man by nature is sinful and is separated from God and can do nothing to save Himself from the judgment of God. But, God, Who is rich in mercy and love chose to forgive sinner through the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. Jesus died to take the sinner’s sin away, took away the penalty and the judgement, and makes him or her a new creation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The only thing man brings to God is his or her sin. And God transforms that life, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

And faith in Christ transforms a life, so that the believer walks in a new direction, in a different lifestyle, one that reflects, honors and glorifies God.

And then someone might say:

“Yea, but come on… if angels preach it… maybe, it could be true...”

*The Mormon Church was founded by Joseph Smith Jr. He grew up in Methodist and Presbyterian churches. In 1820, Smith claimed to have a divine encounter and in 1823, he claimed that the angel Moroni showed him stuff. All other religions were wrong… but this angel was going to give him the truth...

What do we have? A different God, a different Jesus, and a different Gospel. Over 16 million people are in this cult.

*Next, 610 AD (or CE), according to Muslim belief, at the age of 40, Muhammad is visited by an angel… and he says it is Gabriel, and the angel recites to him the revelations of the Quran, and informs Muhammad that he is God’s prophet.

What do you have? A different God, a different Jesus, and a different Gospel. Around 1.9 billion follow this.

This is not a little issue.

It’s not that Paul is saying “Well these are well to do individuals that mean well, and as long as they are moral, we will agree to disagree on these little matters and unite on Christ crucified, dead, buried and resurrected… and this will hold us together…” He is saying that if anyone adds works to this Gospel… they are not Christian, and they are condemned.

Talk about being straight forward… and then he repeats it as if we would have issue swallowing it the first time. These are worthy of destruction.

I don’t write the mail; I just deliver it..

And that is Paul’s heart here as well: “I didn’t write the Gospel; the Gospel wrote me… I didn’t come up with this message from Christ; I thought I had it all together and I was following works righteousness…”

This is the heart and issue of the matter: Life and Death. There is life to be found in the Gospel of Grace and there is death to be found in any other “gospel.” (This is true for us today)

It is either grace or works. One or the other.

For those who are trying to earn, trying to work for, trying to be good enough for, trying to work at the church enough, trying to do spiritual things to win favor and merit… all who go down this road goes down a wide road headed for destruction. And many feel the death in their souls here and now.

There is One Jesus. One Gospel. One Way. Jesus Exclusively.

Verse 10 – If you want to please God. Believe, preach and teach this Gospel.

Many do not want to hear and believe a message that says “you can do nothing but humble yourself before Almighty God and throw yourself upon the Person of Jesus Christ…” But, it is then and only then, through humility, that you will be believing, exalted, and that you will be saved.

And there are many today, not wanting a Savior but a helper. These folks don’t need new hearts, all they need is a band-aid. These guys don’t need Jesus’ life... They believe that are capable of earning heaven… they just need to try harder.

You are deceived!

John 6:29 – This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.

Acts 2:38 – Turn from your sins and turn to Christ…

Acts 4:12 – There is no salvation to be found in any other.

Acts 16:31 – Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…

Romans 10:9 – Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord; believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.

Turn from going your own way; turn from your own works and trust completely in the finished work of Christ…

It is finished… Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

*Application - Pick up a gospel track and give it to someone this week. Share the Gospel with one person this week.