One Gospel of Jesus

Good morning Church!

Bibles out, Galatians 1:1-10. DON’T HAVE A BIBLE?

New Series in Galatians “One Gospel”

As we read through this text…

line by line, verse by verse…

That is the message that we will see pushed throughout this text of Galatians

But in order to get a solid handle of why the Lord placed this text in His Bible, we need some context…background

Galatians Background (v. 1-2):

READ V.1-2

Paul the author

Most of Pauls letters he is speaking to a specific people in a specific city.

This letter, he is speaking to a people in an entire region

(GALATIA MAP)

Modern day Turkey

Paul was originally from (Tarsus) which is near this area.

Roman Controlled

Paul (1st missionary journey) planted 4 churches here : Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe (Acts 13-14)

Paul went to this region…Preached the gospel…And people began to put their faith in Jesus…and thus these churches were risen up by the Lord

This was not an easy task for Paul…

This area was full of opposition

Paul was almost stoned to death while he planted

But Paul says I AM AN APOSTLE OF JESUS…I FOLLOW ONLY THE WORD AND COMMANDS OF JESUS THUS I PERSEVERE ON

Although this letter is different in that its written to an entire region

Its like many of the other epistles…

Paul is writing in order to address an issue in these churches

Soon after these churches were up and running, seeing people saved, spreading the teachings.

False teachers (Judaizers) come in and begin questioning everything Paul is teaching.

A Judaizer is a Jew that teaches both Jesus and the adhering to the Jewish law are needed for salvation

In this region they were teaching a JESUS PLUS GOSPEL!!

Acts 15:1–2 “But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved…”

Jesus plus circumcision, Jesus plus honoring the feasts, Jesus plus sabbath law, Jesus plus kosher…

And so the believers in Galatia are being led astray…

Because the gospel Paul preached to them and the Gospel He preaches again is the ONLY GOSPEL!!!

AND it is a…

Jesus Period Gospel! (v.3-5)

Jesus gave himself up for our sins…

Delivering us from evil…

By the will of God…

THROUGH HIS GRACE which led to OUR PEACE!

This is the true gospel!!!

The only peace we can receive is through faith in Jesus by His grace…

Its JESUS PERIOD!!

Paul doesn't say in verse 3 JESUS PLUS ANYTHING ELSE…

HE SPELLS OUT OUT SIMPLY!!!

But there is a gospel not like this true gospel that is influencing the people and Paul says ITS FALSE!!!

APPLICATION: How often do we hear false gospel today?

Prosperity Gospel: that Jesus is a means to wealth

Self Help Gospel: Again that the gospel of Jesus is here to only exalt you and make you a better person

Good Person Gospel: If I’m just a good person I will be right with God, I can earn my righteousness through my works

Church Gospel: Wrong understanding of the church. That the physical church that I attend and what I do in the building is what truly saves me.

Paul tells us THERE IS ONLY ONE GOSPEL!!!

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS ALONE ARE YOU SAVED.

FREE GIFT!

So as Christ followers, how do we respond to false teaching????

As we move forward through the text …Paul will show us…

3 things we are to do when we hear a “false” gospel:

Stand firm on the one true Gospel (v. 6-7)

The gospel is truth

Ends this statement with “Amen”

Amen at the beginning of a statement “Truly”

Amen at the end of a statement means “SO IT IS.”

This word AMEN fully defined means that the words said after or before it are trustworthy and true!

Paul says this is the the ONE TRUE GOSPEL…STAND FIRM IN THE TRUTH!!!

Don’t be pushed off of truth

If you are out walking in the world, and you hear any other gospel besides the one in the bible…IT IS FALSE!!!

THIS IS WHY WE PUSH YOU AT THE ROCK TO BE IN THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!!!

So that you have a firm foundation to stand on!!

AND ALSO SO THAT YOU CAN ACT ON THE NEXT THING THIS TEXT CALLS US TO DO…

Confront false teachings (v. 8-9)

Here Paul is condemning the false teachings being spoken

Galatians 3:1 “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?”

Thats whats Paul is saying has happened…that these people have been fooled by the Judaizers

So Paul himself is confronting this false teaching…

He says if anyone, including my self, OR and angel preach any other gospel let him be accursed!

This word accursed means DOOMED!

Don’t let DOOMED MEN LEAD YOU ASTRAY!!!

If you come into contact like the false gospel thats being preached to the people in Galatia...

We need to preach truth!!!

Jesus prays for his disciples in the High Priestly Prayer…

John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

The best way to combat it is with GODS WORD!

Use the word of truth to confront false teaching

These Judaizers are preaching a Jesus Plus Gospel for salvation…

That doesn't match the last words of Jesus on the cross…

John 19:30 “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

JESUS FINISHED ALL THE WORK ON THE CROSS…HE FULFILLED THE LAW!!!!

IT IS FINISHED!!!

But be aware…

When we stand firm in the true gospel…when we confront false teachings…

Persecution will come

Remember our time in 1 Peter

The final point Paul is going to make for us today…

We MUST REMEMBER THAT WE ARE TO…

Seek to please God, not man (v. 10)

When you stand against the false gospels of the world, you will experience rejection.

(Remember Pauls stoning)

We are not here to please men…

If we were trying to serve man, as Paul says we would not be servants of Christ

DO NOT FEAR MAN

STAND FIRM ON THE ONE TRUE GOSPEL

OUR ONLY FOCUS AS CHRIST FOLLOWERS IS TO DO WHAT PAUL COMMAND IN

Romans 11:36 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

DON’T BE LED ASTRAY BY A FALSE GOSPEL…

-STAND FIRM IN THE ONE TRUE GOSPEL…(BY GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH, IN JESUS ALONE)

-CONFRONT FALSE TEACHING WHEN YOU HEAR IT…

-AND WHEN THE TIME COMES TO DO THAT…BE BOLD FOR THE WORD OF GOD…FOR IT IS THE ONLY TRUTH!!!

SEEK ONLY TO GLORIFY JESUS!!!

PRAY!!!!