Freedom in Christ: “The True Gospel”

Galatians 1:1–10

Galatians 1:1–10 (NIV)

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia:

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Pray

There is one Gospel and one truth, which is found in the inerrant Word of God.

Slide: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB95)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Paul addressed the church in Galatia about those who were distorting the Gospel. They were adding to the truth and muddying the waters.

This group, known as the Judaizers told the church in Galatia they had to be circumcised, obey the Sabbath, and Observe the Law. Which is a false Gospel. If you remember, Jesus in dealing with the Pharisees, he had told him something very similar. Namely, that they knew not the father. However, the Pharisees said they knew the father, we know the law and the observe the law. And Jesus had said if you had known the father, you would know me.

Why does this groups seek an audience from the Galatians? They wanted control and influence over them.

This letter is very apropos to our modern culture today. Allister Begg Noted the American culture has become extremely tolerant of everything, and the only thing it isn't tolerant of is intolerance. Meaning this, whatever your truth is, is your truth, and no one can tell you differently.

As a matter of fact, the one thing that people are becoming more intolerant of is Jesus Christ. Why? Because He taught one absolute truth.

Ladies and gentlemen the subjective nature of our culture has allowed false gospel teaching to permeate our universities and our school system. Most every class, most every professor teaching their version of truth which then is penned on the notebooks and hearts of countless students, eager to learn the existential answers to why we exist. And they are given a load of garbage.

I had a good friend who claimed he was a Christian, and he very well may have been, but he always asked me to pray because I was closer to God than he was. He would tell me, “You have God on speed dial.” I told him to call Him yourself.

My calling is to preach Christ and Him crucified, to teach you, to the best of my ability the truth of the Word of God. But make no mistake, I am not here to control you, manipulate you, and make you do anything that would be contrary to the Word of God. This is what the world does, men and women. They tickle your ears and lie to get you to follow their line of thinking.

Listen to Paul’s Words in his second letter to Timothy:

Slide: 2 Timothy 4:3-4

2 Timothy 4:3–4 (ESV)

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

This is what the Judaizers were doing to the Galatian Church. And the church was falling for it. They were seeking the approval of the Judaizers over Christ’s approval in their life.

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Are you willing to let those who do not follow Christ control your life and dictate how you should follow Him? Or will you let Christ work within you?

Will you choose to listen to His truth or the truth of man?

We were called by God and saved by Jesus Christ through His grace. How will you respond to those in the world who seek to add to this truth and distort our grace?

Remember, Paul said those who do so should be "accursed."

Slide: Galatians 1:6

Galatians 1:6 (NIV)

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—

Paul is amazed, marveled, astonished that those in Galatia were “quickly” deserting Jesus Christ.

What a way to begin a letter!

They were doing this for a false gospel, a false gospel that gained them status with a group of men. They would be welcomed into the club, which turned out to be more important to them than following the will of God. Following a life Jesus called them to.

It is like Paul is talking to his kids. I am amazed you would do something different than what I told you. I am amazed you have not put your clothes away yet, not put on deodorant, not brushed your teeth, etc.

Many in this room have accepted the call to follow Jesus Christ and the leaders of New Life Community Church have invested in your spiritual growth, taught you what the Gospel is, and helped you understand what it meant to live for Him and engage in our church community.

Now, imagine, you began listening to the false gospels of another religion, such as Mormonism, Hinduism, Jehovah’s Witness, Islam, other so-called Christian denominations, etc.

We would be amazed, astonished, marveled at your decision.

There is one church under the banner of Jesus Christ. Only Christ’s true church ought to be considered Christian. However, our culture has lumped it all together. Do not allow the culture to dictate what is Christian and what is not.

I have been privy to multiple conversations and stories of people who have been engaged or married to non-believers, or dating, or those of another false religion; or no religion at all (Atheism, Agnostic).

Paul had the heart of Christ in Him. He clearly did not want those in Galatia to follow another Gospel and follow Christ alone.

Paul said, do not be unequally yoked. The OT is full of God’s commands to the Israelites to not intermarry with other nations who followed pagan and demonic way. Why? Because, for some reason, and history has shown this to be true, more hearts are turned away from Christ by the sake of a spouse than are turned towards Him.

Paul wanted the people in Galatia to be fully committed to following Christ. He is the bridegroom; the church is the bride. Paul did not go so far as to say they were committing adultery against Christ, but they were looking more than was appropriate for a follower of Christ.

DO NOT BE LED ASTRAY ladies and gentlemen. Keep your eyes on Christ. Consider the author’s words in Hebrews:

Slide: Hebrews 12:2-3

Hebrews 12:2–3 (ESV)

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Slide: Galatians 1:7

Galatians 1:7 (NIV)

Which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Any other so-called gospel, is not really another gospel, it is just a false gospel, a false belief, religion, ideal. The Judaizers were distorting the true Gospel of Christ. They were disturbing, troubling those in Galatia.

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A False Gospel is anything that adds to the Word of God. Anything that places a condition on your salvation other than Christ’s work on the cross. Any tradition or addition to the Word of God.

DO NOT BE LED ASTRAY. There are many who want to add to the Freedom you have in Christ. Listen to what the Word of God says to those who try to add to it.

Slide: Revelation 22:18-19

Revelation 22:18–19 (NET)

I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.

And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.

Slide: Deuteronomy 4:2

Deuteronomy 4:2 (ESV)

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

We are not in a competition with other churches for souls. Churches that are like minded in the Gospel share the table with us. What we are separated by, in many cases are traditions and non-salvation concerns. Whether your Baptist, Evangelical, Reformed, Presbyterian, Anglican, etc. God places no eternal life condition on whether or not you got a particular doctrine right, other than salvation.

Your eternal security is based on what Christ did for you and whether or not you believe He died for your sins and rose again.

I love how Todd gathers together with other youth pastors, from various denominations and brings the youth together. Why? It is about showing love to the youth and demonstrating to others we belong to one body.

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Being Troubled

Some of those in Galatia may have been easily swayed, others were feeling pressure, and still others were considering the words of the Judaizers. A good parable to illustrate this is the parable of the seed.

Slide: Luke 8:5-8 (NIV)

Luke 8:5–8 (NIV)

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Slide: Luke 8:11-15 (NIV)

Luke 8:11–15 (NIV)

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

There are more things that destroy the seed than water it. Only within the good soil can we find truth and rest in the foundation that is Christ.

Slide: Galatians 1:8-9 (NIV)

Galatians 1:8–9 (NIV)

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

There are two points on these verses which need to be addressed. #1 The True Gospel of Christ, and #2 God’s Curse.

First, we will address what The True Gospel of Christ is.

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The True Gospel of Christ

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Gospel “Good News” – the εὐαγγέλιον

Found in the NT to describe the message, preaching, and story of Jesus Christ.

The Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)

Jesus is the Christ (Messiah)

Slide: Matthew 16:16 (NIV)

Matthew 16:16 (NIV)

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus Died for your Sins and the Sins of the World

Slide: 1 John 2:2 (NIV)

1 John 2:2 (NIV)

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus Rose Again

Slide: 1 Corinthians 5:3-4 (NASB)

1 Corinthians 5:3–4 (NASB95)

For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.

In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

If you have heard the story of Jesus Christ and:

Slide: Romans 10:9-11 (NASB)

Romans 10:9–11 (NASB95)

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

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God’s Curse

Anyone preaching a gospel different than the one true gospel is to be accursed. Simply put, you are cut-off from Christ for eternity. The one who is cursed will end up in the Lake-of-Fire one day. This is a truth no one can escape.

Slide:

Accursed - separated from Christ for eternity

(a challenge I have had is trying to understand how to view others, especially those who are bent on cursing the name of Christ)

How do I view those who just will not accept the name of Christ? Hector.

Slide: Romans 9:3

Romans 9:3 (NASB95)

For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh,

This is the same greek usage

List of false religions which have distorted the name of Christ and the Gospel

Mormonism - Jesus was a literal son and spirit child of a heavenly father and mother. He was the brother of Lucifer and won the title “Messiah” because he had a better plan than Lucifer.

Mormonism - Jesus’ atoning work is for everyone’s resurrection. However, you must do good works to enjoy the full quality of eternal life.

Islam - Jesus was God’s servant, not His Son. He certainly was not God.

Islam - Not necessary to be saved from your sins. Your good deeds just have to outweigh your bad ones.

Atheism - There is no God. Jesus was just a man.

Jehovah’s Witnesses - Jesus was a god amongst others. The most influential man in history. He died to free us from death. But you die for your own sins.

Being holier and receiving more grace over time. The more you work, the more you are justified.

Unconfessed sin is unforgiven.

Any church that does not strictly adhere to the Word of God and Salvation through Christ alone, presents a false Gospel.

The role of angels. Do they speak to people? Or is Paul using hyperbole? Is he talking about demons?

Hebrews and entertaining Angels

Galatians 1:9 – A second calling to be accursed

1 Corinthians 16:22

1 Corinthians 16:22 (ESV)

If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!

1 Cor. 12:3

1 Corinthians 12:3 (NIV)

Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Is Jesus Lord?

Is Jesus accursed?

Matthew 25:31-46 - This passage is about Jesus and those who are blessed and those who are righteous.

Those who feed, clothe, and care for others are the sheep

Those who do not are accused and cast into the eternal fire

Separated from Christ forever

Slide: Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

Galatians 1:10 (NIV)

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul is firm with the truth and not afraid to share it. The Galatians were people pleasers. They wanted to please Judaizers and do what they said. Paul sought to follow God alone and he is one of the pillars of our faith and church. Are you a people pleaser over following God?

Slide: 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NASB)

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NASB95)

Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Paul used to be a people pleaser and we get this clue when he used the word “still.” And he wasn’t a follower of Christ. Now he only seeks to please God. This is a massive declaration.

Can you rightly say you only seek Christ in all you do? Or, are you motivations surround by pleasing the people around you?

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Where does your acceptance lie?

With Christ, who bought you with His blood?

Or with man, who seeks his own?

• Bond-Servants of Christ serve Him alone.

• We are ambassadors for His Kingdom, not man’s

Mankind wants you to follow them. Non-Believers want you to follow them and their ways, their beliefs, their ideals, their way of doing things.

Jesus said, “Follow Me”

 Disciple

• Do you need man’s acceptance? Why?

o School

 Wear the right clothes

 Say the right things

 Listen to the right music

 Play the right sports

 Bully the same people

o Work

 Listen to the same bad jokes

 Harass in the same ways

 Getting drunk with work buddies

 Slacking on the job because others do it

o Social

 Keeping up with the Jones’

 Having the new car because everyone else does

 Saying the right things

 Dressing the right way to fit in

o The point of all this, not that all things on these lists are inherently wrong. After all we were told to eat, drink, and be merry (verse). The question you must ask yourself, are you fulfilling these desires to please someone else or gain their approval?

 There is nothing wrong with looking nice for your wife or husband. There is nothing wrong with dressing nice or having a nice car. The matter is the heart, are you doing it for acceptance?

The Galatians were struggling because they wanted to fit in with the elite Judaizers, ones who had influence in their culture, one’s who could make a difference. They were doing so at the sake of forsaking Christ and His Gospel.

We believe in once-saved-always-saved. So, if you are seeking the favor of others, please know this, you will not lose your salvation. What I want to challenge you on is holding yourself to a much higher standard than man’s.

When you follow Christ with all your heart you begin to understand His will for you and how you are to follow and where to go.

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You are an ambassador for Christ.

You represent Him, you follow Him and do His will.

My father left when I was 9 years old, i did not hear from him until i was 21. From there it was only short lived, than there was a 20 year gap where he never contacted me. Just recently did he try to reach out, and it hasn’t been as pleasant as I would have hoped.

My life has been inundated with looking for acceptance from others. It is still a weakness of mine at times. I never had the self-esteem I should have, after my father left.

It is only because of Christ and His love for me that I have been able to navigate through this life. Sometimes I think that I have had more pain and hurt than the average person, and that may be true. But, it was only because of Christ and His protection and guidance that I can stand here and share that He is a good God who loves you.

When I listened to God’s call in my life and chose to follow Him, I was made into a right relationship with Him. But that did not mean I was perfect and free from all flaws. My sins were forgiven (Past, present, and future), but I still had baggage (my weaknesses of looking for acceptance to be good enough for myself and others). I brought this into my relationship with Christ. The best part, He has walked alongside me for years and has never left me or let me down, no matter how I have sinned or allowed my fleshly weaknesses to dominate my life. We work on it together. Christ builds me up. He builds you up!

Marriage as an example. You know why I love marriage, especially an equally yoked Christian marriage? Because it is an example of Christ and His church. Beth and I are approaching 22 years of marriage. When we were married, we both had baggage and weaknesses and we had to work through that, we still work through our weaknesses, and we may for another 30 years or so. But, we are committed to doing that together. We build each other up. I still strive for acceptance in many ways, but Beth is patient and loving and kind. She does not judge me, she walks alongside me in this thing called life, and I her.

Christ does this with each of us. He is sufficient and accepts you for who you are without judgement. The world, people, will always judge you. Why please them when you have a heavenly Father is perfectly loves you for who are?

Follow His Gospel – The True Gospel

• Know He loves you for who you are in Him

• Listen to who Christ says you are and go out into the world, representing Christ with your utmost.