Grace and Authority: The True Gospel Unveiled

Bible Passage: Galatians 1:1–5

Galatians 1:1–5 “1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Big Idea: The true gospel establishes our identity in God's grace and calls us to defend it against corruption, reminding us that our authority comes from Him alone.

Introduction: Junk mail vs. A certified letter

1. Paul's Provenance: Divine Appointment

Galatians 1:1 “1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—”

Apostleship means that he had interacted with the resurrected Christ Jesus physically.

This selection method is shown in Mark 3:13–15 “13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.”

Paul:

Acts 9:3–7 “3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.”

This selection is unique, but still places Paul in the position of authority that could only be accomplished by the will of God.

The big reason why the emphasis?

False teachers approached Galatia and said something to the effect of “ yeah, Paul taught you that, but what did Jesus say?”

The Judaizer’s were seeking to reintroduce a legalistic system that would dilute the Gospel that the founder of the church in Galatia had established.

Q: Whats the danger in embracing some extra teaching?

Illustration: Pot Roast with the ends cut off.

Do we allow tradition or the recipe define how we prepare our meals?

If you place any secondary teaching above what the Bible instructs you have stepped into a very dangerous setting.

Sola Scriptura:

Sola Scriptura (Latin for "Scripture Alone") is a core Protestant doctrine stating the Bible is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice, meaning it's the highest standard for belief and conduct, above church tradition or human reason, though it doesn't claim the Bible contains all knowledge. It emerged from the Protestant Reformation as a rejection of Catholic claims that Scripture and Sacred Tradition (plus the Magisterium) hold equal authority, asserting that the Bible is sufficient for salvation and spiritual guidance.”

What does all of this mean to you today?

Traditions can begin to play into our worldview and shape opinions that are massively destructive.

If a doctrine is not completely sourced and sustained through and by Scripture it should be rejected.

2 Timothy 3:16 “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

Reformers like Luther and Calvin still valued church tradition, creeds, and councils as subordinate guides, but not as infallible sources equal to the Bible.

We love Catechisms: They are supported through Scripture.

Our guide is the Word. Paul is placed in this position and lets not forget that circumcision is addressed for example in Acts 15.

Paul is affirmed by the council of Apostles in his rejection of physical circumcision but instead…

Acts 15:11 “11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.””

Romans 3:24 “24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,”

1 Thessalonians 5:9 “9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

John 17:10 “10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.”

Paul had offered hope through Jesus, plain and simple, because this is what Jesus had commissioned him to do.

This insight invites believers to trust in the gospel's reliability, grounded in divine authority. Recognize that leaders appointed by God uphold this gospel truth despite external pressures and false teachings.

2. Promised Peace: Gift of Grace

Galatians 1:2–3 “2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”

What is grace? It is a term notoriously difficult to define. Grace essentially means ‘unmerited favour’, favour you do not deserve, favour you receive but to which you have no right or title in any shape or form, and of which you are entirely unworthy and undeserving. We may call it condescending love—love coming down. God’s Ultimate Purpose, 37

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)

Stop allowing the concept of a furious and wrathful God that does not love you if you are in Christ to confuse what you have been truly given.

If you know God’s grace and have experienced that forgiveness, then rest in it.

Illustration: Pressure to perform = Never Enough

But God’s grace… It creates PEACE.

Q: Do you have peace in your life?

Think about that… Where have you allowed something to creep in that distorts what God has said about who you are?

Encourage the congregation to embrace these assurances in Christ, remaining confident in their status as recipients of God's unconditional love and favor that resists equivalent exchanges or distortions.

3. Purpose of Christ: Liberating Sacrifice

Galatians 1:4 “4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,”

What has he done?

Do you see how Paul simply offers Jesus as the source of redemption.

The Great Exchange.

This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners; for by a wonderful exchange our sins are now not ours but Christ’s, and Christ’s righteousness is not Christ’s but ours.

Martin Luther (Founder of the German Reformation)

God saw it fit to provide the Son as the source of your salvation.

He has plucked you from death and delivers you directly into eternal life.

Devote yourself to Him.

Worship Him.

Read His Word.

Talk to Him.

Obey Him.

Love Him.

The world is fallen, but those in Christ are not.

John 15:19 “19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Application: You have just been told that if your sin was placed fully upon Christ by God’s will, and you have been clothed in Jesus’s righteousness.

Why do we continue to act like we are in poverty?

You recieved this gift freely, and so often we act like were trying to earn favor with God.

You can’t earn what you’ve already been given.

Illustration: Mom and Dad’s fridge.

4. Praising God: Eternal Glory

Galatians 1:5 “5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Paul's doxology, "to whom be glory forever and ever," underscoring the goal of the gospel—to glorify God eternally.

We have been made to glorify God.

Show love, share truth, radiate His Glory

The glory of God, and, as our only means to glorifying him, the salvation of souls, is the real business of life.

C. S. Lewis

Illustrate how the true gospel shifts focus from human efforts to divine praise.

Encourage the congregation to live out this truth, recognizing that their lives should continually reflect God's grace to others.

Reinforce that upholding the gospel's purity not only protects community faith but radiates God's light to the world, showing His glory through changed lives.

Conclusion: The Danger of a False Gospel

We work to glorify the God who saved us.

To be captured in a constant fear of his wrath and never assured of His love is a dismal circus with no hope. A false gospel is a house of cards that will topple at any time.

Do you know the Jesus of the Bible that meets you exactly where you are at, and took on your sin?

2 Corinthians 5:21 “21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”