Galatians - Week 2

(Texas stingray roller coaster video)

We are continuing our study of Galatians this morning, if you remember last week, we dove into Paul’s introduction and discussed a few key points: Paul’s authority and where it came from, Paul doesn’t need validation from other church leaders, the law can’t save you, only faith in Jesus can.

Galatians 1:6–10 “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.

Paul gets right to the point here, the churches are being led astray and from the looks of it, it didn’t take very long. They are trading the Gospel of grace through Jesus for a different gospel, a fake gospel.

What are some gospel distortions that are popular in our culture today?

It seems that our current culture accuses us of the opposite, in Paul’s day they said he was too lienent… our culture says we are far too strict or narrow minded. The idea that believing that there is only one way to heaven is down right oppressive if you listen to certain sources…

(Examples of distorted gospels)

The churches in Galatia were being fed lies about what it means to follow Jesus, and not only were they being fed lies… they were believing them!

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.

As we briefly discussed last week, Jewish Christians were trying to subvert Paul’s teaching and introduced aspects of the Jewish law and claimed that Gentile Christians needed to follow the Jewish law in addition to faith in Jesus if they wanted to be saved.

Some of these people may have been leaders in the church, based on Paul’s response. He says I don’t care who comes to you or what their credentials are, there is only one Gospel!

Paul takes it further and says that even if an angel were to appear to you and tell you there is more to receiving salvation than placing your trust in Jesus and His death, burial, and resurrection, then they are telling you a false gospel.

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.”

Paul has been accused of trying to win favor with people by making salvation easier and more presentable, he refutes that claim and makes it clear that he is only seeking the approval of God. If we break this down, if Paul were really concerned with making people happy he wouldn’t be preaching at all.

Look at Paul’s life before Jesus (insert his titles and trajectory)

Now look at his life after Jesus (on the run all the time, stoned, in-prisoned, beaten, mocked, etc.)

Which story arc would you choose? The successful up-in-comer with a future so bright he has to wear shades… or a preacher who makes tents to support himself and goes from city to city telling people things they don’t want to hear and eventually thrown in prison?

Being faithful to Jesus is going to be unpopular sometimes, it may cost you opportunities, and you may have to say no to a lot of things that seem fun. The truth is, a lot of things that seem fun will take you places you don’t want to be.

I don’t know who said it first, but there is quote that says “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.”

I think of that roller coaster video we started off with… isn’t it interesting that you experience the same sensation when you’re flying that you experience with you are falling… at least for a little while… there will be times in life where you are tempted to walk away and live in a way that is contrary to the gospel… and you may not crash and burn right away, but understand that anything gained at the expense of your relationship with Christ is not only meaningless it could be fatal.