There Is Only One Gospel

I once had someone explain to me how their theology had come from a hollywood movie. There was no understanding of Jesus’ death burial and resurrection and no interest in those things.

I have sat with others who, when asked why God would let them into heaven, have looked to their church attendance, giving, or family history as reasons for their acceptance to God.

Other’s I have spoken to about the gospel of Jesus Christ have looked to their church attendance, giving, or family history

Maybe you have heard these phrases: “I’ve been a good person.” “Well, I’ve never killed anyone!” “I think that my good works will outweigh my bad.”

Many people are walking around with a fundamental misunderstanding about what the gospel is. They are clinging to false hope built on the lies and deceit of Satan.

There are 3 questions that lie before us today.

Brother’s and sisters

1 - What is the gospel?

2 - Have we believed it?

3 - Are we sharing it?

Conference: Centered On The Gospel.

This morning is our communion service.

Second session dealt with the false gospel taught by Roman Catholicism. The speaker, Mike Gendron, went into great detail on the errors taught in Roman Catholicism as well as the false gospel they teach.

Third session was about unity and its necessity in the church’s ability to preach the gospel.

The final session was on the need to know what the gospel is and what it is not as well as the necessity and urgency of declaring the gospel. It is not enough merely to define and defend the gospel, we must declare it!

This morning is our communion service. What we are going to do is take a little bit from each of these messages, throw it in a blender, and examine the result.

Here is what we are going to prove today:

The gospel of Jesus Christ must be defined, defended, and boldly declared.

This is necessary for three reasons.

Reason #1…

1. The Gospel Is Being Rejected v. 6

This verse tells us some very important things.

1 - Someone is teaching the Galatians a false gospel. - Be careful who you listen to.

2 - The Gospel is always under attack. - Be prepared for it.

3 - Clarity on the Gospel is vital. - When we know the truth, error is obvious.

4 - Loyalty to the Gospel must be unwavering. - This requires steadfastness, endurance, and determination.

The tone of this verse is interesting. Paul is marveling. He is amazed and astonished at their swift rejection of the true gospel!

Make no mistake, this is a rejection of the gospel! They are turning away from the true gospel to something different.

Rejection of the Gospel demands that it be defined.

What is the gospel?

Some might turn to for an answer (S).

Romans 1:16 NKJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

While this verse tells us what the gospel does it fails to tell us what the gospel is.

For a definition, we turn to .

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 NKJV

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

This is the gospel! It is simple. It is straightforward. It is powerful. It seems to easy. Right?

That’s how the Galatians felt. And so they added to the gospel. Paul clarifies that the gospel is salvation by grace through faith apart from the law. One particularly powerful statement is in 2:16.

Galatians 2:15–16 NKJV

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Galatians 2:16 NKJV

knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

When we consult Scripture, the gospel is easily defined. We are saved by grace through faith, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.

Galatians 2:15 NKJV

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

v. 6 Turning - Barnabas

First session, Dr. Charles Petitt, discussed Barnabas and the power that discipleship and encouragement has in the spreading of the gospel. We have mentioned this in our study of Acts. There would be no Paul without Barnabas! There would also be no 3rd synoptic gospel. The book of Mark would never have been written had Barnabas not invested in Mark.

People are turning from the true gospel. According to this verse, this is actually a turn away from Christ!

What is needed is discipleship! We need Barnabases to come along side and encourage the struggling saints.

We need to be involved in one another’s lives, answering doubts, concerns, and fears.

Part of this discipleship process is defining the true gospel.

Sing

“My Lord Was Emptied” (v. 1)

v. 7 Some who pervert - Catholics, hell, sanctification

In a time when the gospel is being rejected, we must be clear on what the gospel is. This becomes even more important under reason #2…

2. The Gospel Is Being Redefined v. 7

Paul is very clear here. The Galatians are being turned from the true gospel to something that isn’t the gospel at all! It is a perversion.

Beloved, There are perversions of the gospel that are alive and well today.

The perversion faced by the Galatian church is still around. There are those who teach that you must keep some form of law to be saved, to stay saved, or to prove you are saved.

tells us this (S).

1 John 5:13 NKJV

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

We can know that we have eternal life! But this is only true if we have believed in the true gospel.

v. 7 Some who pervert.

Second session with Mike Gendron. Man saved out of Catholicism. Saved b/c read his Bible. Encouraged not to read it. Session dealt with the false gospel taught by Roman Catholicism. Mike Gendron went into great detail on the errors taught in Roman Catholicism as well as the false gospel they teach.

This can be a stumbling block for some. We may know some Catholic people who seem like good people. They use the same terms we use and they sound like believers. However, if they don’t understand that it is the sacrifice of Christ alone that saves us, they are not saved! If they are relying on their own works at all they are not saved!

Quick rundown: Catholicism...

Denies the sufficiency of Christ - Pay for own sin through confession, penance, etc.

Exalts Mary above Christ - (S).

Ephesians 1:20–21 NKJV

which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Claims sacraments are necessary for salvation - this means Christ’s work wasn’t quite sufficient.

Teaches purgatory is necessary to finally deal with sin - The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!

Just scratching the surface. Right down the road from us we have a host of people gathered and they are being taught a false gospel! Do we care? Are we equipped to bring them the gospel?

“The Gospel is the only cure for man’s sin.” - Mike Gendron

I wish I could tell you that Catholicism is the only false teaching we have to face. But it isn’t. There are movements on the rise teaching that either there is no hell, or hell is not eternal. That is what our fourth session dealt with.

Fourth session, with Dr. Michael Vlach, dealt with the reality of hell and eternal conscious torment. The speaker explored false teaching in this area and challenged it with the Word of God.

This is one of those beliefs that is based solely on emotion. When considered Biblically, it rapidly falls apart. Let me just give you one example. (S).

Revelation 21:7–8 NKJV

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

With this belief, the bottom line is very simple. “There has to be a denial of Scripture.” - Dr. Michael Vlach

Defend the gospel.

They reinterpret verses, redefine words, and stand literal interpretation on its head.

The big picture issue with this belief is that it removes the necessity of the gospel! If hell is not real or is not eternal, Christ died for nothing! The logical conclusion of this is a redefinition of the gospel.

That takes us back to Roman Catholicism and the false gospel it teaches.

What is our response?

False teaching demands that we defend the gospel.

We already talked about our need to define it. Once it is defined, it must be defended.

Complete this phrase for me: The best defense… Is a good offense.

One of the best ways we can defend the gospel is to preach it with clarity and boldness! This requires that we also preach what we are saved from eternal separation from God in conscious torment! In a society that is uncomfortable with this reality, we dare not back away from it.

“My Lord Was Emptied” (v. 2)

The gospel is being rejected and redefined. We must define and defend it. As we do this we come to reason #3…

3. The Gospel Must Be Reclaimed v. 8

This verse makes very clear that there is only one gospel. There will be some who try to twist and distort it, but we cling to the good news of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

It doesn’t matter who the person who tries to change the gospel is. An apostle, an angel, anyone who preaches a different gospel is cursed.

“If you preach a false gospel, you are cursed.” - Mike Gendron

Third session with Dr. Richard Bargas was about unity and its necessity in the church’s ability to preach the gospel. We are not talking about a compromising unity that seeks togetherness above truth. There can be no true unity apart from truth.

Dr. Bargas used as his preaching text (S).

Philippians 4:1 NKJV

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

This verse gives us four unifying principles for the church to gather around.

1 - Unified In Adoption. 2 - Unified In Love. 3 - Unified In Eternal Life. 4 - Unified In Duty.

2 - Unified In Love.

2 - Unified In Love

3 - Unified In Eternal Life.

3 - Unified In Eternal Life

4 - Unified In Duty.

4 - Unified In Duty

These areas of unity equip us to preach the gospel. When we understand that we are brothers and sisters in Christ it knits our hearts together to be able to proclaim Him!

When we love as Christ has commanded us to love, we cannot be silent about what He has done.

Our joy and crown in heaven will be those who have led to Christ and those we have discipled.

We have a mission. We must stand firm until that mission is accomplished. Be unwavering in doctrine, and unwavering on the gospel.

Our ability to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ is tied to our unity as His body.

The final session with Dr. Les Lofquist was on the need to know what the gospel is and what it is not as well as the necessity and urgency of declaring the gospel. It is not enough merely to define and defend the gospel, we must declare it!

Only when we have defined, and defended the gospel, can we then proclaim it.

However, we dare not spend so much time defining and defending, that we never declare!

Turn to .

Romans 9:1–5 NKJV

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Did you catch what Paul said there? He was willing to be cut off from Christ so that others could be saved. Paul was willing to spend an eternity in hell if that meant that others wouldn’t have to! PAUSE

Are we that passionate for others to believe?

Jesus wept over the rejection of the Jews. When was the last time we wept over unbelievers?

Are we praying for people to be saved?

Dr. Lofquist asked this question: What do we do when people wont listen? He then gave a three-fold answer.

1 - We love them so much it hurts.

2 - We pray for them.

3 - We make plans to reach them.

What plans have we made to share the gospel and bring people to Christ?

Are we broken by the reality that hell is real and people go there?

Beloved, We have a mission. What are we doing with it?

“My Lord Was Emptied” (v. 3)

Turn with me to . This is a time for believers to remember the price that was paid. To be reminded of the penalty of sin. Taking part of communion does not save you. This is simply a way for us to be reminded of what Christ has done. If you know the Lord as savior this morning, please join us in bread and juice as we remember Jesus Christ. These are only symbols, they represent the body and blood of our Savior. Examination – verses 26-32

OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION

The Bread (His Body) vv. 23-24 #201 “Grace Greater Than Our Sin” (Chorus Only)

Grace grace God's grace Grace that will pardon and cleanse within Grace grace God's grace Grace that is greater than all our sin

The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 #210 “Jesus Paid It All” (Chorus Only)

The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 #339 “Since I Have Been Redeemed” (Chorus Only)

Jesus paid it all All to Him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow

Since I have been redeemed,

Conclusion

What is the gospel?

In a time where the gospel is rejected and redefined, this becomes a vital question.

If we are not in agreement, if there is not unity in the body of Christ about what the gospel is, there can be no declaration.

However, Defining the gospel is not enough. We must also defend it.

There are men claiming to be ministers of Jesus Christ who teach a false gospel. They tell you to have your best life now. Or to claim something in the name of Jesus and He has to do it! There are those who are more subtle. Who say that the gospel is about Christ, yes, but only after you do everything you can.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Him plus nothing! We are saved by grace through faith. His cry of “it is finished” from the Cross meant that it was truly finished! There is nothing more to be done.

As we define and defend the gospel, we must be careful to also declare it.

In the coming months we are going to work on some practical ways we here at Grace Church can begin reaching our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we leave this morning I want us to meditate on these desires.

May we have clarity on what the gospel is.

May we stand firm on the true gospel.

May we boldly declare the death burial and resurrection of Christ at every opportunity.

“Blessed Redeemer”

(vv. 1-3 then chorus)

Galatians 1:3–12 NKJV

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

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