Galatians 1:1-9

Chad Myhre

Galatians • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Galatians 1:1–9

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SLIDE 2

Galatians 1:1–3 ESV

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,

SLIDE 3

Galatians 1:4–5 ESV

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.

SLIDE 4

Galatians 1:6–7 ESV

-7

Intro / Background

I am always taken back to the wise words of Solomon.. who said “there is nothing new under the sun.”

The Galatian believers aren’t doing anything new… this isn’t cutting edge. This isn’t revolutionary stuff…

They are doing the same thing that has been happening for ages…

It continues to happen..

It is repeated.. In and amongst the church…

In and amongst the church…

In every time period.. and in every culture..

The issues that Paul is addressing in this letter..

Are issues of great relevance. ++

They apply to our culture..

They apply to our time period..

They apply to this community..

They apply to this specific fellowship..

And.. they apply to each and every one of us.. ++

I’ll give you a little background about these people..

As Erin mentioned last week, it is believed.... that the Galatians were originally from Gaul..

That’s.. modern day France..

They migrated over to modern day Turkey.. and settled there.. ++

These are not a people with Jewish heritage..

They did not grow up.. with Jewish tradition..

They were.. Gentile.. through and through.. ++

And who was the “apostle to the Gentiles”?

Of course.. it was Paul..

..he brought the gospel to these people..

Many embraced it..

And thus.. the church was established amongst the Galatians… ++

Did Paul encourage these people to embrace any form of Jewish culture or tradition?

Absolutely not. He merely called them to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ..

.. to commit their lives to Him..

.. And to grow.. spiritually.. in the liberty and freedom that is found in grace. ++

Apparently.. Paul appointed leadership.. and moved on..

Shortly after the church was on its own..

Trouble began to creep in..

There were many who believed.. that Christianity, and it’s practice..

.. could not be separated from the vital elements of Jewish culture and Jewish tradition..

…the cultures and traditions of Judaism should be engrained in the basic practices of Christianity. ++

The Galatians were practicing a simple faith in Christ.. apart from these cultural and traditional elements..

Therefore.. this group.. these people we call the Judiasers..

Felt compelled to bring their own version of the gospel message.. to the Galatian church.. ++

In general… here’s what the Judiaser assault looked like:

One.. they sought to impose elements of Jewish culture upon a Gentile people..

Two.. they sought to discount the message of grace that they had received from Paul..

And replace that message.. w/one of “works”.. ++

Paul taught them.. that they were considered righteous and acceptable before God.. by grace.. and grace alone.. ++

What is grace?

It’s God’s unmerited favor..

We don’t deserve it.. but He gives it..

But this concept began to change..

God offered to man a pure, spiritual concept of truth… a truth that could only exist in Him… and man took that truth and did his own thing with it.

God’s truth needed to be tweaked a bit. So man took grace, and corrupted it.

No longer.. were they free.. and acceptable before God.. because of grace..

Now.. their freedom and acceptance.. depended upon their performance.. ++

Their performance in adhering to the law..

Their performance in adhering to tradition..

Ultimately: their performance.. in the area of works. ++

When Paul heard about this.. he was troubled..

Some people get upset.. when their agenda.. or their philosophy is not embraced by other people.. ++

They become the poster-children of philosophy and doctrine..

For some.. it’s more important to get people to believe their way.. or practice church their way.. or label themselves accordingly.. or embrace their doctrines..

… that’s more important..

.. than getting people to experience the joy of the Lord.. and the peace that only God can bring.. ++

Paul was not upset.. because they dropped his agenda and picked up somebody else’s agenda..

.. Paul was upset.. because they were beginning to embrace a mentality..

That was going to rob them.. of the “joy of the Lord”..

It was going to rob them… of the “peace that only God can give” ++

Paul was troubled for their sakes..

Not for his own.

The Judiasers.. they had two concerns.. that are still common amongst some groups today.. ++

One.. they wanted people on their team.

They wanted to see their cause embraced.. and by that.. have their own beliefs validated.. ++

Two.. they wanted to make the other missionaries.. (in this case, Paul).. look bad.. ++

Hey.. Paul brought the gospel to these people..

But he fell short. He didn’t bring them the whole truth..

This is an easy mentality for us to fall into..

Even amongst our own fellowship of churches..

What’s our motive? To get people to embrace JX and experience the peace that only He can bring..

Or.. do we want people to embrace our philosophy and style of ministry? ++

Our church has its own style. It has its own personality. Other churches have their own styles and their own personalities. Churches are made up of people… therefore, they are kind of like people… they take on a certain look… they have personalities. Some are more independent. Some are more prone to follow fads.

Oh.. it’s soooo cool to meet in a warehouse .. to dress any way we want.. and.. to have a rockin awesome band.. and.. we study the Bible verse by verse.

Sometimes… it’s the personality that stands out the most when we visit a church. The look… the feel… the style…

You really need to come give Calvary Chapel a try..

And, in a way… that can’t be helped.

But with our own unique styles, there should be a goal in place… that our style, does not overshadow the Word of God.

That our personality… does not speak louder, than the Gospel.

At the same time.. people are trying to win you to their philosophy.. and their style..

And they’re saying..

Ohh… we have the concert feel. It’s so cool. It’s dark, there is smoke, our band is tight… we hand out coffee cups and t-shirts.

Or… ohhh… we have the traditional, quiet atmosphere… we have solitude… we have an ancient liturgy… we have depth… -Don’t the candles just make you feel close to God?

Or… ohhhh… we have have the formal environment… or we have the casual environment… or we have the organs… or, we have the drums…

You ought to come and give our church a try.. ++

This was part of the problem amongst the Galatians.

The concern.. wasn’t primarily for the spiritual condition of the people..

Instead.. the concern.. was for the people.. to embrace..

The culture and the traditions of the Judaisers.. ++

Like the missionaries that used to go into 3rd world countries..

Teaching the natives to dress in suits.. blouses and long skirts.. ..

And sing..

Old English songs to the accompiament of an organ. ++

Why in the world are there churches in African villages that look and feel like churches in Alabama?

Why in the world are there churches in Paraguay… or Bolivia… that look and feel like churches in Kansas?

Fortunately.. we’re learning..

When Paul heard.. that the Galatians were embracing this new doctrine..

He didn’t punch the air and say, “Darn, lost another group of people to another doctrine.”

This wasn’t Paul’s perspective.. ++

Yes… He was troubled..

Because this new doctrine.. these new mentalities.. these new ideals..

…were hindering the spiritual condition of the people.. ++

They were robbing the people of liberty..

They were causing the people to see the gospel.. in a perverted manner. ++

SLIDE 5

Galatians 1:1–2 ESV

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:

Paul always introduced himself one of two possible ways..

Amongst some churches.. he introduced himself as a servant..

And, amongst other churches.. he introduced himself.. as an apostle.. ++

Amongst some churches..

Paul was recognized as an apostle..

His authority wasn’t in question..

His ministry and his message were not disputed..

He was: embraced, respected and honored..

They received His instruction… they were not in need of correction. They didn’t need a doctrinal over-haul.

Amongst this group of churches..

Paul called himself a servant…

He didn’t have to give credit to his message by emphasizing his title..

Now way.. his message was respected and embraced.. ++

But.. in some churches.. Paul’s qualifications were in question..

They disputed his words and his messages..

What was the basis for these disputes?

It was his calling.. – they said.. “He’s not really an apostle.”

For this reason.. Paul often had to emphasize his calling.. ++

This is who I am..

This is my testimony..

I am called and commissioned by JX to say and do what I say and do..

Obviously.. right off the bat.. we conclude..

that Paul’s authority has been in question.. amongst the Galatians.. ++

SLIDE 6

Galatians 1:3–5 ESV

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.

This was Paul’s normal greeting..

Grace and Peace..

But this time.. it bears an incredible significance..

Grace is going to be the theme of this letter..

Grace is what they have in Jesus..

Grace is what they are denying.. by following works..

Grace.. leads to true peace.. ++

Works.. can only create a temporary sense of peace..

A sense of peace that wavers upon the state of our conscience..

The state of our conscience.. in turn, wavers upon our personal sense of justice..

And our personal sense of justice.. is satisfied.. when we think we are performing the proper amount of works.. ++

So.. as long as we are doing our works and fulfilling our traditions..

We have a sense of peace..

Who gives this peace?

We do. We give it to ourselves. We are earning it.

That’s why some people give.. that’s why some people volunteer time.. that’s why some people do good things for others..

They appear to be selfless… but in reality, their serving is actually… selfish.. ++

They’re trying to feel good about themselves.. they are trying to earn.. a little peace through their works… But works do not create true peace. They only create temporary satisfaction. ++

True grace.. leads to true peace..

Why?

Because.. no matter what happens.. I always can fall on Jesus..

He has made me righteous.. it’s no work of mine.

He has made me acceptable before God.. ++

It’s no work of mine.

He is control..

It’s no work of mine..

Therefore.. I have peace.

Not because I earn it..

But, because it’s given freely… ++

SLIDE 7

Galatians 1:6–7 ESV

Galatians 1:6–9 ESV

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. 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.

Gal 1.

SLIDE 8

Galatians 1:8–9 ESV

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.

Paul didn’t waste any time. He got right into it.

Hi.. this is Paul.. I’m an apostle.. Grace and Peace! … What in the world were you thinking???? ++

Paul.. marveled..

he was.. confused.. amazed.. he just plain.. didn’t get it..

“Why in the world.. would you be giving up the freedom that is in grace…

… for the restriction that is in the law?”

I just don’t get that….

He also brought it to their attention..

that they weren’t walking away from Paul’s message.. or Paul’s agenda..

In actuality.. it was Christ whom they were walking away from.

By embracing.. a “different gospel”.. they were essentially.. turning away from Christ.. the One who had called them into grace. ++

Now.. we humans… don’t always see things clearly..

It’s not always easy for us to see things in a prioritized manner..

Instead.. we begin to look on the outside..

We look at the walls of our house..

And forget.. that there is a foundation.. holding them up… ++

We look at the shingles.. and forget that there are trusses holding up that roof..

We look at the carpet.. and forget.. that there a bunch of 2/12’s under there.. every 2 feet, holding the floor up.. ++

We take our eyes off of the issues of structural integrity..

And focus.. instead.. on the issues of appearance.. ++

This happens.. to our spiritual lives..

We take our eyes off of the issues of structural integrity..

What matters the most..

And begin to focus.. obsess.. and isolate our attention..

Upon the external issues.. ++

Grace.. is an issue of structural integrity..

Our doctrine falls apart w/o it.. ++

The gospel of Jesus.. does not exist.. w/o grace..

It is the mainframe upon which most other doctrinal and spiritual issues hang from..

When Paul moved on.. other teachers moved in..

And they made an appeal to the people..

One.. that appealed to their senses. ++

For by grace.. we claim our justification by faith.. not by feeling..

Well.. the Judaisers sold them.. a justification.. that could be claimed.. by feeling..

Do these works.. perform these rituals.. submit to these practices..

And then, you will feel justified.. ++

..you’ll be able to point at your work.. your ritual.. and say..

“Look, I did it. I put in my time.. I performed.. therefore.. I’m justified.”

As some do.. even now.. ++

“Look.. I went to church.. I now feel justified.”

“Look, I observed the feasts of the Old Testament.. Now I feel more justified than those who didn’t observe them.”

“Look, I addressed the names of God and Jesus in Hebrew, not in my own tongue like some heathen Neanderthal would. I am more justified than those pagans who call Yeshua Jesus.”

“Look, I don’t listen to any secular music. Look, I don’t eat pork or shrimp. Look, my clothes respect God more than yours do. Look, I donated some pretty expensive stuff… - and because of all these things that I do… these works, that I do, I have earned a sensation of… a feeling of… justification.”

Even as we teach on grace here.. in this fellowship..

It’s easy to fall, automatically into this mindset..

If I run into someone who hasn’t been in church for a while…

I rarely get to have a normal conversation with them.. ++

Instead.. they feel all guilty.. and they him and haw about why they haven’t been at church..

What’s behind that?

It’s a wrong perspective.. ++

Don’t apologize to me for not coming to church..

You’re not doing me a favor by being here..

“I went to church to support Pastor Chad.. I’m sure he felt good to see me there.” ++

Hey.. this isn’t a political rally

You come here for two reasons..

One.. You come here… for you.

To be equipped.. to learn.. to experience what God has for you through fellowship..

Secondly… and more importantly… you come here for God..

You’re not doing Him a favor.. but you are here as an obedient response.. to worship God. ++

There are a lot of people in town today.. who are in church..

Because.. they were motivated.. by guilt.

They’re doing their work.. so that they can feel good about themselves.. ++

They want to gain, that unstable.. and temporary form of peace..

Paul taught these people to be motivated by grace..

And the Judaisers taught them to be motivated by guilt. ++

What exactly motivated them?

Paul called it a “different gospel.. then he said: not that there is another one… ++

Essentially.. it’s not gospel.. “it’s not… good news”

Paul gave them good news…

Now.. they are embracing.. bad news.. - because there isn’t ‘good news’ apart from the true Gospel. ++

Vs. 7.. says.. that these people are troubling them.. and trying to distort… or as some translations say… pervert… the gospel..

that word “pervert”.. literally means.. “reverse” ++

Think about that. When you put your car in reverse… you are perverting the design. They don’t design aerodynamically in reverse. Some high end cars shift through the gears and drive just as fast backwards as they do forwards… - but those cars are rare. That’s not the norm.

A perverted gospel… is a gospel in reverse… it goes backwards..

The true gospel sets people free..

The different gospel, that is not the gospel..

Was putting people.. back into bondage.. ++

it had.. a reverse affect on the lives of people..

Before we received X.. we didn’t have peace..

.. we tried to attain it.. through different means..

We tried.. by getting more money.. buying things that we liked.. partaking in things that made us feel good.. pouring ourselves into work.. pouring ourselves into recreation.. whatever we could do.. to convince ourselves we were happy.. ++

But then we realized.. happiness is fleeting.. it is dependent upon circumstance.. but joy is something so much better… Joy is found.. when our sins are forgiven..

And we receive grace.. we are given a status.. that we do not deserve..

And we breath a sigh of relief..

Ahhhhhhh! I’m good with God.. – And now.. I have peace! ++

Before Christ.. we worked to attain happiness..

And sometimes.. even after we have embraced Christ..

The one who gives peace and justification freely..

We sometimes… begin to subscribe to that old mentality again.. ++

And we fall back into that pattern.

Of doing stuff.. in our unrelenting quest.. to achieve happiness. ++

We’ve taught on grace many times..

and we realize… that grace is not our excuse.. grace is our motivation..

A true recognition of grace..

Will motivate us to study and learn the Word..

..will encourage us to serve..

..will encourage us to worship..

..will encourage us to be givers..

Will encourage us to live lives that honor God.. ++

Why?

Because grace is amazing.. it’s astounding.. it’s incredible..

It’s a flood of goodness.. that keeps coming at us.. no matter what..

And when we realize.. how incredible that is..

We are motivated.. not w/a sense of obligation..

But rather.. w/a sense of “thanksgiving”.. ++

Some will replace grace with works.. to gain a false sense of what grace is intended to produce..

While others.. in obedience to God’s plan..

Will do works.. as a response to grace.. while experiencing the real.. true and satisfying effects of grace.. ++

As a pastor.. I can relate to the emotions that are being expressed by Paul..

it’s hard to see people walk away from Jesus..

It’s hard to see people walk away from a lifestyle of blessing..

It’s hard to see people embrace mentalities that weaken their lives spiritually.. and rob their joy..

It’s a continual mourning process.. ++

It’s sad.. to see people.. not participating in the many things that good fellowship provides.. as a benefit..

If you don’t have an outlet to serve…

You are missing out..

If you don’t allow yourself to worship..

You are missing out..

If you aren’t building relationships w/other Xtians..

You are missing out..

If you aren’t taking other opportunities to learn the Word..

You are missing out..

If you aren’t praying..

You are missing out..

If.. you’re finding justification.. in works..

You’re missing out.. ++

Many believers.. choose.. to just plain.. miss out. ++

And when they feel ill equipped for the trials.. when they face the difficult times.. when the darkness of this evil world surrounds them..

What are they going to do? ++

Folks.. bad things will happen to you.

This is a fallen.. violent and wicked world we live in..

Our bodies.. are corrupt.. imperfect.. and broken..

We exist, amongst a race of creatures..

That.. in many ways.. are unstable and easily manipulated..

Bad things.. will happen.. ++

And God know.. each and every one of those bad things..

He knows.. the trial and the hardship that is on your horizon..

And He wants to equip you..

To go through it..

He wants to equip you..

To not only.. go through it.. but to grow through it.. ++

So He showers upon your life.. an incredible smorgasborg of spiritual nourishment..

And what do we do?

We pass it up.. ++

Come by the table now and then for a little nibble a couple Sundays a month..

And then.. when the trial hits..

We are crushed. ++

Paul looked upon a group of people..

that were going to be crushed..

They had abandoned grace..

For a religious practice.. of works.. of tradition.. and of ritual..

A false sense of “earned peace”..

Was traded.. in exchange for the real deal. ++

SLIDE 8

Galatians 1:8–9 ESV

Paul attempts to pull the mask off of these Judaisers..

They might seem.. well meaning..

They might be impressive..

They might be smiling.. friendly.. and full of good works..

But.. their gospel is “false”.. ++

Paul uses really strong words..

Let those.. who preach a false doctrine..

Be accursed..

Real word there.. is anathema..

Literally: “dedicated to destruction” ++

The H.S. inspired strong words concerning those who would lead people away from His truth..

Apparently.. sound doctrine.. is a very important issue to God.. ++

Why?

Obviously.. God wants us to experience every blessing He has..

To keep things flowing.. in harmony.. w/His plan..

We need to understand.. and live according to His purpose..

The Galatians had been lead out of this harmony..

Now.. these guys.. might have been real impressive..

But such is not.. the fruit of a good ministry. ++

Isaiah warned those who wanted to go after something more exciting and sensational… of those who sought words from the dead, rather than from the Living God. ++

SLIDE 9

(NKJV)

Isaiah 8:19–20 ESV

19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.

19 And when they say to you, t“Seek those who are mediums and wizards, uwho whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they vseek the dead on behalf of the living? 20 wTo the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because xthere 6is no light in them.

Paul warned Timothy to pay close attention to himself, and to his teaching… - because it not only affected him, but also those whom he taught. ++

SLIDE 10

(NKJV)

1 Timothy 4:16 ESV

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

In 1 John… we receive the challenge… to put everything to the test…

SLIDE 11

(NKJV)

1 John 4:1–3 ESV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but atest the spirits, whether they are of God; because bmany false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: cEvery spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess 1that Jesus 2Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

SLIDE 12

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than dhe who is in the world. 5 eThey are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and fthe world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. gBy this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 4:4–6 ESV

4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 JN 4.

The ultimate test.. is always the Word..

Not popularity.. not miracles..

Jesus warned on this in

(NKJV)

Matthew 24:11 ESV

11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

11 Then lmany false prophets will rise up and mdeceive many. [1]

(NKJV)

Matthew 24:23–24 ESV

23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

23 x“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For yfalse christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, zif possible, even the elect. [2]

Conclusion…

The Galatian church.. was impressed.. w/those who came in after Paul.. - It was a very similar problem to that in 2 Corinthians.

They discredited Paul.. to credit themselves..

They discredited the message of Paul..

To credit their own message.. ++

They were probably.. a very loving.. impressive.. and admirable group of people..

But all the same.. their doctrine.. was wrong.

And ultimately.. it was going to lead them.. into a place of bondage.. ++

If we really want freedom..

Then we need to desire.. sound doctrine from the Word.. ++

Sound doctrine is like good medicine.. good exercise.. good health.. - Sound doctrine is based on the principles of grace… not the principles of works.

For you will see.. in that study.. how so much in our lives.. will be determined.. by our doctrinal views.. and practices..

It’s like good medicine.. good exercise.. good health..

A capsule can contain something that can help you..

But also.. look the same.. as something that can harm you… ++

A slight divergence of good exercise..

Can cripple you.. ++

It’s the same.. spiritually..

God wants us to be blessed..

To be recipients of grace.. whose lives are filled w/joy..

May that be our desire.. and our discipline..

Invitation!

w ; ;

x ;

6 Or they have no dawn

c []; ;

1 NU omits that

2 NU omits Christ has come in the flesh

d ;

f ;

g []

l ; ; ;

m []

[1] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Thomas Nelson: Nashville

x ;

y ; ; [];

z [; ; ]

[2] The New King James Version. 1996, c1982. Thomas Nelson: Nashville ++ ++

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