Galatians 1

Introduction

This book deals with Paul defending the true Gospel...

This church that Paul was writing to were being told by outsiders that you have to be circumcised in order to be saved.

So, they are adding to their works.

This whole thing caused division within the church of Galatia.

Galatians is a great book filled with great lessons!

V.1-2

Paul, an Apostle

What’s an apostle?

Someone who has seen Jesus and is called by Him.

There are no more true apostles today..

What were the qualifications of an apostle?

The qualifications of this type of apostle were:

(1) to have been a witness of the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 9:1),

(2) to have been explicitly chosen by the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:15), and

(3) to have the ability to perform signs and wonders (Acts 2:43; 2 Corinthians 12:12). The responsibility of the twelve apostles, laying the foundation of the church, would also argue for their uniqueness. Two thousand years later, we are not still working on the foundation.

Here, we see Paul say not from men or by man.

People were trying to tell the Galatia church that Paul was made an apostle by men, not by God.

So, Paul is saying… JESUS is the one who called me… not the other apostles.. it was Jesus and God the Father...

All the brothers who are with me...

Paul was not alone in this…

V. 3-5

Grace and Peace are the typical Pauline greetings!

I love how he gives us part of the gospel message here!

Jesus gave himself for our sins! He rescued us from this evil age, He rescued us from sin and death! Why? It was God’s will!

He deserves all the glory forever!

That’s a problem with all these false religions that base salvation on works.

If you can save yourself by your works, then you get the glory.

If you can do anything for salvation.. You get the glory not God.

V.6-7

Paul is telling them how it is.. Very abrupt!

Paul was amazed that they turned from the TRUE gospel to a false teaching.

They turned from the Gospel of Grace, which is what we have… and turned to a false gospel that is made of works.

Galatia sounds like a lot of Millennials today...

They grow up in church, they know the Bible, but once they leave home they turn away from the true gospel and follow nonsense.

for example… Progressive Christianity..

They believe:

The Bible isn’t infallible

The Bible isn’t the word of God

The Bible isn’t a science book

The Bible isn’t an answer/rule book

The Bible isn’t self-interpreting

If you know the Word, then you know that these sayings are bogus and heretical.

This is a new “christianity” that is appearing around us… It’s not even christian, it’s a lie from the pit of hell. This is why we have to know the Word of God…

This is why your youth leaders and pastors are always telling you to spend time in the Word!

This is why we are always telling you to study! To pray!So that you don’t fall for garbage like this!

This is nonsense and blasphemy, and it will lead you straight to hell.

It makes you wonder how a “christian” can fall away from truth so fast… I’ll tell you how… They become a friend to the world. They want people to like them and don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings...In your age group, I see this so many times, and it’s frustrating...I’m going to offend some you right now...The relationships you choose to have are important...

​Proverbs 13:20 NKJVHe who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

​1 Corinthians 15:33 NKJVDo not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

When you are choosing to have a boyfriend/girlfriend of a different belief, you’re going against God’s word… and you have no reason to be dating. I see it so much… and it’s stupid.. Dating is supposed to be leading toward marriage, not just to play around and fall into sin.Your closest friends shouldn’t be unbelievers… because they will pull you away from God… When you’re with your unsaved friends, you’ll start to act like them, talk like them, and be like them… and they’ll lead you away from God.

​2 Corinthians 6:14 NKJVDo not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Your best friends should be those of the same faith… so that you can build each other up..Your boyfriend/girlfriend should be of the same faith… because dating is meant for leading into marriage.. It’s not a toy.If we continue to disobey God, we’re in sin… If we continue to fellowship with darkness, you will fall away from God and it would be entirely your own fault. Why did these churches fall into this garbage? Because they became a friend to the world.

V.8-9

You know how serious the gospel is?

It’s serious enough that Paul curses those who preach a different gospel, even if it’s an angel.

We need to understand that there is no other gospel…

The only true Gospel is found in the Bible..

As we read Galatians, we will see the Gospel.

True Gospel Review

Verses 3-5, we see the gospel!

The results of the gospel is grace and peace..

The gospel is grace and it gives grace and peace to those who receive it.

How do we receive this? By faith..

The gospel is the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

His death was to forgive us of our sins and to deliver us from evil..

His death also allows us to be free from sin!

Romans 6:22 NKJV

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

1 Peter 2:15–16 NKJV

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

His death allows us to choose whether we sin or not...

These false teachers thought that putting people under the Law would sanctify them.. but its not so.. It’s the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The other gospel these people are sharing is garbage… It’s basically saying that the death of Christ was not enough for salvation.

The death of Jesus isn’t enough to sanctify men, so they have to do their own works to be sanctified.

Guys… If we have to add anything to the cross, it’s false…

Every other religion relies on works..

We rely on the finished work of the cross!

Please… Be careful with what you listen too.. Whenever someone is teaching something, even me, look at scripture and make sure it lines up with scripture.

Whenever someone is teaching, and you have a little weird feeling, take notes of what they are saying, and research it for yourself! Be students of the word!!

V.10

These religious people would attack Paul because of what he teaches..

They think that he’s teaching the true gospel because he’s trying to please man.. but, that’s not the case.

If Paul wanted to please people, he would’ve stayed a pharisee and promote the law.

Instead, he is a servant of the living Christ.

For us today...

We can never change the true Gospel to please man..

We see this happening today.. People twist the word of God to fit their own agendas.. they teach a false gospel, and people blindly follow this nonsense.

You have to study the Word of God…

You have to develop your relationship with God...

You have to be watchful, because the enemy wants you to follow man and not God.

Conclusion

There is one true Gospel… and that is found in verses 3-5..

IF anyone or anything teaches a different Gospel, those people should be cursed! That is strong wording that Paul uses to show us that you don’t mess with the gospel.

Make sure that you study God’s word so that you don’t fall these false teachings that is being spread like a disease.

Lastly… Never teach/share to please people… You share God’s Word because you are a servant of God! Because we love God and want to glorify God!