One True Gospel
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
What is freedom? Does freedom mean we can do whatever we want?
We have come to the season of freedom, this is the 4th of July a time when we celebrate freedom in our country. Freedom from oppression, freedom from tyranny and freedom of the people. We celebrate all those who have allowed us to be free and we celebrate God who has blessed us with that freedom, but...
What is freedom? Does freedom mean we can do whatever we want?
The Galatians where given freedom in the Gospel of Jesus, but a few came around trying to revert them to the old ways of the Law and so Paul wrote them a letter because there are many who do not want to let go of the past things and want others to join them in their oppression, that’s why Jesus says in:
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’ ”
Dollar bill example - what is this, how much is it worth, no its not.
Never trade off THE TRUTH for what seems like a good idea, that is exactly what the Galatians where doing and by doing so, where giving up there freedom. But just briefly before we get into the text I want to show you where we are talking about when we are talking about the Churches of Galatia (Show Slide)
The Gospel
The Gospel
Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—and all the brothers and sisters with me,
To the churches in Galatia:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
A. Of God Alone
1. Paul
a. Sent by Christ not by men
b. Taught by Christ not by men
2. Why the Bible is so important
a. It is the Word of God
b. By God alone
c. Inerrant - in the original form
i. When you get confused, ask
James and me in the mornings
B. Through Christ Jesus Alone by God Alone
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1. That’s it, that’s the Gospel
a. Not anymore complicated than that, so let me read it again!
b. Simple but never easy
c. Takes all you got, but didn’t cost you a dime
2. Most important words I will read to you today
a. Grace and peace only come from Gospel
b. Only God can take credit
Not a Gospel of Men
Not a Gospel of Men
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
A. The True Gospel
1. Moving away
a. Because what men say
b. They were telling them to be more Jewish
2. Distorted
a. Told they had to live a certain way
b. Told they had to be circumcised
c. Gospel was not simple like above
d. Flee from such teachings
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
i. come from within
ii. Say they are Christian but follow a different way, there is only One Way
B. Free Gospel
1. Free to us
a. Paid by Christ
b. There was a cost
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
2. Free from men
a. No one has authority over your salvation
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
b. That’s what Jesus did, He became our mediator
i. He became our righteousness
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
c. No one can say to me I am saved or not
i. Scripture can
ii. But men can’t take it away or distort it
iii. 1500-1600 see the reformation take place - Luther - Selling of forgiveness - Much like our own revolution
What today is all about, freedom from those who sought to take advantage of their Religious position over people
Gospel that Compels Change
Gospel that Compels Change
For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” And they praised God because of me.
A. Paul’s Change
1. Jesus showed Paul the true Gospel
a. Changed immediately
b. Did not come from the flesh, but Christ
2. Serious change
a. Not just a conviction
b. But a full repentance
Walking away from the old life, like leaving a bad friend, the one who made you do that awful things, always got you into trouble. We all had that person in our life. And sometimes we revisit, but we realize we cannot stay there, we are changed.
B. People’s Change
1. Accepted The Gospel
a. Accepted Paul
b. Saw the change and changed
2. Gospel has that power and authority
a. Get’s into the core of you
b. Changes you from the inside out
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
C. Our Change
1. Is as real as Paul’s
2. Full and permanent
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
a. No one can accuse you
b. Nothing can separate you
c. Nothing to worry about in the Only Gospel
d. Don’t let anyone fool you otherwise
Conclusion:
There is one true Gospel and that is Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. Anything else is a lie. So we must grasp hold of that Gospel, the only Gospel that saves. We must preach the only Gospel that saves and we must be changed by the only Gospel that saves. For Jesus said in John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Pray