Galatians 1v6-12 The true Gospel

Index No.                    0736TBFC

Date                            29 April 1995

Text                            Galatians 1

Title                            The true Gospel

1          Departing from the faith is departing from Christ v.6

There is an idea abroad today that faithfulness to the Gospel and to Christ are separate things. We can depart from the one while remaining true to the other. Paul does not see it so. Scripture in general sees such departure as adultery.

Hosea 4:15

"Though you commit adultery, O Israel,

        let not Judah become guilty.

    "Do not go to Gilgal;

        do not go up to Beth Aven.

        And do not swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives!' (NIV)

Jeremiah 9:2

Oh, that I had in the desert

        a lodging place for travellers,

    so that I might leave my people

        and go away from them;

    for they are all adulterers,

        a crowd of unfaithful people. (NIV)

Adherence to truth does not in itself make your walk with God right. That could after all be the observance of the Pharisee.

Departure from truth however will certainly break that walk.

John 15:14

You are my friends if you do what I command. (NIV)

So serious is the matter that Paul forsakes his invariable pattern of commending before coming to matters that need correction.

He does this even at Corinth where there are

            divisions in the Church

            immorality of a deeply offensive nature

            lawsuits between brothers

            drunkenness at the Lord's Table

            chaos in worship

            error in doctrine

Here however he launches in to a strong and unheralded attack.

The essential Gospel is at stake.

Grace is being supplanted by works.

Men are suggesting another way of salvation.

Today also :-

            Liberal reasons you out of your sense of need

            The ritualist substitutes the rights and ceremonies of man

            New Age offers you a pot-pouri of faiths and superstitions

2          Other Gospels are NO Gospel at all            v.7

Gospel means Good News.

The Gospel is

            Your conscience was right all along you are a sinner

            Your experience is true you cannot reform yourself

            God cares about the situation

            Christ has acted in response to your deep need

            He offers free salvation

Liberal Gospel is no Gospel (Gnostic of Paul's day)

            It replaces faith with doubt

            Takes away your Bible and gives you back your fallen mind

            Plays clever games to make God say what he has never said.

Ritualist Gospel is no Gospel (Judaiser of Paul's day)

            It tells you to rely on ceremonies

            Asks you to trust in men who are morally bankrupt

            Seeks to take you back to outward observance instead of heart religion

New Age Gospel is no Gospel (Roman religion of Paul's day)

            Seeks to place Jesus alongside others

            Says Christ is the best but others have much to offer

            Many roads to heaven

3          A right reaction to false Gospellers  v.8

Many are shocked by the violence of Paul in this passage.

He describes these Gospels as "perversions" they are twisting the true Gospel in an unnatural way.

Paul's "Anathema" - "eternally condemned" - "sent to hell"

This he says should be the end of all who preach false Gospels.

How far we have departed in these ecumenical days.

Lamentations 2:14

The visions of your prophets

        were false and worthless;

    they did not expose your sin

        to ward off your captivity.

    The oracles they gave you

        were false and misleading. (NIV)

The result of these false prophets was war, famine, and exile. False preachers lead men and women to hell.

Paul is not alone in his view.

2 Peter 2:1

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them ‑‑ bringing swift destruction on themselves. (NIV)

So Paul twice repeats his words - can he be clearer?

4          The true Gospel is revealed  v.12

God has spoken into the silence

Revealed in darkness

How? where?

Nature

Psalm 19:1    [For the director of music. A psalm of David.]

    The heavens declare the glory of God;

        the skies proclaim the work of his hands. (NIV)

Romans 1:19

since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. (NIV)

Conscience

Romans 2:15

since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) (NIV)

Scripture

Hebrews 1:1

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, (NIV)

Christ

Hebrews 1:2

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (NIV)

John 14:9

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (NIV)

Have you seen the light?

The existence and might of God in nature?

The moral truth in your heart?

The Gospel in the Word written and living?

What have you done with it?