Gal. 1 - Defending the Gospel

Introduction

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Evangelical”?

Maybe it checks a box on how you identify your particular style of Christianity

Maybe it brings a sense of nostalgia of great Evangelical leaders like Billy Graham, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield or John Wesley

Some might remember a college English course where they learned about the Evangelical movement in history

and for some it might have a political connotation with terms like “The Evangelical Vote”

For many it may begin to hurt ears and taste bad as they speak of a rigid, stuffy, and in some cases even abusive brand of Churches that have been infamous in the news lately

this word carries so much loaded connotation for everyone

But what does the word actually mean? Evangelical has so many different definitions and reactions, should urge us to ask what is it supposed to mean?

Evangelical actually comes from a Greek word used in Scripture, pronounced “Euangellion” which meant Good News or as the Church says, “The Gospel

To Be an Evangelical is actually supposed to mean being “Gospel Centered”

As the Global Church we exist for the sake of the Gospel

“The Evangelical churches are those that have the gospel at the center of their proclamation and practice. The evangelical Church is a community created by the gospel, a church that promotes and preaches the gospel, that cultivates the gospel in its spirituality. Its members strive to live lives worthy of the gospel, and at its center is Jesus Christ, the Lord announced in the gospel”. - Michael Bird, Evangelical Theology

The Church exists because of and for the the sake of the Gospel.

But do we even truly know what that word means?

In High School, My students struggle to answer it. (Maybe “Good News” or “Jesus Loves You” but not much more)

Sad truth is many adults even struggle to truly know what it means. We know that it has something to do with Jesus dying for us, but what really is the good news?

PREACH THE GOSPEL

Seems clear cut?

So Why does these words keep getting confused?

Many try to redefine the gospel around their own selves, and their own interests, and their own agendas

Some seem truly well intended but at the heart of the matter they don’t see the Lordship and victory of Jesus as enough, so they edit the story

This problem is currently very pervasive but its nothing new

Beginning a series in Galatians

Important background

Paul was faces an enemy to his ministry. Scholars named them the “Judaizers” because they were changing the gospel to include a long list of rituals one had to do before accepting Jesus’ Victory.

Tonight we begin our study in the first chapter where Paul opens his Defense

We can learn from Paul’s Example how to defend the Gospel and stay true to the life-giving message that is only found in the victory and reign as Christ as Lord

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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, 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.

1. Defend the Gospel by Preaching the Gospel

Paul introduces himself and reminds the Galatians of his authority and calling

Greeting is important - “Grace”/“Peace” = Gentile and Jew

The first thing Paul does in the letter is preach the gospel (vv.1, 3-4)

In verse 1 he makes mention of the resurrection

In verse 3 he makes mention of the multi-ethnic Kingdom

In verse 4 he emphasizes the saving power of Christ’s death

In verse 5 He recognizes the eternal victory and glory of God

Notice what he doesn’t do

He doesn’t open with an attack on his opponents

He doesn’t even name them.

Actually, if you read the entire epistle of Galatians (which I encourage you to do this week as we begin to study it) he never even uses the word Judaizers.

Paul does not by naming and denying the theories that have gone too far or have faulty ground or anything like that

Paul defends the Gospel by preaching the Gospel

It reminds me of something I noticed from watching commercials a few years ago (APPLE vs. Samsung)

Paul doesn’t feel the need to compare specs. He rests in knowing that the Gospel is the Power of Salvation itself.

Where we as the Church get in trouble is when we are quick to panic and attack the lies around us rather than proclaiming the Truth of the Gospel

Sometimes we do more damage to ourselves when we want to make sure every one knows what we stand against.

What is our primary message? Christ and Christ alone

But in our fear to protect our ways of life and stand for what honestly is rightfully true we become known way more for what we’re against than what we’re for?

Ask a non-believer on the street what Christians believe.

Do you think they will say “they believe in a God who desires relationship with his creation so much that he gave his own self up in order to restore all things?”

Or do you think they will give us a list of things in the culture that we stand opposed to

At many things we rightfully oppose

If that’s all we are known for, it may be a rightful opposition, but we are not opposing rightly

And don’t get me wrong, there is a place for Apologetics. I teach it in a classroom. But that place is in the context of relational conversation and should be done from a heart of bringing someone a clearer picture of the gospel.

Here’s the point - the best defense for the Gospel is the Gospel itself.

Paul is better trained in Classical Philosophy, Hebrew Literature, and Christian Theology than anyone alive today or since and when he faces a false gospel his first step is to preach the true one

2. Defend the Gospel by Knowing the True Gospel

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

Paul first equates the gospel with Christ himself.

not a theory/opinion/idea

A Person

When people reject the story, they aren’t just rejecting the story or concept or way of seeing things, they are rejecting Jesus Himself

When people edit the story, they are minimizing the Lordship of Jesus - to add or lessen the gospel is to say Jesus is not enough

Not one possible, the one

The Gospel is not one possible explanation of reality that is up for debate

The Gospel is not a theory that is simply supported by evidence

NT Wright - “The Gospel is good news, not good advice.”

The Gospel of the Victory of Jesus is the story of reality, the Truth of God and The Power to save

Other worldviews, false gospels, or other theories are rejections of the gospel, not threats to the Gospel

There is no threat to the Gospel of Jesus, the Victory of Christ is real and inevitable

There is no rival Gospel because there is no rival to Christ

Although the Gospel has no true rival they do have a negative affect on the Church

Verse 7 explains The enemy uses distortions to disrupt and disturb the Church

When false gospels are preached it distorts the truth to those seeking Christ

Because they are distortions they are attractive and can genuinely appear like the true Gospel

False Gospels are attractive because they appeal to our pride or our desires,

almost always they elevate one virtue that stems from the Gospel and makes it the central focus over Christ

Much of the disillusionment with Christ in the world today isn’t due to difficulty with the Hope and Truth in the Gospel, but with distortions of the truth

False gospels can be a danger when they disrupt the Church and its goal

So often we get more caught up in fighting false gospels we neglect the true one

We just spent about 6 weeks looking at Ephesians which emphasizes the unity of the Church (as do most of Paul’s epistles)

The False Gospels ever since the first century have caused division and separation in the Church

We tend to get so concerned about who is in what camp and who supports or condemns what that we forget we’re on the same team and exist for the same purpose

English Standard Version Chapter 4

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

We Reject them and focus on the Truth

Paul says that the preachers of the false Gospels are to be “Accursed”

This is perhaps the strongest phrasing that Paul ever directs toward another

Accursed means to be cut off and left to destruction

Again he doesn’t name or label anything or specify anything, he urges us to let them be gone and focus on the truth

Another important note that it doesn’t matter where it comes from (see v. 8)

Paul mentions both his team or even hypothetically angels

Point is, the Gospel comes from no other authority than Christ

We love to look at scholars and preachers and theologians

But here comes a strong reminder, all of these sources are fallible

How many of us have put our faith in human leaders entirely and are distracted and disrupted when they go off course?

Brings me to the Final way that Paul Defends the Gospel which is pointing to Christ

3. Defend the Gospel by pointing to Christ

English Standard Version Chapter 1

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul Called by God

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers

Firstly, Paul boasts only in Christ

Paul points out to his accusers that this is not about him and his own success

Following the Gospel meant a radical and permanent life change in the life of Paul

In his mind, he could have gained way more wealth and influence from his old life as a Pharisee

He was set up in the ideal first Century situation

Roman Citizenship

Best Education at the time

On pace to be better than his mentors even were

Preaching Christ was not about him

Sadly, this is the source of many false gospels today

Many have realized that its possible to gain a platform by being a preacher

They have become more focused on their platform than the message

This causes them to distort the message for the sake of their platform

I Tim. 4:3-4

English Standard Version Chapter 4

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

This is one of the marks of a true Gospel - not self-exalting, but exalting Christ even in the face of suffering

Secondly, Paul shows that this Gospel was tested in the Scripture

English Standard Version Chapter 1

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

He again credits Christ with even calling Him to ministry

Quotes the prophet Jeremiah to acknowledge God’s sovereignty in his life

Sees his calling and ministry and even his development as a piece of Redemptive History

When he meets Jesus on the road to Damascus and experiences miracles he responds in a fascinating and important way

“I Did not consult with anyone”

Paul did not go back to his Jewish teachers and he didn’t go straight to the apostles

He went straight to the Scriptures

Not that there isn’t wisdom in counsel, but so often we flipped the order (Going to our social circles or social media then reading Scripture from there)

The first thing he did was study Scripture,

and not proof-texting his favorite stories

He spent 3 years in deep deep study of the Old Testament which already knew inside and out

How else would he know who even to go to? How else would he have even known what to ask or understand?

He’s going to be affirmed by community, but without careful study of the Scriptures how would he know if the affirmation meant anything.

Once Paul received the message, searched the Scriptures, then he was affirmed in Community

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Once he knew he was rooted in Scripture, he then found a community of followers who were observing what he knew to be true

The fact that he was supported by Cephas and James is key his authority as an apostle

When the young Churches heard of Paul, he didn’t become famous by his wisdom or his speaking style or his wealth or followers

His power was rooted in the life-change that was found in the Gospel. The power that people were drawn to was the power of God to change a life through the eternal victory of Christ

(Invite Band) So what does all of this mean for us?

Some questions I’d like to reflect on

What are you known for?

Are you known for what your against and what you don’t support? Or for the love, hope, and power that’s found only found in the victory of Christ?

Where is your focus and your energy?

Is your passion to fight what you disagree with and maybe are even afraid of actually distracting you from the truth and hope found in Christ?

Is your hope in a false gospel that is concerned with matters of temporary solutions or human action?

Where is your defense and hope found?

Are you relying on your reputation, your degree, your abilities, your wisdom, to prove yourself?

Are you finding your validation in your social circles before or after you find your support in the word of God?

Maybe this is the first time you have heard of the Gospel’s power of salvation

Wherever you’re at I pray that you find your hope in this truth:

PREACH THE GOSPEL