Biblical Discernment for the Church

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Galatians 1:3–10 (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.

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.

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.

Opening Prayer

Recap

Last week we looked at the truths of the gospel.

We looked at the person of Christ.

We looked at the work of Christ.

We looked at the exclusivity of Christ.

But, one more truth of the gospel remains in vv.3-5...

And, it is critical to the gospel.

It is critical to our understanding the gospel.

It is critical in our safeguarding of the gospel message.

It is critical in our examination of our understanding of the gospel.

And, so what we see Paul do here in v.10 is lay out truths that are litmus tests that are empirical proof for God’s truth.

And v.10 is a transitional verse.

It looks back at vv.1-9...

And, it lays the groundwork for Galatians 1:11-2:14 and really the remainder of the epistle.

God’s Biblical Litmus Test of the Gospel

There is a foundational truth to these litmus tests.

A truth that seems to always go away in every other religious system...

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, 5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

That is the foundational truth to all our litmus tests this morning...

Who gets the glory? God does!

Not a piece of the glory.

All of the glory.

And, so we will let that truth lead us through these tests this morning.

The Jewish opponents had a false understanding of the Law & the Gospel.

Listen to what Paul says elsewhere about this kind of misunderstanding of the Law and the Gospel.

Romans 10:2–4 (ESV)

2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, [=perfection] and seeking to establish their own, [=imperfection & tipping the scales in your favor] they did not submit to God’s righteousness. [=they did not realize they needed an alien righteousness and cry out to God for mercy/forgiveness/imputed righteousness] 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

And, therein lies the normal fallen, religion of men:

We can fix it our self.

We’re good enough to fix it.

It all boils down to this:

We want God to need our help.

Because we want glory.

Does God agree with this wisdom of man?

Or is it foolishness to God?

God speaks to this in...

Isaiah 42:8 (ESV)

8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.

Who does God share glory with? No one.

God gets the glory. All the glory.

Galatians 1:3–5 (ESV)

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,4who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,5to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul says the glory for the gospel...

The glory for the salvation of men...

The glory for the redemption of the people of God...

Does not include glory for men accomplishing any part of it.

The glory is to/for God alone.

So, the litmus test for the Gospel of JC is who gets the glory?

Who gets glory for salvation?

Who gets glory for redemption?

Who gets the glory for the atoning of sins?

The true gospel of God always teaches that God gets the glory alone.

Paul gives us another litmus test here in this passage.

God’s Biblical Litmus Test of Our Conversion

Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

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, [contrast with] I would not be a servant of Christ.

Paul tells us how we can examine whether or not the truths of the gospel have actually internalized within our hearts.

How can our life be characterized?

What picture does our life paint?

A picture of a person that is seeking to glorify God?

Or a person that is seeking to fit into the system of mankind and hence please man?

Paul says in verse 10... If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Servant of Christ ≠cannot equal≠ Pleasing Man (system)

Pleasing man (system) ≠cannot equal≠ Being a servant of Christ

Now, hear me on this, please...

Being characterized by something...

This does not mean perfection.

It means the pursuit of, not perfection.

Are you characterized by? meaning it is evident that it is your pursuit.

The Bible explicitly teaches us that we are sinners...

Justification does not equal perfection or sanctification would not be necessary.

And, sanctification never ends until we are glorified.

So, perfection in this life is not an option.

But, the pursuit of obedience to God...should be our goal.

And, the imperfection of our pursuit of obedience to God should always lead us to confession and repentance.

And, a sorrowful, yet joyful reminder that it is Christ that our hope is in...

Not a works righteousness.

So, the litmus test of our conversion is who are we a servant of?

Who are we trying to please with our life?

This litmus test that Paul is pointing out is an “Empirical Proof” of conversion.

If the natural man (unbeliever) seeks to suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness...

And, they wholeheartedly exchange the glory of God for a creature...

Rather than the Creator...

Their heart can never be to please the One they’re seeking to suppress.

So, if you find your heart seeking to please God...

Rejoice because it is one of the empirical proofs that you are a servant of Christ.

God’s Biblical Litmus Test of Our Motives

Galatians 1:10 (ESV)

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.

What does a servant of Christ pursue?

What does a servant of Christ rejoice over?

As Christians, what motivates us in doing what we do?

I’m not phrasing it that way to let unbelievers off the hook.

Every single person who has ever lived is responsible to live their life for the glory of God.

But, I phrase the question as such...

Because as Christians we have been regenerated and the image of God has been renewed in us...

And, is being renewed day by day...

So, that we are enabled, by the HS living in us and a new heart for the Lord given to us...

To actually be motivated for the right reasons…the glory of God.

The Chief end of Man = to glorify God by fully enjoying Him forever.

So, as Christians, what motivates us in doing what we do?

What is the goal of what we do?

Is it the glory of God?

Are we even consciously seeking that goal?

Are we consciously seeking to correct our motives when that is not the goal?

Are we confessing incorrect motives to the Lord?

Are we asking God to grant repentance for our incorrect motives?

Do incorrect motives cause us to pull away from God?

Or do incorrect motives cause us to run to God, confess, and rejoice in the gospel?

I think Satan has the patent on pointing us to the Emergency Exit of God’s throne room when we sin against God...

And, we all too often take that route...

Rather than run to Him…knowing His arms are open...

And, that we will be joyfully & graciously recieved by God based on our union with Christ...

And, because we are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.

Now, before we dismiss, I want us to take these litmus tests...

And, the character that these litmus tests call us to bear...

And, ask this question of ourselves...

How Does this Affect Our Treatment of Others?

#1 – Wrong way, but often the most frequent way.

I call it: The Religious Elite mindset

Be mean to unbelievers because of their sinfulness.

A misunderstanding of your own sinfulness.

A misunderstanding of the character of God.

If God acted that way…No one would be saved.

The incarnation itself proves this is not the method of God.

#2 – Wrong way, but a slight adjustment of the previous way.

I call it: The Withdrawal mindset

They know that being mean to unbelievers is wrong.

They avoid being mean to unbelievers by avoiding them in any context other than passing them by.

Some are afraid they will be influenced in the wrong way.

Some are afraid they cannot defend truths against their arguments.

But, the bottom line is that since they do not approve of their lifestyle, they would rather avoid than evangelize.

The incarnation itself proves this is not the method of God.

Jesus’ interaction with sinners proves this is not the method of God.

#3 – Right way, but the most difficult way.

I call it: The Trust God/Love Your Neighbor/But be Cautious mindset

Love Sinners

Hate sin

Speak the gospel into their lives

Pray for change in them and you as you minister to them.

Invite them to Church.

Pray for patience towards them

As they most often reject the gospel numerous times and for long spans of time…maybe even forever.

Pray for God to work in them mightily.

Pray for God to work mightily in you.

Be concerned for the clarity & preservation of the gospel.

Be concerned that your election is sure.

Be concerned that your motive towards life is the glory of God.

Be concerned for your neighbor because there is no salvation if they do not hear the gospel.

Matthew 9:37–38 (ESV)

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

We are the laborers.

Closing Prayer