No Other Gospel
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Open Bibles to Gal 1.
Next YG event: Youth Group ice skating at Mountainview Ice Arena
-Price: $15/kid (Price includes skates)
-Saturday, February 5th from 12:45 - 3pm
We are continuing our series through Paul’s epistle to the Galatians that we are calling “No Other Gospel”, and tonight’s sermon is also called “No Other Gospel” because tonight’s text gets right into the heart of this letter.
This is unusual for Paul to launch right into the subject of his letter. Normally after introducing himself as the writer, and then addressing the church that he is writing to, Paul typically goes into a prayer for the church. But here in Galatians, Paul skips past any prayer and goes right into the meat of the letter. The reason for this, is because Paul is writing from a place of frustration and righteous anger due to the severity of sin that is taking place among the church.
Let’s stand together for the reading of God’s Word.
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.
Let’s pray
Intro: The customer is always right
Intro: The customer is always right
There is a slogan that is quite pervasive in businesses that deal with customer service… “the customer is always right”
Last night I went out for dinner and ordered a burger form a rather vast menu… choices are nice, but the choices weren’t done just yet…
Which of the many burgers would you like
How would you like it cooked
What do you want on the side
Do you want ketchup ranch or any other sauce on the side
What do you want to drink
Order is complete.... oh wait! Hold the pickles
The customer is always right.
Starbucks is well known for this attitude. Most of them will have a sign posted that says “If for any reason you are dissatisfied with your food or beverage item, let us know and we’ll gladly remake it for you.”
I have gone into Starbucks and even made the wrong order by my own mistake, and they will still make me a new drink… because the customer is always right…
But is this motto actually true? Is the customer always right?
Well that’s not what the Bible teaches. In fact, the Bible shows us the complete opposite. The Bible shows us that our way of thinking, and our natural pleasures are all warped and wrong.
Yet we defy this all the same.
People, including those who have believed in the gospel, believe that there are multiple ways to heaven. They believe that they can choose their way to get to God, be it through good works, human spirituality, false gods, you name it…
People choose to define good and evil for themselves. They do so, because they want to live according to their own way.
Even in the church, we take this principle to the next level. The customer is always right… so if a person doesn’t like what the preacher said, they just get up, leave the church, and find a different one that preaches what they want to hear.
What so many want from the church, is not the truth… it isn’t the gospel… it isn’t the Word of God.... they just want things to go their way. And we are not immune to this temptation at our church.
But this isn’t just a problem for us today… this is a problem that the Galatians faced. Listen to how Paul addressed it
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.
Notice the salesman tactics happening among the Galatians. They are leaving the gospel that Christ gave them to follow a different gospel… there are men who are preaching a different gospel than the one that Paul preached to the Galatians.
Now don’t get me wrong, having different options is nice and all.
Painting my house
What I’m going to wear in the morning
What I’m going to eat tonight when I get home from YG
But we don’t get to have different options when it comes to the gospel… if we don’t like the gospel, we don’t get to go ahead and change it to our liking… if we don’t like the gospel, we need to repent and ask God to change our heart!
Now, the heart of this text - and this entire letter is in v 6
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—
While they are choosing a different gospel, Paul is making it very clear that there is no such thing as another gospel.
1. There is only one gospel.
1. There is only one gospel.
The Galatians are being deceived by others who call themselves Christians… they say they believe in Jesus… but they are adding to the gospel… they are distorting gospel into something that is not the gospel. We will learn more about what they are doing in weeks ahead, but I want us to be aware and wise about many other self pronounced Christians who say that they too are Christians when in fact the so called “gospel” that they preach is a false gospel all together.
Catholics, Mormons, 7th day Adventists and the like… they all call themselves Christians… they all would say that they believe in Jesus. But do not be deceived by them. They preach and believe different gospel which is no gospel at all!
But false gospels are not just found within organized religion… there are all kinds of philosophies that come will hallow promises. Philosophies like, you be you, love is love, materialism, minimalism and the things like these… There are so many of these kinds of mantras and philosophies as there are days in the year… but they all promise things like peace, joy, and satisfaction. But do not be deceived by their empty promises. but these only come through the gospel.
Satan is a deceiver, and he has twisted God’s Word from the very beginning there in the garden with Adam and Eve.
Some of us think theology is boring
Or that preaching the gospel is redundant
But it isn’t either of these things, for it is the good news of God’s grace for sinners… hardly a boring subject, and it’s needed for us every day lets we forget it and turn away to a different gospel. So let me repeat the gospel to you so you don’t forget it…
The reformers had five pilers of the reformation that helped them combat the false teaching in their day. They called them the five solas
Scripture alone - the is the final authority for all of life - and over all other authorities… the gospel is contained in the Scriptures. If someone preaches a gospel that contradicts the gospel in the Scriptures, then it is not the true gospel.
Grace alone - Salvation is completely undeserved… we can do nothing to deserve it. If you can earn salvation through any kind of work of your own, then it is not the true gospel.
Faith alone - salvation and grace isn’t for everyone, but only for those who have faith. If all mankind are given grace, though they have no faith, then it is no gospel.
Christ alone - Faith in what? In mankind? no In any god? no… in Santa… of course not… what kind of faith is saving faith? It is faith that is put in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. If Christ crucified is not the means of salvation, it is not the true gospel
To the glory of God alone - Salvation is 100% God’s work. So he get’s 100% of the glory. If any glory goes to you, or to any other man, then it is not the true gospel.
What do we make of those who preach a different gospel? Paul tells us quite plainly and he is blunt about it.
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.
Look at the strong language Paul’s uses…
Let him be accursed… that me to be cut off from Christ
It is the very opposite of blessing for those who are in Christ
And so that we would hear Paul carefully he repeats himself twice.
We ought to take our time here and not move too quickly past the severity of Paul’s warning.
2. Those who turn from the gospel are cut off from Christ.
2. Those who turn from the gospel are cut off from Christ.
Understand - what Paul is talking about here is that those who preaching a different gospel - they will be face the eternal wrath of God in hell, where there will be an eternal and never ending pain.
Hell is describes as the a fire furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matt 13.42)
If we don’t take theology seriously, then we are in danger of missing the true gospel, and missing out on it’s reward, and instead receiving eternal death.
So don’t get bored with the gospel… don’t forget it… but listen to it carefully… and remind yourself of it every day, every hour, and every moment of your life. If we forget the gospel, then we will stray from the gospel.
Listen to who all will be in danger of this punishment -
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.
If we - that’s the apostles themselves like Paul
If an apostle preaches a different gospel he will be cut off
Or an angel - the beings who are messengers of God
If these heavenly beings utter a different gospel, they will be cut off from Christ
If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you recieved, let him be accursed.
Pastors are included… so if I, preach a different gospel to you… I will be cut off from Christ
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
But the point I said isn’t just that those who preach a false gospel will be cut off… I said anyone who turns from the gospel will be cut off from Christ…
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—
We will learn more about the false gospel that they have turned to as we continue, but hear what Paul says about the Galatians towards the end of this letter
4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
If you think the gospel is boring… or redundant… be careful that you don’t wanter away from the gospel.
If you find a preacher to be interesting, engaging, funny, and the like, but he does not preach the true gospel… flee from him. For he is cut off from Christ.
Paul continues:
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.
All this talk about being accursed is gutsy of Paul… certainly he is going to make some enemies talking like that. But this is of no concern for Paul.
The customer might always be right at Starbucks. But Paul is not like barista who is seeking any man’s approval.
3. Those who seek the approval of man will turn from the gospel.
3. Those who seek the approval of man will turn from the gospel.
Trust me… the gospel is offensive.
Jesus was offensive when we lived… that’s why the Jews sought to put him to death… and Jesus Christ is still offensive even after his death and resurrection.
So if you want approval from man… you will never be able to boldly proclaim the gospel to those who are perishing.
But Jesus tells us
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Now just a note about being offensive… those who proclaim the gospel (be it from a pulpit, or with a neighbor) will be offensive. But being offensive is not the mark of being a Christian!
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
If you are offensive… or if a preacher is offensive in his speech, don’t assume that automatically makes him or you faithful. It a person is offensive even when they aren’t preaching the gospel, they might just be a jerk.
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
The gospel is the good news of God’s love that he has poured out into the world. The messenger of the gospel ought to exude the same love of God, even to those who hate the gospel.
So it isn’t being offensive that is the mark of faithfulness… being faithful means preaching the gospel even when it isn’t popular. Being faithful means that we are seeking the approval of God.
Jesus told us that we cannot serve two masters… for we will love one and hate the other.
We seek to please the Lord… and he is pleased with us because of the finished work of Christ on our behalf. Lets us not loose that Gospel, or we will lose our Lord’s approval.