The Gospel - Galatians Chapter One

New series - 6 weeks - Study through the letter to the Galatians.

I. Historical Background of Galatians

This letter was to be circulated to all the churches to read.

A. Galatians had been Gentile pagans

Ga 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

Paul founded the churches in Galatia
-   He knew them, knew their names
-   Eaten with them - remembered their faces
-  This was a part of his family
-  Now he feared for them

B. Jewish Christians were bringing false teachings to the Galatians 

1. You must obey the Law of Moses
2. You must be circumcised
3. You must observe special days, months, seasons , and years for salvation
3. And believe in Jesus

 

II. Paul Wrote this Letter to Rescue Them

Paul's Greeting:

Ga 1:1 Paul, an apostle-- sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--  2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia:  3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,  4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,  5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul's main point

Ga 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.  8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!  9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Galatians were:
- deserting the one who called you
-  turning to a different gospel

Judaizers were:
- throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 
- let him be eternally condemned!

They taught that circumcision was necessary for salvation:

Ga 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let ourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all.  3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.  4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

The Judaizers reason for having a foot in both camps was compromise out of fear

Ga 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

Compromise the truth to avoid conflict (let's try to please everyone)
We must always be on guard against unity over truth.

III. Greatest Threat To 1st Century Christianity

A. Was not persecution - that caused growth & Strength.

B.  It was not idolatry -

C. It was, Gnosticism and the false teachers of  the Judaizers  (Different Gospel Within)

-  They believed in Jesus
-  They had a gospel (Good News)
-   Called themselves Christians

BUT THEIR GOSPEL WAS A DIFFERENT GOSPEL.

- Circumcision plus Jesus
- Keeping of the Law plus Jesus

IV. Today The Danger Is the Same - A DIFFERENT GOSPEL

Gospel =  Good News

A. TV Gospel Buffet

1. God loves you Gospel
     -  Realize that you're pretty great
     -  By accepting that God loves you everything gets better.
     -  You're problem is a low self esteem

- Believing God loves you does not save you.

 

2. God wants you rich Gospel
- If your rich the world will be jealous and will come to God.
- God is rich, you're his kid so you should be rich too

- God desires to provide our needs - but does not want to fuel a desire for things and attachment to this world.

3. We're all going to Heaven Gospel
     -   We are all children of God Gospel
     -    Universalism - there in a better place now
     -   At least they're not suffering now

4.  The Unity Gospel
- Top goal is peace and unity
- All religions blend together
- All religions lead to God
- Many celebrities preach this Gospel

V. Paul's Gospel 

Gnostic gospel: Seek God's knowledge and you will achieve salvation

Judaizer Gospel: Circumcision + Law + Jesus

Real Gospel
• God Made Mankind
• Man Disobeyed God and Fell Into Sin.
• Therefore, all of mankind is under the curse of sin and has earned God’s just judgment of eternal condemnation and punishment.
• God gave us his law to show us just how sinful we are and to show us our need for a savior.
• But, God so loved the world that He sent his son, Jesus, God in human flesh, to meet the righteous requirements for us and suffer our punishment for us, die on the cross for all of our sins, and therefore satisfy God’s justice.
• Salvation is now offered as a free gift to sinners by faith to those who admit their guilt & place faith in Christ.

Conclusion:
- More pressure to conform to false gospels is coming.
- Christians will one day be seen as the number one problem standing in the way of love and unity.
- Today in America being a Christian is easy
-  Count the cost - settle it now in your heart
- Both feet in Christianity

Lu 21:11 There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.  12 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.  13 This will result in your being witnesses to them.  14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.  15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.