Galatians 1:1-12
Preached Wednesday Evening January 4, 2012
Introduction:
Tonight we launch a new year of preaching centered around the theme “So Much The More As Ye See The Day Approaching”. On Wednesday evenings we will study Paul’s Epistles that focus upon his heartfelt instructions to churches helping them to live successful Christian lives in the face of fierce opposition. As we draw closer and closer to the Day of The Lord, the heat of our battle will intensify. It is important that we get our heads and hearts right and be conformed to the truth of the Word of God. Correct belief will produce correct living.
Have you ever doubted your salvation? Have you ever struggled with understanding or explaining all of the ramifications of salvation by grace through faith? Have you ever felt like a spiritual failure, wondering why or if God has really saved you? Tonight we are going to launch a study into a very important Pauline Epistle.
The book of Galatians was a terse letter written to all the churches in the region of Galatia. The churches were founded on the true Gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone. Then some Judiazers came in and taught the people that if they did not follow certain rules, then the people would lose their salvation. The tactic was subtil, but they were actually preaching another Gospel.
I. Introduction
Galatians 1:1-5
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
A. Paul was an Apostle under the Authority of Jesus Christ.
B. Paul came to the churches in Galatia
1. A Celtic people – a Gaelic people
2. New to the Bible
3. Infected by Judiazers who corrupted the true Gospel
C. Paul came to these churches in the name of Christ
1. In His Grace
2. In His Peace
3. Remembering His death on the Cross.
4. Remembering that Jesus saved us from this present evil world.
5. Giving Him Glory forever
II. How quickly you forget!
A. You can quickly be removed from your foundation of grace.
Galatians 1:6
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense
B. Anything other than Grace Alone is perversion of the gospel!
Galatians 1:7
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
C. Those who preach another gospel trouble you.
1. Unbearable standard
James 2: 10
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
2. No security in faith.
Romans 8:15
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
D. No matter who preaches another gospel, let them be accursed!
Galatians 1:8-9
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
1. Your pastor
2. A vision someone claims to have seen.
3. Some famous TV or Radio preacher
? It is the Bible that is our standard, not human reputation or ability.
III. The original gospel is good enough!!
A. Every one is a sinner
Romans 3:10
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
B. Christ’s perfect righteousness is applied to all who believe.
Romans 3:21-25
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
C. Old Testament saints were saved by faith without works!
Romans 4:4-8
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
D. We must turn from our own efforts of religion.
Romans 10:3
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
E. God offers the free gift of salvation.
Romans 10:9-13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
IV. Do not tolerate any other gospel!
A. Someone who denies Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 12:3
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
B. One who corrupts worship by reverencing inanimate objects.
Deuteronomy 27:15
15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
Romans 14:14 (AV)
14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
C. One who changes God’s perfect and preserved Word.
Revelation 22:18-19
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
1. By tradition
2. By textual criticism.
D. One who claims the Blood does not matter.
Hebrews 9:22–24 (AV)
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
E. One who enslaves himself to the law by “Lordship Salvation”
1. For obtaining salvation
Galatians 3:10,13
10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
2. For maintaining salvation.
Galatians 3:3
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?