Galatians 1:6 – 10
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.
The Gospel is the only way of Salvation
Genesis – Revelation – by grace alone, through faith alone, through Christ alone
Every other path leads to Hell
We must be Bull-dogmatic about this!
Galatians is Paul’s most passionate letter. Fiery zeal
Paul can’t wait for a secretary to write, he wrote in his own hand.
The gospel has been compromised. Judiazers have come in the church. Salvation is no longer a gift but a reward for the righteous.
Paul is amazed, astonished, shocked – bewildered, marvel, blow my mind,
Shocked at the believers and that they have gone AWOL. They aren’t deserting Paul, they are deserting God Himself.
Quickly – Paul was just there – he had no more left town then they deserted the gospel.
Piper – “God is the Gospel”
They were desecrating the glory of God.
Salvation is based on the finished work of Christ on the cross.
God was being attacked.
Vs 6 amazed, shocked, stunned that the believers were so quickly deserting God who called them by the grace of Christ. God only calls sinners by the gospel the grace of Christ.
The Gospel – the grace of Christ
Different – heteros – different of another kind
They were trading Diamonds for dirt – truth for lie
Only one saving gospel
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
ECT – no difference between the gospel and Rome?
Larry King – compare MacArther’s response vs Joel Osteen’s
Trouble you – Disturbed,
Distort – pervert
Earn your way to God
Salvation is not Faith and …
1) Baptism
2) Good works
3) Speaking in tongues
4) Miracles
Paul’s anathemas
1) Even if we …
2) or an Angel from heaven
He is to be accursed (anathema – devoted to destruction – go to Hell) before he can take others with him.
Paul starts it all over again in vs 9.
As we have said before, so I say again!
If any man is preaching (on going) any other gospel let him be accursed.
Paul is so hot that this is the first part of the first chapter.
No “I thank God for you” no “I …. for you” just a public rebuke. Not the typical beginning of Paul’s letters.
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but are ravenous wolves.
Paul’s aim vs 10 am I seeking the favor of men or of God? Paul seeks affirmation from God and God alone.
“If you please God it doesn’t matter who you displease, but if you displease God it doesn’t matter who you please.”