Don't Fall For That Series

Don’t Fall for That!!!

Galatians 1:6-10

May 6, 2007

Galatians 1:6 (HCSB)

I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ, and are turning to a different gospel-

The Lure of False Teaching

 The Judaizers

 Taught Christ plus….

 Circumcision

 Dietary laws

 The problem

 Implies that Jesus sacrifice was not enough

 False teaching today

 Teaches a salvation of works

 Good deeds

 Acts of Penance

 Sacrifice

 Implies that Jesus sacrifice is not enough

Galatians 1:7 (HCSB)

Not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the gospel of Christ.

Examples of Other Gospels

1 In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.

John 1:1, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

13 If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation.

Doctrine & Covenants 6:13, Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints

Even Christians Can Be Guilty

 Works based faith

 Giving

 Service

 Baptism

 Communion

 Jesus and…

 Anything that requires more than Jesus

 Salvation is a free gift of grace

 Ephesians 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB)

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift – not from works, so that no one can boast.

Galatians 1:8 (HCSB)

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him!

Adding To

 God’s Word is given in completeness

 There is nothing left to add

 There is nothing that is meant to be removed

 God’s warnings

 Deuteronomy 12:32

 Revelation 22:18

Deuteronomy 12:32 (HCSB)

Carefully obey all the commands I give you. Do not add to them or subtract from them.

Revelation 22:18 (HCSB)

And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book.

Galatians 1:9 (HCSB)

As we have said before, I now say again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

Testing the Spirit

 Consistency

 Verify the consistency with the rest of Scripture

 Acts 17:11

Acts 17:11 (HCSB)

The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Testing the Spirit

 Consistency

 Verify the consistency with the rest of Scripture

 Acts 17:11

 Testing the teaching

 Begins with the teacher

 1 John 4:1

1 John 4:1 (HCSB)

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Testing the Spirit

 Consistency

 Verify the consistency with the rest of Scripture

 Acts 17:11

 Testing the teaching

 Begins with the teacher

 1 John 4:1

 Commitment to the Body of Christ

 Lifestyle

 Fruit of the Spirit

 Fruit in their ministry

Galatians 1:10 (HCSB)

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

An Audience of One

 The teacher of truth

 Guided by God’s direction

 Does not base decisions on approval ratings or popularity

 Captive to the call

 Would give everything

 The false teacher

 Seeks earthly gain

 Seeks power and accolades

Are You Examining or Blindly Accepting?

**Powerpoint available on request