Galatians Part 1 – "A Different Gospel” Series

Galatians Part 1 – “A Different Gospel”

Thesis: I am amazed at how quick you have become deceived and fallen prey to a deceptive teaching which undermines the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Illustration: Video clip from The Messenger – Joan of Arc from Videos That Teach 2

Page 108:

The Movie

France is embroiled in the The Hundred Years War with England, and young Jeanne d’Aragon (milla Jovovich) hears the voice of God telling her to lead the French army into battle and defend their land against the British. Jeanne is dubbed “Joan of Arc,” and she bravely guides her army in holy battle.

This Clip:

Start 1:49:14 “Who are you?”

Stop 1:50:25 Ends with Joan of Arc receiving several slaps to the face.

Joan is being held captive by the British when Satan (Dustin Hoffman) pays her a visit. When Joan asks Satan about his identity, he tries to confuse her by changing his appearance to resemble the young boy and later the young man she saw in her visions when God confirmed that he had chosen her for a special purpose. Once Joan rebukes Satan, he tries a new tactic where he mentally and spiritually tries to beat Joan down by questioning her ability to judge between good and evil and mocking her for thinking God needs her help. Despite her state of physical weakness, Joan holds on to what she knows is true and resists Satan’s lies.

Scripture Text: Galatians 1:1-24

1Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2and all the brothers with me,

To the churches in Galatia:

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

6I 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—7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But 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! 9As 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!

10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

13For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

18Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24And they praised God because of me.

Introduction:

Paul writes this book to deal with the Judaizers who were going around telling the Gentile Christians that they were not saved by grace but they were saved by works and they needed to circumcised and become like a Jew then they could become a Christian and be saved.

IVP BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY: TYPE OF LETTER

Although Galatians has apologetic elements (i.e., points where Paul seems to defend himself), Paul is not concentrating on the kind of *rhetoric used in law courts. Rather, Galatians is predominantly “deliberative rhetoric,” the kind of argumentation ancient speakers and writers used to persuade people to change their behavior. The argument itself is very rational, and the emotional language of the letter was standard rhetoric characteristic of stern letters (Galatians includes elements of ancient “letters of rebuke”).