Galatians 1
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 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. Paul spoke of ANOTHER GOSPEL, which was not another. That sounds like a mystery.
2. What he was talking about was a perverted Christianity – call it Christian but gut the essential elements of it.
3. The gospel is what saves us. Pervert or change the gospel and people will be lost even though they still call themselves Christian.
2 Corinthians 11
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
1. Satan can appear as an angel of light. It is his job to try to deceive even the elect.
2. There are ministers who can appear as even apostles and to be righteous.
3. The key is to compare their gospel with the gospel of Paul. The devil has a counterfeit gospel that he is peddling. It might look like the real thing, but it is not.
4. If you sold your car and received what you thought was real money. But when you took it to the bank they’d tell you that it was fake. They would give you nothing for it. But you would say you were led to believe it was real. The bank would say sorry – but you have been deceived.
5. The counterfeit gospel is also good for nothing. There are people believing that they are saved when they have been deceived by another gospel.
Galatians 1
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1. Paul CERTIFIED, he declared what he preached to be AUTHENTIC – real and unaltered.
2. There is artwork and collectibles that come certified that they are not imitations or a copies – but the real thing – 100%.
3. We need to verify that we have obeyed the real gospel of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1. The basic gospel is the DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION of Jesus.
2. The gospel must be applied to each of us personally if we are to be saved.
3. The problem is that the application of this gospel has been perverted and many have been deceived.
2 Corinthians 4
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
1. The devil shines his false light that blinds the eyes of people.
2. Let’s consider the gospel as it applies to us.
Romans 6
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
1. The first part of the gospel is the DEATH of Jesus Christ.
2. We too must die – but we do it through repentance.
Galatians 5
24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
1. You cannot be saved without repenting.
2 Corinthians 7
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
1. We are not talking about the sorrow the world has – I’m sorry because I got caught.
2. We are talking about real sorrow that makes you want to change. Repentance is about turning your life around.
Romans 6
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
1. Who died? Jesus died.
2. Who are we to be buried with? Jesus Christ.
Romans 6
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
1. We are baptized in the name of Jesus because we are buried with him.
2. Read through the Book of Acts and everytime someone was baptized it was in the name of Jesus and not in titles.
3. As we are buried, we also need to have the likeness of his resurrection.
Romans 8
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
1. The gospel calls for receiving the resurrection power – that is the Holy Ghost. Without the Spirit you will not go up.
John 3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
1. What does it mean to be born again?
2. Some say it means to accept Jesus as your personal savior and just simply believe.
Acts 16
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
1. I recently received an email “No pain, no sweat, no sit ups”. Easy way to lose the flab – just wear a special belt device. People are looking for an easy way to lose weight.
2. People are looking for an easy way to be saved with very little commitment.
James 2
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
1. The devil believes and he sure isn’t saved.
2. The devil actually does more than some professing Christians - because he trembles.
1 John 2
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1. You can say you believe in Jesus – but if you really are a Christian you will obey his commandments.
2. There are so many who have been deceived – they are following another gospel which is not another. It is Christian – but not authentic Christian.
2 Corinthians 11
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
1. How was Eve deceived? Satan twisted the Word of God and told her that it didn’t mean what it said.
2. Satan made her believe that God was keeping something good from her or that it doesn’t apply to her.
3. The word of God applies to everyone. Don’t be deceived and end up living a lie.
4. Notice they would come preaching another Jesus. The Jesus I know is not one-third of God. He is God. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt inside that human body.
Acts 16
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
1. Remember this is the man who was told to believe. Absolutely yes, people have to believe on Jesus – but that is the just the beginning.
2. The gospel was preached. The Word of the Lord was taught and part of the response was that all his family were baptized.
Acts 19
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
1. These people believed – but they had not yet received the Holy Ghost. There are many people who believe – but have not received the Holy Ghost because no one has told them the rest of the story.
2. You do not have the Holy Ghost by just believing – but there is a supernatural event that must take place.
Acts 19
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
1. They had to be born of the water. The gospel is to be buried with Christ. They were re-baptized in the name of Jesus.
2. Maybe you have been baptized before – but if it wasn’t in Jesus’ name – you need to be re-baptized.
3. How did the original, authentic church baptize?- it was in the name of Jesus.
4. The use of a Trinitarian baptismal formula reference books say was a later development. That was part of another gospel – which was not another.
Acts 19
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
1. There’s the Pentecostal experience happening. God filled them with the Holy Ghost. They were born of the Spirit.
2. The same experience happened as on the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 2
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
1. People saw and felt the power of the Holy Ghost.
2. They believed it was of God. Peter preached and they further believed.
Acts 2
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
1. What did Peter tell them? Repentance is crucifying the flesh. Water baptism is being buried with Jesus. Receiving the Holy Ghost is the resurrection power.
2. This is the authentic gospel that becomes us. This is what it means to be born of the water and of the Spirit.
3. What do you need to do? Obey the real gospel and not be deceived by a counterfeit.
