Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered by False Doctrine.
Gal 3:1-5
1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
{2} This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
{3} Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
{4} Did you suffer so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain?
{5} Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
INTRODUCTION
What tool do you think the Devil uses as his number one tool. Let me state it another way. If you were the devil what tool would you use the most?
I believe false doctrine that under mine the Word of God is the Devils most valuable tool. If he can mess up your doctrine he will. If he can get you hooked with false doctrine he is very pleased.
The devil wants you to be:
1. Bewitched, . . by False Doctrine. v 1
2. Bothered, . . by False Doctrine.
3. Bewildered, . . by False Doctrine.
1. Bewitched, . . by False Doctrine. v 1
1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
A. Unwisely Bewitched. v 1 a
1 You foolish Galatians,. . ."
1. FOOLISH 453 anoetos (an-o’-ay-tos); from 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 3539;
3539 noeo (no-eh’-o) or noieo (noy-eh’-o); from 3563; to exercise the mind (observe),
Different word for foolish 3471 moraino (mo-rah’-ee-no);from 3474; to become insipid; simpleton:
3474 moros (mo-ros’) dull or stupid (as if shut up), i.e. heedless,
Matt 5:13 13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty {again}? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. (NAS)
2. Bewitched
"... who has bewitched you,. . . "
940 baskaino (bas-kah’-ee-no);
akin to 5335; to malign, i.e. (by extension) to fascinate (by false representations):
B. Inexcusably Bewitched. v 1 b
". . . before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? "
Gal 3:1 (living)
1 Oh, foolish Galatians! What magician has hypnotized you and cast an evil spell upon you? For you used to see the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death as clearly as though I had waved a placard before you with a picture on it of Christ dying on the cross. (TLB)
1. Before whose eyes.
4270 prographo (prog-raf’-o); rom 4253 and 1125; to write previously; figuratively, to announce,
4253 pro (pro); a primary preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to:
1125 grapho (graf’-o); a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:
ILLUSTRATION
The privatization of religion is going on at several different levels. As we already noted, religious identity is now a matter of individual choice rather than family or community loyalty, but even beyond that, individual, make- your-own religion is one of the choices. A famous example is Sheila, the California nurse interviewed by the authors of Habits of the Heart, who called her personal assortment of beliefs "Sheilaism."
"I believe in God. I’m not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. It’s Sheilaism, just my own little voice."
Sheila is remarkably typical. Most Americans say that they believe in God, but increasingly they "practice" religion by themselves, on their own. In addition, many of those who do go to church are what William McKinney calls independents, persons who think that the church they attend should not regulate the way they live.
-- Robert N. Bellah, et. al., Habits of the Heart (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985), p. 221.
APPLICATION
We must not allow ourselves to be Unwisely, or inexcusable Bewitched. v 1 a
2. Bothered, . . by False Doctrine.
{2} This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? {3} Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? {4} Did you suffer so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain?
A. Bothered with False Doctrine about . . Salvation. v 2
{2} This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
B. Bothered with False Doctrine about the . . Spirit. v 3
{3} Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
C. Bothered with False Doctrine about . . Suffering. v 4
{4} Did you suffer so many things in vain-- if indeed it was in vain?
Thayer’s 1500 eike-
1) inconsiderably, without purpose, without just cause
2) in vain, without success or effort
ILLUSTRATION Topic: False Religion Index: 2988-2998 Date: 12/1988.19
Theologian Emery Bancroft wrote, "Some years ago a Parliament of Religion was held in Chicago, in connection with the World’s Fair. At that Parliament the great ethnic faiths of the world were represented. One by one the leading men arose and spoke for Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, and Mohammedanism. Then Dr. Joseph Cook of Boston, who had been chosen to represent Christianity, arose to speak. "Here is Lady Macbeth’s hand," he said, "stained with the foul murder of Duncan. See her as she perambulates through the halls and corridors of her palatial home, stopping to cry, `Out (cursed) spot! Out I say! Will these hands ne’er be clean?’"
Then turning to those seated on the platform, he said, `Can any of you who are so anxious to propagate your religious systems offer any cleansing efficacy for the sin and guilt of Lady Macbeth’s crime?’ An oppressive silence was maintained by them all ... Only the blood of Christ can purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God."
APPLICATION
{2} This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
3. Bewildered, . . by False Doctrine.
{5} Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
A. False Doctrine Bewilders One Concerning the . . Provision of God. v 5 a
{5} Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you,. . ."
1. The . . Source of God’s Provisions.
a. Provides, is ministereth in the. KJV.
Provides or ministereth
2023 epichoregeo (ep-ee-khor-ayg-eh’-o); from 1909 and 5524; to furnish besides, i.e. fully supply,
1909 epi (ep-ee’); a primary preposition; i.e. over, upon, etc.;
5524 choregeo (khor-ayg-eh’-o); from a compound of 5525 and 71; (generally) to furnish:
2 Pet 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; KJV
B. False Doctrine Bewilders One Concerning the . . Pleasures of God. v 5 b
". . . do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?"
1. The Spirit and the Pleasures of God. (Heb. 11:6)
ILLUSTRATION
Today England is home for over one million Asian immigrants, of whom over 600,000 are Hindus. When we arrived in North Leicester as missionaries in 1973, fifty thousand became our neighbors: the families living beside us, our doctor, greengrocer, pharmacist, and best friends. Some surmise that if geographical isolation from India does not cause Indians to forsake Hinduism, western culture will. Instead, in the European religious climate of universalism, Hinduism thrives. Empty church buildings are converted into temples.
Carey Hall, the large Baptist church named after William Carey who left his pastorate in Leicester in 1783 to reach Hindus in Burma and India, now houses Leicester’s largest Hindu temple. Public school buildings are rented week nights to teach Indian languages and religions. -- By Neale & Barbara Goetsch
APPLICATION
We must not be Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered by False Doctrine.
The devil wants you to be:
1. Bewitched, . . by False Doctrine. v 1
2. Bothered, . . by False Doctrine.
3. Bewildered, . . by False Doctrine.
The Great Commission tells us to be aggressive and make Disciple of Every Nation.
For more sermons by James McCulle go to:
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