The Gospel Series

INTRODUCTION

• Today marks the start of a new series on Galatians, where the core component of the gospel of God’s grace will shine brightly as we move our way through the six chapters of this letter. We will better understand the heart of the apostle Paul and the core of his message.

• As we prepare to dive into Paul’s Galatian letter, it’s helpful to have some background context.

• Paul was a church-planting missionary.

• After establishing a church, he would continue to teach them through correspondence.

• One such congregation was a body of believers in Galatia, in Asia Minor. Paul wrote this letter to them in approximately AD 51 (Timothy Keller, Galatians for You [Purcellville, VA: The Good Book Company, 2013], 10).

• After Paul established a church, “Judaizers”—Pharisees who believed in Jesus (Acts 15:1, 5)—would often follow Paul around and add to his teaching to confuse the new believers.

• The main theme of what they would add is that you had to follow the law to be saved.

• The necessity of circumcision was an example of following the law—and a key one, as it was the sign of the covenant in the Old Testament.

• Today we do not have Judaizers, but we have plenty of people and organizations that seek to pull people away from Biblical teaching.

› Big Idea of the Message: The message of the gospel is of the utmost importance.

• We will see that it is vital that we do not allow the Gospel to be changed; we are not to add or subtract from its content.

• We will also see that there is NO other Gospel, and any claims there is another Gospel or Testament are false claims!

• The reason this message is important is the fact that souls are in danger.

• Every Christian has a responsibility to know the Gospel, protect the integrity of the Gospel, and live and share it!

• If you have been a Christian for any time, there is no excuse for not knowing your Bible.

• Paul sets the tone for the letter in chapter 1.

• He may come across a bit strong here and later in the letter, but this is because he is passionate about the faith of his brothers and sisters and concerned about a misunderstanding of grace and salvation.

• As passionate as we are about sports, movies, books, and entertainment, we should be even more passionate about the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

• Let’s begin with Galatians 1:1-5!

Galatians 1:1–5 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)

2 and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia.

3 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,

5 to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.

SERMON

I. The foundation of the Gospel.

• Paul begins this letter to the Southern Galatia churches by going through his credentials.

• Jesus called Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts 26.

• Paul was not appointed by humans or human institutions but by Jesus Himself!

• An apostle was one who was sent on a mission; Paul was sent on his mission by the highest possible authority.

• Paul knew what he was talking about, and he should be listened to and respected.

• Paul opens with his greeting to the churches.

• He wishes them grace, which is God’s unmerited or undeserved favor and peace.

• In this context, grace is the unmerited favor of salvation God offers to all through Jesus!

• Salvation includes the forgiveness of sins to those who do not deserve it but rather deserve punishment.

• Salvation involves all that God has done to save people.

• Paul emphasizes the Father and Jesus because the Pharisees thought the Father was the only part of the Godhead.

• The Judaizers needed to be reminded of the distinction between the Father and Son.

• The peace Paul wishes upon us through Jesus is nothing less than one’s total well-being for all of time and eternity.

• There is a great deal at stake if we get the gospel wrong.

• Without the gospel, we have no peace and no salvation!

• In verse 1 of our Galatians passage, Paul once again unveils part of the foundation of the gospel! Not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead!

• In 1 Corinthians, Paul also lays out the foundation of the Gospel, the person, and the work of Jesus!