GRACE TO GROW
There is Only One Gospel
Galatians 1:1-12
Jerry
A Collins
SCC
Is faith necessary for sanctification?
Does law play any part in our spiritual lives?
How can he gospel become
distorted?
In
every generation the gospel has been attacked. Today is no different. What is
the gospel? Basically it is spiritual ‘good news’. It is the news that Jesus
Christ died for our sins and then rose again from the dead. Believing this will
bring the gift of eternal life. This simple message is being challenged once
again. (1) One way is by scholars who are giving what is called ‘new
perspectives’ on Paul’s theology. Calling into question traditional
understanding—understanding that 2000 years of Bible teachers have
understood—and then redefining justification
before God as something other than or more than receiving Jesus’
righteousness—actually Paul’s message was one of racial reconciliation with
Jews who were trying to keep Gentiles out of the covenant community because
they did not practice Jewish customs. So repairing this misunderstanding would
bring salvation to Gentiles who followed thru with Jewish law-keeping and
entered into covt. (2) The gospel includes fixing the
world. The gospel means that you embrace redeeming the culture and world by
participating in social justice including poverty, aids in
1. OUR SALVATION & SANCTITY ORIGINATE IN CHRIST 1-5
Messengers authority
1-2 Here it is clear that Paul’s
authority originates from Christ. His mission was not given by any person. His
apostolic authority is from the resurrected Christ described as equal to God
the Father. It was not Jesus’ earthly ministry but His resurrection that is
basis of authority. We do not serve just a good man—a moral example who lived a good life. The authority we have to share the
gospel is based in a resurrected person. This is far superior to just a good
man who lived a good life. As matter of fact he has many witnesses to this vs 2 who support truth of
Paul’s ministry and message.
All originates in Christ 3-5 Grace and peace both find their source in Father
and Son. Notice again the link between Father and Son. They always do. These
are only found in relationship to Father and Son. We can enjoy peace with God
and with others because God has taken initiative in extending His grace to us
in Christ. Peace always follows grace. Possible because Jesus
gave Himself for our sins vs 4. (1)
His death was voluntary. He gave it—no one took it from Him. (2) His giving
satisfied God the Father’s righteous demands against sinners. (3) His giving
reconciled people to God. Now everyone is savable. (4) His giving made
necessary payment to deliver us from sins condemnation. The gospel always
includes the message of giving for our sins. (5) His giving delivers us out of
this present evil age. In other words, Jesus delivers us from power of present
world system by means of indwelling presence of the Spirit—our sanctification—as
much as it delivers us from eternal judgment. This deliverance accomplished the
will of God the Father who must receive glory for who he is vs
5. So here in the beginning we have the tone and message of Galatians
revealed—namely that Christ died for us in order that he might sanctify us. In
neither case it is by law but by Christ. The law cannot save anybody (Chp 1-3) and neither can it sanctify anybody (Chp 4-6). Law may get you out of chaos and into order but
it will not bring you to maturity. That is only a work of Christ by means of
the Spirit.
2. DISTORTING THIS GRACE GOSPEL
PROMISES GODS CURSE
Amazement 6-7 Astonishment at what was an inconceiveable
turn of events. Namely, that these Galatian believers
were deserting the gospel they had just heard and received from Paul. Because a
large part of the amazement was that it was happening
so quickly. Some false teachers had infiltrated this group of believers very
soon after Paul had been there. But the abandonment was not simply some system
of theology but from God Himself who had called them by grace of Christ vs 6. Our calling is our salvation. It is this calling we
are to live out in the Spirit Eph 4:1. We are to walk in a manner worthy of
this calling. To abandon this calling is to embrace a distorted gospel. Here it
is described as a different gospel—one that will insist on works of the law
instead of a walk in the Spirit. Fact is there is only one gospel vs 7 and attempts to undermine it by disturbing or throwing
people into confusion about it is really to distort the gospel altogether. The
good news that deliverance from sin and this present evil system is by grace
thru faith is replaced with the notion that while we may be saved by faith but we
must be sanctified by works of the law. Legalism.
Curse 8-10 The grace gospel message cannot be changed! First,
hypothetically, if he as a divinely called apostle or an angel, a heavenly
messenger were to alter the gospel grace message—which here would qualify as a
highly improbable situation—then let him be under God’s curse or judgment. In
other words let him be eternally condemned—anathema! Point being that
acknowledging Christ implies the law is annulled and abolished. Therefore if
the law was still in force as way of salvation or sanctification then age of
Christ not yet dawned and Jesus not Messiah and Paul not apostle. But this is
not possible! So, the reality is that if anyone says this
vs 9 ‘any man’ then let him be cursed by God since he
is a liar! God does not save by grace thru faith and then expect you to grow by
law thru works. The law is nullified both as way of salvation a way of
sanctification So no one can justly accuse Paul of
trying to win others approval—he just spoke harsh language that prevents that. If
so, he could not be Christ’s slave vs 10. Preaching
grace and preserving that message results from slavery to Christ not man. Good
focus for us!
(1)
We should think highly of our responsibility to teach and disciple others about
the grace needed to be saved and then to grow up vs
1.
(2)
This age will always be a ‘wicked one’ we need deliverance from vs 4. Tho saved we are not insulated from world’s influence but live in
Spirit.
(3)
When person forsakes God’s grace he abandons his only means of contact with God
for salvation as well as sanctification vs 6-7.
(4) God is very jealous of His grace vs
8-9. It defines who he is and what He especially has done for us. Don’t mess
with that.
(5) If trying to please men we exclude selves from
unreserved service to Christ vs 10.