Text: Galatians 1:6-24
This is the first of six lessons examining the gospel from the book of Galatians. There is just one gospel. It is the gospel of Christ.
The Announcement
- The gospel is from heaven (Galatians 1:11-17) – it did not originate with man (Galatians 1:11); Paul did not receive it from men (Galatians 1:12); a God-given message can only be replaced by another one (Jeremiah 31:31-34); it will not happen again (Jude 3)
- The gospel is a message of grace (Galatians 1:6) – grace was realized with Christ (John 1:17); brings a message of salvation (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11); we can escape the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) through the gospel (Romans 1:16)
- The gospel is open to anyone (Galatians 1:23-24) – next lesson will emphasize the fact that the gospel is for Jews and Gentiles (Galatians 2:9); Paul made the point here that it is for everyone regardless of their past; Paul zealously persecuted the church (Acts 9:1-2; Philippians 3:6); he was the chief of sinners, but could still be saved (1 Timothy 1:12-16)
The Instruction
- We must follow Christ through the gospel (Galatians 1:6-7) – to follow a different gospel is to desert Christ (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20); therefore, we must obey the gospel (Hebrews 5:9); remain steadfast, rather than being disturbed/troubled (Colossians 2:6-8)
- We must become a bond-servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10) – do all that He commanded (Matthew 28:20) as servants of righteousness (Romans 6:16-18); we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24)
- The preaching of faith (Galatians 1:23) – the gospel is made known through preaching (Romans 10:14); this is how faith is produced (Romans 10:17); leads to a life of faithful obedience (Romans 1:5; 16:26; James 2:26; 1:22)
The Warning
- Do not follow a different gospel (Galatians 1:6) – a different gospel is a perverted form of the true gospel; this makes it deceptive (Romans 16:18); to follow a different gospel causes one to depart from the grace of Christ [more on falling from grace in a future lesson (Galatians 5:4)]
- Do not teach a different message (Galatians 1:8-9) – preaching a different gospel causes one to be accursed (cf. 2 John 9); it does not matter who teaches the message, even an apostle or an angel (cf. Romans 3:4)
- Do not seek the favor of men (Galatians 1:10) – to seek the favor of men will necessarily lead one away from Christ (Galatians 2:11-14)
Conclusion
- The gospel is from Christ – of heavenly origin, not from man
- We must follow Christ through the gospel and teach it as it has been revealed
- Following/teaching a different message, even if it is similar, will cause us to be condemned
