The Message - Galatians 1:1-9, 11-12; 3:1-9 - February 10, 2008

Sunday School Lesson – The Message – February 10, 2008

This is lesson two (2) in our series of study.

Our scripture is Galatians 1:1-9, 11-12; 3:1-9.

The Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Christians of Galatia because a group of Jewish Christians in Galatia called Judaizers had altered the gospel. These Judaizers thought that a Christian, particularly a Gentile, had to first become a Jew by observing the Jewish religious laws, customs and practices, such as circumcision, to be saved. After they became a Jew then they could become a Christian. Paul set them straight, that no one is to add anything to the requirements for a person to become a Christian. CHRIST in the person if what makes a person a Christian and not ceremonies or any kind of works. Paul is appalled that these Christians in Galatia strayed so quickly from the Christian foundation he had taught them.

Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians about 49 AD. This issue was, ultimately settled by the Jerusalem Council in 50 AD in favor of Paul’s position. CHRIST in you makes a person a Christian and full salvation. Salvation is by grace through JESUS CHRIST WHO gave HIS life to pay the penalty for sin and death for every human who accepts that fact.

Even today we have to be careful not to add traditions, customs and practices that have nothing to do with salvation for a believer to follow. The criterion for being a Christian is CHRIST in you.

Believers may have issues in their lives that need to be dealt with but the presence and power of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT can lead them to deal with them. Dealing with some issues may require professional help. Some issues may need to be brought under the authority of CHRIST and either be removed from our lives or brought under HIS control.

GOD does not want HIS children to have known sin in their lives. Sin is anything that GOD identifies as sin in HIS Word, not what man says is sin. Often we as humans try to define sin according to our dictates, traditions or notions. The Ten (10) Commandments are still a guide for all Christians. JESUS said HE came not to destroy the law but to fulfill the law. Matthew 5:17 “17 “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

To me the most powerful message is our personal testimony of how we received CHRIST as our SAVIOR.

One of the most powerful testimonies, I have heard over the years, was of a man who accepted CHRIST at about 9 years of age and grew up in the church. Many would say that sounds boring. He knew our LORD and when he presented his testimony, CHRIST showed through him to others. He is with our LORD now but many souls accepted CHRIST through his simple testimony.

It is vital that GOD provides the opportunity to witness to others. The worst and most uncomfortable situation is when we try to witness in our own strength. But when we are led, then the person’s heart has been prepared. We must keep in mind that it is GOD that leads a person to Himself. We get the notion that we do it and put notches on our spiritual guns. GOD uses us to say a word or to bear witness but HE gives the increase.

Some times we think we have blown a witness. I believe when we are led of the LORD, what is said, fits into HIS plan for that person’s life. It may not make sense to us but in the hands of GOD it is just what was needed. If we witness in our own strength then that is another story.

It is vital that once a person gives his or her heart to JESUS that he or she begins to develop a relationship with HIM and learn of HIM. This is where many of us drop the ball. We get them their fire insurance and they never get to know the joy and benefits of their salvation and walking with the living LORD each day. Even though we have been born-again, it does not make us bullet proof to the world, sin or the tricks of Satan. The flesh is with us 24/7 and it wants to always rule our flesh kingdom but GOD wants to rule our flesh kingdom. To allow GOD to rule our flesh is dying daily to self and that is a conscious decision by each believer.

This is why building and maintaining the relationship with our LORD is vital.

Paul reveals that born-again Christians can be misled. The Galatians had a thirst for adventure and exploring the exotic. The Galatians liked magic and some liked black magic. Many Christians also like the occult. The occult will capture you and enslave you before you know it.

“Oh, just in fun tell me your sign.” A nice well meaning but misled lady said to us while we were dining on a cruise. As each one seated around the dinner table gave their sign, she came to us. And my wife and I said, “Our sign is the “Cross.”” She was stunned and so were others at the table. She had never heard of sign of the cross. So we had an opportunity to tell her. She insisted, “Oh, this is just for fun.” It may have been fun to her but it was serious to us. We didn’t give her our zodiac sign or our birthday. We then learned that she was very heavy into this subject and even had a business card printed offering her services. Later, another Christian couple also seated at our table said they were uncomfortable giving her their sign because they are Christians. We were not trying to be a spectacle, just obedient.

CHRIST in us is a reality and the Bible tells us to stay away from, avoid and flee from anything to do with the occult. Horoscopes, tarot cards, séances, fortune tellers, etc. all deal with the occult and Christians must avoid.

As Christians our spiritual message is always CHRIST centered. CHRIST in us is the hope of glory. The message of salvation is simple.

This week a friend of mine and I went to a local restaurant for lunch. We got there about 11:30 AM. We ordered and the cook told us to go ahead and take a seat and he would bring our food to us. We stopped by the cashier to pay and chatted for a moment. Our conversation quickly turned to getting your legal things in order because you never know when you might die. Someone had told her about a book that was a guide to do that. She commented that one never knows when their life will end. She said, “In fact, I could be hit by a truck going home this afternoon and be killed.” I turned and asked her, “If that should happen do you know where you would go?” She said well. “If I am prayed up, then I would go to heaven.” I said being prayed up has nothing to do with it. It is a matter of whether or not you have CHRIST in you. I asked her if she had CHRIST in her and she said yes. I said, “It is CHRIST in you that gets you to heaven” or something close. In fact it all happened so quickly my head was spinning.

We went to our table and after several minutes she came over to our table with a chocolate, chocolate chip cookie with whip cream, YUM, in the shape of a smiley face. She said that conversation we had was so uplifting that she wanted to share something with us. That surprised us because it went so quickly and it did not seem so profound to us. But, what seems so ordinary to us is powerful in the hands of GOD. We both rejoiced because GOD had touched her life through those simple words.

Never under estimate what GOD can do with simple words, HE wants said.

A message of salvation is important but GOD also wants HIS children to deliver many messages for spiritual growth, spiritual maturity, functioning in the living body, building and maintaining a relationship with GOD through CHRIST, assurance of salvation, true worship, obedience, serving GOD and the list goes on and on. GOD has a plan for each believer. HE prepares HIS children to be obedient to HIM and serve HIM. This is why we must have the relationship with HIM. Let HIM teach, train, equip and direct us as HE desires.

Copied below is the Roman Road to salvation, which is a good tool to use to present the gospel of salvation to others.

Romans 3:23 - 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the[20] Or and lack the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 - 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 5:8 - 8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us!

Romans 10:8-10 - 8 On the contrary, what does it say? The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.[6] Dt 30:14 This is the message of faith that we proclaim: 9 if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.

CHRIST Centered Message.

Let’s read Galatians 1:1-9:

1 Paul, an apostle—not from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me: To the churches of Galatia.[1] A Roman province in what is now Turkey 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord[2] Other mss read God our Father and the 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 the glory forever and ever. • Amen.
Paul opens his letter with a gracious opening. He states that his authority comes from JESUS and GOD and not from men or man. He gives a brief statement of the statement of faith. Some people in Galatia were questioning his authority. At this writing, Paul had been a Christian for about fifteen (15) years.

No Other Gospel
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from Him who called you by the grace of Christ, [and are turning]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another [gospel]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. , but there are some who are troubling you and want to change the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel other than what we have preached to you, a curse be on him![3] Or you, let him be condemned, or you, let him be condemned to hell; Gk anathema 9 As we have said before, I now say again: if anyone preaches to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him![4] Or received, let him be condemned, or received, let him be condemned to hell; Gk anathema

Paul is shocked that the Christians of Galatia embraced an altered gospel so quickly. Young Christians are eager to learn about spiritual matters and can be vulnerable to distorted teachings. As Christians we must be very careful when we preach, teach or give a spiritual message to always present truth not something to tickle the ears of our audience. The gospel is simple but often we try to make it difficult.

Paul stresses twice that there is one (1) gospel, CHRIST in you. To add any thing to the message of salvation is to deny the power and completeness of CHRIST’S death on the cross for the salvation of all believers. If a people could earn their salvation then CHRIST died in vain. JESUS Himself made it clear in John14:6 that HE is the way, truth, the life and the way to the FATHER.

John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Paul stated that even if he or a supposedly angel changed the message from what he spoke the first time he preached to them, don’t believe it. Here the reference to an angel is a focus on the occult and the one behind the occult is Satan. Satan loves to confuse believers.

It is easy to spot a lie but a twist to the truth is usually very difficult to spot. This is where a believer must know the scriptures and rely on the HOLY SPIRIT to alert them to false teaching. GOD equips believers with a spiritual gift called discernment. Discernment sounds the alarms when false teaching is presented. That is why it is vital to maintain your relationship with GOD through CHRIST on a daily basis.

If a believer is considering becoming a part of a new fellowship, it is important that the believer find out what that fellowship believes about JESUS. If their belief differs in any way from what the Bible says, then do not go there.

Let’s read Galatians 1:11-12:

11 Now I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel preached by me is not based on a human point of view. [5] Lit not according to man 12 for I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

Paul stresses that the gospel he preached came straight from the living CHRIST Himself. Paul stresses that no Christian should deviate from what Paul has already preached to them. There is one gospel and he received the truth from CHRIST. Bible scholars are not sure when he received this special teaching from JESUS Himself but they think it was at a different time than his conversion experience on the road to Damascus.

Let’s read Galatians 3:1-9:

1 You foolish Galatians! Who has hypnotized you, [1] Other mss add not to obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed [2] Other mss add among you as crucified? 2 I only want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith? [3] Lit by law works or faith hearing or hearing the message 3 are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh? [4] By human effort 4 did you suffer so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing? 5 So then, does God[5] Lit He supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law or by hearing with faith?[6] Lit by law works or faith hearing or hearing the message 6 Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,[7] Gn 15:6 7 so understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons. 8 Now the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, all the nations will be blessed in you. [8] Gn 12:3; 18:18 9 so those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith. [9] Or with believing Abraham

Galatia was replete with magicians and black magic. The Galatians liked to explore various false teachers’ arguments. It was challenging. Many believers like to debate the scriptures, particularly young people. But if a believer is not well grounded in the Word and firm in their knowledge of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT, then debating can be confusing. I know in my college years, I was tripped up. It took me a long time to get back on track.

Paul wanted to know what charlatan or worker of magic hypnotized them into believing an altered gospel because he knew they received the truth. Paul wanted to hear from those who had been misled, personally. He knew they had received the truth because they had manifested evidence of receiving the HOLY SPIRIT. Once they had received the truth somehow they embraced an altered gospel. Paul wanted to understand what went wrong. How did they go from solid believers to embracing an altered gospel? Had he not explained the fundamentals well enough or some aspects of the gospel that resulted in them being led astray? Whatever the reason, he wanted to make sure that it would never happen again.

He asked them to think about what they had done. Does GOD work in your lives through your flesh or through faith? Do you ever achieve a relationship with GOD by works or through faith? The obvious answer is through faith.

Hebrews 11:6:

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

Paul is trying to get them to look at the activity of the flesh versus the activity of faith. He knew that they were familiar with the story of Abraham and how GOD looked upon his faith. They knew that faith linked them as descendants of Abraham. They were aware that GOD had accredited Abraham’s faith to him as righteousness. They knew that those who exercised faith were considered sons of Abraham. To be considered a son of Abraham was not reserved for the Jews alone but for anyone who has faith in GOD through CHRIST. To make this faith connection Paul quotes what GOD told Abraham, in verses 8b and 9 - All the nations will be blessed in you.[8] Gn 12:3; 18:18 9 So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.[9] Or with believing Abraham

Believers are believers because of faith in CHRIST. Therefore, all believers are sons and daughters of Abraham. All believers have the rights, privileges and promises that GOD made to Abraham and his offspring. Some time do a study of the promises GOD made to Abraham and his offspring. It will blow your minds.

Paul reminded the Galatia believers that they had gotten off course and they needed to get back to the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

The spiritual message is critical and the need for us to stick to the fundamentals of the Christian faith is critical. This is particularly true for young believers. They can be very vulnerable to a modified gospel.

Today many of us hear debates such as all one needs to do is follow any religion and you will be fine. How can a loving GOD send anyone to outer darkness or hell? Why should any one take a chance, when JESUS Himself told us:

John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you have never asked JESUS to forgive you of your sins and asked HIM to come into your heart, do so right now. Settle the matter now. Your right to heaven is based upon what CHRIST did for you on the cross. HE died where you should have died. HE died in your place but you have to acknowledge and accept that fact. If you make that decision, I would like to hear from you.