June 28, 2020
Morning Service

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In the closing message of our series on love, faith and hope, we used this scripture to show that we are unified together in following Jesus and living the Christian life.

Eph. 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; (6) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

            Though many of our Christian brothers in other fellowships seem determined to divide us, in reality we all as members of the one church are united on all of these fronts.    The one body Paul speaks of here is explained in Col. 1:24 as “His body, which is the church.”  We need to focus in more on the things that unite us rather than the things that divide us.  We are always to remember that we all are members of the one body (church), are taught by the one Spirit, share the same one hope, were saved by the one Lord, follow the one faith, began our walk in the one baptism and serve the One True God.  It is unity that we should be teaching, not division.

            In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he addresses another teaching that can cause division.  The church in Galatia had been launched based upon the one gospel of faith, but they had taken a new course teaching a gospel of works.  In our study on faith, we discussed this in length that it was not the “what” (works) that Abraham did that pleased God, but it was the “why” (faith).

 

Rom 4:1-5 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  (2)  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.  (3)  For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS."  (4)  Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.  (5)  But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

            It is very clear here that it was Abraham’s faith (believing and acting upon it) that accounted righteousness to him, not his works.  If justification was works based, then God would owe us and His grace would not be needed.  We know that it is through His grace (unmerited favor) that we are saved; a gift of God.

 

Eph. 2:8-9   For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.

            This sets the base for the letter Paul writes to the Galatian church.  He stresses to them that there is also one gospel message, a message of faith, that needs to be taught.  With that said, let’s begin.

Gal 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), (2) and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

            Paul here asserts his calling as an apostle was not made by man’s ordination, but he was called into service by Jesus on the road to Damascus.  His calling was divine and very unique as he was the biggest enemy of the church and God chose him to be one of the pillars of the faith.  This is another example of God taking something very ugly and making it beautiful!  You can read the whole story in Acts 9.  He now sets the foundation for his argument of the one gospel message.

Gal 1:3-5 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, (4) who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (5) to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

            Our faith is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ as the very Son of God who “gave Himself for our sins.”  We must believe that He was born of a virgin, lived a life without sin, died upon the cross and was resurrected from the grave.  He is our “hope of salvation” and “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).  The one true church is united in this teaching and it is not negotiable; it must be taught.  “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) With that point established, Paul continues:

Gal 1:6-10 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, (7) which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  (9)  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.  (10)  For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

            Paul is quite blunt and straight forward in showing that the one true gospel message of faith is not to be changed or adapted for any reason.  It, like Jesus, remains the same “yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Twisting or perverting the truth is more difficult to spot than an outright lie.  Certain Jewish believers, who were called Judaizers, could not let go of the legalism of the Law.  By teaching that new Christians had to also follow the Law implied that the work of Christ was not enough; we had a part to play in our salvation to “earn” it.  There are works that will follow our accepting Jesus as our personal Savoir, but they come “because of salvation” not in order to receive it.  There will be a change in our lives once we have met Jesus but it is not one of bondage or legalism; it is a matter of the heart.  “If you love Me, keep my commandments” said Jesus in John 14:15.  We follow Jesus because we “want” to, not because we “have” to.  We follow Him because we love Him and want to please Him.

            These short and to the point scriptures paint a very clear picture for us.  There is one gospel message that is taught throughout the NT and we are in no way to deviate from it.  Paul again builds our faith that this Bible which we have are the very Words of God and are not to be taken lightly.  It you deviate from them, Paul calls on you to be accursed.  This is why it is vital that you read and know these scriptures.  The only way to prevent being deceived to know and understand this gospel message.  It is preached to you every Sunday from this pulpit and we study together every Wednesday night, but you need more than that.  It needs to be a daily routine for you to be in the Word and it is definitely more about quality than quantity.  I am not trying to make you legalistic in “having” to read your Bible, but I am inviting you to a closer walk with your Lord and Savior.  To know Him is to love Him.  The more you read, the more you want to read.  The Words become alive and speak directly to your heart guiding you to the path God wants you to walk.  This is done through the work of the Holy Spirit that is given to us at the time of salvation.  He is given to guide us to the truth and to keep us from being deceived; and that One Spirit will teach each of us the same thing, the one gospel message.  The gift of the Holy Spirit is what separates NT believers from the OT ones.  God now dwells within us, abides in us to teach and guide us.  John explained the work of the Spirit like this:

 

  1Jn 2:18- 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.  (25)  And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.  (26)  These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.  (27)  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

            The Holy Spirit in our life teaches us and reveals to us the truth “concerning all things.”  Each of us as believers, through the Holy Spirit, have the ability to read and understand the scriptures.  We “abide in Him;” we are walking through life in the presence of God.  He has a purpose for you and is constantly teaching you things along your journey with Him through the Holy Spirit.  He protects us from being deceived and keeps us standing firm upon the foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and the one gospel message that we are saved by faith, not of works.  Abide in Christ and be sure of this you are His.

 

Heavenly Father, stir within each of us the desire to know You better, trust You more, and to hold fast to the one gospel message.