January 8, 2023
Pastor Ricky Smith
Sermon Notes
I. Whiplash Effect
Galatians 1:6-7
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
1 Timothy 4:1-4
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Jesus + anything else = path to heresy.
II. Counterfeit Effect
Galatians 1:8-9
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
We are saved by grace alone and for good works.
III. The Jesus Effect
Galatians 1:10-12
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
Romans 11:6
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Galatians 2:21
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Good News:
1. God is holy and created us for relationship. (Genesis 1-2)
2. We are hopeless sinners separated from God. (Genesis 3)
3. This separation from God cannot be overcome by our good works (Ephesians 2:8-9)
4. Jesus Christ died and rose again for sinners to be restored (John 3:16, Romans 5:8)
5. The gift of salvation experienced by faith results in no condemnation and eternal joy (Romans 8:1, Romans 15:13)
The message of Jesus is Good News!
Next Steps
- I confess my sin and turn to Jesus as King for the first time.
- I affirm the good news of the Gospel and will protect it.
- I acknowledge the temptation to add to the Gospel in my effort to get it right.
Deep Dive
- Read Galatians 1:6-7. Why was Paul amazed at the Galatian church?
- What do we learn about the Gospel from Galatians 1:6-12?
- What does it mean to “reverse the Gospel”?
Springboard
- Compare Galatians 1:13-24 with 1 Timothy 1:12-17
- How is Paul’s conversion similar to the conversion of all Christians?
- What were people saying about Paul’s conversion? How is this a lesson of grace?