ANOTHER GOSPEL

 

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

 

ANOTHER GOSPEL

 

 

Galatians 1:6-12

Introduction: In the first five verses of Galatians, Paul presents the Gospel of Christ concisely. The Gospel is simple, as was demonstrated last week in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. He gives a somewhat summary in Galatians 1:4 (KJV): "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." This should initiate praise and “glory to God” from everyone who has received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and understands the Gospel which was delivered to us. The book of Galatians is considered to have been written in about 58 a.d. Paul visited several of the cities in Galatia according to Acts 16:1-2. There are eight cities named where Paul and Barnabas had visited on the first missionary trip to witness and preach the word. They are Iconium (Acts 13:51; 14:1, 19, 21); Derbe (Acts 14:6, 20); Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:14, 19; 14:21); Lystra (Acts 14:6, 8, 21); Perga (Acts 13:13-14; 14:25); Paphos (Acts 13:6, 13); Salamis (Acts 13:5); and Attalia (Acts 14:25). There are only two cities where the text says, they “preached the word” and that is Salamis (Acts 13:5) and Perga (Acts 14:25). Only four of these cities were a part of Galatia with one, Antich of Pisidia being in another province yet the Roman government made it a part of Galatia because it was on the border. These four cities are considered the ones to which Paul was writing when he wrote the book of Galatians. When Acts 13-14 are examined, the two missionaries visited eight cities: Perga, Paphos, Salmis, and Attalia. Some stayed in for a period of time, some evidently just traveled through, and some encountered strong opposition. Considering the churches they visited, the southern part of Asia Minor was well introduced to the message of Jesus Christ and the eternal life He provides. 

  1. Trouble From “Another” Gospel, Galatians 1:6-7 (KJV) 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. When Paul writes to the churches of Galatia, he holds nothing back. Tolerating false doctrine was not part of Paul’s agenda and should not have been part of the early church. Bible doctrine was important to Paul, and he wanted to protect the new converts of the churches from false doctrine. The problem of false doctrine was evident in Galatia and in the churches of Revelation 2-3, except for two: the church at Smyrna and the church at Philadelphia. What is interesting about this section of Galatians is that Paul warns the churches in Galatia about “another gospel.” The “other gospel” is discussed in more detail in Galatians 2, which will be explored there. It is worth noting what is stated in Galatians 1:6 (KJV) I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel. [Emphasis added.] It is clear that Paul is implying they have rejected Christ for something else. The word “him” is a reference to God. This is not another aspect of the gospel of Christ; it is a rejection of Christ and His work on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world. It says in 1John 2:2 (KJV) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. The word “propitiation” means “to satisfy.” The word occurs only three times in the New Testament in Romans 3:25, 1 John 2:2, and 1 John 4:10. It says in Romans 3:25 (KJV), “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” The Gospel of Jesus Chris is about Him paying the penalty for our sin, shedding His blood as stated in Hebrews 9:22 (KJV), “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.” When a “religion” begins to add things to salvation that the Bible does not, it becomes “another gospel,” which is a rejection of Jesus Christ. Rejecting Christ is rejecting His work on the cross for our salvation. The Gospel is receiving Jesus Christ as your Saviour, plus nothing. Paul said in Galatians 1:7 (KJV) Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Paul says there is only “one gospel” and that any attempt to promote another way of eternal life is “another gospel” (vs. 7a). When Galatians 2 is studied, we will discover that the controversy of “another gospel” concerns a different religion. It contrasts the “gospel of Jesus Christ” (Mark 1:1) with the religion of the Law of Moses. Vance gives a good example of “another gospel” when he says, “Modern examples of ‘another gospel’ are believe and be baptized (Church of Christ), believe and keep the Sabbath (Seventh-day Adventists), believe and speak in tongues (United Pentecostal Church), believe and go to mass (Roman Catholic), and believe and endure to the end (Arminians).” Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ must be careful with what is being promoted as a “true way” to God or eternal life. The last statement in Galatians 1:7 says, “. . . but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” When something is added to the “gospel” it perverts the gospel message. 

                                                                                                                                                                            

  1. Testing the True Gospel, Galatians 1:8-9 (KJV) 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Paul begins here with the phrase “But though we. . .” and introduces the reader to the personal pronoun “we,” which could be a reference to Paul and Barnabas, who accompanied Paul on this initial missionary trip through Asia Minor. They were commissioned by the Church at Antioch (of Syria) as indicated in Acts 13:2 (KJV), “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Yet Paul refers to others in the missionary trip when he says in Galatians 1:2 (KJV), “And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia.” This could have included some of those identified as “certain prophets and teachers” who are identified as “Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch. . .” (Acts 13:1). When you read Galatians 1:8 (KJV), “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed,” you learn the serious nature of what Paul is writing to the churches of Galatia. Note that “an angel in heaven” is included in the group. There are several religions which began with the influence of an angel. Mormonism had the Angel Moroni to influence them. Islam received revelations from the angel Jabril (Islam calls it Gabriel) to the Prophet Muhammad in the Cave of Hira in the 7th Century. Zoroastrianism was influenced by angels. While angels (fallen angels) worked to establish false religions with “another gospel,” Christians often overlook the role of “angels” in God's work. Paul mentions them in Galatians 1:8, 3:19, 4:14. He also mentions “angels” in Romans 8:38; 1 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Colossians 2:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:16. An “angel” or “angels” is referenced in the entire Bible 297 times. Angels are a major part of God’s work. They perform some activities for God and make various appearances. In Galatians 1:9, Paul uses the word “accursed,” and in Galatians 1:8 as well. This makes the nature of Paul’s admonition to those who have opted for “another gospel.” Today, most supposed Bible-believing organizations that have added something to the salvation process should study this passage and consider what they are doing to the people they are deceiving. To change the biblical formula for salvation, which provides eternal life, is a serious matter with God. These two verses in Galatians 1:8-9, which contain the word “accursed,” are two of four occurrences in the New Testament. It is worth noting that to “be ‘accursed’ is to be devoted to divine destruction.” To write to the Galatians what is in the last part of Galatians 1:9, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” This is addressed to the people in Galatia who had been saved, and the people preaching “another gospel” were probably still among them. This makes it very personal, and Paul's writing to them should make them consider what is taking place where they are. Paul’s point is that these people will be dealt with by God, not by him. 
  1. Truth of the Gospel’s Source Explained, Galatians 1:10-12 (KJV) 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Here, Paul emphasizes the importance of his preaching and his burden to travel to them and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. This would deliver them from the condemnation of sin and provide them eternal life, which only God can provide. This whole matter centers around what God had done when He saw that His will was accomplished, as Jesus prayed in Gethsemane “. . .O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matt. 26:39), which was repeated in Matthew 26:42, “a second time” and in Mattew 26:44 is says He “prayed the third time, saying the same words.” Jesus knew (from a human standpoint) the seriousness of what was about to be accomplished. He was determined to do God’s will and to provide the entire human race with eternal life. The Apostle Paul knew this very well. When he was met on the road to Damascus by Jesus and was converted from the life of a devout Jewish man to the eternal life only Jesus Christ can provide (see Acts 9:1-20). We are told in Acts 9:20 (KJV), “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” Paul was totally convinced of what Jesus had done for him, and he wanted to let everyone he came into contact with know of the eternal life provided in receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour. There is an interesting statement in Colossians at two points. Paul told the Colossians in Colossians 1:5-6 (KJV), “For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:” and in Colossians 1:23 (KJV), “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.” Paul believed that the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was so important that he was diligent in going on three missionary journeys, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and starting churches, and a fourth trip to Rome, where he was a constant witness of God’s grace. Sharing this information may give some insight into these three verses, Galatians 1:10-12, which demonstrate the burden and commitment he had to the message of the Gospel and his desire to see people hear about the eternal life one can obtain when they accept Jesus Christ as Saviour. Paul’s desire was to “please God” and not men (Galatians 1;10). If he had the desire to “please men,” his conclusion was “I should not be the servant of Christ.” When you read Galatians 1:11, it is clear what Paul was committed to. The Gospel Paul taught came directly from God, not man. The message and biblical truth he taught and believed came directly from God, according to Galatians 1:12 (KJV) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Every one of us should do an examination of our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel. The major question we should be asking ourselves is, do I have the desire to see people come to Christ? This all came to Paul by “revelation of Jesus Christ” (vs. 12). We have the “revelation of Jesus Christ” in our hands when we hold and read the Bible, the King James Version. What is your commitment to Christ and His word?

pastedGraphic.png

         Paul’s First Missionary Journey (Acts 13:4 – 14:27)

pastedGraphic_1.png