Lesson #3 June 2, 2002

The indictment of the Galatians, their desertion 1:6-9

1. Its Nature 1:6-7 Read

a. First the impact on Paul himself. 1:6

I am amazed

that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you

b. How It Affected the Defectors

1:6b-7 It Moved Them Away from Christ

- notice who that Paul is saying that they're turning from! Not himself, but Jesus Christ, the one who called them through the Gospel

- what is it they are turning to from Grace?

What Paul is saying here at this point is that look, what these Judaizers are teaching is a different gospel, its heteros, its different in character than the Gospel of grace that he had clearly taught.

only there are some who are disturbing you,

Their intent.

- and want to distort the Gospel of Christ

Summary 1:6-7:

1. There is only one Gospel, the Gospel of Grace which Paul had communicated to them and which they had believed.

Acts 4:12 John 14:6 Acts 16:31

2. Jesus Christ himself clearly spelled out the issue in the Gospel, believe in Me!

John 1:12-13; 3:15-16, 18, 36; 5:24 plus many; summarized in 20:31

3. Salvation by works of any kind is not the Gospel that Paul taught, it is completely opposite of the Gospel of grace, that is salvation by faith alone in Christ alone.

4. As Paul writes this epistle these false teachers, (Judaizers) were at work causing the Galatians to be unsettled, confused, and bewildered.

5. By responding to the false teachers it moved them away from Grace.

6. The Galatians were deserting Him who called them, and they were deserting grace.

7. Principle: Beware of anyone who challenges salvation by grace, by any means.

1:8-9 The Gravity of a false Gospel

a. As Illustrated by a Hypothetical Case 1:8

When Paul speaks of an angel from heaven, from our perspective today we would probably conclude that he was using hyperbole (exaggerating to make a point) in referring to the angel. But is he?

should preach to you a gospel

contrary to that which we preached

Strong conclusion: Let him be accursed

b. As Demonstrated in an Actual Case 1:9 read

if any man (tij ) is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received,

let him be accursed.

Summary 1:8-9

1. The point Paul makes with vs:8 is that absolutely no one, not one with apostolic authority or an angel, is at liberty to change or alter the Gospel of Grace.

2. Those who do Paul makes clear are under a curse, that is judgement from God.

3. God often leaves false teachers on the scene as a test for believers in their life after salvation. Deut. 13:1-5

4. We must remember that the divine discipline indicated by the anathema, being accursed is in God's hand, and according to His timing.