Turn to Galatians 1:1-6—read it now, and again in a moment
1 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: 3 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.
Then abruptly…
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
Introduction, Context, Spirit of the letter, Central message—stand for the truth
I’ve entitled this sermon--Fighting for the Truth—
I have great admiration for Paul for standing for the truth. Today…
Nobody wants the truth.
Nobody wants anybody to speak the truth
Sayings about the truth;
You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything. Veggie tales, You’ve got to stand up for what you believe in. (next words—believe in God) Your truth, my truth, no universal truth. My words are my truth. I am my own person. Even in my school—2nd step—an attempt to reintroduce values to education---we took them out, now we want to put them back in---discover your own values.
Values are what matter to you most. (not good or bad)
What values do you think are the most important? Why?
Possible Values—not “the truth”
§ CompassionCourageCreativityCuriosityEmpathyFriendlinessGenerosityHard workHelping othersHonestyHumorIntegrityKindness
§ LoyaltyOwnershipPerseveranceRespectfulnessResponsibilityTrustworthiness
§ Other: When we discuss this, this is where they land—hard work, no my value is having fun---empathy and friendliness—no my value is revenge
Even the church—especially the church---abandoned the truth---
Barna study—state of the church 2020
Number one concern of the 22 listed “watered down gospel teachings”
We don’t want to tell people their faith is wrong.
We are starting Galatians.---long introduction
Introduction,
Context, Spirit of the letter, Central message—stand for the truth
let me remind you where we are in our study of the New Testament, and why we are here.
We have departed from Acts—the Jerusalem council---judaizers traveling around, following Paul and Barnabus, telling Gentiles that they have to be circumcised and obey all the O.T. laws in order to be saved….that was the entire reason for the gathering of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem--the council considered it—Peter, Paul, Barnabus, James spoke—all agreed---what do Gentiles have to do to be saved---grace through faith plus nothing---
Paul and Barnabus are given a letter stating that---Paul and Barnabus set out—the first place they go is to Antioch—great initial reaction
30 So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. 32 Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. 33 And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to [k]the apostles.
34 [l]However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. 35 Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Then chapter 15 concludes with Paul taking Silas, and Barnabus taking John Mark, and they split up
40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being [n]commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
16:4 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
So why are we leaving the book of Acts—what Paul encountered when he came to these churches in Galatia---he had preached the good news—grace through faith plus nothing---he had returned to Jerusalem to fight for that doctrine in the Jerusalem council—now he’s returning to these churches to deliver the news that salvation is by grace through faith plus nothing---but what he discovers is that many of the churches have bought the lie, or are buying it, or are fighting about it. They have new leadership—teachers from among the judaizers-
Some People were changing their diets to kosher, observing the Sabbath day, changing their dress, and some were considering, or had gone through with circumcision
It would be like leaving our church for a year to stay with family in another part of the country, and returning to find a new pastor—and the church changed from S. Baptist to 7th day Adventist—and worse---most of the same people still there
In short, the churches in Galatia were a mess. Every place he went, he encountered confused, sometimes obstinate, new legalists, and worse---they were questioning him---“what qualifies you to tell us how to be saved, you’re not one of the original apostles. After a physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining trip---when he got a breather he sat down and penned this letter to all the Galatian churches—now lets read 1:1-6 again
Galatians 1:1-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
Paul gives his typical introduction
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, (remember the challenge to his authority) but through Jesus Christ (I got my apostleship straight from 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: (This is what I wish for you) 3 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 (He delivers us) , according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(Now he has all the pleasantries out of the way) Then abruptly…no commendation, no “Hi, how are ya’s” No, how’s the family doing? I’ve been hearing good things about you guys. Every other letter has some commendation. Even Corinth. 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all [a]utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed [b]in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
This is why I entitled this—Fighting for the truth
This letter is called Paul’s polemic against legalism.
(a strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.) This is not just a letter making clear some doctrine, correcting some small error. Paul gets very personal in this letter. Paul gets very animated in this letter. And it’s because they have abandoned the truth. And not just any truth—Capital T, Capital H, Capital E truth---this is the truth that saves—and they are leaving it for the lie that damns---grace by faith plus works
Introduction, Context,
Spirit of the letter, Central message—stand for the truth
6 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[a] 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 [b]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.
Galatians 5:11-12 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even [a]cut themselves off!
Stand for the truth!
I. The book-Outline
A. Paul: Standing up for his Apostleship 1:1-2:21
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
B. Saved by Grace: Standing up for the Gospel 3:1–4:31
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you [a]that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed [b]among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so [c]many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
4: 9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?
C. Living by Grace: Standing up for Spiritual Freedom 5:1–6:18
5: 5 Stand[a] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Introduction, Context, Spirit of the letter,
Central message—stand for the truth
This epistle is as relevant today as it ever was—even more so---because Jesus is preached all around the world---but most of it is half-truth, truth with a mixture of error---the worst error is the one that can condemn a person to hell.
Once the Devil was walking along with one of his cohorts. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. "What did he find?" asked the cohort.
"A piece of the truth," the Devil replied.
"Doesn't it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?" asked the cohort.
"No," said the Devil, "I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it."
Klyne Snodgrass, Between Two Truths - Living with Biblical Tensions, 1990, Zondervan Publishing House, p. 35.
The solution-
A. Stand up, not for what you believe in, but for the Truth
B. Our relationship to the Truth, according to the Bible
1. It Comes from God
Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Psalm 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
John 1:14[ The Word Becomes Flesh ] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
2. It is a singularity
Psalm 15:1-3 15 Lord, who may [a]abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;
Ephesians 1:13In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
3. Thirst for it/Hunt for it
Psalm 86:11Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.
Psalm 119:29-31 29 Remove from me the way of lying,And grant me Your law graciously.30 I have chosen the way of truth;Your judgments I have laid before me.31 I cling to Your testimonies;O Lord, do not put me to shame!
Psalm 119:43And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances.
4. It cannot be found with men.
Isaiah 59:4No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
Jeremiah 5:1[ The Justice of God’s Judgment ] “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places If you can find a man, If there is anyone who executes judgment, Who seeks the truth, And I will pardon her.
Jeremiah 9:3“And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:5Everyone will deceive his neighbor, And will not speak the truth; They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves to commit iniquity.
Hosea 4:1[ God’s Charge Against Israel ] Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land.
5. We approach God through it/It will set you free
Psalm 145:18The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
Isaiah 26:2Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 14:6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
6. Our job to stand for it and proclaim it
Ephesians 4:21if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Ephesians 4:25[ Do Not Grieve the Spirit ] Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Romans 2:20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.
2 Corinthians 13:8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
Galatians 2:5to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Galatians 2:14But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?
Galatians 3:1[ Justification by Faith ] O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
Galatians 4:16Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
Galatians 5:7[ Love Fulfills the Law ] You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
I have the audacity—list of modern relevant topics—climate change---I have the audacity to tell our youth—if you want to know the truth—search the scriptures.—stand on it
Let’s pray