Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: Okay, so we are doing an inductive Bible study, which we started last week. So I know some of you guys weren't here last week, so we're gonna try to catch you up. I don't think you'll be too far behind. Plus, we're just studying the Bible, and I think it'll be profitable. So turn to Galatians. I have the verses, at least. These are the verses I think we'll be able to get through today, six through nine.
And if we get to nine, we'll stop and then pick up in verse 10 next week. So we just want to take our time studying this book, you know, going deep and really kind of just thinking, how do you study? How do you. What do you observe when you read the Bible on your own? How do you decide what it means and how do we apply it to our lives?
So that's basically what an inductive Bible study is. We kind of talked about it last week. Pretty soon I'm going to start asking you guys to tell us what inductive Bible study is. But just as a reminder, you are studying from the inside out from what the Bible says and going further and further. So you look at the words, you look at the sentences, the paragraph, the chapter, that book, and the entirety of the Bible, kind of in that order to help gather information, to help you understand. Now, a lot of times we do this rapidly without even thinking about it, but that's just, you know, basically just reading in context. So inductive Bible studies, we observe what the passage says, we then interpret what it means and what different parts of it mean. And finally we apply it and ask the question, what does this mean for me?
To be careful not to say, what does it mean to me? It's not a subjective, but what does it mean for me? How can I live this out in some way or the other? Is there an attitude or a thought, an action that I need to do or not do? Is there something I ought to pray or an attitude I ought to pray to receive from God? All these sorts of things can be applications. This is our goal, to go from observing what is the subject and the verb of a sentence all the way to what does God's word mean for me? Now, we won't be that rigid and talk about the grammatical outline of every sentence, although I think we could and it would be helpful. But we'll kind of do maybe a shortened version of that.
So let's. Since we're close to the beginning, eventually we'll maybe have to stop doing this we'll read from the beginning, Galatians 1:1, and we'll read all the way through verse nine. So we kind of get a reminder of where we've been and seeing what we're going to be studying. So look down in your bibles. Galatians, chapter 1, verse 1.
Paul, an apostle, not from men, nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead, and all the brothers who are with me to the churches of Galatia, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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. 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.
Almost up there.
So that's kind of a vibe shift, I guess you could say. I tried to reflect it in my reading.
I think that's maybe how he was thinking, you know, he's remembering rightfully, those encouraging things about who they are, the grace that they receive in Christ, the peace that you can have with God through him, the reality that he is called by God, not from man, and the very God who raised Christ from the dead, the one to whom they have faith, faith in. And now, though acknowledging those things and giving God the glory, he finds no contradiction in saying, yeah, glory to God, grace and peace to you. But I'm astonished that you are turning to a different gospel. So let's kind of unpack this paragraph, these few verses.
He first says in verse six, I'm astonished that you're so quickly deserting him.
Can anyone tell the group, what does astonished mean?
Shocked or surprised?
[00:05:08] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:09] Speaker A: And can you? What's the connotation of this astonishment? Is this positive or negative?
I think I heard someone say something.
Yeah, it's negative. Right. So he's shocked. You could even say, because of the connotation. He's appalled.
I only ask this. I know we probably know this word, but you probably don't use it every day. He is astonished and appalled he says they are deserting someone, that you are so quickly deserting him. So someone very quickly. Who are they deserting so quickly? Who is this him?
The question was, who are the Galatians deserting so quickly?
This is the source of the astonishment. They're deserting Him.
Yeah, they're deserting. You could say deserting God.
And why would you say God?
[00:06:29] Speaker C: Because it says deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ. So it's not Christ, it's God because he called them to Christ.
[00:06:38] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:06:39] Speaker A: Now, of course, you know, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit do all things together inseparably, but I think there is important distinctions in between things they do. Typically, the one who called in Scripture is usually God the Father or God, just generally. So I think you're absolutely right. Looking at that phrase, him who called you in the grace of Christ, that's telling us who the him him is the one who called you in the grace of Christ.
Now, God is being abandoned by the Galatians. So I think that's right. And apparently from this phrase, it was quick.
They did not last very long before being deceived. They may have still been very young believers, baby Christians. Sometimes you hear people say, and they're being deceived.
God is described here as the one who called the Galatians in the grace of Christ. Now, why is Paul describing God in that way? Why doesn't he just say, you know, I'm astonished that you're so quickly deserting God or even God the Father? Why are you deserting him so quickly? Why do you think he chose to specifically draw out and refer to God by a descriptive sentence or description? Descriptive clause.
We need some help. Let's think of. Let's kind of try to get there.
So him who called you in the grace of Christ? What is grace?
[00:08:40] Speaker D: When someone gives you something you don't deserve.
[00:08:43] Speaker A: Yeah. A gift, something that you have not earned or merited. Were you going to say that or something different?
Okay, what did Christ do?
He became a sacrifice for our sins. Specifically for, you know. And this is written to whom? This letter.
Churches. Yeah, churches in Galatia. So Christians. So he's talking to people who Christ died for and who has redeemed them from their sin already.
And he therefore has given them grace. Grace in Christ. The grace of Christ, which is saving grace. It is grace that has saved them from their sins.
And now, does anybody remember from kind of the summary last week? I didn't say this today, but from the summary last week, what issue or Issues are the thess, not Thessalonians, the Galatian churches. What are they facing?
False gospels. Right. And specifically we. We talked some about legalism and holding them to requirements of the Old Covenant in a New Covenant era and how, you know, so they're confusing the Old and the New Covenant. And so for Paul to describe, not just say you're deserting God, which is impactful, to say you are deserting God does have, you know, a lot of grit to it. I think it's a powerful way to say it. He's saying you're deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ, the grace, the gift that you are given, that gift of salvation.
You are deserting it so that you can hold to requirements of the law.
So he's showing in this little phrase just the absurdity of what they're doing. They are deserting grace so that they can merit justification and merit salvation and holiness.
And as they read this, they likely were thinking, yeah, why would we desert? Or hopefully they were thinking, why would we desert the grace of Christ and turn to a different gospel?
And he quickly says, turning to a different gospel. He says, what about this different gospel?
[00:11:24] Speaker D: Not that there is another one.
[00:11:26] Speaker A: Yeah, not that there's another one. So he's saying there's not really another one, but that's what they're doing. They're forsaking God's grace and turning to a different gospel, which of course, if it's different, it's not truly good gospel, meaning good news. This is false. It is not good news.
So it's not really a gospel. But yet we use this term because it's helpful to talk about false gospels that try to pretend like they are the gospel or a better gospel, but they aren't.
Now, I think there's a lot of examples even near us, but all across the world. So what are some examples of false gospels, maybe that are popular or that you've heard of or people or groups that profess false gospels? You could say, Henry.
[00:12:26] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:12:27] Speaker A: I think Mormons proclaim a false gospel, even claiming that there's a third testament of the Bible, and they've distorted the gospel itself, actually, in a pretty similar way. By removing salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, and adding to it works that merit your salvation and even your level of salvation and the level of heaven you can attain to, and even the state of godliness to which you can attain to, you can become a God in their belief system. So I think that's a great example of a false gospel.
What Else?
[00:13:09] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:11] Speaker A: Okay. Why would you say. What do you mean by the charismatic church? And why would you say it's a false gospel?
[00:13:18] Speaker C: I would say that it's a false gospel because we are sending people into believing that they are constantly talking directly to God and that they can see visions or that they can see angels and see demons.
[00:13:36] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:37] Speaker A: Well, do you think Christians can talk directly to God? I. I do believe in prayer.
[00:13:42] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:43] Speaker C: I believe that that church makes it so commonplace that if you don't speak in tongues or you can't talk directly.
[00:13:50] Speaker A: You'Re talking about tongues. Specifically.
[00:13:52] Speaker C: Yes, specifically. Then it's like if you can't have. If you can't do miracles or you can't do some sort of wondrous thing with the Lord that you love. Really?
[00:14:01] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:14:02] Speaker A: So if you can't hear, it's a repeat.
Some churches would. And this is. This is true. Would teach that you need to be able to speak in tongues, whatever they might mean by that, and perform miracles to prove your salvation or even for anyone to know that you're saved is to exercise these miraculous gifts. That is a false gospel. Now, some churches might be labeled charismatic, and they're not teaching a false gospel. They just believe that some of those gifts are still carried and can be practiced in the church. That in itself is not a false gospel. But when it gets to the level where that's a requirement for salvation, it certainly is. I think that's a good example. And there's just, frankly, a large number of churches within 10, 15 miles of us that believe those very things.
Any other examples, Henry? Another one.
Huh?
The Quran. Yeah. So, yeah, Mormonism, Islam as well. We could throw in Buddhism, Christian liberalism as well, even our false gospels. Changing the focus from Christ. Maybe in the case of liberalism, more like. Well, just kind of loving each other is kind of just the basic. That's all we really need to do and whatever that means. And that is really how we find God and reach salvation. When this is not true, Christ accomplishes it. That's what the Bible says. Other things I thought of were legalism, for one, which kind of were encapsulated in some of the ones we talked about.
Just the idea to be true to yourself, to find yourself. People don't usually say that if you're true to yourself, you'll be saved from hell. Nobody's saying that, but typically it's really popular to think if we can find the most genuine identity within ourselves, that is how life is good. You will suffer affliction until you can express your Personal identity, however you want self making yourself happy, that is a false gospel that will not satisfy you. You will be left just as empty as when you begin that journey.
In same vein, doing what makes you happy.
Some people say that, well, God is real and we can believe in God, but the Bible kind of has errors. So we just gotta, you know, just do our best to know what God is like. This too is false. There are probably many other examples, but these are at least the ones I thought of and that you guys thought of.
And so the one they're turning to is kind of most like legalism, confusing the old and the new covenant.
Not that it is an actual gospel, but they are turning to it going on. He says, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel.
Now, we don't know the names of those who are troubling the Galatians. At least I don't know them. But we know that they're false teachers teaching a false gospel or different false gospels.
But like those false gospels, we just listed the teachers of them. And the false teachers of the Galatians, they don't advertise their falsity, right? They're not saying I'm a false teacher. Nobody's saying that. They're either hiding it and trying to destroy the church, but maybe even more frequently are people who are being genuine and think they're teaching things that are good and true, but they're teaching heresy. Things that are damning people, things that are dangerous and terrible.
Martin Luther, he has a commentary on Galatians. He wrote here let us learn to recognize the tricks and craft of the devil. A heretic does not come with the label of error or devil, nor does the devil himself come in the form of a devil.
Vile men, thieves, covetous men, drunkards and the like have the means to flatter themselves and cover up their sins. Thus the devil always emerges in the disguise and covering of all his works and tricks. But in the spiritual arena, Satan emerges in the guise of an angel or even of God himself. There he peddles his deadly poison as the doctrine of grace, the word of God and the Gospel of Christ. This is why Paul calls the doctrine of the false apostles and ministers of Satan a gospel, saying they go to a different gospel. So what's he saying here? He's saying, I think importantly that these false teachings are. The devil is behind them. And so we should beware of false teachers and false gospels wherever they lie. Anything that is in contradiction to the the gospel that is in the Bible.
But realize that Satan likes to wrap up these false gospels in a nice little bow, make them look pretty and deceive persuasive people. You think of people that have attracted large crowds like Joel Osteen, like tens of thousands of people all the time there to listen to him. Because it's been wrapped up in such a nice way. People like to hear it because the devil has hidden it and coded it in something beautiful for people to see. But on the inside, it's poison.
So we need to make sure. We're students of the Word, but particularly knowing the fundamentals of our faith. What do we need to believe? What are these things that if a teacher is violating or teaching something, violating them. What is making it now a false gospel? What do we need to know? That is what Paul is going to try to help them see.
Now, like we said, those who distort the gospel are not always obvious. And Jesus warns us of this.
Can someone look up and read for us? Matthew 7:15?
Almost like a sword drill. Once you get the violet. You got it?
Are you still turning? Okay, you got it.
[00:20:30] Speaker C: Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
[00:20:35] Speaker A: Yeah. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
So Jesus is warning. He knew this would happen.
And he even tells us that they will look like sheep. They'll sat. You know, if something walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it is a duck. Well, when it comes to teachers, not always. They can look like a sheep and sound like a sheep, but inwardly they're. They are wolves ready to devour you. That's why we need to be careful of the content and thinking of what doctrine, which is to say what teachings are coming from this person's mouth, regardless of how I feel about him or even her personally.
The Galatians are dealing with these ravenous wolves. But again, they likely appear like fellow Christians. You can even think of Mormons like Henry brought up, who say, yeah, we're Christians, right? We're all Christians. We believe in Jesus. The Son of God died on the cross and rose again for our salvation. They will say that, but you dig deeper and you start to. To see that, well, he's the Son of God, but he's not God. Well, he became a God. He's not God. The Father and I too, can get into the celestial kingdom like Jesus did and become a God, just like Jesus. And you start to see, as you dig deeper, the falsities of their doctrine.
But Paul says that the true message of the gospel belongs to whom?
Who does it belong to?
Look at the end of verse seven.
It's the Gospel of Christ.
It is the Gospel of Christ. And who sent Paul to preach the Gospel of Christ? Verse 1 tells us Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead.
So we know that what Paul has brought, he is saying it is the Gospel of Christ and he also is the one that sent me. I didn't make up this message. This is from his very lips, the lips of the one in whom we believe.
Now moving on to verse eight, we read. But even if. Yeah, but even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preach to you, let him be accursed.
What did Paul and his missionary partners preach to the Galatians?
We know this is not your question.
The gospel. Very good. The gospel.
What is the gospel?
Does anyone want to tell us what is the gospel?
Yes, the good news of our salvation in Christ. Specifically, what are some of the tenets, the main things that we need to remember about the gospel message?
You can just shine out some of them or all of them if you are so bold.
[00:23:58] Speaker D: We're separated from God.
[00:24:00] Speaker A: Yeah, we're separated from God by what sin?
[00:24:15] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:24:16] Speaker A: God loved us, gave his son to die for sins and raise again. That sinners can be reconciled, can be in the family of God, can be friends with Christ and live with him in heaven forever.
And of course, we know that God has the authority to do this as the creator and ruler of all things.
And he has given us provisions to be in a healthy relationship with him, like the church and His Word are ways that we can stay in a relationship with Him. And one day he is coming again to complete this all.
And we haven't read it yet, but based on what we've said, what part of the true gospel is being offended by this false gospel in the church?
So there's a false gospel. What's it violating in the true gospel?
False gospel is legalism, right?
[00:25:23] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:25:31] Speaker A: It's adding more than is required for salvation. The life, death and resurrection of Christ are basically useless or at best necessary, but not sufficient. It wasn't enough. The works of Christ alone weren't enough because they're holding to commands as requirements for church membership.
Now there's almost no way of an actual angel or. Sorry, there's almost no way that we. We almost are certain that an actual angel wasn't preaching a false gospel is what I'm trying to say, but he uses that as an example. In theory, it could happen, right? Angels have been very interacting with humans for history, even appearing in the form of men to hide, so to speak. So we could think that this happens. But regardless, why do you think Paul says whether? Because he also says himself. He says whether I preach a false gospel or whether. Or whether I preach a different gospel or an angel preaches a different gospel. Why do you think he's throwing out himself and an angel? What's the point of that?
[00:27:06] Speaker D: Because it's not about where it comes from. It's the message itself.
[00:27:12] Speaker A: So it's not about where it comes from. What are you going to say?
[00:27:24] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:27] Speaker A: Yeah. So you're saying even Paul could be deceived, right? Yeah, I think that. I think you guys are right on it. Even whether it's an angel or even Paul who originally preached to them the true gospel. He's saying, though, I preach to you the true gospel even if I change it.
So what he's doing, he's saying angels can sin, they have sinned, men like Paul can sin. Even strong men of the faith that many people look up to, men that have converted, thousands can sin even in their teaching.
But the gospel never changes.
So we want to be students of the Word and really know the gospel and other beliefs of Christianity because even our teachers can fail us and go astray, even the people we look up to most. In fact, this happens every so often and usually when it does, it will be made a big deal. But men fall, men sin, men can even change their doctrine later in life in an unhelpful way. So we want to make sure we're students of the Word and believers in the Gospel before we are followers of any one person in particular. Now, of course, people that have died, you can be pretty sure if they didn't start teaching a false gospel that they're not going to now. But at least for living teachers just be weary of attaching yourselves to them more than to the Bible itself. Of course we can learn from people and we can even learn from people that have taught bad things, you know, in an academic way. But just remember, the Gospel does not change, but men can.
Now, is it good that the gospel never changes? You know, we live in a. In a time very different from when all of this was written, either 2000 or even many, many, many more thousands of years for parts of the Bible. Is it good that it does? The gospel doesn't change.
Why is that good?
It's not updating with the times so how is that good?
[00:29:45] Speaker D: Because something is true, but it's changing. Then is it still true?
[00:29:54] Speaker A: Yeah, I think that's a great point.
Would anyone else add anything to that?
I think it's also attainable that it doesn't change.
Suppose the goal posts keep moving. You know that phrase, the goal posts just keep getting moved. Moved. Again, that would make scoring goal or kicking field goal very difficult if it keeps moving.
Understanding. Okay, what do I need to believe at this time in history? Especially if the Bible, the written word of God, is living, but also not being added to.
How do we attain? How do we know which promises of God are actually true?
And it also would violate God's very character. Hebrews 13:8 tells us God does not change, and so his plan does not change.
Paul places a curse on any sort of false teacher, even himself, if a false gospel is taught, which I think is remarkable.
And so again, like we said, even for our very own teachers, pastors and ministers here, it means we need to be careful and work hard to like the teachers need to work hard to teach only what is true. This is why James says not many of you should become teachers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. If you want to teach the Bible, yeah, I wouldn't necessarily squash that in any of you in particular, but just be very careful. And also as members, if you want to be great, faithful members, help your pastors and teachers by praying for them, that they wouldn't drift, that they would always believe and teach only what accords with sound, true doctrine. And if you don't understand something or you disagree with something that seems of vital importance, talk to them, ask them. Maybe they can clarify, or maybe you misunderstood, or maybe they did teach something wrong and you bring it to their attention.
Faithful and helpful members really do that. And humble pastors and ministers should be willing to hear that. And I think here in particular, you should feel safe doing that.
Verse nine, while we still have time. He says, 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. So he kind of just repeats himself. Why does he repeat himself? Does anybody have a guess?
It's important. He really wants to put an emphasis, an exclamation point. Listen to this. This is really important.
Let him be accursed.
One of my former professors, he wrote about this. He said, we are prone to wander from God and the good news of free grace. So he's saying we're prone to it continuing, he says, various influences may draw us away, including the sinfulness of our own hearts. In Galatians, we see the influence of false teachers who probably swayed the Galatians with their knowledge of the Old Testament. An effective antidote against false teaching is both a head and heart knowledge of the gospel. But when we truly understand that our righteousness is only in Christ, we will not be deceived by any other gospel. One of the practical ways to ensure that we stay true to the gospel is to join and become involved in a church that proclaims the gospel. Thereby we are accountable to other believers and do not try to live the Christian life on our own.
So I think that's important. So maybe you've heard head and heart knowledge. This is kind of just referring to knowing the facts, what the Bible teaches. And heart knowledge will be more about belief and really believing it to your core. He says both are important. We want to emphasize, we often emphasize rightfully the heart knowledge. We want to believe and not just know facts about the Bible because knowing facts about the Bible is not faith.
But it's also important to know things about the Bible so we can spot false teaching. And he encourages us to always be connected as members of a church that's teaching the gospel, because you'll be surrounded by people that believe the gospel and can even pull you if you are wandering.
So and you can write this down, I'd encourage you to so you can write it down and bring it up. What aspects of Christianity do you find hard to wrap your brain around? What's difficult to understand?
Or is there anything about the faith that you don't believe or you're doubting or you find it hard to believe?
Do you doubt anything about the faith or are you wondering, is this something that I have to believe or is this something that people have different opinions on? If you anything like that, I encourage you write it down, pray about it, and then talk to someone.
You have small group leaders on Wednesdays. I love to answer questions to the best of my ability. We have pastors, you have parents.
Many of your parents have been Christians for many, many years and can probably be very helpful in those questions. The important thing is to not hide it and be ashamed of a question you have. Even if it seems like this is doesn't seem like something a Christian should be asking, it's okay. You guys are young as well and so ask the question. Don't let it sit and fester in your heart and grow until you are prone to wander.
Address it.
The answer may not be so difficult, or maybe it is a difficult question and people can kind of wrestle through it with you. So write it down and talk to somebody about it. Don't just leave it on the paper.
Let's pray, and then we'll get on over and worship with the church. Father, thank you for your word and thank you for this letter to the churches of Galatia. God, may this study benefit us in drawing us closer to you. Help us to understand and both with our head and our heart, the true gospel of Christ. God, give us discernment to.
To be able to see past false teachers and false teaching.
God, give us the passion to be students of the Word. We pray this all in Christ's name. Amen.
