Ignorance of the Gospel
“1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead
2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 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: 5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 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. 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. 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” (Galatians 1:1-12).
The period of Church history commonly known as the Reformation began around 1500 A.D. A great number of reforms in church polity and doctrine took place during the 250 years of this period of history. Once again the Scriptures were looked to as the sole source of truth and practice (sola Scriptura). Martin Luther led the reformers in this area and a return to justification through faith alone (sola fide).
However, in most cases the reformation stopped at these two mile markers. Reformed theology continued conferring grace through the sacraments in ritual (water) baptism and through the Eucharist (the Lord’s Supper). Although the terminology of Reformed Theology states that man is saved by grace through faith alone, what that means to them is that faith in Christ is expressed by obedience to water baptism and the Eucharist. It is through these two mediums the grace of God is conferred to the believing participant. Since water baptism and the Eucharist were administered only through the Church, this kept the populace dependant upon the church for salvation and for forgiveness of sin.
Two other truths were necessary before the gospel could be fully recovered. Salvation was also by grace alone (sola gratia) through faith alone in Christ alone (sola Christus). These last two areas (grace alone and Christ alone) are the subject matter of the epistle of Galatians. Grace alone meant salvation was completely a gift of God apart from any religious ritual or ceremony. These religious rituals or ceremonies are referred to by the word “works” or by the words “works of the law” (these terms usually refer to religious rituals, ritualism, or good deeds, moralism) in Paul’s epistles.
“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work” (Romans 11:6).
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16).
“This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith” (Galatians 3:2)?
It was around 60 A.D., while Paul was ministering at Corinth for the 3rd time, that God brought the problem at Galatia to his attention. God saw this perversion of the gospel as so contaminating that the inspired epistle to Galatia was given to correct it. Salvation was to be by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone and completely outside of religious ritual or ceremony.
I. The focus of the epistle to Galatia is salvation absolutely of grace through a faith absolutely in Christ and His finished work at Calvary. Anything else is “another” (or a false) gospel (Galatians 1:6-9).
A. This epistle confronts the heresy of every false gospel by this radical, but simple truth of the true gospel.
B. When this epistle arrived at Galatia, its doctrine was viewed as so radical it split the Church.
C. When we read the epistle to Galatia and see the dogmatic way in which God speaks to this issue, you would think it would never continue.
1. This is not some unimportant or insignificant point of doctrine.
2. Read Galatians 5:4. “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” The one point of truth was so important that God says those who accept any gospel other then salvation absolutely of grace through faith absolutely in Christ and His finished work at Calvary were not saved.
3. Satan was introducing another twist, another perversion, another subtle lie similar to the lie he told Eve in the Garden of Eden.
“6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth (Galatians 5:6-7)?
4. The question was rhetorical. The lie misdirected faith from the finished propitiatory work of Christ to faith in religious works, ritual and ceremony.
5. Any degree of misdirected faith would pervert the gospel of grace.
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9).
6. A very large portion of Christianity continues to follow this lie.
D. Where do you suppose those who left the First Baptist Church of Galatia went? They went and formed the First Reformed Church of Galatia.
E. The message of the epistle to Galatia is a simple message with a serious and all encompassing warning: if anyone professes to be saved by faith in Christ, but is trusting in any form of religious works, ceremony or ritual as a means of the conference of grace they have trusted in a gospel which is “another gospel” and that is powerless to save anyone.
F. Faith is an empty hand reaching out to receive God’s gift of grace. It must reach out directly to Christ. It must be in Christ alone.
II. This perversion of the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone came from a group of Judaizers who brought Old Covenant practices and incorporated them with New Covenant beliefs.
A. Read Galatians 2:11-14. A similar group had attempted to control the Church at Antioch.
“11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews” (Galatians 2:11-14)?
1. These Christian Judaizers wielded enormous influence and social pressure (v 12).
2. It had gotten so bad that the Apostle Peter had compromised and allowed those teaching this perverted gospel to co-exist in the Church at Antioch in order to avoid a Church split.
3. Barnabas followed Peter’s leadership (or lack of it) and “was carried away with their dissimulation” (Greek: hupokrisis {hoop-ok'-ree-sis} meaning the acting of a stage player or hypocrisy).
B. Due to Peter’s compromise, this perverted gospel had become socially and culturally accepted. It only had one problem.
1. No matter the quality or quantity of a person’s faith in this perverted gospel, it was absolutely powerless to save anyone.
2. Only the true gospel message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone was intrinsic with the power of God for regeneration.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).
III. The second problem of a perverted gospel (Galatians 3:1-2). What is the basis of regeneration?
A. Regeneration is what happens when a person is saved by receiving God’s gift of grace (the Holy Spirit)through faith alone in Christ alone.
“1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith” (Galatians 3:1-2)?
B. Regeneration (receiving the “breathe of life, i.e., the indwelling Holy Spirit)is salvation.
C. Regeneration refers to all the things the Holy Spirit does once a person places faith absolutely in Christ and His finished work. There are five major works of the Holy Spirit the instant a person places faith in Christ alone.
1. The believer is born again and forever made a part of the new creation and the family of God as children of God (John 3:7 and 2 Corinthians 2:17).
2. The believer is indwelled by the Holy Spirit whereby He empowers the believer when the believer co-operatively yields his life to the Spirit’s control (John 14:16-20).
3. The believer is baptized with the Holy Spirit into the “body of Christ” and made one with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
4. The believer is sealed with the Spirit of God, securing him and preserving him until the final day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
5. The believer is anointed with the Holy Spirit Who supernaturally empowers the believer’s talents to be used for God’s glory.
B. The second perversion of the gospel said the believer received all of this by “the works of the law.”
1. In other words, this perversion taught that regeneration came through observance of some religious ritual or ceremony such as circumcision.
2. Later, the ritual of circumcision was replaced with the ritual of water baptism as the means of regeneration. This became known as baptismal regeneration.
“Sacrament of Baptism: The sacrament in which, by pouring water upon a person or immersing him in water, and using the words, ‘I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,’ the one baptized is cleansed of original sin and {in the case of one who has reached the age of reason} of particular sin; he is incorporated into Christ and made a member of His Body the Church; he is infused with sanctifying grace and receives the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit; and this enables him to receive the other sacraments effectively.” (Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia by Rev. Peter M.J. Stravinskas and 39 contributing Roman Catholic scholars).
The simple test of the true gospel is measured by a trinity of truths. Is salvation received as a gift by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone? Anything else is “another gospel.” If the gospel you are trusting in for your salvation includes any religious ritual or ceremony as the means of receiving God’s gift of grace it is “another gospel” and is powerless to save you because your faith is not in Christ alone.
1. If you believe your good works must outweigh the bad things you have done, your hope of salvation fails the test because your faith is not in Christ alone.
2. If you believe you can be saved, but can lose your salvation because of some sin you commit or something you fail to do, your hope of salvation fails the test because your faith is not in Christ alone.
Anything besides salvation by grace alone through faith alone in the finished Cross work of Christ alone nullifies the power of the gospel to save, because it thwarts the efficacy of God’s grace. Make sure the gospel you preach, and the gospel you measure the genuineness of a person’s salvation by, is the true gospel.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:21).
