Wayne's World...(27Jan08)

Galatians, an introduction to Romans.

 

There are three very similar books in the New Testament. They are Galatians, Hebrews and Romans.

 

They are all written primarily to show us how we were in the old covenant of the law and works, and are now in the new covenant of grace. They protect and guard the correct Gospel.

 

The book of Hebrews, was written primarily to Hebrews. Who had a legalistic Jewish mindset.

 

The book of Hebrews argues the finished work of the cross, using Old Testament patriarchs, the tabernacle, the priesthood and sacrificial systems and others, showing that these were no longer relevant as Jesus fulfilled it all.

 

So the book of Hebrews was to the Jews.

 

The Book of Galatians was written for the same reason as and Hebrews and contains strong harsh rebukes against legalism. It was written primarily to gentiles who became Christians. 

 

Romans was written to both Hebrews and gentiles, and contains a more rounded theological base for our gospel. As an introduction to the book of Romans were going to look at some scriptures from Galatians.

 

This will help us to easier understand Romans, and its context. 

 

Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

 

First of all, and before we go any further we just need to clear up some terminology.

 

Lets define the word Gospel..

 

Lets use the bible to do so…

 

The word gospel literally means "good tiding" or "good news."  

 

The Greek word euaggelion,  which is translated 74 times in our New Testament actually more accurately means..

 

The-nearly-too-good-to-be-news.  

 

We see also Paul using gospel and grace interchangeably in his writing. 

 

Gal 1:6  I marvel2296 that3754 ye are so3779 soon5030 removed3346 from575 him that called2564 you5209 into1722 the grace5485 of Christ5547 unto1519 another2087 gospel:2098  

 

This shows us that the "grace of God is the Gospel."

 

GRACE=GOSPEL

 

We need to see and understand that this gospel is a gospel of grace. Our new covenant is a gospel of grace.

 

Paul's life mission was to protect and to proclaim that Gospel. The passionate plea of his heart was…stick to the grace of God, stick to the one only true gospel, the almost too good to be true news of Jesus Christ our savior, who forgives our sins and never counts them against us.

 

Lets get back to our scripture here...(Galatians 1:6-9)

 

Paul was astonished…KJV Paul marveled. Why, they were abandoning the true Gospel and taking on another one.

 

Paul was so upset about this that twice he said if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you, let him be eternally condemned. Strong words and strong feelings. The true Gospel, the gospel of grace is the only Gospel. It must be defended. It's purity protected, it must be proclaimed to the lost!

 

What was actually happening here? The Christians were falling from the Gospel of the grace of Jesus, to a legalistic Gospel, which as Paul says…"really is no gospel at all" . A gospel of self effort and works and self righteousness that the Jews were under, was pulling the Christian into confusion. Paul passionately addressed that..no he said, stick to grace.

 

Look at these two scriptures.

 

Galatians 3:1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

 

And again in chapter 5:4You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

 

Separated from Jesus and fallen to another Gospel, that really is no Gospel at all.

 

The foolish, bewitched Galatians were trying to earn and maintain there salvation with God through legalism and works and self effort. This is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus is that Jesus paid the price in full, so that we may be saved and made righteous forever. This is the point of this whole book…keep the true gospel of grace, don't pervert it. The whole book of Romans is dedicated to expounding this more fully, which is why we will be looking at it in greater detail later.

 

Clearly Paul was trying to undo the mistake that Christians and churches had fallen into legalism.

 

It's interesting to note that this was written to Christians. If Paul wrote us, you, me, this church, other churches a letter, what tone would he have to take? Who has bewitched you? You foolish Christian?

 

Or like in other letters…your faith has been reported all over the world?

 

You know what has always been interesting to me…Why did they (the gentiles) struggle with issues of the law?…They (the gentiles)were never under the law (the law was a covenant between God Himself and the Jews…not the gentiles)…so how did Christians, gentile converted Christians, come under law?…where did they learn it? I believe well meaning Jewish Christians mixed the Christian message of grace with the law, which is what Paul was addressing in the Galatian church. This has been passed down for centuries in the church today. The number one threat in the modern church today is tradition and legalism. It was the biggest threat then and still is now. So it's important to unlock Gods awesome truth, and the freedom of the glorious gospel of Grace.

 

For us at Coastlands Christian Church, this part of our calling to call, the world into his grace. To help Christians transition into his Grace, and to disciple churches into his grace, and to plant Grace Churches. By grace churches I mean free churches, that preach the correct gospel instead of the "perverted/different " gospel.

 

We are not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation, to all who believe first to the Jew and then to the gentile, for righteousness from God is revealed for all those who believe, we receive the free gift of righteousness through faith in Jesus. The righteous live by faith.

 

That's what we do when we visit churches we give them the Gospel, according to the bible, according to truth.

 

That's what the apostles did the proclaimed and protected the true Gospel. It's what Paul lived for..

 

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

 

That's what were called to preach and to teach, the Gospel of Gods grace.

 

Home group leaders, here is an assignment for you, at home group. Discuss and define the gospel. The true Gospel according the bible. Jesus Gospel of grace.

 

So we want to be a free church made up of men and woman, children and grand parents who live in the glorious freedom of the saints. Who live in the glorious gospel of the grace of God. Where ever person has, and is being transformed by the power of his mighty spirit working deep within. It's once we know this Gospel and experience it and live in it, that it will flow out of us. He changes us to the degree that it becomes clear to everyone, and every where we go, the light of Jesus shines out of us. Out freedom is a war cry to the world "come be free". Because we are truly changed, not surface change, not obeying a list of do's and don'ts, but totally transformed, our very state changed forever. People will begin to approach you and say… "I want what you Got, coz clearly you have something", and that some thing was produced through the miracle working power of the Gospel in you. Praise God.

 

It's not what we do, but what he has done. It's not what we have to do, but what he is going to do through us and with us. He is building his Church and the gates of hell will not prevail. Come on church rise as stars, and shine in a crooked and depraved generation, let's praise the Lord. Thank you Jesus. 

 

Ministry

 

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." 39By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive

 

Jesus wants streams of living water to flow out of you, and out of this church. Let's call on the spirit now, according to the word. If we believe we will receive. Let's receive so we can go from this place and spread the very fragrance of Christ. 

 

Next week

 

What is the good news? Bring friends, bring those under bondage, bring the unsaved, bring the un-graced and watch as the revelation of Jesus transforms lives. Watch too how God confirms his word with signs following.