The Gospel of God

Temple Baptist Church - 3-25-2009

Galatians 1:10-24

Introduction:
A. Paul spent the first nine verses glorifying:

1. Glorifying the Gospel of God – vs. 1-5

a. Glorifying God for the gift of His Son – vs. 3
b. Glorifying Jesus Christ for the sacrifice of Himself – vs. 4
c. Glorifying the Gospel for being all of grace – vs. 4

2. Warning the Galatians – vs. 6-9

a. Concerning “Another” Gospel – vs. 6-7a
b. Concerning the Accursed Preachers – vs. 7b-9

B. Paul now turns to vindicating:

1. The Authorship of the Gospel – vs. 10-12
2. The Apostleship of the Missionary – vs. 11-19

C. In these verses, Paul gives his personal testimony of the saving grace and life changing grace of the gospel of Christ.

1. The Possession Of The Gospel – vs. 10-11 - Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (and it only) is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

a. If Paul pleased men he had to “persuade” God which is ludicrous! He then became servant to men. It is a lot easier to please men as that is the easy road. The road may be easy but the end is one of regret and sorrow for the Judgment Seat of Christ lies ahead!

b. If Paul pleased God he had to “persuade” men. He then became servant to God. To please God will make things more difficult for the man of God but end will be a “well done, thou good and faithful servant” at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Ephesians 6:5-7 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

c. Man made gospels always add or take away which makes them “another gospel which is not another.” A “gospel” that cannot save!

2. The Power Of The Gospel – vs. 12-13

a. Paul’s Past – Power to save from religion.

Acts 26:5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

b. Paul’s Persecution – Power to save from righteous wrong doing.

Galatians 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

c. Paul’s Profiting – Power to save from riches.

Matthew 19:24-26 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

3. The Performance Of The Gospel – vs. 14-16

a. God Called Him On Time – “When it pleased God!”

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

b. God Called Him Through Grace – “Called me by his grace!”

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

c. God Called Him In Assurance – “Conferred not”

Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

4. The Propagation Of The Gospel – vs. 16-22

a. The Person Of Christ In Paul – “reveal his Son in me”

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

b. The Preaching Of Christ In Paul – “that I might preach him”

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

c. The Preparation Of Christ In Paul – “conferred not with flesh and blood”

1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

5. The Praise Of The Gospel – vs. 23-24

a. They Saw The Grace Of God In Paul – “persecuted…preached”

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

b. They saw The Glory Of God In Paul – “they glorified God in me”

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven