Scripture:
Galatians 1:6-17 NKJV
[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 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 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. [10] For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. [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. [13] For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. [14] And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. [15] But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, [16] to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, [17] nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
Observation:
Over the last several years, the only source of entertainment I have truly sought after is learning GOD’S word. Once I found out it was a love letter written to me. I couldn’t help but want to know what HE had to say. At this point in my home there is no TV or any other distractions. Now I’m not trying to say don’t watch TV or do anything like that, but for me, I want my life to be totally consumed with GOD, and that’s one way for me to make it happen. I do not want to be deceived, and as we quickly approach the return of Christ the deception is going to increase. It’s not a new problem however, it’s a problem that has existed from the very beginning. The portion of scripture that I was led to this morning is proof of that. The church in Galatia was established by Paul, so you can see the reason for his passion as he does his best to correct what has been taught. It seems that someone had come in behind him and led this church astray, putting them under the impression that there was more to salvation than grace and grace alone. That simply is not true. When Paul heard about this he knew that he had to correct it immediately. As you begin to read this short letter you can hear the frustration in his writings. With words like, “I marvel at you turning away so soon from HIM who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel.” You see, Paul knew the time and effort it took as he began to teach them when the church was being formed, and he was willing to take the time to correct it. There is only one gospel, and it’s not taught by man. As he begins to lay down how he came to know what he had already taught them, he wanted to build on that fact. The men who had come in and taught contrary to what Paul had already taken the time to bring them were Jewish converts who had a hard time getting past the fact that the law was not a means of salvation. As he comes against that teaching he wants to insure the fact that the only real good news is that Jesus Christ, the very son of GOD paid the price that we could never pay because we owed a debt that was beyond our ability to cover. So he says that even if an angel from heaven comes and says something different it’s not true. Paul knew the spiritual warfare, he knew the deception that would take place and the motivation that was behind it. After all he was at one point a part of it. Let’s remember that day he was called to be an apostle. As he was knocked on his back by Jesus Christ HIMSELF. All that he had been taught by the rabbi he sat under as a child flashing in front of him and being burned to the ground. The true picture of Christ being engraved on his heart, as the Torah became only the beginning of the story, rather than the way to heaven. The gospel could not be taught by man, and Paul knew it. Men would always throw their twist on it, and that’s just not how it works. Salvation is a gift, it has to be received, it can not be earned. Paul’s conduct as a student of the Jewish ways had only brought him to the Damascus road experience. Blinded and helpless. He couldn’t do it on his own; he had to have Jesus. Could you imagine the emotional devastation. Everything you ever thought you knew was thrown out the window in a matter of seconds. Not only that but it was all flipped upside down. To what he thought he knew was the opposite of the truth. It was all about Jesus Christ, the sacrifice that would change it all. It would tear down an insufficient system and put the ultimate authority in place. It’s through scripture alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, Christ alone for the glory of GOD alone. Paul’s life, childhood, and everything he had ever been taught came down to…. It’s all about Jesus, the one he had spent so much time persecuting. He wanted to make sure that those in Galatia did not get misled the same way he was as a child. He knew there was only one gospel. He had learned that the hard way. His desire was that no one would have to face that same kind of reconstructive surgery.
Application:
It’s hard for us as humans to understand that something so valuable would be given to us for free. Everything in life has a price right. Well it’s something that we have to rewire our mind on. You just can’t earn it. It’s a gift from GOD. I believe John chapter 3 and verse 16 explains it best. The entire gospel was spelled out in just one verse. I know it’s one that you know, in fact it’s probably the most widely memorized verse in the world. It’s a gift. But that’s not how we are conditioned as children. We are told anything worth having is worth working for, and if you want something you have to work for it. But then GOD comes in and flips our world upside down, by giving us the greatest gift we could ever receive, and telling us there is nothing we could ever do to repay it. I want you to think about this. If your grandma gave you a birthday gift and it was something you always wanted…. How do you think she would feel seeing the joy on your face as you receive that gift? It would probably put a smile on her heart seeing the light come to your eyes as you peeled back the paper to expose the greatest gift in the world. The excitement that came to your face as you jumped up and down receiving something you never thought you would have. Now I want you to think about how she would feel if you then told her… oh grandma you shouldn’t have…. I’m going to come over once a week and clean your house and mow your yard until I pay you back for this gift. All the joy of giving the gift would be gone. A gift can not be earned. It is giving freely. Your salvation is a gift. It was paid for by the blood of Christ. The deal is sealed. There is nothing you can do to repay it. The son of GOD gave HIS life for you, so that you could have a way to be a part of the family. It’s over, there is no more to discuss about it. You can not repay it. Now it’s time to enjoy the salvation that was freely given. Who the son sets free is free indeed. The salvation HE died for, set you free from sin. You no longer are a slave to sin so stop living in that captivity. It’s not who you are. It’s who you were. Any man who is in Christ is a new creation just like Christ died on the cross that old man you used to be died with HIM. The flesh was put to death. It’s a daily choice. To be a new man. Christ died so that we could be free so we are free to discover a life beyond our wildest dreams. I live without the bondage of who we used to be. A new life peeling away the world and becoming who HE made us…. A new man.
Prayer:
Father, you are so amazing. All we can truly do is thank you. I know the message this morning might seem a little simple,but it’s also sometimes hard for us to remember that you gave us a gift. It’s hard for us to comprehend that it can not be earned. Your son’s life was worth more than we could ever pay, and you sent HIM here with one purpose, to purchase our redemption. Thank you. I want to do my best so that the gift you gave me is put to good uses. I want to continue to become the man you made me to be not to earn anything but because I want you, Father to see that the gift you gave me is appreciated. I want to take care of it to the best of my ability. Thank you for your grace and mercy. You are way more than I deserve and I love you. May this SOAP reach the hearts of all who take the time to read it. Its in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.