Gospel of Christ Gal. 1:6-12 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

In this passage of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Paul addresses his concerns that the Galatians have turned from the gospel of Christ to another gospel.  In our lesson we will define, from the scriptures, the gospel of Christ and then we will see that it was revealed to Paul, preached by Paul and received by the Galatians.

Following Paul’s work among the Galatians, other men came behind him and preached another gospel.  From our passage we will study the pertinent aspects of “another gospel” so that we don’t get tripped up by the same kinds of men that troubled the Galatians.

The gospel of Christ is simply stated in 1 Cor 15:3-4 as the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Christ died for sinners [Rom 5:6-8] and shed his blood to propitiate God and to justify us [Rom 3:23-26; Rom 5:9].  He rose from the dead that we might live with him forever [Rom 6:3-12].  We are saved when we believe Jesus Christ and put our faith in his finished work [Rom 10:8-13].

Now notice from our text, the gospel of Christ:

Revealed – Gal 1:12 – Paul didn’t come up with this gospel on his own or by another man; this gospel was revealed to him by Jesus Christ [2 Cor 12:1, 7; Eph 3:3-5].

Preached – Gal 1:8 – “that which we have preached” – that is what Paul was called to do [1 Cor 1:17-18] – and that’s what he did everywhere he went [Acts 13:26-39, in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia on his first missionary journey].

Received – Gal 1:9 – “that ye have received” – as a result, there were disciples and churches in Galatia [Acts 18:23; Gal 1:2] – it is not up to us to “persuade” men to get saved [Gal 1:10] – it is up to us to preach the gospel and for them to believe and receive Jesus Christ [Jn 1:12-13].

And then notice these aspects of another gospel – another gospel:

Originates with man – Gal 1:11 – any other gospel is unlike the gospel of Christ that originated with God [Acts 2:23] – some “gospels” that have originated with men are Jehovah’s Witnesses [Charles Taze Russell], Mormons [Joe Smith], Roman Catholicism [Origen], Christian Science [Mary Baker Eddy], Seventh Day Adventist [William Miller].

Persuades men – Gal 1:10 – they would persuade God if they could – “persuade” in the Bible is often used in a negative context of inducing someone to believe something that isn’t true [1 Ki 22:20-22] – and that’s what any other gospel will do to men.

Pleases men – Gal 1:10 – when a man preaches a gospel to please men then he is not the servant of Christ [Eph 6:6] and his preaching does not honor God [Jn 5:41-44] – men are pleased with another gospel because it appeals to their self-righteousness and they don’t have to bear the offence and persecution of the cross [Gal 5:11, 6:12].

Removes men from Christ – Gal 1:6 – the object of the gospel is to conform you to Christ [Gal 4:19; Rom 8:29] – the object of another gospel is to conform you to men [Mk 7:7-9; Titus 1:14].

Perverts the gospel of Christ – Gal 1:7 – the gospel of Christ is simple [2 Cor 11:3] – any other gospel adds works to salvation, placing a yoke of bondage upon its followers [Acts 15:9-11; Gal 5:1-4].

Deviates from Paul’s gospel – Gal 1:8 – “any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you” – Paul’s gospel [Rom 2:16] is the gold standard because it is the one that he received from the Lord Jesus Christ – any gospel that deviates from Paul’s gospel is “another gospel” – this is a simple method by which you can identify them “that trouble you,” [Gal 1:7].

Curses its preachers and followers – Gal 1:8-9 – “let him be accursed” – this is strong language – there is no room to agree to disagree with someone preaching another gospel – Paul is simply judging them the way that God will judge them in eternity [Matt 23:15, 33].

Conclusion: The gospel of Christ was given to Paul for us to preach and for men to receive – any other gospel that men preach is a perversion of the gospel of Christ and will send its followers straight to hell.