THE ONLY AND TRUE GOSPEL

Passage: Galatians 1:1-10

Key verse: 4

NIV

1 Paul, an apostle(A)—sent not from men nor by a man,(B) but by Jesus Christ(C) and God the Father,(D) who raised him from the dead(E)— 2 and all the brothers and sisters[a] with me,(F)

To the churches in Galatia:(G)

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,(H) 4 who gave himself for our sins(I) to rescue us from the present evil age,(J) according to the will of our God and Father,(K) 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(L)

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called(M) you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel(N)— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion(O) and are trying to pervert(P) the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,(Q) let them be under God’s curse!(R) 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted,(S) let them be under God’s curse!

10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people?(T) If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

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Footnotes
  1. Galatians 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 11; and in 3:15; 4:12, 28, 31; 5:11, 13; 6:1, 18.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Greeting

1 Paul, an (A)apostle—(B)not from men nor through man, but (C)through Jesus Christ and God the Father, (D)who raised him from the dead— 2 and all (E)the brothers[a] who are with me,

To (F)the churches of Galatia:

3 (G)Grace to you and peace (H)from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 (I)who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present (J)evil age, according to the will of (K)our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

No Other Gospel

6 I am astonished that you are (L)so quickly deserting (M)him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to (N)a different gospel— 7 (O)not that there is another one, but (P)there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or (Q)an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, (R)let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, (S)let him be accursed.

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying (T)to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a (U)servant[b] of Christ.

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Footnotes
  1. Galatians 1:2 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 11
  2. Galatians 1:10 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

INTRODUCTION TO GALATIANS

The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Galatian churches which were pioneered during his first missionary journey as recorded in Acts chapters 13 and 14. It was probably written between 49 and 56 A.D. and may have been written very early in his ministry. Though shorter in length than many of his letters, Galatians has many similarities in theme, style, and composition to the gospels, as do Romans and 1 and 2 Corinthians.

In Galatians, Paul addresses a vocal group of Jews from Jerusalem who opposed him and challenged his credibility. They deceived the Galatian Christians into believing they needed to follow Jewish law in order to be accepted by God and into fellowship with Jewish Christians. Paul tore down these lies in this epistle. Christ died for the sins of all people. He set us free. (5:1) We are saved only by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ. (2:16) Our new life in Christ is revealed, not by following ceremonies and rituals, but by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

May the study of Galatians grow us into deeper fellowship with Jesus and with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

1. Sent by God and by Jesus Christ (1-5)

Paul was writing to a church in which his ministry and teachings were attacked. Paul initiated his letter by reminding his readers who he was. He was an apostle. An apostle is one who was personally chosen by Jesus to take his message to others. And Paul said that he was not chosen by men, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father. Paul would proclaim the gospel to the Galatians by the authority of Jesus Christ and God the Father. The message Paul brought was one of grace and peace, which we received because Jesus gave himself for our sins.

2. There is only one gospel (6-1

)

Paul wasted no time in getting to the point. He was astonished that the Galatians were abandoning the gospel for another one. There is only one gospel. Anything other than the one true gospel cannot save. Paul said that anyone preaching any gospel other than the one true gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ, is condemned. Why was Paul so adamant? The gospel is a life or death matter.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Jesus who died on the cross to save us from our sins. Help us to hold to this gospel alone.

One Word: Only one gospel