WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:06.400 It's been such a joy to be with you here again at uh the Cripplegate Conference and with the church family here at IBC. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:10.320 We we love this church, uh Cornerstone Church in Jackson, Wyoming. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:15.599 We're so grateful for your pastor, for your leadership, and for all of you here uh at this church. 00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:16.879 It's a pleasure for us. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:25.359 We we come often uh getting to know some of you faces becoming more familiar, so it's really a privilege for us to be here. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:45.439 For our study this evening, which you if you'd grab your Bible and turn to the book of Galatians, Galatians chapter one, I have been tasked with talking about a warning against legalism. 00:00:46.159 --> 00:00:48.960 A warning against legalism. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:51.600 Galatians chapter one. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:01:02.960 This afternoon, uh I was over in Baltimore, had the privilege of preaching at George Lawson's church, who I think we heard from this morning. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:27.760 And and on the way back, uh Adam, Adam Howard, who's here one of our elders in training from Quarterstone Church in Jackson, we stopped and saw some of the monuments, some of the war monuments around here, which is really a joy, a sobering joy to see these and to remember, as well as celebrating the 75th anniversary of D-Day uh this past week, June 6th, of course. 00:01:28.799 --> 00:01:52.719 And as as we think about World War II, there was a situation where during the war the Nazis sought out Jewish individuals from a particular concentration camp just prior to World War II. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:57.120 This was at the what was called the Zachzenhausen. 00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:01.439 Say that three times fast, Zachenhausen concentration camp. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:11.840 And the Nazis combed the camp and searched through the concentration camp and said, which are which of you are artists? 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:16.159 All the artists, you you need to come with us. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:37.520 And they forced some of the Jewish individuals there whom they had gathered up, these artists, to forge British pounds and American dollars to create counterfeit money, in other words. 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:48.960 And what was interesting is the counterfeiting of those pounds and the dollars they were forced to do, it was really for that time an incredible quality. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:52.479 Very, very close to the real thing. 00:02:52.960 --> 00:03:01.680 Almost, historians say it was almost impossible to distinguish these British pounds and the American dollars from the real thing. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:10.400 Now, of course, the Germans thankfully could not put their plan into action and spend the money. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:15.439 They were forced to dump the counterfeit bills into a lake. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:22.319 And most of those bills were not discovered until later in the 1950s. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.960 But counterfeiting money has been a practice of the ages. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:41.680 I have I have friends back home in Wyoming who are in the banking industry and and they talk about often how counterfeit bills are coming into their hands. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:51.840 And and tellers get rewards if they if they spot and stop a counterfeit bill. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:57.919 The thing is, there's an interesting thing with counterfeit money. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:21.120 No matter how close it looks, all of the markings, all of the printing, the art, the color, even if it is ninety-nine point nine percent close to the real thing, how much is it worth? 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:22.399 Zero. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:24.560 Void. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:46.560 You take a counterfeit$100 bill, you know, with Benjamin Franklin's face on it and his hair combed nicely, all the intricate art on the front and the back, you know, 99.92% close. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:53.680 If you if you take that to the bank, and they catch you, you know, you're gonna go to jail. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:00.000 But if you were to try to spend that, how much is it worth? 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:01.519 Zero. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:12.639 It's not like, well, it's you know, it's 98% close, so it's worth$98, or it's 50% there, so it's worth$50. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:18.079 No, you you go to jail, it's not worth a dime. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:29.439 And this is something of what we see in the Apostle Paul's warning when it comes to legalism and false gospels. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:34.800 They might be close. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:54.399 As we'll see in this particular situation, there was a sense in which, from you know, from a distance, a superficial look, the gospel that Paul is condemning looks somewhat close from afar, which is passing through. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.480 But it is not saveable. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:06.000 And an 80% gospel, 90% close, 92% there. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.959 It is 0% savable. 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:30.480 In the immediate context here, in Galatians, Paul's warning again is it is it is very strong, and it is against this gospel, so-called, we'll put that in quotes, that veers uh towards legalism and is legalism. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:40.160 And so the warning will not only apply to legalism, but any gospel which differs from that of Scripture. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:51.600 So, with that, follow along as I read Galatians 1, just to get a little bit of momentum and context, I'm gonna start in chapter 1, verse 1, and I'll read through verse 9. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:55.360 Galatians chapter 1, verse 1. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:12.560 The inerate infallible word of God reads Paul, an apostle, not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead, and all the brethren who are with me to the churches of Galatia. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:27.920 Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins, so that he might rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:28.879 Amen. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:30.319 Verse 6. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:43.600 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel, which is really not another. 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:48.800 Only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:08:00.879 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:14.160 As we have said before, so I say again now if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:18.240 Sobering words. 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:25.920 Again from the apostle of grace, the apostle Paul. 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:29.839 A little reminder of what's happening here in the context. 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:44.240 It's about mid late 40s A.D., Paul and his team they go through the Galatian region, what is now central Turkey, plant churches through the preaching of the gospel of grace. 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:47.200 Many individuals come to faith in Christ. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:50.159 They suffer some near-death experiences. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:09:03.840 And shortly after there, after that, after Paul plants the churches and strengthens them and raises up leaders, he leaves, then he gets word of something very disturbing, which we just read in these verses here. 00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:11.919 So he writes, though there is uh some aggression here, it is holy aggression. 00:09:12.159 --> 00:09:26.960 Paul writes out of a deep sense of love for the Lord, love for souls, a concern for their eternity, and a concern for that which is most important. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:39.919 And that is their standing before God, and that which, and he whom accomplishes that right standing, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.480 There's really one big issue here. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:51.519 How can humanity, imperfect, flawed, sinful, have right standing before a perfect, flawless, and a holy God? 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:54.480 And that is being distorted. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:08.879 In the Galatian region, there was after Paul leaves, and it's like you pull a rock out of a river, and you know, water quickly replaces the rock. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:23.840 Just like that, these false teachers came in, sometimes called Judaizers, who were adding something to the gospel and therefore not improving it, but diluting and distorting it. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:32.720 They probably claim to be Christians, but as we're gonna see, their message was dangerous. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:37.519 It was legalistic, and it was a false gospel. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:40.799 And for that, Paul is exercised. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:49.600 He's gonna say, even though it's kinda close, it's not gonna kinda save. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:52.159 It will not save at all. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:11:14.320 His sort of big idea, big picture message, is that uh salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, and any deviation from the gospel of grace is to desert God and to be cursed. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:19.519 So there's three three points I want us to see here. 00:11:19.600 --> 00:11:24.559 Number one is this, all having to do with the purity of the gospel. 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:31.039 Number one, adding works to the gospel is to defect from God. 00:11:31.759 --> 00:11:33.360 We'll see this in verse six. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:40.159 Adding works to the gospel is to defect from God. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:46.320 It is to defect from God. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:52.480 This book, this particular section of scripture is such a gift for us. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:59.679 The gospel is and has throughout history come under attack and threats. 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:10.960 We must always remember what the gospel is, the purity of the gospel, the importance of its purity, because adding works to the gospel is to defect from God. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:21.200 These verses here, six through nine, really they will reveal the problem in the churches, which is going to be addressed by the majority of the letter of the Galatians. 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:32.000 Now, typically, the apostle, you know, in books like Ephesians and Colossians and Philippians, he opens his letters with you know several verses of encouragement. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:36.720 So thankful to God for you and how you're doing in your faith. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:41.120 And there's nothing like that in this opening. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:48.960 He is, in a holy way, incensed because of the issue at hand. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:58.399 And so there is a sense in which we must share Paul's passion about the purity of the gospel of our blessed Lord Jesus. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:12:59.919 Look at verse 6. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:01.759 Look how he starts the letter. 00:13:02.399 --> 00:13:03.679 The main body of the letter. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:04.480 Verse 6. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:07.039 I am amazed. 00:13:09.039 --> 00:13:10.080 I'm amazed. 00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:16.879 The Greek word, it's an emphatic expression of shock or astonishment. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:20.639 And here it is used very much in the negative. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:23.679 I'm speechless. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.399 This cannot be happening, is the idea. 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:37.120 Paul uses this expression only one other time in his epistles when he is referring to the return of Christ, that we're going to be amazed. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:39.279 And yes, we will. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.879 But this is a different type of amazement. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:47.200 One of the godliest men of the faith. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.600 Shocked. 00:13:53.200 --> 00:14:00.159 You know when he's when Paul is beaten for the faith and and persecuted, he doesn't see he doesn't even use this word. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:03.360 What are you amazed at, Paul? 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.480 Look back at verse 6. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:12.320 That you are so quickly deserting him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:18.480 Now notice at first, you are deserting him who calls you. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:26.320 This deserting, the word has the idea of changing sides, of defection. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:32.879 Like the serious act that the word was used to describe a traitor in a military in a national context. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:35.039 A very serious thing. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.639 Something has happened in these Galatian churches. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:41.200 They're defecting from God. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.879 And it happened quickly. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:48.480 I mean, this is there's about a year from when Paul was there to when he writes this letter. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:15:04.879 And isn't that a reminder of as church members and as church leaders that if we're not careful to teach sound doctrine and to shepherd the flock, that false things can come in quickly. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.720 But they have deserted him. 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:11.200 Him who called you by the grace of Christ. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:12.399 This is a reminder. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:19.360 Paul right away wants them to remember the grace of God, the grace of Christ, him who called you. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.919 That's a term referring to grace. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:45.120 God is the one who called them, who brought them into the faith, and he's saying that in part because they are starting to veer towards a gospel that starts to dilute and diminish what God has done, and focusing on what man is to do and what man is to supposedly do for salvation, which of course is a false gospel. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:52.159 Four times in just six verses. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.000 Several times he's using this word grace to emphasize what God has done. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:07.360 Because, as Paul said in Romans 11 6, if works are added to the gospel, then grace is no longer grace. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:09.840 Romans 11 6. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:14.960 And let us be reminded of the gospel of grace, that we have a backdrop. 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:22.080 Sometimes it's said in studying and preparing for counterfeit bills, people study the real thing. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:27.759 To be able to recognize any type of deviation, reminder of the gospel. 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:42.559 Good news that starts with the truth that God is a God, as we've been studying at the conference throughout the weekend, that God is a God of towering holiness, otherness, separateness in all his ways. 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:47.279 There is no one holy like the Lord, for Samuel 2.2. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:52.720 And so that is his requirement. 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:58.559 The law is a reflection of the beauty and the loftiness of his holiness. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:04.960 We must be as holy as God is, Matthew 5, 48, in every way. 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.839 Our thoughts must perfectly conform to the holiness of God. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:16.400 Our motivations for why we do what we do all the time, what we do, must perfectly conform to the holiness of God. 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:27.119 Our words, our actions, even our nature must perfectly and flawlessly match God's own holiness. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.759 Must honor God as much as he deserves. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.200 Love God as much as he deserves. 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:33.920 Revere God as much as he deserves. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:50.640 And so it's been said that it would be easier to climb to the moon on a rope of sand than to, by our works, earn our way into heaven and merit righteousness before this holy God. 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:58.400 Galatians 3.10, Paul later will write, as many as are of the works of the law. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.119 You want to depend on works to get to heaven? 00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:14.400 As many as are of the works of the law are under a curse, because it's written, he refers back to Mosaic law from which from which they're polling in Galatia for right standing with God. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.680 You want to do that, he says? 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:23.119 Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law to perform them. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:33.039 In other words, you have to do all 600 plus of these things, however many laws there were, and be perfectly conformed to the holiness of God in your own nature. 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:43.839 So the psalmist rightly says in Psalm 130, O Lord, if you should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:48.400 Psalm 130, who could stand? 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:50.480 And then I like verse 4. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:58.160 But there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:07.839 How can there be forgiveness from, I mean, our incessant violation of the perfection of God's holiness? 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:21.839 Later again in Galatians 3, Paul will write, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:34.319 Forgiveness happens by substitution, which Paul has already mentioned at the outset in Galatians 1, even before verse 6, he'll mention it several times throughout the letter. 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:43.599 Substitution of the only one, the incarnate God, God man, truly God, truly man. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:49.839 He perfectly in nature, in thought, in motivation, in word, in deed, in action, in everything. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:56.559 The Lord Jesus conformed to the holiness of God the Father. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:13.599 And so therefore, he is qualified in he alone to substitute himself, to become the curse for us, we who are under a curse for not having perfectly conformed to God's holiness and God's law, he becomes the substitute. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:23.839 He substituted himself, motivated by his love for us, motivated by his own mercy and his compassion and God the Father's plan from all eternity to save a people. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:38.960 And so that on the basis of substitution of the impeccable God man, that curse is taken from us and put on him, and he is sentenced for our sin. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:42.720 That the unrighteous will become righteous. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.640 And he died on the cross. 00:20:46.960 --> 00:21:01.359 And so in Christ, in his substitution, he substitutes himself in living this perfectly righteous life on our behalf and dying this horrific death as a wrath-bearing sacrifice for us. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:18.960 And then he rises from the grave, and then by faith alone, not any works, we put our confidence in Jesus, our substitute, in Christ our mediator, because there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:24.720 And salvation is accomplished by works, but not ours, right? 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.240 We understand that. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:32.720 We add nothing to it, and if we attempt to, we distort it, as Paul is saying here. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:35.119 This is the gospel of grace. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:41.440 That though by our own works we are infinitely in the red in unrighteousness. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:49.440 We are not only forgiven of that unrighteousness, but we are credited with Christ's righteousness. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:58.799 That by faith alone we have the very standing and the positional righteousness of Christ before Almighty God, and that is permanent. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.759 That will never be undone. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:08.960 Never be reversed, never be taken away from us, because as it is accomplished by Christ and declared by God the Father in the courtroom of heaven. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.880 This is good news. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:17.039 And yet they are they are defecting from this good news in Galatia. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.279 And so there is a warning. 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:26.880 Paul says, you are deserting him for a different gospel. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:32.240 And so notice that embracing a different gospel isn't just a difference of fine print. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:36.160 It's not a matter of a little paperwork and paper shuffling. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:39.359 This is deserting God, it says in the text. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:44.480 Defecting from God for a different gospel. 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:52.480 As we've been mentioning throughout the conference, there are basically just two gospels, right? 00:22:54.400 --> 00:23:00.400 The gospel of divine accomplishment and the gospel, which is no gospel of human achievement. 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:09.759 And they're the the Judaizers and those who are following them in Galatia are saying, oh, we need to add some works. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.799 Need to add some works here. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:18.079 And this is just unthinkable. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:19.599 It is spiritual suicide. 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:30.000 Why would we want to veer from the beauty of faith alone and Christ alone by grace alone? 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.200 Why would we want to do that? 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:33.680 Why would they want to do that in Galatia? 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:37.680 What an unthinkable thing to do. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:40.400 To add this yoke, as it were. 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.880 Why would you choose a different gospel? 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:46.960 And the warning here is to do so is to defect from God. 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.440 Number two. 00:23:51.680 --> 00:23:59.839 Number two, though appearing similar, all differing gospels are complete distortions. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:01.200 Verse seven. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:12.720 Though maybe appearing similar, though maybe appearing similar, all differing gospels are complete distortions. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.200 Verse 7. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:18.960 All differing gospels are complete distortions. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:21.680 Therefore they are not gospels. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:24.640 Paul will now elaborate on what he said in verse 6. 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:26.079 Look at verse 7. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:32.160 Which is really, this different referring to the different gospels, which is really not another. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.920 There are different gospels subjectively. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:44.319 There are different ways in which people suppose they'll get to heaven, some kind of close to the real thing, mentioning Christ. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:49.440 And that's what's happening here in Galatia. 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:59.440 You see, this different gospel that Paul is speaking to you in the context that the Judaizers brought, they did say, oh, of course, of course, believe in this Jesus. 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:02.480 Yes, put your trust in this Christ. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:15.839 But there's a couple other things from the Mosaic Law we need to make sure that we're in step with if we're going to be justified, if we're going to have right standing before God, one of them being circumcision. 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:21.440 So is Christ plus a couple things. 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:25.920 And therefore, he says in verse 7, it's not a gospel. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.319 It is really not another. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.079 Objectively, there are no other gospels. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:36.480 There is only the gospel of the Bible. 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:40.000 He says, which is really not another back in verse 7. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:45.359 Only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:55.359 Again, these who are disturbing them, the Judaizers, disturb, they're destabilizing them completely from the most important thing. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:56.880 Faith in Christ. 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:59.279 They probably didn't realize how destabilized they were. 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:00.720 They're distorting the gospel. 00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:06.240 Distort has the idea of a strong contrast or a radical change. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:22.720 And again, these aren't, these Judaizers aren't some, you know, polytheistic rank Roman pagans coming in with, you know, with little statues and saying, you know, worship all these all these gods and Jupiter and Hermes and all these other things. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.759 They're not saying that at all. 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.759 They are saying yes, Christ. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:27.839 So it looks close. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:33.279 Christ, his death on the cross, and. 00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:42.400 And notice that Paul, God does not say through the through the pen of Paul, he doesn't say, well, at least you believe in Christ. 00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:46.240 At least you say you trust Jesus. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:50.400 Okay, you have 80% of it, you have 90% of it. 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:56.799 There's no sort of comfort, there's no sort of safety net given here for Christ and and Jesus plus. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:01.039 Again, like counterfeit money. 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:08.160 88% close is 100% condemned. 00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:11.200 0% saving. 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:15.359 No power to put us in right standing with God. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:23.279 Though appearing similar, all differing gospels are complete distortions. 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.480 Why now, why is it? 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:29.519 Let's just ask, pause briefly for a moment. 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.480 Why is it? 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:48.000 What is it with human nature that, frankly, I mean, we have plenty of evidence around us, people we know and love even, that people gravitate towards different gospels, especially in the context here, a gospel with some works in it. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:51.759 What is it that draws us towards that? 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:59.279 I think at least one thing is human pride, isn't it? 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:07.519 Pride is the sinfulness of sin, the mother of sin, the ground from which all sin sprouts. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:19.200 Pride, a craving to have a little bit of glory, a little bit of spiritual fame, a little bit of contribution to that which is most important. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.839 My salvation. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:29.839 That I did something to, yeah, God helped me, but I did something to get myself into God's favor. 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.160 I meant well. 00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:34.640 I wasn't that bad of a person. 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:44.480 You know, as we do some door-to-door now and then and do outreach back in northwestern Wyoming, up in the Tetons there. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:46.720 We we hear this often. 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:53.359 Well, you know, I don't I don't really know why you're saying this, because I mean I'm a I'm a I'm a pretty decent person. 00:28:53.519 --> 00:29:01.839 God will see that I've tried hard and he might forgive a couple things that need to be forgiven, but also see that I added, I put something into it. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:06.000 So even in that statement, they're saying, God and. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:13.200 And there is this incessant human lust, if we could say, to contribute. 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:17.440 God and I are kind of teaming up. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:38.799 And this is part of the reason why God humbles us and humility and really dismantling our pride is essential when an individual becomes a Christian to say, no, it is all God, all Christ, all grace, all Jesus, 0% us. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:45.759 It is all God the Father, it is all God the Son, it is all God the Spirit, it is 0% us. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:53.119 Which of course coincides with really the theme of the Bible, the glory of God, right? 00:29:54.799 --> 00:30:12.000 Because if we can contribute anything, even if we can contribute our will in the process, well then these verses like you know, Isaiah 42.8, which is God where God says, I don't share my glory with another, he should change that verse to say, Well, I don't share my glory with others, but I share it a little bit with you in salvation. 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:19.279 If we can add a little bit of works, which would be efficacious and meriting righteousness before God, we would have to change those Bible verses. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:31.279 The fact of the matter is, all distortions, no matter how close, are false gospels. 00:30:31.440 --> 00:30:32.640 We have many of these in our day. 00:30:32.799 --> 00:30:35.599 It would take us all night to name them. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:40.319 As mentioned, individuals, sort of a moral humanitarian gospel. 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:43.279 Yeah, you can believe in God, but I do good works. 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:57.200 There are also some closer gospels where individuals suppose that, well, I, you know, I walked up an aisle at a camp or at a church, and so based on what I did there, I'm saved. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:59.680 I recited a certain prayer. 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:03.519 So that that put me in right favor with God. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.759 We have to be careful. 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:22.480 Yes, maybe you were converted and made regenerate by the grace of God through the power of the Spirit in that moment, but even then we can look back on what I did and what I said and how I exerted myself and trust in that for our salvation. 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:24.559 We have to be very careful. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:39.279 And there are even more that are blatant in our day, it's necessary at times, not always, but at times to mention the error of the Roman Catholic gospel. 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:43.680 This is a gospel of Jesus plus works. 00:31:45.200 --> 00:32:12.559 In the Council of Trent, which is inerrant doctrine in Rome, and says this if anyone says that after the grace of justification has been received to every penitent sinner, the guilt is remitted and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such a way that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged, either in this world or in the next in purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened to him, let him be cursed. 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:28.160 In other words, if you're saying that by faith alone, in Christ alone, there is no condemnation, you don't go to purgatory, there's no more punishment, that you go straight to heaven when you die, you are in right standing with God instantly and permanently. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:31.519 If you say that, you're accursed by this Roman doctrine. 00:32:31.680 --> 00:32:33.519 That is a false gospel. 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:43.680 And if Paul were in our day, he would have the same exact words in Galatians 1, 6 through 9 to say about that tragic, false system. 00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:51.279 Romans 5, 1, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:56.480 Romans 8.1, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:06.240 We might think of it this way: if there was a doctor in town practicing, and in his in his practice in a harmful way. 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:16.799 Where it's he would do surgery in a way where he would almost heal somebody and then would let them die on the bed. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:24.000 Well, this individual's license would be revoked, they need to be exposed, they need to be prosecuted, shut down. 00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:32.160 And matters of the gospel are dealing with something that are way more longstanding than our physical existence, aren't they? 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:41.759 Eternity, which is God, which is why God is so loving to give this passage, and which is why the apostle of grace is so fired up here. 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:57.599 And so the greatest threat to the gospel we can observe is not those teachings which blatantly reject Christ and his word necessarily, but sometimes the greatest threat to the gospel are these things that are like, you know, 80 for 85, 90% close. 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:59.119 Yes, Jesus. 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:09.199 But also this 85% true is a hundred percent destructive and unsaving. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:11.199 Number three. 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:14.480 Number three, and finally here. 00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:19.760 Those who propagate a false gospel are condemned. 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:27.039 Those who propagate a false gospel are condemned. 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:28.800 Verses eight and nine. 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.679 They are condemned. 00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:35.039 Look at verse eight. 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:41.679 And then Paul really gives a powerful sort of nailing this home here. 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:42.559 Look at verse 8. 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:58.000 He says, but even if we, even if we, referring to himself and his team, even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed. 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:01.599 Any gospel that differs. 00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:12.000 And now Paul is focusing more on the messenger and less on the message here, the mode of delivery. 00:35:12.880 --> 00:35:14.480 He who delivers it. 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:27.599 He's really saying that an individual's spiritual, religious credentials, they don't matter if they're distorting the beauty of the gospel of grace by faith alone and Christ alone. 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:34.159 And Paul, even to make the point, this is why this is such a powerful point. 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:36.480 He throws himself in the mix. 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:40.159 Even if I did this, he says, I'm not exempt. 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:42.559 It's not going to happen. 00:35:42.960 --> 00:35:55.199 Somewhat hyperbolic, but he throws himself, the apostle, who saw the risen Christ, academic training from the finest school, the first century, ancient East. 00:35:56.559 --> 00:36:00.239 He's saying, look, this isn't about me ultimately or the messenger. 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:07.039 But only the true gospel of grace by faith only in Christ alone, by which humanity must be saved. 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:13.199 But then he elevates it to a supernatural being, even if an angel from heaven. 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:31.280 It doesn't matter if there's some supernatural being, some miracle if that would happen, some miraculous event happening in front of you, if they claim to have been spoken to by God or an angel, if the gospel they teach is off even a bit. 00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:38.400 Jesus and yes, Jesus, but yes, Christ and also. 00:36:49.599 --> 00:36:55.679 If their gospel is slightly off, it is a no gospel and not saving it is a desertion from God. 00:36:56.239 --> 00:37:00.719 How popular they are, how celebrated, how famous they are, it doesn't matter. 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:03.039 Christian bookstores, it doesn't matter. 00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:11.519 Nothing matters if the gospel is slightly distorted because the message, we understand, is far more important than the messenger. 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:16.800 Content of the teaching is more important than credentials of the teacher ultimately. 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:20.480 Popularity is not more important than purity of doctrine. 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:22.000 There is one gospel. 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:25.599 And so Paul says, look at the end of verse 8. 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:30.000 If it is contrary, he is to be accursed. 00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:35.760 One of the strongest words to communicate that this individual is condemned. 00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:38.719 They are not saved. 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:42.159 They are under a curse from God. 00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:48.719 There's no worse place to be than under that last word in your Bible in verse 8. 00:37:48.960 --> 00:37:49.920 Accursed. 00:37:51.360 --> 00:37:53.039 It's to abandon God. 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:56.079 Accursed, it means devoted to destruction. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:00.239 You never want to be in that category. 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:14.239 And God is in effect saying, even though these teachers in Galatia they might be saying Jesus' name, they might be talking about Christ, saying yes, yes, yes, his death, yes, yes, yes, his resurrection. 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:20.800 But because they are adding a couple of other things of works, they are devoted to destruction. 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:22.880 And the matter is so urgent. 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:24.880 Look at verse 9, he repeats himself. 00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:35.679 Verse 9, as we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed. 00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:49.119 Again, by way of illustration, imagine a family who is destitute, starving, persecuted, needing medical attention. 00:38:49.199 --> 00:38:50.400 They have kids. 00:38:50.639 --> 00:38:54.159 And an individual comes up and says, Oh, I would love to help you out. 00:38:54.960 --> 00:39:02.320 I have the means to, I'm gonna help you pay your bills and your medical bills and help your children. 00:39:03.519 --> 00:39:17.679 And then imagine he gives them a stack of$100 bills, and they are 98% correct to the real$100 bill. 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:22.159 One would not say, well, at least they're 98%. 00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:27.199 At least he was giving them something that was close. 00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:30.719 At least he was sort of helping them. 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:31.760 We would not say that. 00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:33.599 We would say, how cruel. 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:37.679 That is ruthless. 00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:49.199 Because close is an entirely worthless thing, and so it is, dear brothers and sisters, with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:39:49.840 --> 00:39:51.280 They are accursed. 00:39:51.519 --> 00:39:56.000 A few inches off in the gospel is to be eternity from heaven. 00:39:57.440 --> 00:40:00.079 This is a strong word for all of those who would. 00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:09.679 I mean, whether you teach any age group, three-year-olds, 93-year-olds, you teach three people or 30,000 people. 00:40:10.320 --> 00:40:15.039 A church building at work, at home, no word is given about the audience or the context. 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:21.679 Every ounce of attention is given here to the purity of the gospel. 00:40:22.239 --> 00:40:38.159 And the reason, let's recall this, friends, the reason that we are against false gospels is not necessarily because we're against people or looking to be against any type of group of individuals. 00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:45.920 It is because we are for, we are for the glory of our blessed Lord Jesus who died for us and rose for us. 00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:49.840 And we are for people's eternal well-being. 00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:56.719 And so, therefore, to be consistent with the glory of God and loving for people, we must be against these things. 00:40:59.119 --> 00:41:02.559 And we will be judged by the gospel we embrace. 00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:07.119 What great news. 00:41:09.519 --> 00:41:16.639 That we can go home this evening as we prepare for another week and rest our head on the pillow of God's grace. 00:41:16.880 --> 00:41:24.320 And in our hearts of hearts, just by faith, just remember, thank you, Lord Jesus, that you did it all. 00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:26.239 All to Him I owe. 00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:34.559 It's by grace we have been saved through faith, and this not of ourselves, it is a gift of God, not by works, so that nobody can brag about it. 00:41:42.079 --> 00:42:12.639 Though Christ sees our radical imperfections, he sees that we fall short in practice, he sees that even as Christians, even if we've been a Christian for centuries, we rest in the fact that our salvation is not secure because we might be adding some enough works on a daily basis and contributing uh enough effort on a monthly basis, but because he has already done all the work. 00:42:14.719 --> 00:42:15.519 Praise his name. 00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:16.320 Let's pray. 00:42:17.119 --> 00:42:32.159 Father, I thank you so, so much that you have so loved us, so cared for us, that you have extended a gospel that is not by works. 00:42:32.320 --> 00:42:35.679 Who could ever know that they have done enough works? 00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:49.039 How would we ever be assured that we have contributed enough deeds and works to have right standing before you, Almighty God? 00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:56.320 And we do, thankfully, we do not need to trust in that, but we trust in your son who you provided. 00:42:56.480 --> 00:43:04.079 What you required, you provided, and the life and the death and the resurrection of your son, and it is in him alone we put our faith. 00:43:04.320 --> 00:43:05.519 For his glory, we pray. 00:43:05.760 --> 00:43:06.400 Amen. 00:43:10.239 --> 00:43:14.000 You have been listening to Emmanuel with Pastor Justy Johnson. 00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:18.639 You can find more resources like this at IBCBA.com. 00:43:19.039 --> 00:43:21.599 Here is a parting word from Pastor Justy. 00:43:21.760 --> 00:43:30.239 If you have any questions about what you heard today, or if you want to learn more about what it means to follow Christ, please visit our church website, iBCBA.com. 00:43:30.639 --> 00:43:33.599 If you're not a member of the local church and you live in the Washington, D.C. 00:43:33.760 --> 00:43:36.639 area, we'd love to have you worship with us here in the house. 00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:38.639 We're located in Northern Virginia. 00:43:38.880 --> 00:43:42.639 For more information about when and where we worship, check out our church website. 00:43:43.039 --> 00:43:45.599 Hope that first point is Sunday after our service. 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:51.599 But no matter where you live, it's our hope that everyone who uses resources is involved in their own local church.