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<http://podcast.heltsley.net/?author=2>
Quest for Truth 48 Speaking of the Gospel
<http://podcast.heltsley.net/2016/quest-for-truth-48-speaking-of-the-gospel/>by
keith <http://podcast.heltsley.net/?author=2>
We kick off the new year with a recap of our time off for Christmas, then get
busy with defining this important feature of being a Christian, the Gospel.
Speaking of the Gospel
Background Passage: Galatians 1:1–2:10
LESSON PASSAGES OUTLINE
Recognize the True Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9)
Realize the Gospel is Divine (Gal. 1:11-12,15-16)
Refuse to Accept a Compromise (Gal. 2:1-6)
BIBLICAL TRUTH
Unless Christians are clear about the true gospel, they may be deceived about
its content.
Step 1 - Introduction
Think of a time when you settled for less than the best to save time or money.
It usually ends up costing more in the long run.
Discussion Question
In what situations or about what products do you say "only the best will do?"
Why?
Step 2 - Recognize the True Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9)
Read Galatians 1:1-5
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and
God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Notice:
(v. 1: God raised Christ;
v. 4: Jesus died for our sins)
Read Galatians 1:6-9
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the
grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—
7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to
distort the gospel of Christ.
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary
to the one we preached to you, 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, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to
please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of
Christ.
Notice also:
(v. 6: it is a gospel of grace;
vv. 7-8: the gospel cannot be changed)
Explain "different gospel" and discuss "Grace."
There is no different one, anything else has been polluted or cheapened. Grace
is not by our own works, law, or anything less than a gift from Jesus.
Example:  Display a piece of fruit and a piece of fruit-flavored candy.
Ask: How is the relationship between the one true gospel and artificial gospels
like the relationship between this piece of fruit and the fruit-flavored candy?
Should believers today reject the efforts to change the gospel as strongly as
Paul did? Why?
Discussion Questions
How did Paul respond to the Galatians settling for less than the real thing?
(He was astonished)
Why should believers today not settle for something less than the true gospel?
(anything else is counterfeit and worthless, not from God, not of grace, not
paid by Jesus)
Step 3 - Realize the Gospel is Divine (Gal. 1:11-12,15-16)
Read Galatians 1:11-12, 15-16.
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me
is not man's gospel.
12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received
it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church
of God violently and tried to destroy it.
14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so
extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his
grace,
16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among
the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;
17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I
went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained
with him fifteen days.
19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)
21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in
Christ.
23 They only were hearing it said, "He who used to persecute us is now
preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."
24 And they glorified God because of me.
Name one additional feature of the gospel.
(It comes from God alone.)
Ask:
In what ways did Paul underscore the divine origin of the gospel?
(he assured that its from Christ alone, not men)
Why was this important for the Galatians to know?
(The had been so easily turned, to confirm the relationship between God and
Christ, not to take the word of men about it)
What is the significance today of the gospel not being from a human source?
(it's sstill unchanged, still from God/Christ alone)
Discuss reasons people want to change or add to the gospel of Christ and the
results of such changes.
To lower the bar, relaxing the standard. God lets everybody in... right?
Good thought. What if you're wrong. A lot of people who thought there was a
lower standard will be disappointed in eternity. God gets to choose, find out
now what his standard is.
Raising the bar, to add requirements to the mix.
Others may be turned aside from unrealistic, and unnecessary demands. Under all
the religious trappings, how do you know you hit God's exact requirement? Learn
what he expects.
Taking god out of the picture, working our way in on our own.
Heaven isn't a next step on a physical plane. God is not human. He gets to
write the rules on who is in his house, and the expectation to get there.
Taking Jesus out of the picture, any religion or discipline will do.
There's two ways to get to God's kingdom, A) Be perfect and without sin or B)
let Jesus take care of the bill. To reject Jesus is to take the full
responsibility on yourself.
Remember, it's God's house, God's rules, don't answer to me or anybody else.
Answer to him.
Identify characteristics of false gospels
salvation by works,
through knowledge,
through entitlement,
through mere identification with any religion
God's Word prevails over what anyone else says.
Discussion Questions
Why was Paul confident in the truth he knew?
(He received it direct from the source. Revelation.)
How confident are you of the gospel’s truth? Why?
(scripture is as close as it gets to the source… God's word.)
Step 4 - Refuse to Accept a Compromise (Gal. 2:1-6)
Read Galatians 2:1-2
1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking
Titus along with me.
2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately
before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the
Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.
explain Paul's reasons for going to Jerusalem and meeting with the church's
leaders.
Revelation
Encouragement, acceptance
Can compromise ever be a positive solution.
Read Galatians 2:3-6
Paul rejected compromise.
3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he
was a Greek.
4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out
our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into
slavery—
5 to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth
of the gospel might be preserved for you.
6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no
difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed
influential added nothing to me.
Why is compromising the gospel a dangerous temptation today.
(adding requirements dilutes and pollutes it. removing a requirement weakens
and cheapens it.)
Describe the "false brothers" and "those recognized as important."
(those with self serving agendas, twisting the word to fit their comfort zone
or beliefs, putting extra demands on requirements for salvation, easing or
lightening the requirements, broadening the requirements, etc)
Discern who to take seriously and whose ideas to reject concerning the gospel.
Discussion Questions
What actions did Paul take to show he would not compromise the gospel?
(He knew the requirements and accepted nothing else)
In what situations can we take similar actions today?
(anytime the gospel is challenged, inside or outside the body)
Step 5 - Conclusion
BIBLICAL TRUTH Unless Christians are clear about the true gospel, they may be
deceived about its content.
Discussion Questions
What is the essence of the one true gospel?
How would you describe the gospel's effect on your life?
Bible Timeline
We recap a few points on our previous look at where our modern translations of
the bible comes from. How those wacky minority texts can creep in to remove
words, phrases, verses, or even entire segments. Translation of any language is
a tough job in any language, and trade offs are to be expected. A boook of the
importance of the bible though, needs to be held to the highest standard.
We're sneaking up on our 50th episode. Be sure to drop us a line to share a
moment that stood out for you.
keith <http://podcast.heltsley.net/?author=2> | January 12, 2016 at 11:21 am |
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