Sunday School Lesson

1. Galatians 1:1-24
Only One Gospel
September 2, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
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2. September Memory Verse
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.
References
• Stott, John R. W., The Message of Galatians (Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester,
England, 1968).
• Barker, Kenneth, The NIV Study Bible, (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1985).
• Walton, John H., and Keener, Craig S., NKJV New Cultural Backgrounds
Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2017).
Introduction to Galatians
• Paul had evangelized the southern province of Galatia on his 1st
missionary journey (Acts 13 & 14).
• The main cities were Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.
• In each city a church (congregation) had been established.
• About 2-3 years had passed since Paul’s initial visit.
The People of Galatia – a mixed culture of Celtic, Greek and Jewish origins.
• The Jewish Christians had trouble accepting that their heritage was not
applicable even though Jesus was Jewish.
• Christianity was not an extension of Judaism.
• Cultures with idol worship and knowledge worship had trouble accepting
a Jewish savior.
• The false common denominator:
• Man must somehow contribute to his own salvation.

3. The Troubles in the Galatian Churches
• Judaizers – Jewish Christians who believed that a number of ceremonial
practices of the Old Testament were still binding on the New Testament
church.
• These false teachers said Gentiles had to convert to a form of Judaism to
become Christians.
• These false teachers also attacked Paul’s teachings by attacking his
qualifications as an apostle (someone taught directly by Jesus).
Definitions in Galatians
• Jew – Anyone who practices Judaism because of heritage or by
conversion to Judaism.
• Gentile - Anyone who is not a Jew (everyone else).
• Gospel – The message of salvation by faith in Jesus.
• Christians – Believers in Jesus for salvation (term not used yet for
believers).
• Brothers/Sisters – Believers in Jesus.
The Common Denominator in False Teachings
• Faith alone, in Christ alone for salvation is not enough.
• Man must somehow contribute to his own salvation.
• A Verse Against This False Teaching Common Denominator:
Galatians 2:16 NIV
16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in
Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be
justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the
works of the law no one will be justified.
• Details coming in future lessons in Galatians.
Approach to Today’s Scriptures
• Read through Chapter 1.
• Examine the false teaching that Paul is addressing.
• How to identify false teachings.
• False teachings in churches today.
Galatians 1:1-5 NIV
1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God
the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers and sisters
with me,
To the churches in Galatia:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who
gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the
will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

4. Galatians 1:6-7 NIV
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to
live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really
no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are
trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
• This different gospel is no gospel at all and a perversion.
Galatians 1:8-13 NIV
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the
one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already
said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than
what you accepted, 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? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a
servant of Christ.
Paul now begins explaining his credentials as an apostle.
11 I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of
human origin. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I
received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I
persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in
Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely
zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
• Paul was a very educated Pharisee who would know and practice all
Jewish laws & customs.
Galatians 1: 15-16 NIV
15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by
his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him
among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human
being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I
was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
• The revelation and direct (one-on-one) teaching from Jesus occurred
during this 3-year period in Nabatea Arabia.
• Paul’s gospel message did not come from other apostles or disciples
(students).

5. Galatians 1:18-20 NIV
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas
(Peter) and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—
only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing
you is no lie.
• Paul’s point is that he is teaching the same gospel message as the other
apostles without conferring with them.
Galatians 1: 21-24 NIV
21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of
Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly
persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they
praised God because of me.
• Galatian 2:1-10 completes Paul’s defense as an accepted apostle (Next
Sunday).
What is the issue that has perverted Paul’s gospel message in Galatia?
Galatians 1:6-7 NIV
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to
live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really
no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are
trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.
• The “grace of Christ” is the pure, unadulterated gospel – any other gospel
is a perversion and a lie
The “perverted gospel” – twisted & unacceptable
• Jews who had become believers in Christ for salvation were trying to
make Gentile believers in Christ follow Jewish customs and laws
(Judaizers).
• Circumcision was the most dramatic requirement.
• Paul’s gospel message was that “faith in Christ” was the only requirement
for salvation.
Paul restates this message of “Faith alone in Christ alone.”
Galatians 2:15-16 NIV
15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not
justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put
our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the
works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
• This will be next Sunday’s Lesson.

6. Why does man so easily believe that he must contribute something to his
salvation?
• Man’s pride causes him to believe that he has something valuable to add
to the finished work of Christ.
• Man’s pride causes him not to accept Christ’s gift of grace unless he can
contribute something (works).
• Man’s pride makes him believe that his works are good enough to
redeem his sins before God.
Bottom line of the perverted gospel of “salvation by works.”
• By your obedience to the law, you yourself must finish what Christ has
begun.
• Salvation by Works = you must finish Christ’s unfinished work!!
• CHRIST’S WORK IS FINISHED!
John 19:30a NIV
30a When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.”
What does Paul say should be the penalty for those who present a false gospel?
Galatians 1:9 NIV
9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a
gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!
How can we recognize the true gospel?
A Test of Three Questions:
1. What do they believe about the Bible?
2. What do they believe about Jesus?
3. What do they believe about the way to Salvation (How to be saved from
your sins)?
Question #1: What do they believe about the Bible?
• It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture
of error, for its matter. (Baptist Faith and Message, 2000)
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

7. Question #2: What do they believe about Jesus?
• The words of John the Baptist:
John 3:35-36 NIV
35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son
will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
• Matthew 28:18 NIV
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me.”
Question #3: What do they believe about Salvation?
• John 3:16-17 NIV
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God
did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him.”
• There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
(Baptist Faith and Message, 2000)
How does false teaching enter the Church?
1. The desire to apply new or interesting teachings or doctrines.
• Theologians who attempt to explain difficult scriptures by providing
interpretations that are not biblical.
• Example: Pope’s final authority of scripture interpretation in Catholic
Church.
2. The desire to avoid criticism.
• Teachers within the church can become afraid that they will have no
effect on the world around them unless they teach in a way that is
acceptable to the culture.
• Current cultural issues of creation, homosexuality, same-sex marriage,
co-habitation, social justice.
Three Basic false teachings in churches today.
1. Moralism – The Christian life is one of effort in which God blesses those who
do good.
2. Legalism – We earn favor with God by what we do through obedience to
rules and regulations.
3. Antinomianism – “against the law” – obedience is no longer required
when you believe in Jesus.

8. What are the basics in moralism?
• We give God our obedience and He gives us blessings.
• Salvation is a type of economic transaction.
• The basis of the “Prosperity Gospel.”
• It is a type of “quid pro quo” relationship.
• A favor or advantage expected or granted in return for something.
What are the basics in legalism?
• Related to moralism by blessings for morality.
• Legalism is specific in the kind of obedience God demands and blesses.
• In the Galatian churches, the requirement was circumcision, dietary laws
and feast days.
• In today’s churches it is related to salvation by observing the sacraments
or specific behaviors.
What is the difference between gospel obedience and moralism/legalism
obedience?
• In gospel obedience, we obey in response to the love God shows us in
Jesus Christ.
• We don’t obey to gain God’s blessings or love.
• Our works are acceptable to God only because He receives them in and
through Jesus.
• Our obedience is empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus addresses obedience and the Holy Spirit’s influence.
• John 14:15-17 NIV
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he
will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees
him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in
you.”
The false teaching of antinomianism.
• Antinomianism = “Against the law.”
• This is the opposite of moralism and legalism and denies any place for
God’s law as a guide for Christian life.
• When we trust in Jesus, we can live any way we want because obedience
distorts the gospel of grace.

9. Paul addresses antinomianism.
• This false teaching was also a problem in the 1st century.
• Romans 6:1-2 NIV
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may
increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we
live in it any longer?
Summary of Galatians 1
• Any gospel other than the message of the “grace of Christ” is perverted.
• False teachers will be eternally condemned and under God’s curse.
• Paul was a true apostle and received the gospel by revelation from Jesus
himself.
• The common denominator of false teaching is that man must contribute to
his own salvation.
Next Sunday
Galatians 2:11-21
True Grace
September 9, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16 NIV
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 NIV
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NIV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

10. Romans 6:23a NIV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NIV
8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually
immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be
consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 NIV
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NIV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NIV
7 “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My
son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NIV
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that
God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that
you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith
and are saved.
Romans 10:13 NIV
13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Do you Have questions or would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/