20 September 2020 (am) – Galatians 1:1-10
 | Andy Bruins preaching from Galatians on Sunday 20th September 2020. |
Galatians 1:1-10
This is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the churches in Galatia, an areas in Southern Turkey. The churches are clearly in trouble. False teachers have come amongst them, questioning the apostolic authority of Paul and adding to the gospel that he originally preached to them when they were founded.
V1-2: Paul begins the letter by laying down the credentials of his Apostleship – he was appointed by God, not men!
V3-5: Paul now continued by laying down the fundamentals of his message; a gospel which brings grace and peace with God because we have been rescued through the self-sacrifice of Jesus in accordance with His Father’s will, and all to His glory.
V6-10: Paul is astonished then, that these churches would depart from God by turning to a different gospel. This “gospel” is not the gospel at all, it is a perversion and those who preach it are damned to hell!
Big Idea: Knowing and standing firm on the authentic Gospel of the grace of God seen in the cross of Christ is critically important.
Q Read v8-9 What is Paul so worked up about?
Q Take a look at 2:11-14, 4:9-11 and 5:2-3. What can we glean from these verses about the actual issues that had arisen in the churches?
Q Is it really not possible to save ourselves even if we live really, really good lives and do loads of acts in the service of others? Why / why not?
Q Why is it so important that we don’t add anything to the gospel?
Q How would you answer someone who claimed that there are many ways that someone can get to heaven, and the route you take depends largely on which culture you were born in.
