For Those Nor Familiar with an Anglican Service there are four readings before the Sermon. The readings for this day were 1 Kings 18:20-39; Psalm 96: 1-9; Galatians 1:1-12 and Luke 7: 11-17
"One of the most frequently used terms in the Christian faith is ...."The Gospel."
Amazingly ... few adults know what the term .... "The Gospel" means.
It could either refer to its literal translation, .... That is "Good News;"
Or Secondly .... that salvation is available only through the sacrificial death .... and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ.... and a person's acceptance of Christ as their Savior and their Lord.
Less than four out of ten adults (37%) knew one of these definitions; ... three out of ten adults ... did not offer even a guess.
Among those who stated they were Born Again Christians; ... Only 6 out of 10 correctly identified at least one meaning ... of this expression.
In the past fifty years there has been a proliferation of ... Quote ... "New gospels" in this country.
Some of these modern gospels .... like the "new age" belief system ... that are rooted in eastern mysticism.
Others are based More on pop-psychology ... than they are on any spiritual belief.
But whatever their origin ... they are misdirecting men and women .... from the only truth .... that can redeem us from our sin.
We will be looking at today's reading from Paul's letter to the Galatians.
This letter was written, ... not to one church, ... but to several churches in the Galatia area that Paul and Barnabas had visited ..... on their first missionary journey ... an area that is now part of southern Turkey.
The core of this letter addresses how the believers in Galatia have turned from the life changing truth ...... of the Gospel of Grace.
Paul states in his epistle, BIBLE "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel." End (Galatians 1:6)
The Greek word used here thaumazou (thou-mad'-zo) literally means .... "to be astounded or to be bewildered."
Paul's astonishment ... is not that false teachers exist, .... but that the churches in Galatia ... were listening to them ... and following them.
Paul had expected false teachers ... in fact, he had warned the Ephesians elders that false teachers would come. (Acts 20:28-30)
Paul is astounded ... because the believers in Galatia (Slow) were so quickly ... and so easily mislead.
In our text.... Paul gives us four abiding principles concerning .... "The Gospel".
(1 Finger) First, The Gospel Needs No Additions
Note that these false teachers ... are not publicly denying the gospel message Paul preached.
They did not deny it outright ... but wanted the Galatians to alter "the gospel" .... by adding to it.
Adding requirements, .... new ceremonies ... new standards.
It is as if they are saying, "We believe in the grace of Jesus Christ ... but ... something more is required ... to what you already believe!"
What is at least implied ... is that the faith that these Galatian believers have ... is not sufficient, ...some-thing more is required. (Pause)
Paul needed to respond .... And respond immediately. (Pause)
There is a true story about a man that was working in his garage.
He was the kind of person ... who did not like to be interrupted while engaged in a project.
Knowing this, his wife walked into the garage and stood quietly at his side for several minutes, ... waiting for the proper time to speak.
At last, her husband looked up, ... the signal that she was free to say what was on her mind.
Very calmly, ... without a trace of panic, .... she said, "The house is on fire." (Pause)
There definitely is a time to forsake the customary, ... polite, social graces ... and bluntly state the problem.
A burning house is clearly a time ... for immediate communication.
Likewise, ... the desertion of the churches of Galatia from the teaching of Paul .... from the gospel of God's grace was a time ... for a sounding ... of the alarm.
Paul had little time to waste in polite introductions, ... for the problem facing these churches, ... if left unchecked, .... would have ... devastating results.
Vigorously, and emotionally, ... Paul defends himself and the message that Jesus gave him to proclaim.
Paul's theme concerns the essence of the gospel .... and the importance to neither add to or subtract from it.
These challengers of the Gospel of Grace ... have done more than ...mess with Paul's ego.
No, ...... it was far more than that. The house was on fire.
They had messed with the gospel, ... They had messed with the Message ... and it was time act ... and to act quickly.
And this is a lesson for us today as well.
We are to proclaim the Good News ... As It Is!
O' Beloved ... the gospel of Jesus Christ ... is changeless.
Do Not Mess with the Message. (Pause)
At the same time, we must not ... we cannot ... be naïve
We need to recognize that assaults on the gospel are endless.
There will always be those that are going to try and add too ... or subtract from ... the Gospel. (Pause)
Now... Paul goes on in our reading to clarify this point by saying, BIBLE "not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." END (Galatians 1:7)
Paul is clear ... that this new perverted gospel" is in reality not a gospel ... not "good news" at all.
It is distorted. It is counterfeit. It is not the real deal.
It is a Gospel of men ... not of God.
Beloved... Do Not mess with the message
(1 Finger) The Gospel Does Not Need Any Additions
(2 Fingers) And Secondly, Distorting the Gospel Is A Serious Offense.
Paul utilizing his Apostolic authority... is clear ... there are consequences to those, who distort the gospel, BIBLE
"But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, ... let that one be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I repeat, ... if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, ... let that one be accursed!" END (Galatians 1:8-9)
Paul is saying that real problem of another gospel is not only that it is a pretty bad idea, ... or that it lacks any life changing power, ...but that it is dangerous.... eternally dangerous.
These false teachers were attacking the very heart of the gospel.
And in this case Paul was not tolerant.
He could not be tolerant.
This was no simple Christian difference .... on a finer point of doctrine.
They were messing with the message, ... and it was going to make an eternal difference.
Or as Jude wrote in his epistle: Those who distort the gospel are devoted to destruction. (Jude 1:4).
For when you reject the Gospel of Grace, .... When you proclaim a Different Gospel, ... you are under a divine curse. (Pause)
In our sensitive English translation, ... we lose some of the Heat of this verse ....as proclaimed in the original language.
Those who distort the gospel message are rejecting the authority of Christ and are therefore anathema (?-'na-th?-m?).
The Aramaic Bible translates the Greek word anathema ... Damned.
What Paul is saying is, ... "If anyone proclaims another gospel let that one be ... damned."
And he continues this thought by saying, .... "And if you believe in another Gospel you also will be ... damned!"
This is not a curse word, .... it is using the word in its proper sense.
Paul is stating that these individuals will be, separated from God .... and eternally punished.
Paul is not speaking about church discipline, .... his language is far too strong for that.
He is stating a spiritual fact ... that God evokes His wrath on those .... who distort the gospel.... Knowingly.
(1 Finger) So.... The Gospel Does Not Need Any Additions
(2 Fingers) Distorting the Gospel Is A Serious Offense because
(3 Fingers), Only the Gospel Saves
In the beginning of our reading, Paul reminds us that it was Christ "who gave Himself for our sins." (Galatians 1:4)
As Christian's in this Country.... we believe in ...... the freedom of religion.
But that freedom.... does not make .... all religions equally true.
While we defend the right of each individual in this country ... to worship as they choose, .... in so doing ... we are not defending that all religions ... are also "the" truth.
The words of Jesus himself ... (Slow) grant this elusive claim of truth ... only ... to faith in Him... and in Him alone.
There is only one sacrifice that is acceptable for the sins of the World.
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
The Dr. Luke proclaims in Acts ... that same truth with these words: BIBLE "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." END (Acts 4:12)
Only The Gospel .... Only the Gospel Of Jesus Christ Will Produce (Slow) A Real Life Change.
The strongest argument for the Gospel of Christ .... is the personal testimony ... the personal stories of someone whose life has been changed ... by the Gospel. (Pause)
Charles Brad-laugh, an avowed atheist, once challenged the Rev. H. P. Hughes to a debate.
The preacher, ... who was head of an Anglican rescue mission in London, England, accepted the challenge with one condition ....
That he could bring with him ... 100 men and women ... who would tell what had happened in their lives .... since trusting Jesus Christ ... as their Savior and Lord.
Rev. Hughes said they would not only tell of their conversion, .... but would submit to cross-examination ... by any ... who doubted their stories.
Furthermore, ... the minister invited his opponent to bring a group of non-believers ... who could share how they were helped by their lack of faith.
When the appointed day arrived, the preacher came, accompanied by 100 transformed persons.
Brad-laugh never showed up.
The meeting turned into a time of testimony ... and many who had gathered to hear the scheduled debate ... Heard the Gospel ... the Good News and came to know Christ that day." (Pause)
When we lose the gospel of Grace .... we lose the only message .... that holds (Slow) spiritual life changing power.
The Gospel message that Jesus Christ came and died for our sins .... is the only (Slow) the only .... truth.
Beloved
* The Gospel Needs No Additions.
* Distorting The Gospel Is Serious offense.
* Only the Gospel Can Save Us from Their Sins.
* Only The Gospel Produces .... Changed Lives.
Among us in the Valley (County) there are Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Mainline denominations, evangelicals, and even cults.
And from time to time, we are going to agree or disagree on issues of moral and cultural concern.
Yet...We must stand firm in the Faith ... when it comes to the Gospel message.
It is not enough to possess the truth; ... the truth of the Gospel must possess you.
Beloved .... Do not let anyone .... mess with the message. (Sing)
There is no other name
By which man can be saved.
There is no other name under heaven
There is Rest for my soul
And the wounded made whole
And the captives set free and forgiven
Such Love I've never known
I've found in the grace... That Flowed to me
In My unrighteousness This is why.....
My heart and Soul and tongue confess
There is no other name
By which man can be saved.
There is no other name under heaven
Amen and Amen!
I received much insight and information from a Sermon by John Hanby titled "An Unchanging Message for An Ever Changing World". I commend it to you.
Help: I retired in November 2017 and am attempting to supplement my income by sharing on Sermoncentral. If this Message has been helpful to you, please consider a nominal donation: Send to The Rev. Jeff Smead 11725 Regent Park Drive Chardon Ohio 44024. Blessed To Be A Blessing.
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Homily was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead" (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings Jeff.
