Galatians 1:6-10

Occasion of the Epistle. Galatians 1:6-10

a)

Their removal unto a different gospel. Galatians 1:6-7

TEXT 1:6, 7

(6) I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; (7) which is not another gospel: only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

PARAPHRASE 1:6, 7

6 I wonder that ye are so soon removed from me, who called you into the gospel of Christ, which promises to sinners justification through faith; and that ye have embraced another gospel, or pretended message from God, concerning your justification:
7 Which is not another gospel, or message from God: But some there are, who, on pretence that their doctrine of justification by the law of Moses is authorized by God, trouble you with doubts concerning my doctrine, and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ.

COMMENT 1:6

I marvel

1.

This is not awful condemnation, but surprise.

2.

This is a severe blow to one who believes as Paul expressed it in Romans 8:35-38Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

3.

This is astonishing to one who believes in the Power of the Gospel and who has confidence in stability of man.

so quickly removing

1.

Paul's labors to train a church are being overthrown in a short while.

2.

Christianity is to be a thing of permanence, not a mushroom affair.

3.

This is the opposite of what is required for salvation.

a.

Be thou faithful unto death. Revelation 2:10

b.

If we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. Hebrews 3:14

from him that called you

1.

They had changed their spiritual location by turning to another gospel.

2.

When men accept falsehood, they remove themselves from God.

3.

The calling is expressed in 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Timothy 1:9.

4.

Some insist that Paul is the one who called them, but Paul didn-'t say they were removed from him, but from Christ.

in the grace of Christ

1.

Truth had placed them in favor; now false teaching had made them unfavorable.

2.

This knocks the idea that sincerity alone is sufficient.

3.

They were removed from grace: he does not say peace.

4.

God surely does not save them if they are removed from His favor.

unto a different gospel

1.

This gospel was Judaism mixed with Christianity.

a.

The Jew insisted on Jewish ceremonies for Gentiles.

b.

Paul establishes in this book that Judaism is not ever essential for Christians.

2.

Think how awful then is Catholicism mixed with paganism and Judaism.

3.

Protestantism, which is a mixture of paganism, Judaism, Catholicism, and Christianity, is likewise a different gospel.

INTO THE GRACE OF CHRIST 1:6

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

John Newton penned those words several years after his conversion. Blindness keeps men from seeing God's love in Christ. Most of us are so nearsighted that we cannot really see how great is His love.
The death of Jesus formed the foundation of God's mercy. Jesus was crucified, died, was buried, and resurrected by God's awesome power. And believers reenact that divine drama in immersion. But we cannot say to God, Now that I-'ve been immersed, you owe me salvation! Those are the words of one attempting to make baptism an act of merit. The forgiveness of sins associated with baptism is an act of pure grace. And the new relationship it symbolizes also rests upon God's mercy.
Cleansing is not a one time act.

Not only did the sacrifice of Christ initially save us from our former sins, but it continually cleanses us from our present daily sins (1 John 1:7-10). We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1).

The cross of Christ satisfied the judgment of God against sin, so we don-'t have to be good enough to merit God's grace. Our salvation did not result from our own attainments; it came by Christ's atonement (Ephesians 2:8-9). And, once we become members of the family of God, we continue to walk by faith in Christ, through whom we have obtained this grace in which we stand (Romans 5:2).

Just as the non-Christian cannot buy his way into God's family, neither can the Christian repay God for His adoption of him. Let every guilt-burdened child of God, memorize Paul's words: For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:10).

ANOTHER GOSPEL 1:6, 7

The Galatians were guilty of accepting another Gospel, but it really wasn-'t gospel at all. The doctrine which was added was removing them from the simple faith.

The Gospel is good news, because Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for our salvation. The good news announced to the Galatians by the apostle was that the blessing of Abraham should in Christ Jesus be extended to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised spirit through faith (Galatians 3:14). It was this which delivered them from the written code of the law and set them free from the galling yoke of slavery. When Paul speaks of the truth of the gospel in this letter, he is not referring just to the veracity or integrity of the message. The truth means the basic elemental, foundational principle upon which the gospel is predicted. It is the core, the center, the kernel of the gospel. It is what makes the message gospel. The context shows that the truth of the gospel is justification by faith.

Paul was not saying that the Galatian letter was the Gospel.

By the time it was written the Galatians had already accepted the Gospel and turned from it. They had received the Spirit by believing the Gospel message (Galatians 3:2). The letter was written not to bring them into relationship with the Spirit, but to encourage them to walk in the Spirit. If the Spirit is the source of our life, let the Spirit also direct our course Galatians 5:25). Acceptance of the Gospel brings the Spirit as God's gift to dwell in our bodies, guidance by epistles such as the letter to the Galatians enables the Spirit to direct our course.

WORD STUDY 1:6

The word for remove (metatithemimeh tah TITH a me) carries the connotation of treason and rebellion. When Dionysius deserted the Stoics and went over to the Epicureans, he was called the Turncoat or Traitor. This complete turnabout was no more drastic than the desertion of the Galatians from grace to legalism.

The King James Version obscures an important distinction between the different gospel of verse six and another gospel in verse seven. Verse six speaks of another of a different kind (heterosHEH ter oss), while verse seven speaks of another of the same kind (allosALL oss).

There is no other gospel of the same kind (alios). Any other gospel is necessarily one of a different (heteros) nature and has no saving power.

The Greek word for gospel is euangelion (you ahn GEL e on) (G as in go). It is seen in such English derivatives as evangelism, evangel, and evangelical. It seems literally good news.

In secular usage outside the New Testament, it is nearly always plural, meaning something like good tidings.

COMMENT 1:7

which is not another gospel

1.

There are not two gospels to choose from, for oneness is characteristic of God.

a.

I am the truth. John 14:6

b.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

c.

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ, For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with him. 2 Corinthians 11:3

2.

These denominational folk who say it doesn-'t make any difference are either lying or they are terribly ignorant.

a.

If it doesn-'t matter, why do they not preach the message that will produce unity?

b.

It does make a difference to the preachers;

1)

Their pension is at stake.

2)

Their job is at stake.

3)

Their denominational reputation is at stake.

c.

It makes a difference to God. Cf. Galatians 1:8-9

only there are some that trouble you

1.

Urging circumcision and keeping of the law was a troublesome doctrine.

2.

Denominationalists are troublemakers in binding commandments of men.

and would pervert the gospel of Christ

1.

Division is the beguiling of Satan, drawing men away from the simplicity of the gospel.

2.

A creed is a perversion.

a.

If it is like the Bible, we do not need it.

b.

If it is unlike the Bible, it is erroneous.

3.

Infant baptism is an unscriptural doctrine, originated by an unscriptural church, practiced by unscriptural churches upon unscriptural candidates to save those unscriptural candidates from unscriptural sin.

STUDY QUESTIONS 1:6, 7

44.

What surprised Paul?

45.

Does this mean that the gospel lacks power?

46.

Define quickly removing.

47.

Is this characteristic of good Christians?

48.

Were they called?

49.

Who did it and by what method?

50.

What were they removed from?

51.

Is this falling from grace?

52.

Can you be in God's Church and participate in false teaching at the same time?

53.

How different was the different gospel?

54.

Harmonize Paul's expression different gospel and not another gospel.

55.

Is corrupted truth to be considered truth?

56.

Is denominationalism wrong in the light of the Word of God?

57.

Are false teachers, party teachers, etc., to be considered troublemakers to God?

58.

If false teaching is troublesome, ought we to say that it doesn-'t make any difference what you believe as long as you are sincere?

b) Pronouncement of Divine Judgment upon Perverters of the Gospel. Galatians 1:8-9

TEXT 1:8, 9

(8) But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. (9) As we have said before, so say I now again, If any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.

PARAPHRASE 1:8, 9

8 They affirm that Peter preacheth, nay, that I myself preach justification by works of law. But even if we who write this, or an angel pretending to have come from heaven, should preach to you a method of justification contrary to, or different from, what we have formerly preached to you, let him be devoted to destruction.
9 To shew you how certain I am of the truth of the doctrine which I preach; As we who write this letter said before jointly, so now a second time I separately say, if any man or angel preach to you concerning your justification, contrary to what ye have learned from me, let him be devoted to destruction.

COMMENT 1:8, 9

but though we, or an angel from heaven

1.

Paul's fervency leads him to say that he, brethren, or angels of heaven should be accursed if they came with a perverted gospel.

2.

The we probably means Paul specifically, but could include all his preaching brethren.

should preach unto you any gospel other

1.

There is only one gospel, so there is no other gospel for us to hear.

2.

Let us have faith in the gospel once and for all delivered unto the saints. Jude Galatians 1:3

than that which we preached unto you

1.

Paul preached:

a.

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:1-5

b.

Belief in, and confession of, the Christ. Romans 10:9-10

c.

Repentance from sin. Acts 17:30-31

d.

Burial of sin repented-from. Romans 6:4

e.

Resurrection from water to live in a new life. Romans 6:5

2.

All gospel must be measured by this divine measure.

let him be anathema

1.

Let us examine the meaning of the word in the original language.

a.

The Greek word anathema and the Hebrew herem mean to accurse, to damn.

b.

Let him be anathema does not mean we are to curse him.

2.

Many scriptures show the awfulness of false teaching.

a.

For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Titus 1:10-11

b.

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them. Romans 16:17

c.

If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting. 2 John 1:10

d.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not. by thy name do many mighty works? Matthew 7:22

e.

The Word of God is not to be added to, nor subtracted from. Revelation 22:18-19

3.

In later years anathema came to mean excommunication (by the very ones who should have been accursed).

a.

Excommunication meant separation from the church.

b.

This is more than that, for angels were not in the church for man to excommunicate.

4.

Verse nine differs only in the fact that Paul says that they received a gospel and therefore should not receive another one.

WORD STUDY 1:8, 9

The word anathema (ah NATH eh mah) is the Greek word for that which is set up for destruction. When Joshua led Israel in the defeat of Jericho, everything in the city was to be destroyed. It was all set aside for God, devoted (anathema) for destruction (Joshua 6:18).

Anyone who preaches a different gospel is to be marked as under a curse of destruction.
There is a subtle difference in verse nine from the preceding verse. Verse eight speaks hypothetically in the future tense, but this verse deals with the present reality. The distinction, then, could be shown this way:

Galatians 1:8: If we ever should preach contrary.

Galatians 1:9: If someone is right now preaching contrary.

STUDY QUESTIONS 1:8, 9

59.

What does the word anathema mean?

60.

Who is included in the anathema?

61.

Do we have modern day religions claiming to be from angels?

62.

Name other verses that condemn false teachers.

63.

How does verse nine differ from verse eight?

64.

What may we assume by the emphasis of verse nine to verse eight?

c)

His passion to please God. Galatians 1:10

TEXT 1:10

(10) For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.

PARAPHRASE 1:10

10 Having twice denounced destruction to myself and to all others, if we preach contrary to what was first preached to you, I now ask those who say I suit my doctrine to the humours of men, Do I by this denunciation make men my friends, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If indeed I still pleased men, as before my conversion, I should not be the servant of Christ.

COMMENT 1:10

seeking the favor of men

1.

He was not a time-serving, man-pleasing factionist, and such a condemnation was most unfounded.

a.

His former life as a Phariseepleasing the priest or the peopledirectly in contrast to his suffering for the gospel.

b.

In this connection, read 2 Corinthians 6:4-10.

2.

He would not be a servant of Christ if he were in the business of pleasing men.

a.

On occasions however, he had conformed to men's customs.

1)

He had Timothy circumcised. Acts 16:1-3

2)

Paul and four others purified themselves at the temple. Acts 21:26

3)

Paul shaved his head when he was at Cenchrea. Acts 18:18

b.

These were done because of Paul's charitable disposition, but he never let down on doctrine.

WORD STUDY 1:10

Although we shy away from the word, the very best translation for doulos (DOO loss) is not servant, but slave. It is the same word used countless times in ancient literature to describe the slave class, who:

1.

Had no remaining rights of their own,

2.

Were owned by someone else,

3.

Were compelled to do the will of their master,

Imagine the results if every Christian would truly commit himself as a slave for his Master!