The Gospel

This coming Sunday I will begin a series of sermons teaching from the New Testament letter Galatians.  Paul started his letter with words of blessing.  Then he expressed astonishment.

Galatians 1:6-10 (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. 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.

Perhaps you have heard a person articulate their purpose in life with the motto of "to know Christ and to make Him known."  While Paul did not use those words he would have seconded them with a hearty "Amen!"  

Here in Galatians Paul voices the centrality of the gospel.  He instructs that the gospel is the true motto for Christians.  To his astonishment and horror, he discovered that, in his own words . . .

Galatians 1:6 (NIV)
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—

Before we address the "different gospel," we do well to cement the true gospel.  What, after all, is the gospel?  The gospel is this . . .

God so loved the world that He sent His Son Jesus Christ who died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life; and all who believe in Him are saved and receive the gift of eternal life.

Paul made it a life goal to clearly present the true gospel and he refused to stand by and allow anyone to add to or subtract from the Good News.  Those who presented anything other than the truth caused his blood to boil. 

Paul loved the gospel and those with whom he shared it.  His love for both motivated him to assume the role of protector of the truth.  Because truth was so important to him he sought to remove any doubt with his hearers that any of it was a creation of any vivid imagination or for personal gain. 

The gospel is central to the Christian faith.  As you continue in your journey of faith, stay true to the gospel. 

#ordinarylives