Martin Luther

For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free 5:1 I. Freedom Through Revelation (Chps. 1-2) A. Freedom Through Revelation From God (Chp. 1) B. Freedom From Human Religion (Chp. 2) II. Freedom Through Justification (Chps. 3-4) A. Justification By Faith (Chp. 3) B. Freedom From The Law (Chp 4) III. Freedom Through Sanctification (Chps. 5-6) A. Sanctification By The Spirit (Chp. 5) B. Freedom From The Flesh (Chp. 6)

Legalism – keeping rules in order to win favor with God License – ignoring all rules because God doesn’t really care anyway.

Important Principle: Freedom comes not by keeping the rules or by breaking the rules, but in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:1-10 Paul, an apostle-- sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

The False Gospel Any rules regulations or requirements that people add to the free gift of salvation offered by Jesus Christ.

The True Gospel Galatians 1:1-5 Comes from God not men Its all about Jesus whom God raised from the dead. Jesus gave himself to rescue us.

The True Gospel I Corinthians 15:3-8 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

The True Gospel From I Corinthians 15:3-8 we learn: Paul received it, he did not make it up. Christ died for our sins. Christ was buried (proving he truly died). Christ rose from the dead on the third day. He appeared to Peter, the Twelve, and more than 500 hundred others.

The True Gospel Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.” This passage makes it clear that: The Gospel is all by grace (getting something you don’t deserve). Through faith It is a free gift—not something we can earn.

The True Gospel John 14:6 “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

The True Gospel John 3:16 “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.”

The True Gospel God loves us and wants to have a personal relationship with us. God is holy and we are sinners separated from God. God sent his Son to die for our sin and raised him from the dead to give us new life and bring us back to God. Salvation is a free gift from God for those who believe.

Accept No Other Messenger Beware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing

Some Characteristics of False Messengers Based on Acts 13:10: full of deceit and mischief. child of the devil. enemy of righteousness. one who perverts of the ways of the Lord.

True Messengers Galatians 1:1 Apostles-messengers sent from God 2 Corinthians 4:5 - “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.” Galatians 1:10 - Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Some Characteristics of True Messengers They are sent by God They do not promote themselves; seeking fame or fortune. They come to serve and help others. They preach the pure message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They seek to please God not people.

Three Truths We Need To Apply 1. Unless Christians are very alert and study their Bibles carefully, they can be misled by a false teaching and false messengers even today. 2. The true Gospel is that Jesus is the only Savior and his salvation is a free gift that we do not deserve and cannot earn by our own efforts. 3. Not everyone who claims to be a messenger from God is telling the truth.