Foundations of the Faith Galatians 1:1-10

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the gatherings in Galatia ‘Primitive’ Christianity 48 A.D.Undisputed‘Clean’

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the gatherings in Galatia churches of Galatia Not ‘churches’ (as we know them today). Ekklesia is a Greek ‘gathering’ (assembly) Not buildings, denominations, institutions, organizations… To …‘Gatherings’

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the gatherings in Galatia churches of Galatia Paul’s Home

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the gatherings in Galatia churches of Galatia These were Gentiles Everyone else was Jewish! Paul Made Some Real Trouble!

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the gatherings in Galatia churches of Galatia Raises Issues: What is a ‘Christian’? Who owns the ‘copyright?’

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the gatherings in Galatia churches of Galatia ‘Copyright’ Not human agencyGOD owns it!(I was kidnapped!)

Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the gatherings in Galatia churches of Galatia What’s a Christian? #1) The guys HERE #2) NOT the guys up there!

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”

‘Charis’ means ‘a Gift’ Amazing Grace! “The peace I give you is not like the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (Jn. 14:27) Peace With God

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” ‘Charis’ means ‘Gift’ Amazing Grace! “The peace I give you is not like the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (Jn. 14:27) Peace With God

…Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

…Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. Every “age” is evil: Alienated from God. Rescue He solved it for us: Paid for all our sins By Jesus His message to us: His plan, His cost God is Cool!

Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. Every “age” is evil: Alienated from God. Rescue He solved it for us: Paid for all our sins By Jesus His message to us: His plan, His cost God is Cool!

Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen. Every “age” is evil: Alienated from God. Rescue He solved it for us: Paid for all our sins By Jesus His message to us: His plan, His cost

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  Trade Grace for LAW!  Law-Lover Intimidation  “First you must change!”  “Freedom is dangerous!” It was for freedom that Christ set us free! Galatians 5:1

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  Trade Grace for LAW!  Law-Lover Intimidation  “First you must change!”  “Freedom is dangerous!”  “Cheap Grace!”  “We need more rules!”  Pressure, Fakery & Failure!

I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  Trade Grace for LAW!  Law-Lover Intimidation  “First you must change!”  “Freedom is dangerous!”  “Cheap Grace!”  “We need more rules!”  Pressure, Fakery & Failure!

The Christian Stand: Freedom! Ephes. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Legalist Version For by WORKS you have been saved through SELF- EFFORT; and IT IS of yourselves, it is NOT the gift of God; it IS a result of works, so that WE ALL CAN BOAST.

The Christian Stand: Freedom!  They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus… Galatians 2:4 Why Persecute Christians? “You think you’re the only ones right!” But…I’m just saying ‘For God so LOVED the World, He gave…’

The Christian Stand: Freedom!  They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus… Galatians 2:4 GRACE is not allowed… ‘Tough guys’ resent grace! “this present evil age”

The Christian Stand: Freedom!  They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus… Galatians 2:4 GRACE is not allowed… ‘Tough guys’ resent grace! “this present evil age”

 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Not Paul’s dogmatism! Has God spoken? So Dogmatic! What about God’s viewpoint? “I don’t want God’s gift!”

 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Custodians of Grace: awesome responsibility Don’t Lose Courage Don’t Back Down Do Speak Out!

Hebrews: "a New and Living Way" "If a person is generally good, or does enough good things for others during their life, they will earn a place in Heaven" Survey – among those claiming to be “Born Again”

 2Ti 1:10 — but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 2Ti 1:10  Tit 3:4 — But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, Tit 3:4  You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4 (NASB)  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Galatians 5:18 (NASB)  1Ti 2:4 — who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1Ti 2:4  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, Titus 2:11 (NASB)  It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (NASB)  Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Galatians 5:2 (NASB)

What is “Christianity” ?  Da Vinci Code / ‘The Stigmata’ / Hollywood  “Invention of ‘the winners’, excluding ‘the losers’…” Various states claimed to ‘own Christianity’ Added their ‘unique twist’ Some legitimacy ‘Gnostic gospels’ were pulp fiction! Wildly fictionalized

What is “Christianity” ?  Da Vinci Code / ‘The Stigmata’ / Hollywood  “Invention of ‘the winners’, excluding ‘the losers’…”  Liberal Scholarship  “Legends written long after the events…”  Or, “mass hallucinations/hysteria…”  Postmodern “Joe”  “Nobody knows 2,000 years later…”  Galatians: a clear, simple, treatise on the issue.  Almost universally agreed to be written by Paul.

Why Galatians? (Pros Galatias)  We’ve been studying bookends:  James: the earliest NT book  Hebrews: same group, 25 yrs later  Same Message:  Leave your prisons!  Don’t be so fearful!  Live in faith & hope & freedom!  In-between: FIRE!  The Gentile Explosion… JamesHebrews

The Gentile “Explosion”  Paul’s 1 st Missionary Journey  Near his ‘home town’  Is actually the 2 nd M.J.  Paul already built churches in Cilicia (near Tarsus)  Acts 15:41 – visited  Acts 11:25 – Paul working there already (14 yrs) Paul’s Home Paul’s 1 st ‘M.J.’

The Gentile “Explosion”  Paul’s 1 st Missionary Journey…  Fire suddenly ‘leaps across boundaries’…  Geographical: outside of “God’s Land” Israel.  New “Headquarters”: Antioch, not Jerusalem.  Ethnically: outside the Jewish culture.  New Leadership: not the “12 Apostles”.  New Message: the “Law of Liberty”, not Mosaic Law.

The Gentile “Explosion”  Paul’s 1 st Missionary Journey…  Fire suddenly ‘leaps across boundaries’…  Raises serious, unresolved issues…  What authority does Paul have to change anything?  What exactly is the “Good News” message?  Can Gentiles know Yahweh without becoming Jews first?  Are Yahweh’s “chosen people” still ‘special’ ?  Is this ‘Good News’ related to the Jewish scriptures?  What practical (lifestyle) changes does this bring?