Introduction and The True Gospel (52mins)

 

  ^{© Stuart Olyott}

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In 31 October 1517 a monk strode purposefully across the university town square of Wittenberg, Germany heading towards the doors of the church.  That man was Dr Martin Luther.  His actions were to start a chain of events, reclaiming the biblical truth of how a man could get right with God.  These events became known as the reformation!  He was convinced of four great truths;

• Man is saved by the free grace of God alone
• Man cannot choose God unless God has chosen him first
• Man makes no contribution to his salvation
• Man’s salvation is by faith alone.

The Roman Catholic Church had begun to teach that forgiveness of sins was possible by the purchasing of church authorised indulgencies.  That forgiveness could be purchased by money and could be gained without repentance. Dr Martin Luther knew that this was heresy.  Forgiveness of sins was only available through the free grace of God, revealed in Jesus at the cross and by having faith in that sacrifice alone.  On what basis was Luther convinced of these things.  On the basis of the letter to the Galatians – an epistle of dynamite!

Turning to this first passage of Galatians, we learn 4 things;

• Who wrote it?

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.  As an apostle, he had special status and authority within the early church.  He had been commissioned by Jesus Christ to be an apostle and it was on Christ’s authority that he wrote this letter.

• To whom is it written?

Paul wrote this letter to a group of churches in Galatia, modern day Turkey.  These churches were recently established and full of those new in their faith.  It is therefore a letter to all local churches and to all members of those churches, irrespective of how long they have been believers.  If you are a member of a local church this letter is written to you.

• In what Spirit did Paul write?

This is a blunt letter from Paul, but do not be afraid.  He opens this letter wishing its readers grace and peace, he desired their health, well being and prosperity.  He speaks of the cross and Jesus dying for their sins, he is already focused on the central point of his message.  He wishes above all that God would be glorified.  Yes, Paul will be blunt in this letter, he will be critical of the Galatians and their actions but he must make them see the truth of the real gospel.  Only through this will God be glorified.

• For what purpose did Paul write?

It was an urgent message.  He had to show the Galatians what they had done!  They had deserted the Gospel of Truth for a different message, a message that had no power to save.  They had once responded to God’s true message but had now turned from it.  Their salvation was at stake, unless they returned to the true message they would be lost.

He also had to show the Galatians what they must do!  They must return to the true message, the original message through which they had found salvation.  They must weigh and test the new message against the original message to measure its vitality and validity.  They must distance themselves from the false message and messenger, cutting them off, so not to be polluted by it.

And who would they please.  Would they aim to please men by accepting false teaching, not wishing to cause offence or upset?  Or would they aim to please God, preserving the purity of His message and doing nothing that may prevent another soul being saved by Christ?

And so today we too must consider these things, recognising that no church is immune from false teaching.  We must know what the true message is, the apostles teaching found in the bible, and be ready to test the teaching we hear.  If any teaching does not conform to the bible we must take a stand, removing either the false teachers or ourselves from their teaching.  This is what happened in the Reformation, when many thousands were released from the tyranny of the Church of Rome.  Would you make that stand?