All right, we're in Galatians chapter 1 and actually what we're gonna do for the next six weeks is I'm gonna be teaching through the
Book of Galatians for the next six weeks on Sunday night now, we're doing
The book of Judges on Thursday evenings, but I decided to do the book of Galatians on Sunday night
About two years ago. I preached a sermon entitled an overview of the book of Galatians
But it just didn't do justice to the book of Galatians because there's so much to cover
Within this book that I like to go verse by verse and it's a great book here
So let me just give you a bit of an introduction of what the book of Galatians is about now
When you read this book, you'll see a lot of different topics that are being covered
but the main themes that we see in the book of Galatians is that the Apostle Paul is defending the doctrine of
Salvation and he's defending it against what's referred to as the Judaizers what we would refer to as the Judaizers
Because there are false brethren that are creeping unawares
Within the local churches found in the region of Galatia and they're spreading false
Doctrine that they need to keep the law of Moses in order to be saved now
Here's the scary thing, you know
We could assume that basically the Apostle Paul was the one responsible for planting these churches in the region of Galatia
But he goes on his missionary journey. He's confirming the other churches
He's winning people to Christ and apparently from what we see in this book is that he's catching wind
That the people in these churches are actually adhering to the law once again
You say well, what's the problem with that? There's nothing wrong with that
Well when we think of the law, we often think of you know, thou shall not kill thou shall not bear false witness
That's not what the law that he's referring to that they're keeping
He's referring to the law that was under the Old Covenant that was done away with in Christ
That which was nailed to the cross the ordinances that were written against us that were nailed to the cross
When Jesus Christ was crucified, these are the things that those in the churches in Galatia were observing
In fact, he even tells them you observe times months and years. What is he talking about?
he's talking about those feasts that we see in the Old Testament and
Here the book of Galatians
Chapter one primarily deals with him approving himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ
But also condemning those who are preaching another gospel, so he just doesn't waste any time
He's talking about those who preach another gospel and he's referring to those who have infiltrated these churches
chapter 2 he basically shows that he's not a respecter of people because in chapter 2 is where we see that the Apostle Paul
Rebukes the Apostle Peter who was an apostle before he was so he's basically showing like hey
No one has the right to be a respecter of people
No one has the right to have this kind of attitude that because these people are Jews that it's okay
They can come in and try to Judaize churches because even Peter was very big for that
Chapter 3 and 4 he really begins to give his arguments as to why it's not biblical for them to keep the law
And let me say this the book of Galatians is a little rough because of the fact that he actually begins to question their salvation
Why is that well because they're keeping the law
Which is something that those who were under Judaism
Would do in order to be saved we obviously understand that the law cannot save the Bible says therefore
We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law
We understand even according to Galatians that the laws are schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ not to save us
But to help us to recognize that we need a Savior, right?
so he begins to give these
Arguments and from chapters 1 to 2 he gives his personal argument, which is hey, this is not the gospel
I gave you, you know, I'm an apostle. I'm an apostle of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ chose me
You know those who preach another gospel if I even come to you preaching of the gospel. I'm a curse, right?
That's what he's saying
so he gives that personal argument and then in chapter 3 he gives like the logical argument and
We'll get into in the coming weeks. He gives the timing argument in chapter number 4. He gives a sentimental argument
Thereafter because he's the one who personally won them to Christ and then he also gives which is my favorite the allegorical argument
in
The book of Genesis. Okay, and so we see that there he gives a sentimental argument the allegorical argument
But here's the thing is like towards the end of Galatians. He kind of like says, you know
Almost to say like I believe you're saved just stand fast in the Liberty wherewith ye are called
But you know it we can't blame him for questioning their salvation though, you know
And this is a very strong book to prove to people that people's salvation can be questioned
Right, you know, oh you can't just go around questioning people and doubting people doubting people
Their salvation and claiming that they're not saved and you know all these things but in reality
The Apostle Paul did it all the time with those who were trying to adhere to works based salvation
You know, he not only did it to those in the book of Galatians, but he also did it to those at Corinth
Where he even went as far as to say, you know that Christ be in you except he be reprobates
Right. He's basically saying that they're not saved. Okay
so we see that take place here in the book of Galatians and we see that
This is basically a book that he is trying to set things straight within these churches. Okay, so let's start here in verse number one
We're just going to go through chapter one today and explain what he's how what the foundation that he's setting forth. Okay
Look at verse number one. It says paul
an apostle not of men
Neither by man, but by jesus christ and god the father who raised him from the dead
So what does he do first? He confirms his apostleship, you know
And the reason he's doing this is the same reason why he doesn't in first corinthians chapter nine
You know first corinthians chapter nine the church at Corinth they're questioning his leadership
They're questioning his apostleship. In fact, hold your place there and go to first corinthians chapter nine
If you would go to first corinthians chapter number nine
First corinthians chapter number nine
Look what it says here in verse number one
Am I not an apostle am I not free
Have I not seen jesus christ our lord are you not ye my work in the lord if I be not an apostle unto others?
Ye doubtless I am to you for the seal of mine apostleship. Are ye in the lord?
So what is he saying? He goes just to show you that I am an apostle
If you're saved then i'm an apostle because i'm the one who actually got you saved
That proves that I was the messenger of the gospel that proves that if you're saved that you know
What I actually came and I gave you the gospel you are my seal of mine apostleship
And it's unfortunate that he has to do these with so many churches
Where he has to prove himself to those whom he led to the lord those whom he was feeding those whom he loved
You know the bible even says in galatians that these people loved the apostle paul so much that they were willing even to give them
Their own their own eyes
If it were possible
But yet he became an enemy unto them. Why because he was telling them the truth
Look at second corinthians chapter 12. No, actually go back to galatians
I'll read you from second corinthians chapter 12 verse 11 truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you and all patience and signs and
wonders and mighty deeds look at verse two of galatians, so he he confirms his apostleship to
Those in galatia and by the way, this is not to one particular church, right? This is to the churches in galatia
Verse two says and all the brethren which are with me unto the churches of galatia
Grace be unto you in peace from god the father from our lord jesus christ
Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world
According to the will of god and our father to him be glory forever and ever. Amen
So think about this. This is a problem on a mass scale
You know, this is not just like false doctrine in one church
This is not just even amongst a couple people in those churches. These are churches
that have
Adapt or adopted these false beliefs and these false doctrines. So he has a lot of work on his hands
Okay
And he's basically writing this open letter
To all these churches for everyone to read because sometimes we think well the book of ephesians is only written to those at ephesus
Or the book of colossians only written to those in colossi, right?
the those at thessalonica those, you know the letter to the thessalonicans so on and so forth, but
what we sometimes forget is that
They understood that not only was this a letter to them, but it was actually god's work
They understood that the the epistles of paul were god. They were inspired by god
Therefore they would share them one with another. Okay, so we see that in the book of colossians where he said hey
Take this letter make sure they read it in laodicea and the ones who have a letter in laodicea
Make sure that you're reading them. Why because it's god's work
So this is not only something that we see in the book of galatians where all the churches in galatia are receiving this letter
But it's a letter that's being shared abroad. Okay. Now, why is that?
Well, because the main antagonist
The main antagonist of the new testament
Were the Pharisees
Who were adherents to judaitism?
And they were just attacking one church. They were attacking all the churches
Not just in jerusalem all over as we can see here even in galatia
That's why the subject of what we would refer to as replacement theology
Is often repeated and reinforced throughout the new testament?
The apostle paul refers to it multiple times throughout the new testament, you know, you have it in ephsians chapter two
How about the book of romans?
You know you have it in chapter two chapter three you have it in chapter four you have it in chapter nine ten eleven
He just spends entire chapters hitting on this
Why because the main antagonist the enemy of the gospel?
Was israel according to romans chapter 11
So these are the people that he's combating with these are the people who he's fighting with and
Unfortunately, some of these churches were being carried about with every wind of doctrine now. Look, there's a very fine line here. Okay
Because we're talking about salvation
and
Sometimes we not sometimes we need to take the attitude of the apostle paul
Where we think sometimes well man if this person is is practicing this he's probably not saved even though he says he thinks he's saved
Right, but then at the end of the day if they correct it then we can say okay, they were saved
They were just a little mixed up
And look all of us at one point were mixed up on something
Some heresy some false doctrine you didn't come perfect
There is some false doctrine that you adhere to some heresy that maybe you have believed
Some of you were former flat earthers
So don't come at me yeah, you believe the flat earth, okay
the flat earth doctrine
Other other of you may have believed and reptilians
Hollow earth all these nonsense nonsensical doctrines. Who are you looking at brother police marcos?
And look later on in the book of galatians, what do we see we see that a work of the flesh is heresy
Heresies is one of the works of the flesh
You know, that's why it's important. That's what the bible tells us to study to show ourselves or prove them to god
That's why the bible tells us that we be no more children tossed to and thrown carried about with every wind of doctrine
Because it's possible now look
There's a difference though between heresy and damnable heresy
right
There's a difference between heresy like the flat earth
And damnable heresy like repent of your sins
Okay
Now look there's people out there who I believe are saved
And they believe in a repent of your sins, but once they were shown that they were wrong they switched
They had a paradigm shift right because they understood. Okay. I was wording this wrong
I was wrong on this subject and they changed on that
Okay, and it's typically because they were reading books, you know, they like john macarthur or whatever
or
You know
I don't know some other false teacher who has
Swelling words that caught the caught their attention and they began to adhere to these people. Okay
So here we see a very fine line because he's questioning their salvation at one point
But at the end he's like hey, but stand fast and in liberty. We're with christ that made you free
And look for sure there's probably people in these churches in these regions that were not safe
But maybe there were people who were saved they were carried about with this false doctrine
And maybe they corrected it later on
so
Look at verse number six. It says here
I marveled the air so soon removed from him
That called you into the grace of christ unto another gospel, which is not another
I find that very interesting that he says that he goes you're following another gospel. But by the way, there's not another
Why because there's only one way right? There's only one true gospel that can save
It's only by salvation by grace through faith by faith alone by believing in one of the lord. Jesus christ
It's always been that way old testament new testament no matter what area you're in salvation has always been the same, right?
So there is not another gospel, but we would refer to another gospel as that gospel being a false gospel
A gospel that is cloaked and covered in some truth, but the core of it is false doctrine
It's heresy. It's damnable heresy
Okay, and look we not just repenting your sins
Works-based salvation comes in all forms
Making sure you change your life
You know
Getting baptized to be saved
This is a false gospel
You know, oh you got to make sure you keep the sacraments
You got to make sure you make penance. You got to make sure that you stay in church
You know or else you could lose your salvation. These are all false gospels
Foolish gospels, it's a works-based salvation that just has different christmas wrapping
But when you open it up, it's the same thing the content is still the same by the way the destination is still the same
Just as there just as there's one gospel that can get you to heaven
There is one false gospel no matter how it looks like that will take you straight to hell
Okay, and that is anything that is not by faith alone. Okay, he says which is not another but there be some
That trouble you and would pervert the gospel of christ now this verse could be applied to the pentecostals of today
It could be applied to the mormons of today
It could be applied to the jehovah's false witnesses of today
It could be applied to you know, your denomination to calvinism to you know
these non-denom churches that preach a false gospel, but originally
This was intended for
adherence to judaism
the jews
Who were the original perverts of the gospel the jews?
I can't believe he just said that it's true
He's not speaking in generalities here
The main focus of what paul is speaking here is the jews
Oh, I think we should apply it in a different way though
No
This is what he's talking about here. And the reason we know that is because of what they're adhering to they're not adhering to mormonism
You know, you'll you'll find that doctrine in first corinthians chapter 15 where they're being baptized for the dead
Okay, they're not he's not talking about the jehovah's witnesses. He's referring to judaism. They're the original perverts of the gospel
And what does a pervert mean? It simply means something that's twisted
Something that is rested. They're they're they're changing the truth of god into a lie
And he's basically saying hey these people are troubling you because they're causing you to question
Right what you originally believed so the main doctrine that is being attacked here is salvation justification
They're twisting it now
You say well, how do you know that it is for for sure referring to the jews?
Well, go to chapter five hold your place there in chapter one
Go to chapter five verse seven because remember he says these people are troubling you
How do we know that they're judaizers
Verse seven says he did run well
Who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth
This persuasion cometh not of him to call with you a little leaven leaven at the whole lump
I have confidence in you through the lord that ye will be none otherwise minded
But he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment whosoever he be and I brethren if I preach circumcision. There you go
Why do I yet suffer persecution then as the offense of the cross ceased I would they were even cut off which trouble you
What is the main topic that's being referred to here circumcision
And just reference the book of acts how the pharisees were coming in and they were telling them
Except you be circumcised under the law of moses. Ye cannot be saved
They're specifically saying you had to circumcise you have to be circumcised in order to be saved
Now by the way, we believe you have to be circumcised in order to be saved
Just not a physical circumcision. It's a circumcision of the heart not of the letter
Okay in the spirit whose praise is not of men but of god the bible says, okay
Go back to or go to hebrew chapter number two if you would
Hebrew chapter number two i'm gonna read to you again from verse eight of galatians one. It says but though we
or an angel from heaven
This includes moroni
Right
How do you know who moroni is?
Okay, he's the angel that came to joseph smith
of the mornings
Giving them another gospel right with the golden tablets and all this
I mean good night
How do you even oversee that?
Though we or an angel from heaven. Thank you the apostle paul for putting that in
Preach any other gospel into you than that which we have preached unto you. Listen, listen when it says let him be accursed
Well, I don't think this is a big issue, you know
You're making it too much of a big deal the apostle paul seems to be taking this pretty serious
When he specifically says that if someone else comes to you, even if you were him himself or an angelic being
Comes and preaches a different gospel than the gospel they have received that person is cursed
Now what does cursed mean?
What is accursed means it means damned?
That's what that means
What do we refer to when we talk about someone who's damned it means they're damned to hell
Damnation they're going to hell. That's what the bible is talking about there
So he's saying look if anybody tampers with the gospel if anybody adds works to salvation
If anybody has a perversion of the gospel of jesus christ, let him be a curse
They're damned
I think they should have a chance. You got to think about this though. Okay, think about this
How wicked do you have to be?
How evil and nefarious do you have to be?
to have an agenda
to damn people to hell
And make it your full-time job to do so
Think about that
The next time some jehovah's witness comes and knocks on your door
The next time some mormon comes and knocks on your door
The next time someone with another gospel comes and knocks on your door these people. Well, they're just deceived
Yeah, but they're they're deceiving too though
Yeah
And they make it their full-time job to try to damn people to hell. This is wicked
This is why god says let him be a curse
Why because they're trotting under their foot the blood of jesus christ?
That's why these people are thieves. They're robbers who are trying to come in through the gate another way
According to john chapter number 10
You know what and look let me just say this. It's either god's way or there's there is no other way
And to try to conjure up a different way means that you're just a curse
This is why we're hard on false prophets
This is why we don't tolerate false prophets
This is why as soon as we find out there's a false prophet in our church. We kick them out
We
Throw them out. We don't welcome them. We don't bid them godspeed. Why because we don't want to be partakers of their evil deeds
God takes this very serious. Well, I thought god is all love and he's all patience
Yeah, he's so loving
He's so loving
That he saved us from hell
So how wicked do you have to be
To just turn around and say well i'm gonna teach people how to go to hell
These people are a curse. These people are wicked. Okay, and look
For example the modalist crowd the oneness crowd. Well, that's just the difference of opinion that tampers with the gospel
Yeah
Because they're teaching that jesus christ is not the eternal son of god
Which is exactly what you have to believe in order to be saved
In times past this was not an argument. This was commonly known but now it seems to be an issue
Well, you know what? These people are a curse
Well, what about the people who are just you know, straddling the fence? There is no straddling the fence on the trinity
It's pretty easy
You know, and if you keep arguing you keep arguing you keep trying to bring in other information or see it from a different way
Then you know what? You're a curse. You're not getting it
Okay
Though we are an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than that which we have preached
That you let them be a curse look what hebrews 2 verse 1 says
It says therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard
Lest at any time we should let them slip for if the word spoken spoken by angels was steadfast and every transgression and disobedience
Received a just recompense of reward. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?
Which at the first began to be spoken by the lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him
So what do we see here?
We see that anything the angels speak in the bible is always works in tandem with what the prophets say and what god says
In fact god sends signs to confirm the message of the prophets even if they receive a message from the angel
It says god also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with diverse miracles and the gifts of the holy ghost
According to his own will go back to galatians chapter number one
There is a strong condemnation of those who preach a different gospel, okay, and look that's why this is something that we
Uh often emphasize whether in my sermons or just in in regular
Conversation is you know what we need to make sure that the gospel is clear
We don't we never want to have the smorgasbord of church members where one side is has these calvinistic beliefs
And then another side is faith alone. And then the people in the back believe in predestination according to the calvinists
The ones in the front are kind of pentecostal in the way they think no
That's not good
That means there is no clarity
Of what we believe okay
And look we're not afraid to admit we hate false prophets
We hate them
Because they're wicked evil people
Okay, who want to damn people to hell, you know, we hate false prophets because we just love sinners
And we want them to be saved verse 9
As we said before so say I now again
If any man preach any other gospel to you that you have received let him be a curse
Let me just remind you is that when god repeats things twice, it means it's very important
Just in case you just didn't catch it the first time
He's like let him be a curse and like let me just repeat this again
Let him be a curse
We need to use that word more often. Amen
Let that person be a curse
This is strong language that he uses and he's basically saying that they're damned
This is what he says in first corinthians 16 22 if any man love not the lord jesus christ
Let it be anathema maranatha. Now. We can't say for sure what maranatha is
Some people would speculate that it's referring to the second coming of christ that cannot be confirmed. We don't know for sure
But for sure, we do know that anathema does mean damned. It means curse
Because we have the spanish word anathema that means curse
So the apostle paul even says here look if any man loved not the lord jesus christ in other words, they hate jesus christ
Let him be a curse, okay
Go to second peter chapter two if you would second peter chapter number two
How do we keep from false prophets entering into our church and prospering
Well, one way is basically keep doing what we're doing now, which is when new people come into our church
We immediately go talk to them make sure they're saved. Amen
We go give them the gospel and then we keep an ear to the ground for anybody saying anything different than that
You understand we keep an ear to the ground for anybody who may have a presentation that's questionable
Okay
And why because we want to make sure that's how infiltrators operate
They come and they try to get the new people or they try to get the young the young christians
To try to kind of help, you know assist them in deviating from the path
And the way we can avoid that is making sure that we are
On purpose going out and talking to people
This is why I said last week don't click up when we come to church. Amen
Don't just go with your game
After you after church, you need to make sure that you go talk to people
And give them the gospel
You know and go talk to them give them the gospel see if they're safe. I'm thankful. There's two people who found us on facebook
They came this morning
And you know, I was thinking myself I need to go check if they're saved
I went over there and some one of our church members was already there
Already just spitting the gospel, you know
I'm like, all right there got it and then you know, they came out and I just asked the lady
Hey, are you 100 sure that day you go to heaven? And she said she started laughing. She goes. Yeah, i'm saved
And then the person said yes, they're already saved. I'm like, okay great, you know, we want to make sure that you know
And then the two visitors who came who my mom brought they were not saved, you know, ulysus
Stepped up to the plate spanish speaker got him saved
You know, and then I went over there and I confirmed if they were saved and you know
Pure pressured them into getting baptized. Amen
People always ask me like how do you get so many people baptized pure pressure?
Nothing wrong with that
What's wrong with people doing someone to doing what they're supposed to do it, man?
You know, I do everything but like make them slip and things like that
Shh
But I say hey we can you know, what doesn't need to be baptized you can be baptized right now
Some people have this roadblock where it's just like hey i'm in the water like oh wait
I'm, like yeah, we got the clothes ready for we got the towels ready for you
It's your first step of obedience and they were thankful that they did it
In fact, the guy afterwards said, you know, i'm taking off to florida. Can you recommend a good church for me to go to in florida?
You know, I I want to congregate
With the church now, you know, I want to be a part of a church
I want to get involved. He said, you know
and so
In order for us to make sure that we have our ear to the end
Look, we don't want to go to the opposite extreme where we think everyone's a false prophet
I got a false prophet. I think that guy's a reprobate. No, this is look
Love your enemy. What does that mean? It means by default you just love everyone until you find out otherwise
right
Love your enemies basically means the default button is that you love everyone
Until you find out that they're reprobates
Then at that point you turn off the default button
You click it off and you go to the other side
You understand but by default we just love everyone
Well, I just don't want to like I don't want to give my love to someone who you know
May potentially be a false prophet. Well, you know what if you fulfill what god told you to do?
He will make manifest their folly
It's promised amen. He hasn't failed us yet
He's manifested the folly of a lot of people who have come through our church and thank god amen
Look at second peter two verse one second peter chapter two
Is your quintessential chapter along with the book of jude on the topic of false prophets, right? It's the most
extensive just detailed
Chapter aside from the book of jude that really explains and matthew seven
That really hits home when it comes to false prophets and what we're supposed to look for it says
But there are false prophets also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you
Who privately or privately shall bring in damnable?
heresies
Okay. So what is their agenda to privately teach a damnable heresy something? That's another gospel
Well, you know, we gotta give people a chance and you know, maybe they didn't get saved. Let's keep reading comma
Even
Denying the lord that bought them
And bring upon themselves with destruction. So why are they teaching false doctrine because they themselves have already denied
jesus christ
Even denying the lord. He says well it says that bought them. Yeah, jesus christ bought everyone
You know
He is the savior of all men
especially to them that believe
So he purchased everyone right but not everyone's going to accept that
You know that propitiation
Okay, not everyone's going to accept that imputation of righteousness by believing on jesus christ
And this is an example because they're bought but you know what they deny the lord jesus christ
And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not and their damnation
slumbereth not
So what remember talking about being a curse? That's what that's referring to
So what does it talk? What does it mean when it says that their damnation slumbereth not hell's not asleep
Hell's always awake
And in fact it moveth itself the bible says in the book of isaiah
To to take people in as they come in here. Well, you know what hell is not sleeping for them hell awaits people like that
That's what the bible says that they're twice dead plucked up by the roots
Okay
So as I mentioned there's a strong condemnation to those go to the book of jude if you would
Book of jude, there's a strong condemnation for those who would pervert the gospel of jesus christ. Look at the book of jude
Look at verse three, it says beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation
It was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith
Which was once delivered unto the saints now the bible is telling us here that we need to earnestly contend for the faith
What does that mean? We need to fight
For the right type of doctrine, right?
Now this does not mean
debate
Okay
This is not talking about we're going to get two barstools here with a little timer and a referee
And then you just go back and forth and you know, just apologetics
So
You know this james white type of mentality
Where both of them walk away thinking they're both right and they both won
You know, this is that that's like that's like toddler stuff that everyone wins, right?
You know when it says earnestly content for the faith, how do we do that by preaching the truth?
By exposing lies. This is how we earnestly contend for the faith
But why must we do that look at verse four four
There are certain men crept in unawares
Who were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men turning the grace of our god into lasciviousness
And denying the only lord god and our lord jesus christ
What does he mean when he says men have crept in unawares?
That means they come into churches and people don't know that they're false prophets
They're wolves in sheep's clothing
Amen
Okay
Go to act chapter 15
So this is all in context of what we see in the book of galatians chapter one about being a curse
He's coming down on them and he's saying look
Whoever came to you preaching a different gospel. Those people are false prophets. Those people are a curse
Now what is the false gospel that they were preaching look at acts 15 verse number one?
and certain men which came down from judea
Taught the brethren and said except ye believe on the lord. Jesus christ. No
Except you be circumcised
After the manner of moses ye cannot be saved. This is the gospel that was being preached
in the book of galatians
Why because in chapter two, he talks about how titus was not compelled to be circumcised
Okay, skip down to verse number five
But there rose up certain of the sect of pharisees which believed saying that it was needful to
Circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of moses and the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter
And when there had been much disputing peter rose up and said unto them men and brethren ye know
How that a good while ago god made choice among us that the gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel
And believe and god which knoweth the hearts bear them witness giving them the holy ghost even as he did unto us
And put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith
Now therefore why tempt ye god to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear
So he's saying this, you know these guys who come to you and they try to get you to believe this false doctrine
This false gospel. They don't even believe in themselves
Well, they say well you got to repent of your sins and turn over a new leaf and make sure you clean up your life
They haven't even done it
Come on
You know, these guys believe in sinless perfection like john getch
Over at lancaster baptist church who's teaching then you have to repent of your sins to be saved
You have to give up all your sins. He hasn't even done that
But he's placing burdens on people's shoulders that he himself is not even willing to do
What he's basically saying is you have to repent of the sins that i've repented of
That's what he's saying
Right
Whatever those are but I guarantee you he has a whole list of sins that he does that
He doesn't want people to highlight and if you confront him about those sins, he's like, well, you know, we're not perfect
We're all sinners then why are you telling people to repent of their sins?
Are you the standard of what sins we that need to be repented of?
The bible says that talks about repentance from dead work and faith towards god
Yet you have john getch who the pastor of that church is paul chapel
Big surprise
Who's allowing this guy to come behind the pulpit and preach this false gospel telling people they need to turn from their sins
And does he give a biblical argument? No, it's all this logical mumbo jumbo
Stuff that he says repenting is turning your back and going the other way and all this nonsense
He's a false prophet
You can't tell me and look paul chapel
Years ago. He preached the right gospel from what I heard
He preached on faith alone believe on the lord. Jesus christ
But he's okay with this guy coming up and preaching a false false gospel
Someone comes behind my pulpit and says something like that the nine and a half
The nine and a half
Outside the door
Publicly exposed
Not paid
Not amen
It's foolishness he's not even to bear he's not even capable of bearing
The burden that he's placing on people to do which is repent of all your sins
You know, it's wicked
And you wonder why west coast baptist college is producing the people that it produces
Is
Look at the fruit pun intended
Look at the fruit pun intended both both both, right?
But you know what this is the byproduct
Of this type of mentality where they just tolerate false gospels left and right. They're okay with anybody saying well, you know
He's just a little off if he's preaching it. He believes it. He's way off
And it needs to be corrected verse 11 says but we believe that through the grace of our lord jesus christ we shall be saved
Even as they why because there is no difference between the jew and the greek
For the same lord over all is rich unto all who call upon him for whosoever shall call upon
The name of the lord shall be saved that if thou shall confess with thy mouth the lord
Jesus and believe in thine heart that god hath raised them from the dead thou shalt be saved. Amen
Oh, I just think you god you have you got to at least be willing to let go of your sin
Why why what's what's with you in this?
Why must there be some sort of like thing that you have to let go of
Sins that you had you just have to give up
You know what? It is. It's self-righteousness is what it is
Self-righteousness and they have not submitted themselves into the righteousness of god. The bible tells us in roman chapter number 10
galatians 1 verse 10
I like what he says here for do I now persuade men or god or do I seek to please men?
For if I yet please men, I should not be the servant of christ now
Why does he throw this random statement within this chapter?
You know why because those who preach false doctrine and false gospels they're seeking to please men
Whereas the person who just preaches what the word of god says in spite of its, you know, whether it's popular or not
They're serving christ
They're not man pleasers
And you know what today we have a lot of man pleasers
People who just preach what they want they're preaching what the people want them to preach
Okay, they just try to cater to those with itching ears
Those who just want to be smooth talked and you know, they want this
motivational speech
To get them through the week
You know, hey i'm all for exotative sermons, but not for smooth sermons
Because smooth sermons means lies and deceit
Okay, go to isaiah chapter 30 isaiah chapter 30
So the apostle paul's making this statement in order to make a distinction between the right prophet and the false prophet
The false prophet is a man pleaser and therefore will preach anything but the truth
Who's the biggest proof of this joel osteen is the biggest proof of this right here
I don't think you should call out names the apostle paul called out names all the time
He's my example
Okay
Joel is a perfect example of this a straight man pleaser
I mean this guy's botox keeps him smiling throughout the entire sermon, right?
And
You know, he's not necessarily preaching a whole lot of false doctrine he's just not preaching a whole lot of right doctrine
In fact, he's not preaching any doctrine at all
So
He's just a man pleaser he's trying to get the people to come back
Okay, his his football stadium or whatever. Look at isaiah 30 verse 10 which say to the seers see not and to the prophets
That uh and to the prophets prophesy not unto us right things
speaking to us smooth things
prophesied deceits
So look these people are literally saying don't tell me that which is right
I don't want to know that which is right
In the sight of the lord, I want things that are smooth
And how does the bible define smooth deceits
Because they're like, I want to hear some lies
These people are pretty bold if you think about it
This is like hey
Come here
Don't give me any right doctrine
Just tell me what I want to hear. Give me lies
I want to hear something smooth something that goes down smooth
Not hard, right
Get you out of the way verse 11 turn aside out of the path cause the holy one of israel to cease from before us
Wow
That's bold
Go to jeremiah chapter 23
jeremiah chapter 23
Look, this is very
Different from what the bible says in second timothy four where it says preach the word be instant in season out of season
reprove
rebuke
Exhort with all long suffering and doctrine notice that it says reprove and reprove and rebuke this requires yelling this requires
Screaming this requires people to be told that they're wrong. Okay, this requires for you to raise up the decibels of your voice
This is what we will refer to as hard preaching as I mentioned this morning, right hard preaching is in your face
It's slobbery
It's foaming out the mouth
Yes, it's angry
Because god says to reprove and rebuke and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine
Why for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine?
They're not going to they're not going to want you to say to them right things
What are they going to want smooth things to see?
But after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers?
Having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned into fables. Okay
Look at jeremiah 23 verse 25
I have heard what the prophet said that prophesied lies in my name saying I have a dream
I have a dream
How long shall this be in the hearts of the prophets that prophesy lies
Yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart
Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams
Which they tell every man to his neighbor as their fathers have forgotten my name for bail
So
This reminds me of like pentecostals
Because they always talk about their dreams and how they dreamed of 40-foot jesus and caesar borgia and all this stuff
And they're like they try to deceive people through these dreams, right?
Verse 28 the prophet that had the dream let him tell the dream and he that hath my word
Let him speak my word faithfully. See we don't need a dream
We don't need a vision
We don't need to see caesar borgia
We don't need moroni
We don't need any of those and if you have any of those things you just ate a really crazy meal the night before
Too many onions on the burger the night prior, right?
But we don't need the dream. We have
The word which god wants us to speak faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat sayeth the lord?
Is not my word like as a fire. What does that mean? It burns, right?
Why do you call it hard preaching say the lord and like a hammer?
That breaketh the rock in pieces. He says that's how his word is like. It's like a hammer
It's hard it breaks
It breaks the false ideologies. It breaks the bad habits. It breaks the false doctrine. It breaks the false prophets
it breaks
to hammer
Therefore behold I am against the prophet saith the lord that steal my words everyone from his neighbor. What does that mean?
Well, here's the thing with false prophets
Because they're not saved they cannot come they can't come up with biblical truths on their own
So, you know what they have to do? They got to steal it
They got to take it from someone else because they don't have the spirit of god living within them
So therefore they have to pair it with other people say verbatim
They're stealing the word of god from the mouths of their neighbors verse 31 behold
I am against the prophet saith the lord that use their tongues and say he
Sayeth this is referring to those who are accursed and look
False prophets in the old testament is the same false prophets that we see in the new testament
It's the same false prophets that we see today
Just different languages
Okay
Go with me if you go back to galatians chapter one
Galatians chapter number one
So
You know, it's another way you can you can basically determine which is the false prophet and and the prophet of god
Which one is highly esteemed among men?
Because typically prophets of the lord are hated
I mean think of think of the prophet in the old testament makiah who they said he speaks, you know
He speaks the truth, but I hate him. I mean the king literally said that he said I hate him
Because he's speaking he preaches not to me, you know
He basically said like he always tells me the truth
That's why he hated them
And it's no different today
Hey, you want to know what church to go to look for the ones who are hated?
What?
No
And i'm not saying hated by everyone because you guys don't hate me. Hopefully not
You know, but we're talking about that which is highly esteemed by the vast majority of people
All those are the wrong prophets
Everyone loves joel's thing
everyone
The vast majority of the people in america, they love him
I know like people who don't claim christianity like oh, yeah. I like joel's thing. He's a good guy. He's a good pastor
Yeah, unsaved people though
So it makes sense, right?
Look let me read this to you from luke 16
It says and he said it to him either ye are they referring to the pharisees which justify yourselves before men
But god knoweth your hearts for that which is highly esteemed among men
Is abomination?
in the sight of god
So that which people say oh, yeah
He's like the best rick warren joel osteen and all these guys are just both the most wonderful god says that's an abomination
I don't esteem that that guy's wicked
Okay, why because the word of god is like a fire and it's like a hammer and it's going to cause people to hate you
Just like jesus, right?
Oh, everyone loved jesus. No, they didn't they crucified him
They they nailed him to the cross
They hated him. Okay, look at verse 11
But I certify you brethren that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man
For I neither received it of man neither was I taught it but by revelation of jesus christ, what is he saying here?
He's basically saying the word of god that he learned the gospel that he learned
He actually he actually got it directly from jesus christ himself
Okay. Now some would say that maybe he got it when he went into arabia after the road to damascus
Experience that he had and that's how he was taught that uh in arabia. We don't necessarily know but here's the thing
He wasn't necessarily taught it. Jesus christ just revealed it to him. Okay. Now today we're taught the gospel
Today you need to learn how to preach the gospel
You need to learn the roman's road. You need to learn how to be a good soul winner because you're not an apostle. Sorry
Okay, you don't get things by revelation people don't just come to church and say well, I just got saved on my own
reading the bible
You know
Just me the holy spirit jesus and god the father
We got this thing going on and he I just saw the bible and I just saved myself
That's not the way it works
You know, it worked like that for paul when jesus christ revealed himself to the other apostle paul
But this is a unique situation here just like a lot with taking place in the new testament
So he says I received it. I neither received it of man
neither was I taught it but by revelation of jesus christ, and I believe the reason he's saying this is because
What he's saying coincides with what the other apostles are saying so it's like how can you know it?
So well, if you haven't even been with the other apostles well because I was taught by jesus christ
A way we can apply this is this have you ever just talked to someone?
And then you both agree on a specific doctrine. It's just like yeah
I learned this from my bible and that person learned it from theirs and it's not coincidence
It's just that we have the same holy spirit that revealed through his word that specific doctrine
I've had that happen multiple times
I've had I've had times when I preach a certain message and one of our pastor friends in the movement
They'll also preach the same message. We'll make the same exact point
You know what? It is just the holy spirit speaking through the word of god itself. Okay teaching us
He says he goes on to say here verse 13 for ye have heard of my conversation in times past
In the jews religion how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of god and wasted it
And profited in the jews religion above many my equals in my own nation being more exceedingly zealous of the tradition of my fathers
All right now notice
That the apostle paul
Does not say that it was god's religion
Right
He says I profited in god's religion no in the jews religion
big difference
And the jews religion just to help you out with this is not god's religion
Because it's based off of
The oral traditions
Of the fathers what they would claim to be the fathers
Filled with false doctrine, but he says I profited in times past in the jews religion
How that beyond measure I persecuted the church of god so he makes that distinction there
And so he had a zeal but it was not according to knowledge now. Here's what's interesting about the apostle paul and look
Obviously there's reprobates out there
But one thing we do have to understand is that some people can get pretty far without actually becoming a reprobate
I mean look at the apostle paul
He's like
aggressively going after christians
Getting letters to damascus. I mean he's he's he's getting at it. He's zealous against the christians
Right hold your place there go to first timothy chapter one
So this kind of shows us that there are people out there that could actually get pretty far without actually becoming a reprobate
Some people who are just deceived some people who are just ignorant
Okay
Look at first timothy 1 verse 12
And I thank christ jesus our lord
This is the apostle paul speaking who hath enabled me for that he cannot be faithful putting me into the ministry
Who was before a blasphemer?
Now, I don't believe he was blaspheming the holy ghost, okay?
And a persecutor persecutor and injurious
But I obtained mercy why because I did it ignorantly in unbelief in other words. He didn't know
He thought that what he was doing was right
However, when he was shown to be wrong he changed
So people who say, you know, okay. Well, this guy's preaching some major false doctrine. What do we do?
We show them the right way and they and if they say no
This is still right then at that point. Okay, let him be anathema, but if they're like wow, I didn't know
Thank you for telling me that and they change that's an apostle paul right there
And the grace of our lord of our lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in christ
Jesus go back to galatians if you would galatians chapter number one
And the reason I make that point is because you got to understand the the majority of the population is not reprobate
Right
That would be sodom and gomorrah
But we're not yet sodom and gomorrah
Okay, god's not going to rain down fire from heaven. San francisco might be sodom and gomorrah
But apparently I mean god hasn't rained down fire as of yet
But here's the thing is we got to understand especially we live los angeles has such a bad reputation
I talked to anybody like you're in los angeles all those homosexuals all sodomites and all those reprobates and stuff
They think they're like just crawling out of the sewer
They think they're like the raccoons just and roaches all over
They literally think we're just surrounded by sodomites everywhere, you know, it's like we're in omani. That's hollywood
That's hollywood
We're the we don't I don't see any sodomites here they might I might have seen like one or two since we've been here
maybe
I take that back. I saw one
When I was out soloing, okay, but for the most part this isn't infested with a bunch of reprobates
Okay
And the reason I say that is because you got to understand just because someone disagrees with you doesn't make them a reprobate
And they'll just write someone off as being a reprobate just because they're a little different or even if they don't like you
Just keep in mind there's christians out there that don't like you either
You know
And so we should not just write someone off as being a reprobate. In fact
Paul the apostle is an example of someone who is even a blasphemer
Someone who is injurious went pretty far, but he did it ignorantly in unbelief. Okay
Now look if you run into someone knocking out knocking on doors and they're just like
Blaspheming the holy ghost in front of you. Okay reprobate
100 percent, right
Look at verse 15, but when it pleased god who separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace
This is that predestination that we're talking about from ephesians of last week or two weeks ago
To reveal his son in me that I might preach him among the heat and immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood
Neither when I have to jerusalem to them which were apostles before me
But I went into arabia and returned again to damascus
Then after three years, I went up to jerusalem to see peter and abode with them 15 days
This is the last point i'm going to make about this this chapter right here. Go to act chapter nine
Hold your place there in galatians chapter one
And the reason i'm bringing this up you may not notice this
but
He's talking about
His salvation experience right he gets saved
And the bible tells us here that he doesn't go to jerusalem
which
the apostles were abiding in
But he went into arabia
And then returned again onto damascus
But when you read the record of the apostle paul and his salvation testimony arabia is not mentioned in that
Okay, look at act chapter 9 and verse 8. It says in psalm rolls from the earth
And when his eyes were open he saw no man
But they led him by the hand and brought him into damascus and he was there or excuse me
He was three days without sight neither did eat nor drink
And there was a certain disciple at damascus named ananias and to him said the lord in a vision ananias and he said behold
I am here lord. So what do we see here? We see that he has this road because he's on the road to damascus
He has this vision
I believe this is when he gets saved
He's brought forth to damascus to ananias, right? Look at verse 18
And immediately there fell from his eyes that have been scales and he received sight for within a rose and was baptized
And when he had received me he was strengthened then will saw certain days with the disciples which were at damascus
And straightway, he preached christ in the synagogues that he is the son of god
So we see that immediately after he receives his sight. He just begins to preach the word of god
Okay, he begins to preach that jesus christ is is god and he's preaching the gospel. However in galatians one
We we don't see we see arabia being mentioned between him
Going to jerusalem and being in damascus, but you don't hear anything about arabia in act chapter nine now, why is that?
Well, this is my personal belief in regards to this is that
In galatians one he says that he conferred not with flesh and blood
And he's referring to those apostles who were in jerusalem
So
The detail of him going to arabia for three years is left out because he's emphasizing in galatians one
That he conferred not with flesh and blood referring to the apostles who were at jerusalem. Okay?
now
Look at verse 21
He says but all that heard him were amazed were amazed and said is not this he that destroyed them
Which called on this name in jerusalem and came hither for that intent that he might bring them bound unto the chief priest
But saul increased the more in strength and confounded the jews which dwelt at damascus proving that this is very christ
And after that many days were fulfilled now, what is many days? We don't know
But it could be those three years that we see in the book of galatians chapter number one what he talks about there
And after that many days were fulfilled the jews took counsel to kill him
Then you see the three years take place verse 24
But their laying away was known of saul and they watched a gay day and night to kill him
Then the disciples took him by night and let him down by the wall in the basket
And when saul was come to jerusalem, he is saved to join himself to the disciples
But they were all afraid of him and believed not that he was a disciple. So we see here
This is actually when he goes to jerusalem just as we see in galatians chapter one
Okay, but remember he didn't go to jerusalem in the beginning he conferred not with flesh and blood
He didn't go to the apostles and say hey, can I be an apostle too?
Can you guys accept me into your club? He just went straight to work
Now why is it that he went into arabia well, it could be that it was in arabia that he was actually taught of god
Or it could be that because jesus christ had told him that you're to be a light unto the gentiles
He didn't waste time
And he went straight for the gentiles
in arabia
Right, then he came back again to damascus
So it doesn't say in galatians chapter one that he started off in damascus, but we know according to act chapter nine that he did
And then the wording that says that he came again into damascus shows us that he was there prior
He left and then he came back
And then after that he departed to go to jerusalem to be with the disciples
He says there by the way, if you didn't get that don't worry about it verse 27
But barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared him to them
How he had seen the lord in the way and that he had spoken to him and how he had preached boldly at damascus
In the name of jesus and he was with them coming in and going out of jerusalem. Was it?
Well, you said why do you mention that well because people try to take these scriptures to say there's contradictions in the bible
That's why
And they try to say well, you know all the timings off here and you know, this is why you know
This is a man-made book and all these things
But you know when you study what's specifically being referred to here you compare scripture to scripture you see that it all pans out
Go back to galatians 1 verse 19 it says but other of the apostles saw I none save james the lord's brother
Now the things which I write unto you behold before god I lie not
Afterwards I came into the regions of syria and silicia and was unknown by faith unto the churches of judaea which were in christ
But they had heard only that he which persecuted us in times past now preached the faith
Which was which once he destroyed and they glorified god in me
He said what does this have to do with the entire theme of the book of galatians?
Well, remember he's proving himself to those in galatia
And he's speaking out against
The people who are judaizing that region who he was a part of
Right, so he's adding credibility to what he's saying by saying look I was probably more zealous than these guys are
All right, I profited I had letters I would go into this such and such city I would do all these things
He's adding credibility to himself to say I know what these guys are all about
So you can't tell me that these guys are your buddies
That these guys are trying to help you out. I know their agenda, right and look
He says but when I got saved
I went out and I started preaching the gospel that jesus christ is the son of god. What is he?
What is he confirming the gospel that he himself is preaching?
So in other words, he's basically saying compare with what i'm saying
To what they're saying
Obviously they don't match. Okay, and then we'll get into chapter two
Next week
And we'll continue there. Let's pray father. We thank you so much for your word
Thank you for the book of galatians a lot of
Different things and topics that we covered. I pray god that you'd help us to continue to understand it and in jesus name we pray
Amen