Don’t DesertDon’t Pervert

In Galatians, Paul urges the Gentile church not to quickly desert what they had been

taught…and there is a warning to those that would expect more that Christ taught.

Desertion

• “To forsake, leave, or abandon, especially when most needed.” (Am-Hertiage Dictionary)

• Famous deserters include Mark Twain (Samuel Clemmons), George Custer (before last stand), Steve Mcqueen, and Eddie Slovik

• Galatians 1:6-10

Galatians 1:6-10Key ideas

• Vs 6 – Christians were deserting one who had called them by grace

• Vs 7 – Gentile Chrstians were being “disturbed” by some distorting the gospel

• Vs 8 – a messenger of any other gospel was to be considered accursed

• Vs 9 – repeating vs 8….must be important• Vs 10 – who trying to please?

The Basis Of The Letter

• Galatians written between 48-58 A.D.

• Context of book: Jewish Christian teachers trying to turn church against Paul as authority and convince the need of circumcision

• Chapter one discussing the “perversion” of the gospel

Paul’s Primary Focus

• 1. Paul defends his authority as a teacher of God’s will and intent (as an apostle)

• 2. Paul condemns the Judaizing teachers and legalism in the church

• WE WILL COME BACK TO THESE THINGS IN A FEW MINUTES…..CAN YOU THINK OF WHY?

What Gentile Christians Needed(and what we should remember)

• Overall theme: All believers, both Jew and Gentile, enjoy in Christ a complete salvation!

• Believers Are Justified – Galatians 3:6-9• Believers Are Adopted – Galatians 4:4-7• Believers Are Renewed – 4:6 and 6:15• Believers Are Made Heirs Of Covenant

Galatians 3:15-18

Takeaways For Today

• In Christ, you are a new creature, complete, and enough!

• In Christ, others are a new creature, complete, and enough!

• TIME FOR “REAL TALK” (we cannot make it better!)

- movie sequels - “new coke”

The Church: Never today’s equivalent of the Judaizing teachers!

• A danger for you- James 3:1: careful about teaching- Galatians 1:8-9 - “let him be accursed”- Revelation 22:18-19 and Deut. 4:2;

12:32

• A danger for them:- Luke 9:62 – no man, after hand to

plow… - Romans 14:13

2 Peter 2:20-21

• For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Today’s Reality

• In Christ, you have ALL sufficiency (2 Cor. 12:9)

• I John 1:7 – if we walk in the light…..• We MUST know scripture -

2 Timothy 2:15 - Romans 1:16 - Matthew 12:36 – “for every idle word…”

• DO NOT DESERT NOR PERVERT THE MESSAGE!