The Gospel - and Those Who Distort It

The Gospel - Aand Those Who Distort It Lesson 4

Galatians 1:6-9

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.

Gal 1:6-7a

Introduction Gospel Perversion

Jesus’ Warning For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. Matt 24:24-25a

Paul’s Characterization For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2 Cor 11:13-15

Source of Power The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1 Tim 4:1-2

Attack from Within I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Acts 20:29-31

Spiritual Adultery I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 2 Cor 11:2-4

Certain Judgment But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them — bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:1-3

I. Paul’s Amazement Gal 1:6 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—

Gal 1:6-7 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who in his love and mercy called you to share the eternal life he gives through Christ. You are already following a different way NLT

A. Gk: thaumazo marvel, wonder, amaze, astonish, shock

B. Gk: tacheos soon, quickly or (readily, easily)

C. Gk: metatithemi "to remove a person or thing from one place to another" (meta, implying "change," tithemi, "to put"), e. g., Acts 7:16, "were carried over," signifies, in the middle voice, "to change oneself," and is so used in Gal 1:6 "(I marvel that) ye are... removing," RV (not as KJV, "removed"); the present tense suggests that the defection of the Galatians from the truth was not yet complete and would continue unless they changed their views. The middle voice indicates that they were themselves responsible for their declension, rather than the Judaizers who had influenced them.

1. without constant input of truth, error sounds plausible

2. we fall prey to people who quote scripture

D. Were they Christian?

1. the possibilities

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

Eph 4:11-14

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

2. the probability

Gal 1:2 To the churches in Galatia 11 I want you to know, brothers

Gal 3:3 After beginning with the Spirit 15 Brothers,

Gal 4:6 Because you are sons 8 Formerly, when you did not know God 9 But now that you know God

Gal 5:13 You, my brothers, were called to be free.

E. Why good teachers repeat

2 Peter 1:12-15

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have.

13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body,

14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

D. Whom were they deserting? Gal 1:6 the one who called you NIV

Him who called you NKJV

from God TLB

II. Paul’s Assessment Gal 1:7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. NIV

Gal 1:7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ NASB

A. When “another” is not “another”

B. The “common ground” when we all appeal to scripture - none

C. Disturbing - Matt 2:3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled,

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled;

Acts 15:24 "Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,

D. Distorting - metastrepho - "to transform into something of an opposite character" (meta, signifying "a change," and strepho,) as the Judaizers sought to "pervert the gospel of Christ," Gal 1:7; cf. "the sun shall be turned into darkness," Acts 2:20; laughter into mourning and joy to heaviness, James 4:9.

Grace can be destroyed … but never modified

III. Paul’s Anathema Gal 1:8-9

8 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 (accursed)!

9 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!

A. The strongest language in scripture

Matt 3:7 You brood of vipers! (John the Baptizer)

Matt 23:23 you hypocrites! 27 you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs

33 "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? (Jesus)

B. John the Baptists’ , Jesus’ , Paul’s curse on those who lead others astray.

Caution: James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

C. Who validates whom?

Some will perform “signs and wonders” 2 Thess 2:9-10

The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing…..

“How weak is that reason which would argue from the holiness of a teacher to the truth of what is taught. It must never be taken for granted that the doctrine is sound, because the preacher seems righteous. There are certain standards to which doctrines must be referred, and by their agreement with these -- not by the character of their supporters -- are we bound to decide upon their truth or falseness.” Unknown Puritan

IV. The Response of Believers

A. For us …. 2 John 7, 10-11

7 Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.

11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

B. For them …. Titus 1:10-11

10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.

11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach …

TNBS Questions Lesson 4

Preparation for week 5

Read 2 Peter and Jude

1. To whom are the two books written?

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2. What common theme do the two books share?

3. From 2 Peter 2:1 and our previous studies, what kinds of things would be considered destructive heresies?

False religions and cults will always distort truth (which is to lie) in essential categories. In your own words, what does the word of God say about these specific elements?

4. God (gen 1:1; John 4:24) _______________________________________________________________

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5. Jesus (John 1:1; Mat 1:18; John 1:18; 2 Cor 5:21; Rom 1:4; Heb 7:25; Acts 1:11)

6. Sin (Rom 3:10-12; 23; 14:23; James 4:17)

7. Redemption (Eph 1:7; Heb 9:27-28; 10:12, 14; 1 Pet 1:18-19)

8. Salvation (John 1:12-13; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom 3:24; Eph 2:8-9)

9. Afterlife (Dan 12:2; Rom 6:23; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:12-15)