A Miracle to Experience

Galatians 1

All mothers have something in common; they have experienced raising children. They didn’t just read about it, talk about it or sit in focus groups discussing the benefits and draw backs of children. They either have, or are experiencing the reality of child rearing.

The experience itself knits the soul of the mother to her children in a way that no one can understand until they experience it for themselves. If you have ever wondered how a mother could love the way she does, the answer, I believe, is found in the bond created while raising her children.

As any mother could tell you, people with advice abound. But, a real mother is not easily fooled by philosophers and self proclaimed child psychologists. All advice, they know, needs to be judged by the Word of God.

Motherhood is something you have to experience to understand. This is true also of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it must be experienced to be understood. This is why the Apostle Paul is so adamant in his defense of the Gospel in epistle to the Galatians.

I. The gospel is much more than a message to be preached: it was a miracle to be experienced (vv. 1–5).

· The gospel is “the power of God to salvation” (Rom. 1:16) and it brings freedom.

· Christ died “that He might deliver us” (v. 4).

· When Paul trusted Christ, he became a free man. The shackles of sin and legalistic religion were broken!

· Scofield says, “Instead of looking for good men whom it may approve, grace is looking for condemned, guilty, speechless, and helpless men whom it may save, sanctify, and glorify.”

· If He gave Himself to settle the sin question, then it is both unnecessary and impossible for us to add to such a work, or to help atone for our sins by law-keeping.

· Christ not only delivers the believer from the penalty of sin, but also from the power of sin. Salvation is emancipation out from a state of bondage.

II. The gospel is also a treasure to be guarded (vv. 6–17).

· Paul did not invent the gospel or learn it from others; God gave it to him (1 Cor. 15:1–11).

· There is no other gospel. To add to this message, take from it, or substitute another message is to destroy it. Any mixture of grace and law is a perversion of the truth.

· Messengers are to be judged by the Gospel; you don’t judge the Gospel by them.

· False teaching issued in spiritual delinquency. Corrupt teaching always leads to corrupt living.

· When you lose the gospel, you lose everything.

III. The gospel is a tie that binds God’s people together (vv. 18–24).

· Saul the enemy became Paul the brother, and he was able to fellowship with people he once had persecuted. Because of this they glorified God for what He had done in the life of Paul.

· Christians may disagree on minor matters of interpretation and organization, but they agree on the message of the gospel.

“The gospel is neither a discussion nor a debate. It is an announcement.”

Paul S. Rees